How to Work a Photoelectric Cell

Photoelectric cells provide power in the form of current.

Photoelectric cells, or photovoltaic cells, are devices that are made of materials that change light into electricity. This effect, which was discovered in the late 1800s, happens when the photons present in light strike a cell. The cell, which gives off electrons after the photons are absorbed, creates an electric current. Whether the photoelectric cell is part of an array that goes on your roof, or it's part of a portable battery charging device, the technique for use is the same.

Things You'll Need

• Photoelectric cell

Instructions

1. Make sure that the photoelectric cell is on a stable surface and that all cables are plugged in. If a photoelectric cell is a permanent part of a machine, such as the cells found in solar calculators, then there's no need to check connections because they're already in the device.

2. Place the photoelectric cell into light. It could be artificial light produced by an overhead lamp or natural sunlight outside, but the brighter the source of light and the more light there is, the better it will be for the photoelectric cell.

3. Use the power created by the photoelectric cell. The process that creates electricity will happen naturally, and as a result the current created can be used as soon as it's created. Most devices that you attach to a photoelectric cell will either use the power created immediately to power the device or it will be used to charge the battery.

References

• Nasa: How Photovoltaics Work
• Infoplease: Photoelectric Cell