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US 8,508,082 B2Granted
Solar energy collection systems and methods
OwnerWilliam E. Hickmaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solar electricity system, comprising a solar collection surface adapted to convert light into DC electricity; a power inverter to convert the DC electricity into AC electricity; and a power cable connected to the power inverter, the power cable comprising a male plug on its distal end adapted to mate with a female power receptacle on a building structure.
Claims10
A solar electricity system, comprising:
- a solar collection surface adapted to convert light into DC electricity;
- a power inverter to convert the DC electricity into AC electricity;
- and
- a power cable connected to the power inverter, the power cable comprising a male plug on its distal end adapted to mate with a female power receptacle on a building structure,
- wherein the male plug is selected from the group consisting of a 110 volt U.S. Type B plug, a 110 volt Nema 5-15 plug, a 110 volt Nema 5-20 plug, a 220 volt Nema 14-30 plug, a 220 volt Nema 14-50 plug, a 220 volt Nema L14-20 plug, and a 220 volt Nema L14-30 plug;
- the power inverter comprising a female power receptacle;
- a second solar collection surface adapted to convert light into DC electricity;
- a second power inverter to convert the DC electricity into AC electricity;
- and
- a second male power cable connected to the second power inverter, the second male power cable comprising a second male plug on its distal end adapted to mate with the female power receptacle on the power inverter.
7 more elements
A method of generating electricity, comprising:
- mounting a solar electricity system on a roof of a building structure, the solar electricity system comprising a solar collection surface adapted to convert light into DC electricity;
- a power inverter to convert the DC electricity into AC electricity;
- and
- a power cable connected to the power inverter, the power cable comprising a male plug on its distal end plugging the male plug into a female power receptacle on the building structure;
- and
- exposing the solar collection surface to sunlight,
- wherein the male plug is selected from the group consisting of a 110 volt U.S. Type B plug, a 110 volt Nema 5-15 plug, a 110 volt Nema 5-20 plug, a 220 volt Nema 14-30 plug, a 220 volt Nema 14-50 plug, a 220 volt Nema L14-20 plug, and a 220 volt Nema L14-30 plug;
- a female power receptacle connected to the power inverter, further comprising creating a daisychain of multiple solar electricity systems by plugging the male plug of a first solar electricity system into a female receptacle of a second solar electricity system.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.