| Solar energy when generated through solar panels | | | | The Light Goes On |
| comes out in the form of electricity. If you're | | | | Going back to our flashlight example, the switch |
| interested in solar energy and getting your own | | | | controls the continuity of current flow. If the |
| solar electric system, a rudimentary knowledge of | | | | switch is turned off (an open circuit), the wire |
| electricity and some of its terminology would | | | | between the source and the load (in this case, the |
| stand you in good stead. | | | | light bulb) is disconnected, and the light will be off. |
| With that in mind, let's delve into the world of | | | | If the switch is turned on (a closed circuit), the |
| electricity and solar energy and the electrical | | | | wire between source and load is connected, and, |
| circuit in particular, providing a definition and | | | | provided there is energy stored in the battery, |
| example of an electrical circuit. | | | | the bulb will light up. |
| What's An Electrical Circuit? | | | | No electrons are harmed - or even lost - in this |
| An electrical circuit is made up of electrons that | | | | process! Believe it or not, when the electrons |
| flow from a source of voltage, such as a battery | | | | reach the flashlight bulb, they do their work and |
| or photovoltaic module, through a conductor | | | | activate the bulb, and then move on back to the |
| (wire) to a load (for example, a light bulb) and | | | | battery, so that the number of electrons in the |
| back to the source. The term circuit indicates | | | | circuit remains constant while the circuit is closed. |
| something that goes around in a full circle. Using a | | | | Think Of A Water Pump |
| flashlight as an example, when the flashlight is | | | | An electrical system can he compared to a water |
| turned on, electrons are released from the | | | | pumping system. A pump lifts two gallons of |
| battery and they move to the bulb, causing it to | | | | water per minute from a lower tank to an upper |
| light, and from there back to the battery, | | | | tank, increasing its height and pressure by 12 feet, |
| completing the circuit. | | | | the distance between the two tanks. The |
| You may think that once the electrons reach the | | | | pressure created by the 12-foot height of the |
| bulb, they're done, but that's not the case, since | | | | upper tank is like the 12-volt electrical pressure in |
| that wouldn't be a complete circuit because the | | | | a battery. The water falls at two gallons per |
| electrons haven't flowed back to where they | | | | minute from the upper rank and turns a water |
| originated, in this case, the battery. | | | | wheel, losing its height and pressure as it returns |
| The Ultimate Circuit | | | | to the lower tank. The filling of water at two |
| We all carry around with us one of the best | | | | gallons per minute to turn the water wheel is like |
| examples of a circuit in action - the blood in our | | | | the two amp flow of electrons that powers the |
| veins. The blood starts out at the heart, which | | | | light and returns to the battery. |
| acts like a battery or generator that pumps the | | | | Next time you turn on a light in your home or |
| blood throughout our body and back into the | | | | office, you'll now know just how much is going on |
| heart, forming a complete circuit, providing the | | | | behind the scenes as those hard-working |
| power we need to activate and oxygenate our | | | | electrons do their job, whether coming from your |
| bodies, with our blood being the equivalent of the | | | | PV system or the utility grid. |
| electrons in an electrical circuit. | | | | |