Joseph OConnor - Off Grid Solar: A handbook for Photovoltaics with Lead-Acid or Lithium-Ion batteries

Off Grid Solar

A handbook for Photovoltaics
with Lead-Acid or Lithium-Ion batteries

Joseph P. OConnor

Copyright 2016 Joseph P. OConnor

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 1537622617

ISBN-13: 978-1537622613

DEDICATION

This book would not have happened without you, Jessica. Thank you for all your support and encouragement.

Table of Contents

Joe OConnor is a solar manufacturing entrepreneur as well as a consultant, speaker, and writer on solar energy. Joe has built off grid solar energy systems in the U.S., Haiti, Nepal, Portugal, Guatemala, and most recently in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo. To learn more about his work in Congo, click here to read SolarCity, Tesla, and Virunga, Building Solar Micro Grids for the guardians of Africas oldest and most biodiverse national park.

Seeking to amplify his impact after over a decade of traveling to remote places to install solar, Joe decided to share his knowledge and experience of off grid solar energy systems by writing a book.

As founder of OCON Energy Consulting, Joe provides consulting services for a range of clients in need of solar system design, energy storage systems, and product development. Visit his website for more details, www.OCONEnergy.com

Joe is currently a Senior Applications Engineer for Energy Storage at Mercedes-Benz Energy. In his previous position at SolarCity, Joe supported the Micro Grid Team and the GivePower Foundation by designing solar photovoltaic and Tesla Powerwall systems. He also prototyped, designed, and patented a new solar racking system that enabled SolarCity to become one of the largest commercial installers in the U.S.

Prior to his work at SolarCity, Joe launched a cost-efficient solar racking product at solar manufacturing start-up, Sollega. Joe has also worked with Sustainable Energy Partners in San Francisco, completing dozens of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

Joe earned his M.S. from NYU Polytechnic University in Manufacturing Engineering and was selected as a recipient of the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation Fellowship for Social Entrepreneurship. He earned his B.S. from Cal Poly University in Industrial Technology.

He first became passionate about renewable energy after volunteering with GRID Alternatives the Habitat for Humanities of the solar industrywhen he teamed up with other volunteers to install solar electric systems on homes of low-income families in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Joe believes that advancements in the renewable energy industry will help our global society break its dependency on oil, coal, and natural gas. He is on a mission to make renewable energy the dominant energy source on our planet on order to combat climate change.

All content in this book is provided for educational purposes and should be applied at your own risk. As with any Do-It-Yourself (DIY) project, unfamiliarity with the tools and processes can be dangerous. All content herein should be considered as theoretical advice only.

If you are at all uncomfortable or inexperienced working with the components and/or tools required for Off Grid solar systems (especially but not limited to electronics and mechanical), please reconsider doing the job yourself. It is very possible on any DIY project to damage the equipment, void the property insurance, create a hazardous condition, or harm or even kill yourself or others.

The Author and this book will not be held responsible for any injury due to the misuse or misunderstanding of any of the content related to this book.

By using this book, you agree to indemnify the author (The Company), its officers, directors, employees, agents, distributors, affiliates, subsidiaries and their related companies for any and all claims, damages, losses and causes of action arising out of your breach or alleged breach of this agreement.

The information in this book is distributed as is and appear without express or implied warranties of any kind, except those required by the relevant legislation. In particular the Company makes no warranty as to the accuracy, quality, completeness or applicability of the information provided.

The information provided in this book is for entertainment and promotional purposes only. You may not rely on any information and opinions expressed in it for any other purpose. Neither the Company, nor its officers, directors, employees, agents, distributors, affiliates, subsidiaries and their related companies are responsible or liable for any loss damage (including, but not limited to, actual, consequential, or punitive), liability, claim, or any other injury or cause related to or resulting from any information in this book or on the Companys website.

On the website below there are more resources available to assist in the design of an Off Grid solar system. These resources are free for download:

• System Designer template in MS Excel
• Load calculator table
• Derate Table
• System Summary
• Bill of Materials template in MS Excel
• Solar insolation maps
• Declination maps
• Voltage drop calculator
• GOGLA Photovoltaics for Productive Use Applications: A Catalogue of DC-Appliances .

Please visit the following links to access more information or to contact the author about the book.

www.OffGridSolarBook.com

Are you planning to build an Off Grid solar energy system? Maybe you feel like you are not quite ready and want support in understanding the technology and the process? This book is written so you can decide the best equipment for your project, matching your particular needs within a realistic budget. After reading this book, you will have a firm understanding of how photovoltaic solar panels and batteries work together to provide DC or AC electricity in an Off Grid environment.

First, I will explain the basics of the solar components and the general science behind solar electric systems. Next, I will help you determine how much power and energy can be produced in a particular location and which combination of equipment will match your load at the lowest cost. Finally, I will explain the specifics of the installation process and conclude with a section on how to troubleshoot problems.

By the time youve finished reading, you will be capable of building your own Off Grid solar system, assuming you have the right tools as well as some construction and electrical skills and experience. This book will help you make better decisions about solar. Youll understand what technology you truly need, rather than trusting others for recommendations. Youll be better at comparing bids from installers because you will recognize which technology best suits the needs of your project. Whenever possible in this book, I have avoided recommending specific manufacturers. I want to remain technologically agnostic in your decision-making process, helping you to determine the right specifications instead of specific brands. It is up to you to decide what level of quality you need. If you want your system to last a long time, make sure the products you purchase have long warranties from reputable manufacturers.

This book is geared towards people who want an Off Grid electric energy system, one that is self-sufficient and does not require access to a shared grid. It is designed for people who lack a consistent energy source, like an unreliable utility or one that relies on expensive and dirty fossil fuels. This book covers systems both large and small, and it will be useful whether you need to power a few lights and cell phone chargers at a low cost, or need to power every appliance in your home. There is a clear comparison between todays tried-and-true Lead-Acid batteries and tomorrows Lithium-Ion batteries. This book will also help someone who is building a remote energy source for research or communications equipment.