Solar power by heat or sunlight?

Question

does a solar panel generate electricity by light or heat? for example, if I put a solar panel by my heater, would it generate power?
Thanks!

Answer 1

There are different kinds of solar power. The ones that produce electricity must have sunlight.
However, my dad once had a solar water heater to supplement his electric water heater, and it worked off the heat produced by the sun.

Answer 2

Solar panels fall into two categories. Some are silicon wafers that react to sunlight and are photovoltaic cells. When exposed to a light source (of the proper frequencies) such cells will generate electrical current. These devices, to my knowledge do not react to heat sources to produce electrical current. Solar panels also describe solar thermal collectors. This device utilizes the heat from the sun to heat water, air, or otherwise collect solar thermal energy.

Answer 3

The solar panel works on the principle of photoelectricity and unless the PV cells used have a low frequency threshold, the IR rays from the heater will not work.

It is the energy of the photon that ejects an electron from the surface of the PV cells used in the solar panel.

Answer 4

Look at the surface of the panel. If it's dark, but shiny, but not black, it's a photovoltaic solar panel, and requires light.

A thermal solar panel should be a dull black.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_panel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_thermal_collector
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_hot_water_panel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaic_array
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell

Answer 5

no...its only by the sun...it has sunlight rays that send it to the lil censor