The installation and function of a solar system

If you connect numerous solar modules, you get a photovoltaic system as can be seen on numerous rooftops. This way, a high voltage and current is generated that is even able to supply electricity to entire regions.

• 1. Solar module (multiple PV-modules serially and parallel connected with jig)
• 2. Direct current cabling
• 3. Alternating current cabling
• 4. Inverter
• 5. Safety device and meter

Physically speaking, a photovoltaic system generates direct current. The electricity produced can either be stored directly in batteries or utilized by DC consumers. This procedure is known as an island solution, which is utilized whenever there is no public electricity grid available or the electricity is intended to merely cover one's own supply.

If the objective is to feed the electricity into the public power grid, i.e. to sell the electricity to the local grid operator and to utilize the photovoltaic system as an income property, an inverter is additionally required to transform the electricity to typical 50Hz AC electricity. This is known as a grid-connected photovoltaic system.  Solar current is directly fed into the power grid as soon as it is generated, recorded by an additional meter and subsequently compensated.