Electricity is often seen as something of a mystery by most people. The majority of people don’t really know how it works, just that the lights come on every time they flip the switch.
There are several ways that electricity can be produced. The most common is by rotating magnets around a conductor (usually an iron core wound with copper wire). The rotating magnetic field induces a voltage in the core, and we have electricity. This device is generally referred to as an alternator. Alternators are driven by many methods: gas, coal, nuclear, hydro or wind.
Power is also generated when heat is applied to two dissimilar metals. This generates very small voltages and has limited applications, usually for controls and switching.
Solar cells use a similar method to this. A silicon plate is combined with another plate, usually boron, and conductive wires are run between the plates. When photons from the sun hit the plates, they knock an electron free, which then runs along the conductive wires, usually to be stored in a battery or power a device.
Solar cells and wind turbines are two of the most common ways to make your own electricity. Both can be purchased commercially or made at home, and can be a good way to reduce your power bill. Some people even live completely off the power grid with the use of solar and wind energy.
While the initial cost can be high, you can realize significant energy savings. You can save even more by making homemade solar cells and wind turbines.
