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glossary |
s-tglos.htm*
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Space Charge:In an electron tube, a cloud of free electrons surrounding the emitter.
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Self-Discharge Rate: The rate at which a batter will gradually decrease its state of charge even though no loads exist.
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Self-Regulating Module: A PV module which is designed to decrease its output as a battery approaches full .
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Series Wiring: A group of electrical devices, such as batteries or photovoltaic modules, wired together to increase voltage, while ampacity remains constant. (Two 100 amp hour 12 volt DC batteries wired in series form a 100 amp hour 24 volt DC battery bank).
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Shorting: The result of treeing. It is also caused by active material falling off the plate.
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Sine Wave: A waveform that looks like rolling waves on water. It rises and falls smoothly with time. The grid puts out a sine waveform. Any plug in AC equipment will operate from a sine wave output.
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Single-Crystal Silicon: Silicon grown from a single crystal which is sliced into thin wafers and used as the basic building block, the solar cell, in many PV module designs.
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Solar cell: The most basic photovoltaic device which generates energy when exposed to sunlight.
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Solar Modules, Panels: A number of solar cells connected in series and/or parallel to increase the voltage and amperage. These connected solar cells are then assembled into a hermetically sealed unit.
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Square Wave: The simplest waveform that looks like a multiple step staircase or more like landing to landing at regular intervals. Some types of equipment behave strangely when run from a square wave.
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Stacking: Two inverters operating together to produce more power and higher output voltage. The units must be stackable, and an interface cable must be utilized.
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State of Charge: The percent of full charge that a battery currently has available.
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Stratification: With time, the liquid portion of a battery (the electrolyte) will separate into layers. The sulfuric acid will go to the bottom, and the water to the top. If allowed to sit in this condition the battery will be ruined. Equalization will bubble and mix the electrolyte eliminating this problem.
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Sulfation: The change in the normal crystalline structure of sulfate on the surface of a battery plate to more stable, larger crystals which increase resistance to normal battery charging.
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Surge Capacity: The amount of current an inverter can deliver for short periods of time. Most electric motors draw up to three times their rated current when starting. An inverter will "surge" to meet these motor-starting requirements.
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Thermionic Emission:The liberation of electrons from a solid metal as a result of heat (thermal energy).
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Transfer Switch: A switch designed to transfer electricity being supplied to loads (appliances, etc.) from one source of power to another. A transfer switch may be used to designate whether power to a distribution panel will come from a generator or inverter.
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Treeing: Growth of a lead dendrite or filament through a hole, crack, or large pore of a separator causing a short-circuit in batteries.
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Glossary