on video Solar off grid Wiring diagram | Solar panel wiring Diagram

Solar off grid Wiring diagram | Solar panel wiring diagram

Solar energy is simply the light and heat that come from the sun. People can harness the sun's energy in a few different ways photovoltaic cells which convert sunlight into electricity. Passive solar heating which can be as simple as letting the sun shine through windows to heat the inside of a building.

What is an inverter used for?

An inverter converts the DC electricity from sources such as batteries or fuel cells to AC electricity. The electricity can be at any required voltage in particular it can operate AC equipment designed for mains operation, or rectified to produce DC at any desired voltage.

The prices of solar panels have been falling gradually but the cost of an off-grid solar system setup is steadily rising. However, anyone with basic knowledge of Electricity and a toolbox can install it on their own. This will reduce the overall system cost significantly and you will learn a lot.

In order to build a basic off-grid solar system, you will need the following components:

1.Solar panel

2. Charge Controller

3.Battery

4. Inverter

5. Balance Of System (Cable, Breaker, Meter, Fuses, and MC4 connectors)

In this Instructable, I will guide you step-by-step on how to choose the appropriate components of your Off-Grid Solar System and then guide you on how to connect and set them up properly.

The off-grid solar system means you are not connected in any way to the utility grid. The system utilizes batteries to store energy produced from solar panels.

Solar Panel:

The solar panel converts sunlight into electricity. Photovoltaic cells on the solar panel absorb the sun’s energy and convert it to DC electricity.

Charge Controller:

The current from the solar panel feeds into a charge controller, which controls how much current goes to a battery. Charge controllers prevent batteries from being over-charged and over-discharged.

Battery:

It stores energy generated from the solar panel during the day.

Inverter:

It converts the DC (Direct Current) power from the battery bank or solar panels to AC (Alternating Current) so that you can run your AC appliances, such as TV, Fan, Fridge, Water Pump, etc.

Ohms Law Relationship

Current (I) = Voltage (V) / Resistance (R)

It is easier to remember the Ohms law relationship by using the above picture (Ohms Triangle). By knowing any two values of the Voltage, Current, or Resistance quantities we can use Ohms Law to find the third missing value.

Figuring out your daily energy consumption (Watt-Hours) is the first step for designing an off-grid solar system.

Energy Consumption (Watt-Hours) = Power (Watts) × Time (Hours)

You can get the power rating from the power label (Name Plate) of the appliance or you can measure the actual power consumption by using a wattmeter. I have used my wattmeter to measure the power consumption of a few appliances.

Manual Calculation:

If you're running a 2 Nos of 6W LED bulb for 5 hours a day, 1 No of Fan (80W) for 4 hours, 1 No of Laptop (65W) for 3 hrs, and a WiFi Router (6W) for 24 hours .

The battery is used to store the energy produced by the Solar Panel during the day. It is an essential part of an off-grid solar system, and provides a constant source of stable and reliable power that allows to power devices when the sun is down.

The cost of the battery is contributing a large portion of the entire project cost. Here we will discuss in detail so that you can select the right battery for your off-grid solar installation.

Batteries are categorized according to 1. Application & Construction 2. Chemistry

1. Applications: Automotive and Deep-Cycle

2. Chemistry: Lead Acid, Lithium, and NiCd

Automotive Battery:

This type of battery is designed to provide a very large amount of current for a short period of time. This surge of current is needed to turn the engine over during starting. Therefore lots of thin plates are employed to achieve maximum surface area and as a result higher starting current in starting batteries.

Application: Automobiles ( Car & Bike )

Deep-Cycle Battery:

A deep cycle battery is designed to provide a constant amount of current over a long period of time. This type of battery is also designed to be deeply discharged over and over again. To accomplish this, a deep cycle battery uses thicker plates. This will lead to lower surfaces and accordingly less instant power, unlike the starting batteries.

Two of the most common battery chemistry types are lithium-ion and lead-acid. Apart from these NiCd is also used for the renewable application, but here I will discuss only the first two.

Lead-acid batteries are made with lead, while Lithium batteries are made with the metal lithium. Lithium and lead-acid batteries can both store energy effectively, but each has unique advantages and drawbacks.

1.Lead-acid Battery:

The lead-acid battery is a tried-and-true technology that costs less, but requires regular maintenance and doesn’t last as long.

oded Lead-Acid (FLA):

These types of batteries are submerged in water. These must be checked regularly and refilled every 1-3 months to keep them working properly. It also needs to be installed in a ventilated place to allow battery gases to escape.

Sealed Lead-Acid (SLA):

SLA batteries come in two types, AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) and Gel, which have many similar properties. They require little to no maintenance and are spill-proof. The key difference in AGM vs. Gel batteries are that gel batteries tend to have lower charge rates and output. Gel batteries generally can’t handle as much charge current, which means they take longer to recharge and output less power.

2.Lithium Battery:

Lithium is a premium battery technology with a longer lifespan and higher efficiency, but you’ll pay more money for the boost in performance.

The Lithium batteries that are used in solar systems are Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) which have great thermal stability, high current ratings, and a long cycle life. This new technology lasts longer and can be put through deeper cycles. They also require no maintenance or venting, unlike lead-acid batteries. The main downside for lithium batteries is their higher price compared to lead-acid batteries at the moment.

Which Battery Should You Choose?

If you need a battery backup system, both lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries can be effective options. However, it’s usually the right decision to install a lithium-ion battery given the many advantages of the technology – longer lifespan, higher efficiencies, and higher energy density.

If you are planning to live off the grid full-time, you should go with Flooded Lead Acid (if you don’t mind regular maintenance) or the premium Lithium option for heavy use.

If you want to install the solar in a small cabin or a vacation home, you’ll only be there a few times a year. In this case, you won’t be able to provide the regular maintenance which is required for Flooded Lead-acid batteries. Then, I will recommend spending some extra amount to buy a Sealed Lead Acid battery instead.

The following factors determine the battery bank size:

1. Daily power consumption

2. System voltage (12V / 24V /48V)

3. Depth of Discharge ( DOD )

In the previous step, we have already calculated the daily power consumption. In the next few steps, we will learn more details above factors.

A battery is recognized with its voltage (V) and capacity measured by amp-hours (AH). To provide the desired system voltage, one can wire the batteries in series and parallel.

Series Connection:

Connecting batteries in series add the voltage of the two batteries, but it keeps the same amperage rating (also known as Amp-Hours).

Example: Connecting two 12V /100AH batteries in series will produce 24V, but the total capacity remains the same (100AH).

Parallel Connection:

Parallel connections will increase your current rating (Amp-Hours), but the voltage will stay the same. It's important to note that because the amperage of the batteries has increased, you may need a heavier-duty cable to keep the cables from burning out.

Example: Connecting two 12V /100AH batteries in parallel will produce 12V, but the total capacity will be increased to 200AH.

The battery’s Depth of Discharge (DOD) is the percentage of the battery capacity that can be safely drained without damaging the battery.

As you can see in the above figure, the more a battery is allowed to discharge, the shorter its lifespan. Deep cycle batteries are designed to discharge 80% of their capacity but are recommended to choose a value of around 50% as a good trade-off between longevity, cost.

 

Solar off grid Wiring diagram | Solar panel wiring diagram

Solar energy is simply the light and heat that come from the sun. People can harness the sun's energy in a few different ways photovoltaic cells which convert sunlight into electricity. Passive solar heating which can be as simple as letting the sun shine through windows to heat the inside of a building.

What is an inverter used for?

An inverter converts the DC electricity from sources such as batteries or fuel cells to AC electricity. The electricity can be at any required voltage in particular it can operate AC equipment designed for mains operation, or rectified to produce DC at any desired voltage.

The prices of solar panels have been falling gradually but the cost of an off-grid solar system setup is steadily rising. However, anyone with basic knowledge of Electricity and a toolbox can install it on their own. This will reduce the overall system cost significantly and you will learn a lot.

In order to build a basic off-grid solar system, you will need the following components:

1.Solar panel

2. Charge Controller

3.Battery

4. Inverter

5. Balance Of System (Cable, Breaker, Meter, Fuses, and MC4 connectors)

In this Instructable, I will guide you step-by-step on how to choose the appropriate components of your Off-Grid Solar System and then guide you on how to connect and set them up properly.

The off-grid solar system means you are not connected in any way to the utility grid. The system utilizes batteries to store energy produced from solar panels.

Solar Panel:

The solar panel converts sunlight into electricity. Photovoltaic cells on the solar panel absorb the sun’s energy and convert it to DC electricity.

Charge Controller:

The current from the solar panel feeds into a charge controller, which controls how much current goes to a battery. Charge controllers prevent batteries from being over-charged and over-discharged.

Battery:

It stores energy generated from the solar panel during the day.

Inverter:

It converts the DC (Direct Current) power from the battery bank or solar panels to AC (Alternating Current) so that you can run your AC appliances, such as TV, Fan, Fridge, Water Pump, etc.

Ohms Law Relationship

Current (I) = Voltage (V) / Resistance (R)

It is easier to remember the Ohms law relationship by using the above picture (Ohms Triangle). By knowing any two values of the Voltage, Current, or Resistance quantities we can use Ohms Law to find the third missing value.

Figuring out your daily energy consumption (Watt-Hours) is the first step for designing an off-grid solar system.

Energy Consumption (Watt-Hours) = Power (Watts) × Time (Hours)

You can get the power rating from the power label (Name Plate) of the appliance or you can measure the actual power consumption by using a wattmeter. I have used my wattmeter to measure the power consumption of a few appliances.

Manual Calculation:

If you're running a 2 Nos of 6W LED bulb for 5 hours a day, 1 No of Fan (80W) for 4 hours, 1 No of Laptop (65W) for 3 hrs, and a WiFi Router (6W) for 24 hours .

The battery is used to store the energy produced by the Solar Panel during the day. It is an essential part of an off-grid solar system, and provides a constant source of stable and reliable power that allows to power devices when the sun is down.

The cost of the battery is contributing a large portion of the entire project cost. Here we will discuss in detail so that you can select the right battery for your off-grid solar installation.

Batteries are categorized according to 1. Application & Construction 2. Chemistry

1. Applications: Automotive and Deep-Cycle

2. Chemistry: Lead Acid, Lithium, and NiCd

Automotive Battery:

This type of battery is designed to provide a very large amount of current for a short period of time. This surge of current is needed to turn the engine over during starting. Therefore lots of thin plates are employed to achieve maximum surface area and as a result higher starting current in starting batteries.

Application: Automobiles ( Car & Bike )

Deep-Cycle Battery:

A deep cycle battery is designed to provide a constant amount of current over a long period of time. This type of battery is also designed to be deeply discharged over and over again. To accomplish this, a deep cycle battery uses thicker plates. This will lead to lower surfaces and accordingly less instant power, unlike the starting batteries.

Two of the most common battery chemistry types are lithium-ion and lead-acid. Apart from these NiCd is also used for the renewable application, but here I will discuss only the first two.

Lead-acid batteries are made with lead, while Lithium batteries are made with the metal lithium. Lithium and lead-acid batteries can both store energy effectively, but each has unique advantages and drawbacks.

1.Lead-acid Battery:

The lead-acid battery is a tried-and-true technology that costs less, but requires regular maintenance and doesn’t last as long.

oded Lead-Acid (FLA):

These types of batteries are submerged in water. These must be checked regularly and refilled every 1-3 months to keep them working properly. It also needs to be installed in a ventilated place to allow battery gases to escape.

Sealed Lead-Acid (SLA):

SLA batteries come in two types, AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) and Gel, which have many similar properties. They require little to no maintenance and are spill-proof. The key difference in AGM vs. Gel batteries are that gel batteries tend to have lower charge rates and output. Gel batteries generally can’t handle as much charge current, which means they take longer to recharge and output less power.

2.Lithium Battery:

Lithium is a premium battery technology with a longer lifespan and higher efficiency, but you’ll pay more money for the boost in performance.

The Lithium batteries that are used in solar systems are Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) which have great thermal stability, high current ratings, and a long cycle life. This new technology lasts longer and can be put through deeper cycles. They also require no maintenance or venting, unlike lead-acid batteries. The main downside for lithium batteries is their higher price compared to lead-acid batteries at the moment.

Which Battery Should You Choose?

If you need a battery backup system, both lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries can be effective options. However, it’s usually the right decision to install a lithium-ion battery given the many advantages of the technology – longer lifespan, higher efficiencies, and higher energy density.

If you are planning to live off the grid full-time, you should go with Flooded Lead Acid (if you don’t mind regular maintenance) or the premium Lithium option for heavy use.

If you want to install the solar in a small cabin or a vacation home, you’ll only be there a few times a year. In this case, you won’t be able to provide the regular maintenance which is required for Flooded Lead-acid batteries. Then, I will recommend spending some extra amount to buy a Sealed Lead Acid battery instead.

The following factors determine the battery bank size:

1. Daily power consumption

2. System voltage (12V / 24V /48V)

3. Depth of Discharge ( DOD )

In the previous step, we have already calculated the daily power consumption. In the next few steps, we will learn more details above factors.

A battery is recognized with its voltage (V) and capacity measured by amp-hours (AH). To provide the desired system voltage, one can wire the batteries in series and parallel.

Series Connection:

Connecting batteries in series add the voltage of the two batteries, but it keeps the same amperage rating (also known as Amp-Hours).

Example: Connecting two 12V /100AH batteries in series will produce 24V, but the total capacity remains the same (100AH).

Parallel Connection:

Parallel connections will increase your current rating (Amp-Hours), but the voltage will stay the same. It's important to note that because the amperage of the batteries has increased, you may need a heavier-duty cable to keep the cables from burning out.

Example: Connecting two 12V /100AH batteries in parallel will produce 12V, but the total capacity will be increased to 200AH.

The battery’s Depth of Discharge (DOD) is the percentage of the battery capacity that can be safely drained without damaging the battery.

As you can see in the above figure, the more a battery is allowed to discharge, the shorter its lifespan. Deep cycle batteries are designed to discharge 80% of their capacity but are recommended to choose a value of around 50% as a good trade-off between longevity, cost.