Off-Grid Solar Electric System Explained

If you have ever dreamed of being completely energy independent, then your ultimate goal is to live "off grid". Most people who live off grid are located in remote areas where electric utility service is not even available. But more and more people are considering it as a personal lifestyle choice.

There are two main factors involved in living off-grid. First, you'll need to become very aware of when and how you use electricity. You won't have to live without it, but you won't want to waste it, either.

Second, you'll want to become familiar with how your solar power system works, and what kind of maintenance is required. It would be best if you become an expert on your particular system, so you can troubleshoot anything unexpected that arises. Becoming an expert is not that hard to do since there is so much information on solar energy available now. But it will require time and commitment on your part.

A basic off-grid system is made up of 9 components.

First, the photovoltaic array and mounting rack. Wikipedia describes the array as “a linked collection of photovoltaic modules, which are in turn made of multiple interconnected solar cells”. The mounting rack allows you to attach them the roof and point them toward the sun.

Second, the array DC disconnect. This is basically a breaker between the array and the rest of the system. It allows you to disconnect from the system in order to troubleshoot problems with the array.

Third, the charge controller keeps the batteries from overcharging.

Fourth, the battery bank stores excess electricity. You will usually need enough batteries for 2-3 days worth of stored electricity in case of a cloudy period.

Fifth, the system meter is like your car's dashboard. It reports how the various components in your system are doing,

Sixth, is the main DC disconnect. This is a breaker between the storage batteries and the inverter.

Seventh, is the inverter. This is the component that transforms the DC (direct current) electricity, which is generated by the array and stored in the batteries, into the AC (alternating current) electricity that can be used by your household appliances.

Eighth, the AC breaker panel. This is the same kind of breaker panel that the electric company uses to connect your house wiring to its electrical source.

Ninth, your backup generator. This is in case you have a stretch of cloudy days that outlast the electricity stored in the batteries. You can use traditional fossil fuels, but you’ll probably want to use biodiesel to maintain your green lifestyle.

Now that you’ve seen the components of the photovoltaic system, you can see why it's not that complicated to become your own expert. Each component is relatively simple. The only moving parts are in the backup generator, and you hopefully won't be using that very much.

Build Your Own Solar Panels: How Hard Can It Be?

Electric and heating bills are just getting way too expensive for your pocket and you’ve decided that it’s time to take action and install solar panels at home. But how do you install solar panels? Here’s the overall process regarding photovoltaic solar panels-panels that generate electricity. They convert sunlight into electricity.

To build solar panels you can either use solar panel kits or build them from scratch.
Solar panel kits are simple designs where almost anyone can build a solar panel.
Building solar panels from scratch is more complicated and more for those with handy-man skills.

The kits supply you with photovoltaic cells, the wiring, the assembly hardware and the mounting devices. It’s very easy to put together. Just keep in mind that you may need to check your local building codes in case a permit or licensed installer is required.

Solar panel kits can be found online by various suppliers. Log on to the internet, go to your search engine and search for “solar cell kits”. You’ll find a plethora of information and resources that will help you find exactly what you need.

Building you panels from scratch is less expensive but more labour intensive. It needs raw copper sheeting, like the copper flashing available at hardware stores, and a heat source. You need to heat the copper for at least a half hour to create the chemical reaction that produces copper oxide on the surface of the copper sheet.

Once the cooper panel cools, combine it with another non-oxidized copper panel of the same size. Add salt-water solution and enclose all the components in a durable glass panel. After the panel is assembled, add the wiring and mounting components. Now you have a low voltage panel. You will need to assemble many of these in order to get the energy production necessary to power household devices.

Whether you choose to build your panels from scratch or to use a solar panel kit you’ll be sure to save money, energy and the environment.

Solar Panels: How Do They Work?

It’s important to know what you want the solar panels for because there are two basic types of solar panels and they are not interchangeable. One kind generates heat and the other creates electricity. One thing is for sure, which ever solar panel you choose you are sure to save money and help the environment.

Both types are typically glass encased and both require direct contact with sunlight. The most ideal location for these panels is facing south to offer them maximum exposure to sunlight throughout the day. They can be sued anywhere around the world but are more effective and productive in areas that normally have a sunny climate.

Solar panels that generate heat are called solar thermal collectors. These panels absorb the sun’s energy to heat fluids such as water. The liquid flows through the panel’s coils and is heated by the sun. These kinds of panels are normally used to heat water for homes and can even be used to heat building interiors. These panels usually use plastic tubing, hoses or coils in the panel and usually require a motorized pump to circulate the fluids.

Solar panels that create electricity are called solar photovoltaic cells, which create direct current (DC) electricity. A semi-conductor material, like silicon, is put into the panel. This material then makes contact with the sunlight to generate electricity, which means that it can only create electricity during the day. The electricity can be used for various things, like electrical appliances, computers and even the whole house if the system is large enough. Although these panels need direct contact with sunlight, the electricity can be used at night or on rainy days by storing it in a battery storage system. There are the inexpensive lead-acid batteries, like the ones used in cars. Make sure to fill the battery with distilled water to maintain the charge. The more expensive batteries are the sealed AGM (absorbent glass mat) batteries. These batteries hold their charge with no maintenance required. If you live somewhere with a normally cold climate then gel batteries are a good idea since they are freeze resistant.

No matter which kind of solar panel you have or where you live, it’s always a good idea to have a backup generator. Backup generators can act as a backup if your battery storage breaks down or when there are a series of cloudy days. If you want to be even more environmentally friendly you can also use bio-diesel fuel to fill your generator.

Solar Panels: Will They Work For Your Pool?

Everyone enjoys a warm swim on cool nights. If you want to install solar panels to heat your pool, you can! The best news is that solar panels that heat water are not that expensive to purchase. You can even build them on your own for less than $100 in materials and in only one weekend. Best of all is that aside from the material and installation costs your fuel bills will disappear.

Before you go buy your materials, you need to take a few things into consideration. How much sunlight will your solar panel system get everyday? Will there be enough sunlight? Is your yard covered with tall trees? Your solar panels may not get enough sunlight for a passive pool heater. An open yard or lot that faces South or west, however, is a great for solar panels to get the sunlight exposure they need throughout the day.

Solar panels used for swimming pools are simple passive collectors made up of plastic coils filled with water and compressed between two sheets of shatter proof glass. As the water is collected in the coils it gets heated by the sun and then pumped into the pool.

Another thing to think about is how much of a difference there is between the air temperature and the temperature you want the pool to be. For example, if you want to heat an outdoor pool to 80 degrees in Toronto during a below-zero winter, it’s better to use pool covers and a gas heating system. However, if you want to heat an outdoor pool in Texas to 80 degrees during a 50 degree winter, then a solar heating system is ideal for your pool.

Once you’ve installed your solar heater it’s also important to buy a solar cover or blanket for days when the air outside is colder than you pool’s water temperature. Whenever steam rises from your pool it’s important to use the pool cover to keep the heat in.

Just remember that solar heating systems for the pool and the house should be kept separate. They don’t interact well together and the chlorine and acid in your pool’s water is not something you would want to consume regularly in your home.

Solar Panels: Can You Go Off the Grid Now?

It’s everyone’s wish to not have to deal with electric companies; to be energy independent. Is it possible though? It all depends on where you live and how much time and money you can commit to your energy system.

It’s important to take into consideration where you live. What’s the climate like throughout the year? Is it sunny or cloudy for most of the year? This is important since solar panels need sunlight to generate electricity. If your climate is sunny overall, you also need batteries to store the electricity in order to have energy at night or on cloudy days.

This is the expensive part. In order to store enough electricity for a series of overcast days you’ll need to purchase and maintain large DC (direct current) batteries. You’ll also need a large enough space to store these batteries and to keep in mind that eventually you’ll need to replace them.

Aside from your solar panels and battery storage it’s a safe and smart idea to have a back up generator. A back up generator will last beyond your battery storage and can be useful for those long lasting days of cloudy weather. The generator will need fuel, which means extra storage space, and they usually user diesel fuel or gas. But in order to keep things environmentally friendly it’s a good idea to use bio-diesel. Getting off the grid is possible but expensive, complex and time consuming.

Another possibility is called “Net metering”. It might be available by your local utility company. Net metering is a way of decreasing your electricity bills while still having power at night or during a long stretch of overcast days. This way you use your solar panels for electricity during the day and the electricity company’s electricity at night and you save yourself from having to store batteries and generators. You won’t be 100% electricity independent but you will definitely save significant amounts money and energy.

Getting completely off the grid is possible if you have the right climate, space, time and money. However, if you live somewhere with little space a temperamental climate and you don’t have the time to devote to getting off grid then net metering is a better match for you.

Solar Energy: Which is Better, Active or Passive?

Solar energy is a hot topic in the news these days. But if you’re not already familiar with the terms, it can be confusing. What's the difference between active and passive solar energy systems? And which one is better?

Active solar technology uses electrical or fuel-driven mechanical equipment to perform some of its functions. For example, some solar swimming pool heating systems use electric pumps to move the heated water from the coils in the solar panels into the pool. Large off grid solar electrical systems that provide 100% of the electricity to buildings usually use diesel or gas-powered generators as part of their backup systems.

Some solar electric systems use motors to allow their photovoltaic arrays to track the sun's movement throughout the day in order to maximize the amount of sunlight they capture. Grid-tied solar electrical systems are also considered to be active systems because they rely on the electric company as a backup source.

Passive solar technology does not use additional mechanical or electrical devices to deliver heat or electrical energy. There are no additional fuel or utility costs, and no added environmental impacts. For this reason, many people think that passive solar technology is superior to active solar technology.

The most common passive solar application is solar water heating. A truly passive solar hot water system can provide enough hot water for washing and bathing. It usually consists of a collector tank located on a south or west-facing wall or on the roof, and a plumbing system that delivers the water using gravity. These types of systems are most successful in moderate climates where temperatures don't get cold enough to cool the water in the storage tank.

It's also possible to combine passive and solar energy systems to get the benefits of both. Any of the active systems that use electric motors can also use solar cells to create the electricity. For example the motors that move photovoltaic arrays can easily be powered by solar cells. And solar cells can also power the electric pumps that move the water in solar swimming pool heaters, and in water heating systems used in buildings.

Some active solar electric systems, like off grid systems, need external generators. They are part of the system to provide backup energy during long periods of cloudy days when there is no direct sun. Solar cells won't work under those conditions. But it's still possible to stay green by using bio-diesel fuel to power the generator.

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Passive Solar Ways to Light Your Home

When you think of solar lighting, do you automatically think of using solar panels to power your light bulbs? Most people do. But that's not the only way to use the sun's power to help light your home. Here are four more ways you can use solar lighting around the house.

Skylights are the most common passive lighting sources found in homes. They are a great source of natural light, especially for rooms that have small or no windows. Skylights can sometimes deliver more natural light to a room than windows, because their rooftop location exposes them to the sun throughout the day.

Solar light tubes are a really effective way to light dark hallways, closets, interior bathrooms and garages that have no windows of their own. Although this technology seems modern, it was actually used by the ancient Egyptians, so it has a long and proven history. Solar light tubes are usually smaller than skylights, sometimes only 9 to 12 inches in diameter. They are installed in the roof, and use reflective material in the tube to enhance the amount of light they deliver. The reflective material allows them to be effective even on cloudy days, since they don't require direct or bright sunlight to be useful. It is easiest to plan for them and build them into new construction. But they can be added to most existing roofs without too much difficulty.

Solar exterior lighting is extremely practical. It is powered by small solar cells that collect sunlight during the day, then store it for use at night. The solar cell can be mounted in a sunny place and wired to the lighting fixture it its location doesn’t receive enough direct sunlight during the day to power it.

Almost any type of exterior lighting is available in a solar-powered version. Porch lights, patio lights, spot lights and security lights that include motion detectors can all be powered by solar cells. This is an especially good feature for security lighting because it will work even during electrical blackouts or system-wide power outages.

Solar landscaping lights are both practical and attractive. They come is a variety of styles, sizes and uses. Spotlights can be used to light trees, garden sculpture or fountains. Low level lighting can be used to outline driveways and garden borders. Taller lighting fixtures will illuminate outdoor living areas like patios or gazebos. Mid-level lighting with non-glare screens are a good choice for lighting sidewalks or footpaths. Party lights can be used for special occasions or to create an atmosphere for outdoor living areas.

Passive solar lighting is one of the easiest ways to use solar energy. You can start with some inexpensive garden lights. When you buy your next house, or your next new roof, you can plan for the bigger-budget skylights.


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