Glossary
26. Glycol System
An active closed loop system that uses a heat-transfer fluid, made up of a food grade glycol mixture, that collect heat from the rooftop collector and transfers it to a heat exchange coil in the tank.
27. Grid
A system of high tension cables in a region that distributes electricity to homes, businesses, and other buildings
28. Grid tied
A solar system that is connected to the power grid and uses the utility grid as a backup source of power and feeds the excess electricity it generates back into the electricity grid.
29. Ground mount
A solar electrical system that is mounted on the ground instead of on a roof.
30. Heat exchanger
Device that transfers heat. In solar hot water systems the heat exchanger will transfer heat from the fluid in the solar collector loop to the potable water.
31. Interconnection
The process of hooking up a solar electrical system to the power grid.
32. Interconnection Inspection
Inspection performed by the utility to confirm that the system can be safely connected to the power grid.
33. Inverter
The electrical device that converts direct current (DC) electricity that is generated by the solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity. It is the link between the solar modules and the electricity grid.
34. Junction Box
A photovoltaic (PV) generator junction box is an enclosure on the module where PV strings are electrically connected and where protection devices are located.
35. Kilowatt
One thousand watts.
36. Kilowatt-hour (kWh)
1 kWh = 1,000 watts of power over the period of one hour. A kWh is the unit of energy.
37. Load
A load is anything that consumes electricity, and is usually expressed in watts or kilowatts. Typical loads within a house include lights, appliances, etc. Although, the whole house can be considered as a 'load' on the grid.
38. Megawatt
One million watts.
39. Module
A solar panel, or a group of solar cells.
40. Monocrystalline panel
A solar panel that's made from a large, single silicon crystal and has a patchwork pattern. Monocrystalline panels are more expensive and more efficient than multi- or poly- crystalline panels.
41. Multicrystaline panel
(Also known as "polycrystalline") A solar panel that's made from small silicon crystals oriented in many different directions. Multicrystalline panels are less expensive and less efficient than monocrystalline panels.
42. Net Meter
An electricity meter than tracks how much electricity your solar system puts into the power grid and how much electricity your home pulls out of the grid.
43. Open loop system
A solar hot water system where the solar energy is transferred directly to the potable water running through the solar collector.
44. Performance Based Incentive (“PBI”)
Incentive based on a rate per kWh output or equivalent kWh of energy savings.
45. Photon
A particle of light that acts as an individual unit of energy.
46. Photovoltaic
Also known as “PV”, the process of converting light into electricity.
47. Photovoltaic (PV) efficiency
The ratio of electric power produced by a cell to the power of the sunlight striking the cell. TFS installs modules with the highest efficiency available for the residential market.
48. Plot plan
A plan view drawing (bird's eye view of an the area being designed) of a site which includes: the dimensions of the site and its key elements; the location of any structures in relation to one another and to the property boundaries; the elevations of key points; contour lines; utility services; and compass directions.
49. Polycrystalline
See multicrystalline.
50. Power Conversion Efficiency
The ratio of output power to input power of the inverter.