Unknown - Off Grid Solar Power For Beginners A Step-by-Step Guide to Building and Installing Solar Power Panels for Homes, Vehicles, Cabins and Boats nodrm

Off Grid

Solar Power

For Beginners

A Step-by-Step Guide to Building and Installing Solar Power Panels for Homes, Vehicles, Cabins and Boats

Paul A. Maxwell

Copyright 2020 by Paul A. Maxwell - All rightsreserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, and scanning without the prior permission in writing by the publisher or author

Contents

Introduction

With0the rising prices in electricity, and the growing concerns of the environmental impact of power0plants to the planet, more and more people are saying that they want to go off the grid and0produce their own power.

This kind0of option is a dream for most people but sadly often times, thats what it is- a dream.

They want0to do it, but they dont know where to start, or even what their options are.

Also, people0think that going off the grid means having to leave the convenience of living in a town or0city, which most people dont want to do.

The good0news is that with new research and technology, there are a lot of renewable energy options that0are available that can fit any type of property that you currently live in.

Alternative0green energy is on the rise everywhere across the world, and solar powers share of the0green market is growing rapidly in many countries just as it is in the United States.

For those who0have not yet adopted solar energy, the balance between solar energy advantages anddisadvantages is apparently still a critical factor to be weighed before switching. 0

Sustainable0development is now at the forefront of social and political agendas. From the huge international0development projects financed by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to more0local development underwritten by your regional banks, its doubtful that funding is even available0to projects without a sustainable energy plan.

We, as modern0citizens need to compare the advantages

and

disadvantages

of

many

renewable power0sources like bio-energy and geothermal energy, hydroelectricity, wind, and

solar energy0before settling on the final choice. Its a question of what fits our needs best and under0what conditions.

Solar energy is here to stay, and it has changed the power0industry, its business model, and the way electricity is delivered to the grid. Once, the words public0utility or power company

conjured images of giant monolithic public or private corporations0that owned huge power plants with tall smoky chimneys or cooling towers of0reactors. Today, the monolith is gone.

Over the last decade, power companies have divested0themselves of their generating capacity and have morphed into line owners, buying power0generation from the lowest biddereven from their former generators. This has happened in more0than 50% of all power markets across the United States, and solar power made it happen. 0

Everyone recognizes the glistening panels on rooftops0or the arrays covering someones backyard. These are common enough sights. But thats0only part of what is driving the industry and the world to greener living. Ranging from 5025,000

megawatts0(MW),

large-scale

commercial solar producers are providing an alternative to conventional0generation across the country to create new options for people to

go solar. 0

Solar energy0has taken the lead in overall green energy sources.

What is the meaning of Off-GridSolar System?

One of the0main types of the solar power system is Off-grid also known as a stand-alone power system0(SAPS).It works by generating electricity from solar panels and using it to charge a solar0battery via a charger controller.

That electricity is then converted using an inverter so0that it can power the home or

business appliances. By saving the electricity in a solar0battery, it is possible to run home with solar energy, even at night or during times when there0is less sun exposure.

Components of an Off Grid Solar PowerSystem

Solar Panels

The0precise size and production capabilities of individual solar panel array which is the first ingredient0will depend on the amount of available sunlight in the region, the usable space of roof, and0energy consumption needs.

Solar Batteries

A solar0battery is needed to allow home to continue to run after the sun goes down. Solar storage0device will charge throughout the day as solar panels generate excess electricity. Rather than0simply losing out on all of that available solar power, a battery enables to keep it for0later use. Depending on energy needs, a single battery, or even a battery bank is used.

Solar Inverters

In order0to convert the direct current (DC) collected by solar panel array into the alternating current (AC) for running most of common household appliances and electronics, solar power0system

needs

a solar

inverter

sometimes referred to as a solar converter or a PV0inverter. For an off-grid system use a stand-alone inverter.

Solar Charge Controller

The0solar charge controller or battery charger is essential to save battery. The controller regulates the0voltage and current that solar battery receives, to prevent overcharging and damage.

Alternative energy source

It0may be worth considering an alternative source of energy as back up of the system. This is0needed during the depths of winter when solar production is at its lowest. Many owners who use

off-grid0systems combine them with a generator that can power homes electricity needs.

Advantages of Off-Grid Solar Systems 1. No0access to the utility grid Off-grid solar systems can be cheaper than extending0power lines in certain remote areas.

2. Become energy self-sufficient Another big0advantage of going off grid is that, 100% independence from electricity retailers.

Need not to0pay anything for electricity costs, and 100% insured against rising energy prices.

System also0protects from grid-tied power failures or blackouts. Living off the grid and being self-sufficient0feels good. Energy self-sufficiency is also a form of security. Power failures on the utility grid do0not affect off-grid solar systems.

What does it mean to go off-grid?

Taking your0home off-grid from an electricity perspective means completely removing any connection0to the larger electric grid, which

powers the large majority of homes, buildings and businesses0throughout the country. This means that to go off-grid, youll need to meet all of your household0needs with electricity produced on-site.

Importantly, installing 0 solar panels on your roofdoes not mean that youve gone off the grid.

Most solar energy0systems are not designed to consistently generate enough electricity to be a homes only power0source, which is why the vast majority of solar homeowners maintain a connection with their0utility company.

In

these

cases,

a

policy

called net

metering allows you0to put the electricity produced by your solar panels back onto the electric grid when you0arent using it, and to then pull from the grid when your solar panels arent producing, at night0or when the weather is less than ideal. At the end of the month or year, youre billed by your0electric utility on the

net of production from your solar panels and the electricity you used from0the grid, hence the term net-metering.

In an off-grid solar energy0system, you dont have access to the larger electric grid when you need it, either at night when0your solar panels arent producing, or in the event of a prolonged period of cloudy0weather. Instead, you need to create your own personal grid, installing on-site battery0storage to store the output from your solar panels for use at a later point in time.