What is amorphous, in Latin it is spelled "amorphus". If you asked a Greek speaker "What is amorphous?" They would tell you it is spelled amorphous which is where we get the spelling in English.
It's definition is; "having no determinate shape or structure, shapeless, unorganized."
If you asked a chemist "What is amorphous?" They would tell you "Its of a solid: not crystalline, or not apparently so."
Amorphous solar panels are usually marketed as "thin film Pv panels". They are constructed from a vaporized silicon and applied in an amorphous form or (a-Si). Amorphous silicon being without apparent structure or shape is without the crystalline structure of conventional silicon Pv cells. Due to the non-crystalline composition it is flexible in nature, so when it is applied to a flexible surface it can form a panel with the same overall properties (flexible). A-Si can be applied at a low overall temperature so plastic can withstand the process and due to its flexible nature you can use it as a base for flexible applications. There are other materials used for thin film pv panels but this is the amorphous variety.
If you want to try your hand at your first solar panel to produce electricity, it may be wise to start small. If you get the principles down with a small amorphous solar panel set (PV) than you will know better what to do with a full blown off-the-grid solar panel array to fuel all your electricity needs.
It's definition is; "having no determinate shape or structure, shapeless, unorganized."
If you asked a chemist "What is amorphous?" They would tell you "Its of a solid: not crystalline, or not apparently so."
Amorphous solar panels are usually marketed as "thin film Pv panels". They are constructed from a vaporized silicon and applied in an amorphous form or (a-Si). Amorphous silicon being without apparent structure or shape is without the crystalline structure of conventional silicon Pv cells. Due to the non-crystalline composition it is flexible in nature, so when it is applied to a flexible surface it can form a panel with the same overall properties (flexible). A-Si can be applied at a low overall temperature so plastic can withstand the process and due to its flexible nature you can use it as a base for flexible applications. There are other materials used for thin film pv panels but this is the amorphous variety.
If you want to try your hand at your first solar panel to produce electricity, it may be wise to start small. If you get the principles down with a small amorphous solar panel set (PV) than you will know better what to do with a full blown off-the-grid solar panel array to fuel all your electricity needs.
The main thing to remember is not to run appliances that require more power than your first solar panel can handle. As a rough rule of thumb...
I usually count about a 30% loss from the overall capacity, to use 12 volt appliances off the charge you put into a battery. There is always a loss when you store power.You will likely realize a 20% loss when recovering the power you put in the battery to start with. Different batteries have different efficiencies but if you go by the 20% rule you should be pretty safe, and your first solar experience should be a good one.
The other 10% I count as loss is in the angle of the panel to the sun. If you don't track the sun across the sky through the day than you don't get the highest rating off your panel. While that is possible to do, I think it is a little complicated for the first solar attempt to be a little greener.
A solar panel set like this one has all the basic components you will need to get started.
This PV solar panel kit is 15 watts larger than the one I use on my boat, but otherwise it is the same as my first solar set ,my demands are small though. I only run a 5 watt 12v florescent bulb for 3 hours or so a day and two ten watt fans for the time we are asleep. I have yet to run the generator to charge my marine battery due to the panel not keeping up. (Weee no gas) There is an advantage to this kind of solar panel, in the nature of its construction. It is known and an amorphous panel. It less expensive to construct than other cells (important in a first solar panel), and produces some voltage even in low light conditions. This panel will not loose as much power if you have a shadow cross its path and isn't quite as likely to fail entirely if it gets damaged. I will write more on the different kinds of solar cell construction later, but for these reasons and more, I suggest something of this nature to a beginner to help ease the transition to your first solar panel effort (PV). Now all you need is a 12v battery
Supplemental power
Not ready to go full bore yet, great. It can be a scary proposition to go from a power source you are familiar with, to a new-to-you technology. I think it would be the best idea to get use to things by supplementing your current supply. Got an appliance in the workshop (the beer fridge?), what better place to try a supplemental first solar supply, and if you watch your numbers you can even see what your savings are by comparing your pre-solar bill to your post-solar electricity bill.
