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All United Solar products are based on a sophisticated multi-layer amorphous silicon thin-film solar
cell developed
originally by Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
This spectrum-splitting cell, shown schematically below, is constructed of three separate p-i-n type,
amorphous
semiconductor solar sub-cells, each with a different spectral response characteristic. In this way,
the cell can convert
the different visible and near infrared wavelengths of sunlight with optimal efficiency. The United
Solar spectrum-splitting
multijunction design now holds all the world's records for amorphous silicon solar cell efficiency,
including the highest
stable efficiency measured by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for a small-area amorphous
silicon
solar cell -- 13 percent.
This patented 'triple-junction' technology enables Uni-solar panels to produce up to 30% more power
than crystalline
panels of the same rating.
Designed for use in our type of climate, they keep working in cloudy conditions – harnessing the
sun’s power for longer.
During the daylight hours of a typically grey British winter (1998/9), a test panel at Suffolk University
College, averaged
nearly 70% of it's rated maximum output! This exceeds all other solar electric technologies currently
available.
Bypass diodes are also fitted, which allow the panels to produce power even when partially shaded. Many
other solar
panels stop working if any area of the panel is shaded.
Uni-Solar panels require much less silicon than those using crystalline type products. Less energy is
consumed in the
production of individual solar cells. What's more, Uni-Solar cells pay for themselves in terms of energy
output, in a
considerably shorter period than crystalline-silicon cells. The Uni-Solar cell structure also requires
much less raw
material in order to produce the same rated power solar cell.
If you are using batteries to store your energy, we suggest the use of a charge controller to prevent overcharging.
All Uni-solar panels are designed to charge a 12 volt battery and have a simple 'two wire' connection
to the charge
controller/battery, with 24 volts being obtained by connecting two panels of the same size in series.
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