According to Wikipedia:
"The total amount of energy received at ground level from the sun at the zenith is 1004 watts per square meter, which is composed of 527 watts of infrared radiation, 445 watts of visible light, and 32 watts of ultraviolet radiation."
And:
"When the direct solar radiation is not blocked by clouds, it is experienced as sunshine, a combination of bright light and radiant heat. When it is blocked by the clouds or reflects off other objects, it is experienced as diffused light. The World Meteorological Organization uses the term "sunshine duration" to mean the cumulative time during which an area receives direct irradiance from the Sun of at least 120 watts per square meter."
Highlight in red is mine. So "sunshine" is not quite 12% of total solar energy reaching earth at Zenith.
I'm no mathematician or physicist but I would think that if "sunshine" is what is powering our solar cells, they are pretty efficient already in converting "sunlight" to electricity. If they could capture All the solar energy reaching the earth we'd have a way to go! It would make my "current" 420 Watt panels supply about 3500 Watts!
I'd need new wire, controller and more batteries! :B
But even if I could covert the entire roof of the motorhome with panels that yielded 1004 Watts per square meter, I'd get about 30 horsepower! Not enough to replace the Cummins though!
