ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces readers to basic electrical terminology, solar cell science, and the components of solar PV systems that will be critical to understanding the rest of the book. The objective here is that this chapter will enable anyone to pick up this book and grasp the concepts without extensive prerequisites, reinforcing the goal of making the knowledge accessible to a wide audience. The chapter begins with simple explanations and graphics of voltage, current, and resistance, and the relationships between them. It discusses the difference between power and energy, a simple way of converting units called the “railway conversion method,” Ohm’s Law, simple versus parallel circuits, and the differences between direct and alternating current.
Next, the chapter defines how to measure solar power and gives an overview of silicon solar cells physics and chemistry. The chapter concludes with a deep dive into solar PV system components, their purpose and potential ways in which they can fail.
