Solar cell

What is a Solar Cell?

         Solar Cell is an electronic device that make from semiconductor. When a solar cell receives the sunbeam or light, it will change the solar power to the direct current (DC). This system calls ‘Photovoltaics’. We can call the direct current is the ‘renewable energy ‘that is a clean energy and don’t make pollution.

Distinctive point of the Solar Cell

1.       - The solar energy doesn’t expire.

2.       - Clean energy.

3.       - It can make any amount of electricity.

4.       - It can make the electricity at the used place.

               In the experiment, We focus in V-I characteristic of solar cell. We use 2 solar cells to compare the V-I graph. Lastly, we will calculate the maximum power for each solar cell.  

Experiment  : Finding V-I characteristic of solar cell.

Apparatus:

1.Solar cell kit                         

2.Lamp 120 watt 220 volt       

3.DC ammeter 0-250 mA       

4.DC voltmeter 0-10 V           

5.Potentiometer                     

Procedure

figure 1 : experiment circuit

1.Connect the circuit in the figure 1 by using the solar cell A and connecting the 

   potentiometer at the output .Then adjust potentiometer to the minimum value.

2.Turn on the lamp that above solar cell about 1 foot, after that increase the load 0.5 volt     

   each time and record voltage and current.

3.Turn off the lamp ,after that repeat step1 and step 2 by change solar cell A to solar cell B.

4.Plot graph of V-I characteristics.

5.From this experiment , find the maximum power of each solar cell.

Experiment results

Table 1 Compare between solar A and solar B

- Plot V-I graph

                                 

- Find the maximum power of each solar cell.
    To find the maximum power, we use the value in the graph to calculate the maximum power.

            -Solar cell A :

      From P = VI

      To find maximum power, we use Imp and Vmp;

      P = Vmp*Imp

         = (16.5 mA)(1.9 V)

         =  31.35 mWatt 

            -Solar cell B :

      From P = VI

      To find maximum power, we use Imp and Vmp;

      P = Vmp*Imp

         = (11 mA)(2.25 V)

         =  24.75 mWatt 

Conclusion: 

Solar cell is electrical source that convert the light energy to be the electrical energy and the amount of gained electrical energy depends on the brightness of the sun light.

Notice : The data in the experiments maybe inaccurate or incorrect. Therefore, the results may be different on other trials or a distortion of the theory.