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A unit of electrical current.  Current equals Voltage divided by Resistance (I=V/R) and Watts divided by Voltage (I=W/V).  

Batteries used in your car.  They are designed to only drain about 20%.  If you discharge it more than 20% it will be permanently damaged.  

The device between the Solar panels and the batteries.  Its job is to take care of your batteries so that you don't have to.   It takes care of keeping the batteries on a proper charge discharge cycle.  It assures that the batteries don't over charge, which would damage them.  it also makes sure that you don't over discharge them either, which would shorten their life.  Modern BCC's also mix up the electrolyte to keep your batteries functioning at their best.  

The most common energy storage medium.  It is also, presently, the cheapest storage medium available to individuals, in terms of Dollars per Amp-hour ($/A-H) of storage.  When Fuel Cells become available, we will probably have to revisit this position.  Automotive "shallow cycle" batteries will quickly be destroyed in a Solar Electric system.

A flow of electrical energy in one direction, commonly seen in batteries and Solar Electric panels.  

A flow of electrical energy which changes direction 120 times a second (60 Hz), commonly delivery by the utility company to your house and the type most appliances are set up to operate by.  

Number of days your battery bank will supply power to your house or cabin, at normal rates,  without sunlight.  

The number of hours of useable sunlight at your location that a solar electric system will be able to convert into electrical energy.  

Power conditions system, converts the normal DC power from solar panels to 60 Hz alternating current, similar to power supplied from utilities at your house.  End result is the power you have coming out of your plugs is the same as if from a utility company.  

A unit of electrical power.  The power of an average of one kilowatt of energy over a one hour time period.  

Solar Electric systems have a high initial cost but last so long and require such little maintenance that when considering the cost of a system and all of the cost avoidance (Utility power bills that you won't be receiving) you must calculate the cost per KWH ($/KWH) over the entire life of the system and not just the initial installation cost.  SESP will work through a LCC calculation for you.  

State of charge of the batteries where further discharge would damage the deep cycle Lead-acid batteries.  Maximum Depth of discharge (DOD) of a typical deep cycle Lead-acid is around 80% (20% remaining).  DOD directly affect number of cycles that a DCLA battery will survive.  Automotive "Shallow Cycle" batteries will quickly be destroyed in a Solar Electric system.

The "Code" that regulates or recommends electrical wiring specifications for homes and businesses in the United States.  It is owned by the National Fire Protection Association.  Article 690 details specifications covering Solar Electric Systems.  

Another name for an Inverter.

The opposition to current flow through a wire.  Just as a smaller pipe is harder to get water through it.  Resistance is equal to the Voltage divided by the current (R=V/I).  

 A single wafer device which converts sunlight into direct current electrical energy that can be used for any electrical energy purpose.   A good detailed tutorial into the workings of a photovoltaic cell can be found at xxx. 

A sealed group of solar cells which product direct current electrical power in common voltages (6, 12, 24, 48 V).  A panel requires no fuel, maintenance, adjustments.

A mechanical mounting structure that rotates a Solar Electric array in one or two directions to track the sun.  Increases the output of your Solar Electric array about 30% while increasing the maintenance costs of a system.  Must be used in a location that allows movement.

A unit of electrical force.  The pressure that pushes the current through the wires.  Note:  Volts equals Current times Resistance (V=I*R), and Voltage equals Watts divided by Amps (V=W/A).  NEC recommends that wires have less than a 3% voltage drop over the round trip length of the wires.  

A unit of electrical power. Current times Voltage equals Watts.  A Kilowatt is 1000 Watts.  Watts are equal to Volts times Amps (W=V*A).  This formula will come in very handy in doing your calculations.