solar spectrum

The total distribution of electromagnetic radiation emanating from the sun.

That moment of the day that divides the daylight hours for that day exactly in half. To determine solar noon, calculate the length of the day from the time of sunset and sunrise and divide by two. The moment the sun is highest in the sky.

Energy from the sun. For example, the heat that builds up in your car when the windows are closed is solar energy.

The strength of sunlight; 1353 watts per square meter in space and about 1000 watts per square meter at sea level at the equator at solar noon.

See `Photovoltaic cell.’

A material that is composed of a single crystal or a few large crystals.

An inverter that produces utility- quality, sine wave power forms.

A chemical element, atomic number 14, semimetallic in nature, dark gray, an excellent semiconductor material. A common constituent of sand and quartz (as the oxide). Crystallizes in face- centered cubic lattice-like a diamond. The most common semiconductor material used in making photovoltaic devices.

Type of a battery charge regulator where the charging current is controlled by a switch connected in parallel with the PV generator. Overcharging of the battery is prevented by shorting the PV generator.

The current flowing freely from a photovoltaic cell through an external circuit that has no load or resistance; the maximum current possible.