June 5, 2023
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Which appliances can be powered by solar energy?

If we talk about the benefits of solar energy, practically everything has already been said at this point. Clean, sustainable and 100% electricity with which savings are guaranteed. In fact, these benefits and advantages mean that more and more people want to install photovoltaic panels in their homes.

However, while most people are aware of what solar panels can provide, there are certain aspects about them that most people are unaware of. For example, the differences between direct current and alternating current, and the importance of the inverter. And this brings us to the next question: can all household appliances be powered by solar energy? Don't worry because we give you the answer in this new publication.

Differences between direct current and alternating current

Direct current is a flow of current in one direction only, from one pole to the other. For example, it is found in batteries or low-voltage electrical appliances. On the opposite side is alternating current, which in this case flows in two directions: the electric charges change the direction of movement periodically.

Why is this important? Because solar panels produce direct current. And, without going into too much detail, alternating current is the current used in homes. So, can solar energy be used to power your home's consumption? Yes, you can. We explain how below.

The solar inverter: what it is used for

In order for the direct current generated by the panels to be transformed into alternating current, which is what we will use at home, there is a key element: the inverter. This device is responsible for converting the energy from direct current to alternating current. In this way, all the electrical appliances in the house can be powered by the energy generated by our panels.

Devices that can be powered by solar energy

If we are talking about electrical appliances, practically all of them use alternating current. So this is something you shouldn't worry about because this is the most common way of doing things. In fact, these are some of the most common appliances that are powered by the alternating current coming from the inverter:

Ceramic hob
Oven
Microwave
Chargers
Security cameras
Water heater or electric boiler
Air conditioning
Refrigerator.
Other electrical appliances.

Ideally, however, you should take into account the consumption of the electrical appliances that you have at home and that you use frequently. In this way, you will be able to size your solar installation correctly and you will be able to power them without any problems with the electricity generated by your solar panels.

Devices using direct current

On the other hand, there are some appliances that run directly on direct current, which is generated by solar panels. These are not very common, although you should take them into account as they do not require an inverter to operate. These are the devices in question:

Electric cars.
Underground transport systems and railways.
Computers (powered by alternating current and internally converted to direct current).
Any device that uses batteries to operate.
Industrial machine motors.

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