In here you’ll find a quick definition of what all those acronyms and buzzwords used in solar energy talk mean.
Some will have links to references where you can learn more.
Amorphous Glass
A glass surface that is coated with paint like photovoltaic material that has no solid crystal-like structure to it. Amorphous glass solar panels consist of many bands or rectangles in which a powdered (amorphous) photovoltaic material is painted or sprayed on.
Inverter
An electronic device that converts DC voltage from a battery or solar cells to AC so that it be use by conventional AC devices.
Monocrystalline
Of a single pure crystal form. A monocrystalline solar cell is one that is composed of a solid slice of silicon. These are black in color and are usually round or have rounded corners. These are the most efficient type of solar cell and are widely used in modern solar panels.
Ohm
A unit of measurement for electrical resistance to voltage that can be used to determine how much current (in Amps) at a given voltage an electrical device will require. See Ohm’s Law for details and history.
Photovoltaic (PV)
Something that is “photovoltaic” is capable of turning light “photo” into voltage “volt”iac.
The individual cells that make up a solar panel are “Photovoltaic Cells”, or commonly just called “Solar Cells”.
Photovoltaic Cell
An individual unit (or cell) that converts light into voltage. A solar panel consists of many photovoltaic cells connected together for increased voltage and current output.
Polycrystalline
A mixture of different crystalline materials, each with their own crystalline structure but forming a single solid material. A polycrystalline solar cell is one made of many fragments of silicon that are heated so that they fuse together to (re)form a solid crystal. This mix of silicon fragments forms a sparkling pattern that is visible in reflected light.