How Solar Energy Works In An Off-grid System.

Do you live or play in a remote area that is not served by an electrical utility? Are you tired of using the generator to produce power for your residence or vacation cabin, or even worse going without some of the basic modern conveniences because you have no power system? Then you have come to the right place. In this article, we will discuss how solar energy works in an off-grid system, and why Fire Mountain Solar is your best choice for design, production selection, installation and technical support for off grid power.
Whether you’re connected to the grid or not, you can still use solar power. But while a utility served home can by with just solar panels, an inverter and racking, an off-grid power system needs energy storage (deep cycle batteries), a charge controller, and usually a backup generator to make sure you have power at night and when there is not much sun. These makes an off-grid solar system more complex to design and installation, and it requires more maintenance than a grid-tie solar system.
At Fire Mountain Solar, we are industry-leading experts in off grid solar and other battery-based power systems.  Our experienced team of experts will design you an off-grid solar system that will generate and store all the power you need any time of the year.

For an off-grid solar system to be functional, you will need: 

Solar panels

The first thing that comes to people's mind when we talk about solar energy is solar panels. Solar power panels are made of several solar cells or silicon cells. These cells are the building blocks of the solar panels and they absorb energy from the sun. Solar panels do not need sun just sufficient light to work, but they do produce the most power in direct sun. That is why it is important that you position your solar array in the right direction to get the as much light as possible. Anything north facing = never. Direct south = best. Southwest and southeast = work based on your specific location.

Solar inverter

After the solar panel absorbs sunlight, the solar energy is then converted into electricity. This electricity is in the form of direct current (DC), which then flows into an inverter. The job of the solar power inverter is to convert the DC to AC electrical power which you can utilize at home.

Electrical Panel

When the electricity has been converted from DC to AC, it is then sent to the electrical panel where it is channeled to the different circuits and appliances in your home that needs electricity.

Solar power battery bank

If there is any excess electricity generated by the off-grid solar system, it is sent to a energy an storage system through a charge controller. In this case, it is the solar power battery bank. The moment the battery bank becomes full, it will stop receiving power from the system.
At certain times of the year, and at night, your solar system may not produce enough power for your loads. During this time your home appliances will be powered by the solar power battery bank. It is important that you get quality off-grid batteries with a sufficient storage capacity to sustain you when there is no solar energy being generated, to minimize the amount of time you have to run a generator to supply your loads.

What is the importance of a charge controller in a solar power system?

The solar charge controller is very important in an off grid system because it works to protect your battery by controlling the charging of your batteries from your solar.  This protects both you and your your batteries from the danger of overcharging and possible explosion.
For all but the very smallest of off-grid systems we recommend you purchase a high-quality Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) solar charge controller, OutBack FM60 or FM80, or the MidNite Solar Classic series. A quality device like an MPPT solar charge controller your solar panels will function at their optimum power output voltage, enhancing giving you as much as 30% more power from your array, and your quality off-grid batteries will last longer.
Another advantage of the charge controller is that it protects the battery from discharging more than it is built for and prevents any current from flowing back to the solar at night.

Summary

Off grid solar is an excellent solution for many with remote power needs. Get the expert, reliable advice and quality products and service from the off grid experts at Fire Mountain Solar. With over 18 years of experience with off grid power systems, you can be confident we will deliver the best custom solution for your project. Request a quote today!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Does A Solar Charge Controller Do For You?

Image
The solar charge controller is just one part of your solar home kit, but it is the most important piece if you want to maintain your panels in the right way. Someone who has invested in solar panels and solar power will find that it is easy to check their system, manage their system, and know when it is time for service or repairs if they use the controller. Read more below about the controller, the inverter, and the battery bank that you need for your home. Without these critical components, it is very hard to harvest energy from the sun as you had planned. What Is The Controller? An Outback charge controller is the component that you attach to your panels to check their charge level, the temperature, and the amount of power that you have consumed. You can use the controller to ensure that you are not overusing the system, and you will see indicators that let you know it is time for a service. It is very easy for you to manage your system when you have the controller on you
Read more

Solar Water Pump: Install And Save Power Bills

If you are experiencing serious power lack and is in need of regular, consistent availability of water for irrigating your village, then perhaps the best remedy for your problem would be a Solar power Pump. Widely regarded as the most cost-effective and cost-effective of all water pumps, the solar power pump is a mainly used in well-pumping applications. They offer several unique advantages over other water pumps. Solar power Pumps could be placed in a lake or stream in such a way that they remain fully engrossed and are basically used in condensed and non-pressurized irrigating, home water power systems and animals irrigating. Types Of Solar Panel Systems For areas with very little or no access to power at all, the obvious choice would be the off grid system. This is an entirely separate solar panel program. Setting up this in your house would be a little more complicated because it uses a different kind of inverter. If you need more help in understanding these solar panel p
Read more

Living Off The Grid: Breaking Free From The Power Grid

Image
Off-grid power systems are getting more popular as power prices keep increasing. Getting off the grid will preserve a little cash and the environment as well. Just think about for a moment that you have designed your very own wind-powered generator or solar panel system. Now think about the experience of being capable of producing your own power with a clean, free and alternative power. No more high utility bills. No more untrustworthy power from the grid and no more worrying about the ever-increasing power prices. With the rising price of yours and the difficult economy, many property owners are looking at ways of producing their own off-grid power. The approach is that you have produced more power than you can use during the day and any excess can be sold back again to the local utility. If you size this system right you should break even and not have to pay for any of your electricity. Solar power technology has been in use for decades and is your best option for many property own
Read more