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Basics

Every WattBarn guide filed under Basics. Practical, plain-English walkthroughs, ranked on what actually matters.

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Two story house with a row of solar panels on the upper roof slope, lit by low golden sunlight under a clear blue skyLatest in Basics
Basics

How Do Solar Panels Work? Sunlight to Outlet

This explainer traces how solar panels work end to end: sunlight into silicon, cells into modules, DC into AC, and the meter that decides what you keep.

· 32 min readRead the guide →
A man in a brown shirt and glasses at a wooden kitchen table, working a calculator with printed sheets spread across the table in front of a sunlit windowBasics

What Are SRECs? Selling Solar Credits

This explainer covers what SRECs are, how a state renewable standard mints the certificate, why it sells apart from your power, and what the income is worth.

· 32 min read
Underside of a rooftop solar array showing aluminum racking rails and small grey electronics enclosures mounted beneath the panel framesBasics

Microinverters vs String Inverters

This comparison weighs microinverters against string inverters on shade, monitoring, roof complexity, cost, failure modes, warranty length, and battery plans.

· 29 min read
A close view along rows of dark solar panels mounted on a tiled roof, the far end catching warm low sunlightBasics

Community Solar: How It Works and Who It Fits

Community solar for renters and shaded roofs: how the bill credit works, what the subscription discount really is, and which contract terms to read first.

· 25 min read
Solar panels on a residential rooftop in bright midday sun with a home battery on the wall belowBasics

Solar Inverter vs Battery: Do You Need Both?

This explainer covers the difference between a solar inverter and a battery: what each does, DC to AC conversion vs storage, costs, and whether you need both.

· 27 min read
Close-up of neat rows of modern black solar panels on a rooftop in morning lightBasics

Solar Panel Efficiency: What the Percentage Means

This teardown explains solar panel efficiency: what the percentage measures, typical ratings by panel type, and when paying extra for it is actually worth it.

· 27 min read
Home solar panels under a heavily overcast grey sky with soft diffuse daylight and a cool blue-grey tintBasics

Do Solar Panels Work on Cloudy Days?

This briefing answers do solar panels work on cloudy days: yes, at reduced output, with diffuse-light physics, cloud versus shade, and rain and snow facts.

· 28 min read
A residential electricity meter mounted on the exterior wall of a home in bright afternoon lightBasics

What Is Net Metering? (How Solar Credits Work)

This explainer covers what net metering is: how a utility credits the excess solar you send to the grid, how those credits roll over, and why the rate varies.

· 24 min read
Solar panels on a snowy residential roof under bright winter sun with a cool blue tintBasics

Do Solar Panels Work in Winter and Cloudy Weather?

This briefing answers do solar panels work in winter and cloudy weather: yes, at reduced output, with cold-efficiency physics, snow facts and seasonal math.

· 25 min read