Solar Terms
Familiarize yourself with these common solar terms.
Alternating Current
Alternating current is a solar term the refers to an electrical flow that cyclically changes direction and continually varies in magnitude.
Deck Box
A deck box or a junction box is a durable, weatherproof enclosure used in solar panel installation.
Direct Current
Direct current is a solar term the refers to an electrical flow streamlined in one direction at a constant rate.
Electrical Panel Upgrade
Electrical panels divide incoming power from the grid into individual circuits.
Electrical Grid
The electrical grid is a linked network designed for the distribution of electricity from producers to consumers.
Electric Bill
An electric bill is the invoice presented to a local utility’s customer for the cost of consumed electricity over a set period of time.
Energy Storage
Energy storage is the ability to capture excess energy produced by the solar panels for later use.
Gigawatt
A gigawatt is a power unit equivalent to one billion watts.
Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gases trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere.
Inverter
An inverter allows for the direct current generated from solar panels to transform into alternating current for household usage.
Isaksen Solar App
The Isaksen Solar app allows solar owners to monitor their energy production and consumption at all times.
Kilowatt
A kilowatt is a unit of power equivalent to one thousand watts.
Kilowatt-Hour
A kilowatt-hour is a measure of electrical energy that gages the amount of electricity being generated or consumed in 1 hour.
Local Utility
Local utility companies are who consumers purchase grid electricity from.
Megawatt
A megawatt is a unit of power equivalent to one million watts.
Meter
Your meter tracks your energy consumption. After installing a solar system, your meter will be able to track your system’s production too.
Microinverter
A microinverter transforms direct current to alternating current electricity on a per-solar panel basis.
Monitoring
Monitoring of a solar energy system is crucial to ensure it’s optimally producing and functioning to it’s highest potential.
Net Metering
Net metering allows owners of solar energy systems to receive credit for the excess electricity they generate.
Optimizer
An optimizer ensures the highest production possible of individual solar panels despite shading or temperature variances.
Photovoltaic Effect
The photovoltaic (PV) effect is the physical process that takes place as solar panels convert sunlight into electricity.
Photovoltaic System
Photovoltaic (PV) systems convert sunlight into electricity.
Solar Array
A solar array refers to a collection of solar panels that work together to capture sunlight and convert it into electricity.
Solar Cell
A solar cell is the converting mechanism within a solar panel that absorbs sunlight and turns it into electricity.
Solar Incentive
A solar incentive is a government funded program that may offset the cost of a solar energy system.
Solar Module
A solar module or a solar panel, is a single photovoltaic panel that absorbs sunlight and generates an electric current. Solar modules are a key component of solar energy systems.
Terawatt
A terawatt is a unit of power equivalent to one trillion watts.
TSRF
TSRF quantifies the percentage of the total potential solar energy that a particular site can capture considering its specific conditions.
Watt
A watt is used to measure the rate at which energy is generated, consumed, or transferred.
