solar panel: Power Backup Generators

Backup power sources are usually included in photovoltaic systems connected to the grid for when there is no sun. Engine generators, which can run on gas, propane or diesel-capable fuel, are the most common backup source because they provide power on demand. Generators are used more during the shorter days of winter and during periods of overcast weather. They can be configured for automatic start-up if a compatible inverter or charger is used, although many outside the network do not recommend them, generators should be checked for liquids and fuel before starting. Generators are also important for compensating load as it is difficult to get enough power and power from photovoltaic panels to perform this function. Generator options include fuel type, size (kW), and fuel storage. Noise, exhaust, and access to maintenance should be influential. Regular maintenance of oil check, filter change, and tune up, is necessary so the generator can be available when needed. A generator typically needs to be sized to handle both the battery charging and running the charges simultaneously. Inefficiencies due to high elevations and temperature, and the limitations of the load capacity available in the inverter / charger, will also influence the size.

solar panel: More panels, less batteries

More panels, less batteries

The perpetual issue in designing a battery's base system is how to charge the battery bank at 100% capacity, preferably every day, but at least once a week. Problems arise when there is not enough sun to meet the daily load, and after a few days, the battery has fewer opportunities to fully fill.

Whenever the budget allows, it can be beneficial to oversize the photovoltaic installation. During sunny weather, the modules will stop charging the battery earlier in the day, but during periods of overcast weather, there will be more PV output to power the batteries and less reason to power the generator.

With a larger array, the specification of a smaller battery bank becomes possible because it is also more likely to be fully charged on a regular basis. If the loads can be coordinated to operate during the day, while the photovoltaic array is producing, a smaller battery capacity can be used successfully.

With the price decrease of modules significantly in recent years, and increased battery prices, the increase in PV array size is feasible for more system owners. In addition, bypass loads can be used to take advantage of excess PV system output on sunny days.

Solar Panel: Batteries

Batteries

Battery considerations include the type of technology, cost, preferred voltage system, ambient temperature, maintenance requirements and battery location. Almost all home bank batteries are deep lead acid batteries, which can be regularly and deeply discharged. For lead-acid batteries, the first decision is whether to use a flooded battery that requires regular distilled water to be added, or a lead-acid battery with sealed regulating valve that may require no watering. Sealed batteries are more expensive and have a shorter life than flooded full size batteries, but this compensation may be worth it in cases where battery maintenance can not or does not want to be done.

Modern benchless battery packs are typically 24 or 48 V, which allows the use of smaller caliber cable from 12V systems, which have higher current for the same power level. Choosing a higher voltage battery also means wiring more batteries in series to increase the voltage, thus reducing the number of parallel battery strings needed for the same available power. This, in turn, helps reduce imbalances through the battery bank. If there are 12 V on loads that need to be driven, a DC to DC converter can be used to supply the correct voltage.

It is important to keep leaded batteries out of living spaces and all batteries should be protected from unauthorized access as they contain caustic chemicals and pose a shock and risk of burn if not handled properly. Choosing a place with moderate temperatures is critical to the longevity of the battery. For every 18 ° F increase in temperature of battery experiences, the number of cycles available reduces by half.

For example, if the battery has a power of 3,600 cycles at 77 ° F, it would then be expected to last 1,800 cycles, or about five years, if it is installed in a 95 ° F climate. At lower temperatures, a battery will win Lifetime, but its available capacity will decrease.

Maintenance requirements for all batteries include keeping the terminals and battery lids free from corrosion, dirt and debris. This helps keep electricity flowing through the entire battery bank. The battery must be charged at 100% once a week, keeping the batteries in discharged state can shorten their life. The electrolyte level should not expose lead plates to air. Flooded batteries also have to be matched, a controlled overload that is commonly done every few months.

Equalization helps to rebalance cell voltage and improves battery health by mixing the electrolyte, which can stratify over time. Ventilating explosive hydrogen gases from a battery case into the open air is very important. Passive ventilation can be achieved by the intake air vents installed in the bottom of a battery box that is combined with the highest outlet vents at the top. This allows the lighter hydrogen gases to rise up and out. Active ventilation by a DC fan can also be used.
Dimensioning a battery bank starts with load analysis. The battery needs to store the amount of energy needed for the daily loads. If loads have to work on some days where there is no sun available, then the battery bank has to be larger, known as days off. Beyond that, the batteries will yield more cycles the less they are extracted from them on a daily basis. For example, a battery that is discharged 20% can provide 3,300 cycles; If 80% is discharged, it can only provide 675 cycles.

Solar Panel: Investors

Investors

Using Alternating Current appliances in a home with an insulated grid requires an inverter to convert the electricity from the solar panels and the battery bank to the needed Alternating Current electricity. When choosing an inverter, consideration should be given to options such as measurement, programming flexibility, waveform type, resting power, generator backup, overvoltage capability, and above all the energy required for loads.

Measuring an inverter requires adding all the energy needed by appliances that will work simultaneously. Some loads with motors, such as a refrigerator compressor, also require an energy boost to start, called a wave, which is typically two to seven times longer than the energy normally needed by appliances. Choosing an inverter with a longer power range can be important if the loads increase or if there will be a future expansion in the system. The inverters also use power in the standby mode (in which a load turns on), so choosing an inverter with little power at rest is important.

Appliances with Alternating Current require a sine wave that alternates voltages between positive and negative 60 times per second. The inverters take DC current and create this sinusoidal AC wave with varying degrees of accuracy. Modified square wave inverters create a rudimentary waveform that can run most appliances, but have more sophisticated electronics problems, such as dampers and computers. A true sine wave will run most equipment, especially motor-based, more efficiently, which translates into more useful system power. In this way, many homeowners with isolated network choose true sine wave inverters, which can run all electronic gadgets without a problem.

Most home appliances require 120 Volts to operate. Other loads, such as well pumps or some workshop tools, require 240 V. In this case, you will have to choose a single inverter that offers 120 / 240V, or use two inverters that produce each 120 V, but can be connected ( Or "stacked") to provide 240 V. Alternatively, a transformer may be used between a 120 V inverter and a 240 V load to intensify the voltage when necessary. The isolated photovoltaic system network usually uses a backup generator. If you are going to use a generator, you will need an inverter with a large battery charger to change the alternating current electricity from the DC generator to the batteries, and run any AC load. Most high-end inverters offer programming options for interconnection with generators, such as automatic start and stop, quiet pre-set hours, and maximum rate amps. In addition, the measurement allows users to see the amount of charge that goes from the generator of the batteries, the amount of energy coming out of the battery for the charges, and the state of charge of the battery.

Solar equipment: Load Regulators

Load Regulators

The main function of a charge regulator is to prevent overcharging of the batteries. The charge regulators monitor the battery voltage - when the battery is fully charged, disconnect the charge source (in this case, the solar panels) from the battery until it is needed again. Other small regulators also have the feature that prevents over-discharge of DC loads.

When choosing a home charge controller, you must first evaluate whether the Maximum Power Point Detector, which helps maximize the energy collection of the solar panels, is needed. The charge controller of the Maximum Power Point Detector also has a "voltage reducer", so it can convert high voltages (up to 600 Volts DC) to lower battery voltages (typically 24 or 48 Volt DC) . This allows more modules to be connected in series and using smaller (and less expensive) gauge cables from the modules to the controller. Having a large voltage difference between the solar panel and the battery decreases the efficiency of the charge controller, but the benefits of being able to place the panel farther away from the battery bank, reducing the size of the cables, and having smaller devices that protect Of the overhead, it may be worth it. Load controllers without the Maximum Power Point Detector still hold a large share of the market, but would generally make sense in applications of smaller systems such as boats, lighting, motor homes, and small cabins. Additional information needs to be considered when choosing a regulator, including monitoring requirements, temperature compensation, voltage and current specifications, and panel size to the battery voltage reducer.

Solar Panel : Panel Mounting Systems

Panel Mounting Systems

Because the sites of homes without a network sometimes have more rooms than the houses in the city, they generally have more places for the placement of the panels beyond a home or the roof of a garage. Land mounts, column supports, sheds or barn roofs and solar trackers are options. A ground mount or column mount system allows the array to be adjusted according to the season, and this additional power output can reduce the runtime of a backup generator during the winter. For example, adjusting to a 3000 W fixture in Pueblo, Colorado, from a fixed latitude slope to a steeper slope will gain 0.5 hours of maximum sunshine during the winter. That additional energy is estimated at about 1500 Wh per day.

For the largest energy harvest of an arrangement, a solar tracker assembly can be used as much as a transparent solar window is present. With modulating module prices, however, the additional cost of the follower plus the introduction of moving parts into an otherwise non-mechanical system makes this option more difficult to justify. Often, it is a better investment to increase the size of the matrix to increase production throughout the system year.

Certain loads need special consideration because of their high energy usage, including heating, air conditioning, water pumps, refrigerators, water heaters and stoves. For these applications, it is best to first determine if there are other methods that can complete the same task, for example when drying clothes use clothes racks instead of dryer. If a household appliance is still to be used, consideration should be given to ways to reduce the demand for the load, and then to purchase the most efficient appliance that will serve that need. For example, proper window positioning and proper size can help reduce air conditioning loads, as well as good wall insulation. After using all non-electric cooling means, use an evaporative cooler (in dry climate) or ceiling fans.

Consumers in the isolated network must be aware of what their energy allows and carefully buy efficient appliances. Many appliances, having large attractions or standby modes, can be great energy consumers. The US Department of Energy Energy Star website (energystar.gov) is a good place to investigate about the most effective appliances - however, even with the Energy Star rating in the appliance categories there are wide variations in The energy consumption. For example, the estimated Energy Star consumption of a LG 42 "plasma television is 140 kWh per year, compared to a similar model LCD whose range is 83 kWh to 152 kWh per year. Likewise, comparing Whirlpool refrigerators demonstrates that a refrigerator with two doors consumes approximately 30% more energy than one with the top freezer.

Photovoltaic Modules

When choosing photovoltaic modules for your gridless system, it is important to look at price, technology, how they adhere to the ceiling or shelf, voltage and current specifications, UL listed and warranty. The most typical type of module has a voltage that integrates easily with the organized configurations of interconnected inverters. The non-networked market can even take advantage of these common modules by using Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), a charge controller that can reduce field voltage to the minimum voltage of a bank battery. There are still some modules on the market that are nominal 12V, made to directly charge 12, 24 and 48V bank batteries through a non-reducing charge controller, but they are becoming hard to find and are typically more expensive.

Proper sizing arrangement is crucial in designs without a network. It ensures that the loads you need to run will have power and that the battery can be fully recharged after a period of no sun. To size an array you will need to know the STC watt modules, the daily average of the maximum hours of the sun in the worst month and the amount of energy the load consumes. An arrangement needs to produce as much as the average daily consumes and be able to recharge the batteries to recover after cloudy periods. Whenever possible make the arrangement larger to account for the inclement weather. Most designers even specify a generator to accommodate during periods of low sunshine, whereupon the need to enlarge the arrangement in the future is removed.

Loads in solar power panel

Loads

It is crucial to carefully consider household appliances in the design of an isolated network system. The first step is to make a list of the required energy of each desired appliance and determine the average daily hours that each will use. A load analysis calculates the energy consumed by each appliance with the ultimate goal of determining the total average energy consumed daily by all loads in the home. This daily consumption value is then used to designate a battery bank large enough to store that daily energy and a solar panel large enough to produce that energy.

Other considerations include whether appliances use AC or DC. All appliances outside a shelf that can be connected to a wall outlet are Alternating Current. For houses with isolated networks of full-time occupation, the benefits of appliances with Alternating Current exceed those of DC. Conventional appliances are readily available, and operate at higher voltages, so you can use smaller standard AC power wiring at home. In certain applications, such as a cabin, truck or boat system, the increased efficiency created by removing the inverter can justify more expensive and more difficult to obtain DC power appliances. For example, a solar panel system for a boat can operate 12 Volt DC lights, a radio, a television, and a refrigerator directly from the battery to avoid the use of an inverter.

Considerations for Isolated Photovoltaic Systems

There are many reasons to choose an insulated system to feed a house or a remote hut. Some people want to avoid the high cost of extending a service line, while others like the independence of home energy production, in addition to having a silent emission-free power source with 25 year warranty.

Isolated systems are very different than interconnected systems. Without CFE as a supplementary electricity source, the size of the photovoltaic system is critical. Isolated systems require the sacrifice of their owners, this means living within the energy budget of the original design, planning for future growth, and having a backup power source for high energy use times or low light output solar. All maintenance and maintenance equipment is also performed at the owner's place, and by the owner or installer, rather than by an electric company.

Should it be disconnected from the mains?

For most homes in the United States, power cuts are infrequent and brief, and an interconnected grid system is the most effective and economical option. The interconnected grid system serves essentially as a giant battery bank, accepting the production of excess photovoltaic energy during the day and providing electricity at night or during cloudy days. In areas of served networks where power outages are common or long, having backup power on the site can make sense. However, it is important to carefully consider the maintenance, cost and potential risks of a battery bank. Selecting just what loads are critical to maintain during power outages will keep the number of batteries needed and the price of batteries low. Isolated network design is most appropriate when there is no network access and is not typically considered for homes that are already connected to the network. Normally, remote properties can be energized by isolated grid systems that use photovoltaic energy at a cost less than the extension of the service line, making it the most economical option.

Getting Residential Solar Energy Equipment

Are you looking to get residential solar energy? Do you want to know what you need, as well as the best ways to get residential solar energy to power your home? In this article, you will discover the information you need to get started!

Several countries now have a grant scheme in place, which can be a great method to getting big savings when buying solar power equipment.

Having this option is great, and can make all the difference, so invest the time, and you can find the best.

The other thing to remember, is that you can always get solar power in the home for cheaper. More and more power companies provide solar energy, however, the negatives with this, is that you will still be paying for energy in the form of electric, and won't save money.

However, if you want to save money, then you can with the solar energy products available on the market.

Take for example the options of buying equipment to power your home with solar. The process can save you money, and you can get what you need.

So, what do you need?

To power your home with solar energy, first you need to know the power requirements you have. You can best do this with a recent utility bill, which often shows usage. What you want to do, is to find out your power needs over a day or two.

Remember to factor in seasonal peaks, such as winter! And also remember that you can either power your entire home with solar energy or you can opt to go with partly powering with residential solar energy equipment. As the equipment is scalable, you can always add more and more over time!

The next thing to remember is what you will need, in order to get residential solar energy in the home.

Solar panels are the main component. Next, you need to get batteries, and then you need to get cables and inverted. I have found that there is a easier way to get this equipment.

Going online is great for this. Though there are some specialist stores that you can go to, however, remember that going through these stores, it can actually work out more expensive, and you may need to travel a bit!

The internet offers the best prices for solar panels, and other essentials for residential solar energy. The results can be immense, and you can get the best, with some research.

The thing to remember, is that you can order from a company a hundred miles away, and still they will deliver next day! At least that's the case with many places!

So, invest the time to research, and you can find some amazing prices online!

SOLAR PANELS READY TO INSTALL ONE

Today in the Blog of Renewable Energies we want to talk about how you can install your own solar panel yourself, since we want to promote independence and wisdom linked to renewable energies. This way you can take advantage of the benefits of solar energy at home. In Erenovable, solar panels ready to install yourself.

ADVANTAGES SOLAR PANELS

Before you begin to see solar panels ready to install yourself or see how you can make a home solar panel, let's look at the main advantages that this method of sourcing offers.

Solar panels are a system of energy supply that harnesses the energy of the sun and, therefore, is an almost eternal energy, at least until the sun continues to operate it will continue to exist. It is difficult to imagine another type of energy as powerful and renewable as the energy of the star that enlightens us.
The solar panels are very quiet and very clean, which makes it perfect for homes where you need peace of mind, for example, when a woman is with the weeks of pregnancy. In addition, they do not pollute, they do not emit any type of toxic gases and for its operation does not need of any type of chemical reaction. They are a much cleaner method of supply than nuclear energy, and still much cleaner than fossil fuels.
They save a lot of energy, saving money at the end of the month. More and more people are betting on solar panels as a method of supplying alternating or secondary energy, to save at the end of the month a pinch in the invoice.
Solar panels allow self-sufficiency and reduce the energy dependence of citizens. In recent years many people have been encouraged to install their own home solar panels because with them can save a significant pinch in the bill of light. In addition, these solar panels are ready to use for 30 years, so they can be amortized long before.

Only a simple and simple work is needed. The solar panels are usually ready for installation and it is the company that will be responsible for assembling them, unless you are a handyman or an expert on the subject and you want to do it yourself, or start making your own pins with your own Homemade solar panels.
Maintaining these solar panels does not require a lot of time. Of course, you have to be careful that the panels are kept in good condition, since dirt and shock or scratches can cause them to reduce their performance by up to 35%.
After an initial investment, in a few years the money invested will have been amortized.
It allows the supply of continuous renewable energy, there is sun or there is no sun.
On the other hand, we must not forget that renewable energies are increasingly important and that many companies are already betting on this type of energy that go hand in hand with sustainable development. It is therefore a sector that still has many possibilities to develop, despite the regulations in force in many countries have cut it off.
Finally, it should be noted that solar panels do not produce waste, ie they are clean energy at the time of production (it does not emit polluting gases into the atmosphere) and it does not have the problem of storing waste. Considering how the landfills of the planet are and the potential hazardousness of waste from other industries, it is a very important advantage
It is clear that these panels have an added cost but the truth is that as we have highlighted among the benefits. After the first investment (consisting of paying the panels and their installation) we will be able to save in the long run on electricity consumption. The manufacturers assure that the solar panels can be amortized in a period of 7 years, and that they have around 25 years of life.

How to choose the right solar cells

The price of solar cells is crucial to whether you are a good investment. But what is the difference between the expensive and cheap ones? Read how solar cells work and which ones deliver the most electricity.

Prices of solar cells varies considerably and depends on the technology used in the panels. The different types is that they generally provide more power than the manufacturers promise, according to a test conducted by Nordic Folk Centre for Renewable Energy. Photo: Bigstockphoto
What types of solar cells are there?

The solar panels, which are on the Danish market today are almost all crystalline and based on silicon, ie monocrystalline or polycrystalline cells. Furthermore, there are non-crystalline (amorphous) solar cells and amorphous thin-film solar cells, which is based on powdered silicon. In recent years, there are new types on the market that are not based on silicon.

Today, 80 percent of the market solar cells based on crystalline silicon cell technology. The effectiveness of these is usually 13-16 percent, but there are also solar cells with an efficiency of up to 20-23 percent.

Monocrystalline solar cells

This type of solar cell is typically characterized by that it has a black or gray surface that is uniform and evenly distributed on the panel.

A monocrystalline solar cell consists of a single crystal of silicon. They may be round at the corners, but would be a particularly dense packing of the finished module, they can be cut into squares. Most often, the cells are divided into squares with smaller distance to get a higher power and thus greater efficiency.

This solar cell technology is made up of cells which are mounted on a grid of metal and act as a contact network. Then mount the cells between two layers of glass or between glass and a plastic layer. Often, the cells are monteren on a white background to reflect the light that penetrates the cells so that the cells can be kept cool. At higher temperature the efficiency decreases and thus for the effect of the solar cells.

Today you can get monocrystalline solar cells with bypass diodes, ensuring optimum production although there are shadow effects, bird droppings or other to block the sun's rays. Monocrystalline solar cells, the photovoltaic technology with the highest efficiency, but therefore also the most expensive.

Vendors promise now a panel efficiency of 17 percent, a benefit guarantee at least 90 percent after 10 years and 80 percent after 25 years. In addition, it is expected that the panel has a lifespan of between 30-40 years.

polycrystalline solar cells

Polycrystalline solar cells containing multiple silicon crystals, and they are often in shades of blue and square. They are formed by casting in a mold. The individual crystals in the solar cell reflects the light back differently, providing a "living" surface.

Polycrystalline cells have a slightly lower efficiency per. square meter than monocrystalline, but the closer packing of the module is often closer so it outweighs cell's lower efficiency. Panel Efficiency is on ca.13-19 percent and the typical lifetime for this type of solar cell technology is 40-50 years.

Netinverteren which converts the current to 230V, is expected to have a lifespan of 10-20 years, depending on the brand and quality.

Thin film solar cells and amorphous and non-crystalline type

Thin Film Solar cells are also called in some contexts for 2nd generation solar cells and is gaining ground on the market. We know the technology from calculators where they are characterized by having a homogeneous and dark surface. Some vendors claim to thin film solar cells work better in overcast skies than the crystalline, which is an advantage in our latitudes where it is often overcast.

They first developed thin film solar cells based on amorphous silicon (a-Si), and most recently, the arrival of solar cells include copper-indium-selenium (CIS) and cadmium telluride (CdTe). They have a low material and energy consumption in production. Since 2005, their market share has more than doubled.

Amorphous silicon cells belong to the family of thin film solar cells. The photoactive semiconductor is in this case, amorphous silicon (formless or non-crystallized silicon) on which is steamed a support substrate that is often glass. Material consumption is low, and it provides a considerable saving in the manufacture compared with crystalline silicon.

Amorphous silicon is by far the most developed technology. The efficiency is, however, somewhat lower, about 13-16 per cent against 20-23 per cent, as is the case with crystalline solar cells. Amorphous or mikromorfe solar cells can come in many forms.

One can also obtain the solar cell modules of metal foil and plastic, as opposed to the glass modules can be bent without damage. The color is reddish brown to black.

Another type is the CIS thin film solar cells (Cu = copper, indium, I = S = selenium) which is a silicon free technology. The color is black, and their effectiveness is comparable to crystalline cells. The type is very well suited for network connected systems.

integrated solar cells

Integrated solar cells can be used in the building facades and roofs, which means that the solar cells, in addition to the generation of energy, also acts as a weather screen.