Solar modules, or solar power panels, are a series of solar cells wired together into strings and enclosed in self-contained glass units for harsh weather protection. Solar cells are mounted into groups called modules that produce about 0.5 Volts of current to power lights and appliances. On the sunward side, cells are protected by a highly transparent solar glass pane. The underside takes the form of an insulating film or a second pane of glass. A connection socket picks up the generated direct current. Solar modules are connected together via cables, which link them to the inverter.

Solar panels (a.k.a. Photovoltaic or PV modules) vary in length and width, and are often about 2 inches thick. They are generally about 15 kgs or less, but the larger ones (5' x 3') can be cumbersome to carry on the roof. We carry a wide selection of solar panels. We also offer the customization of solar panel sizes within reason.

The number of solar panels you will need depends primarily upon the amount of electricity you are trying to produce and the insolation in your area. Insolation can be thought of as the number of hours in the day that the solar panel will produce its rated output. This is not equivalent to the number of daylight hours. For more information on solar panel sizing and insolation have a look at our solar design section

You'll find solar panels in a variety of wattages. Watts are the main measure of a solar panel, along with nominal voltage. For a rough idea of how many watts of solar you will need, start by dividing your electrical usage (in watt-hours per day) by the insolation in your area. Have a look at our PV Calculator section which will do the calculations for you.

The cost of solar panels varies, but you can estimate it with relative ease, all you need to know is the watt hours you need which you can calculate with our pv calculators. The price of our solar panels are coming down all the time contact us for a price list.

Solar panels themselves generally last over 25 years, and require little maintenance. Many of the first solar panels produced in the 50s are still in use today. Many of the solar panels have a 20 year warranty or more. Dako powers warranty states that the panels will produce at least 80% of their rated power after 25 years. In other words our solar panels are under warranty for 25 years of their rated power.

Solar panels can be classified as monocrystalline, polycrystalline or amorphous also known as thin film. This is based on the silicon structure that comprises the cell. It's not quite as complicated as it sounds. Basically a 100 watt monocrystalline solar panel should have the same output as a 100 watt polycrystalline panel and a 100 watt amorphous panel.

The main difference is the amount of space which the solar panel occupies. Because the monocrystalline structure is more efficient than amorphous in turning sunlight into electricity, the amorphous panel of the same wattage will be physically larger. By the way, when talking about efficiency of solar panels, keep in mind that solar panel efficiency is still only about 13-18% efficient in turning sunlight into electricity. Often amorphous panels are less expensive than the crystalline panels but deteriorate allot faster than crystalline panels.

A key factor in the effective use of solar power is proper placement of the solar panels. Make sure to locate the panels where they will receive full sunlight between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm. Be sure that the solar panels will not be shaded by shadows from tree branches, chimneys, other structures, etc. Once again - NO SHADE! You will be mounting the solar panels on the roof, the ground or a pole.