How solar works
The simple version of how solar panels turn sunlight into power for your home.
Solar panels are made of photovoltaic (PV) cells that convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity. The more sun your roof gets, the more electricity your panels can produce.
An inverter converts that DC electricity into alternating current (AC) — the kind of power your lights, appliances, and outlets actually use.
From there, your solar-generated electricity flows into your home's electrical panel and powers what you're using in real time. Anything left over may be sent back to the grid (depending on your utility and local rules) for credits.
On cloudy days, panels still produce — just less. At night, your home pulls power from the grid as usual (or from a battery, if you have one installed).