Many people have wished of becoming energy independent. Their goal is to live “off grid” Most of them live where electric utility service is not available. They usually dwell in areas where houses are far apart. But now, there are more people who consider to live “off grid” even if they don’t live in remote areas.
One main factor to consider living off grid is to know when and how to use electricity. You might even think on how to conserve electricity at the same time not to waste it. Another factor is to familiarize how your solar system works and its maintenance. It is better to have a special skill on the system in order for you to troubleshoot certain errors that may arise. Experts are patient enough to acquire and learn more information on solar energy. There are many resources to find. It needs you time and effort to learn about them.
A basic off-grid system is made up of nine components.
Photovoltaic array and mounting rack
The array is a linked collection of photovoltaic modules which are made of multiple interconnected solar cells. It allows mountain rack to connect them and point them toward the sun.
The Array DC disconnect
This is the breaker between the array and the other system. This allows you to disconnect from the said system to know and troubleshoot errors with the array.
The Charge Controller
This keeps the batteries from overcharging.
The battery bank stores excess electricity
You will be needing batteries for 2-3 days. When cloudy periods come, you have enough stored electricity.
System Meter
This is like your car dashboard. It describes how the various components in your system are behaving.
Main DC Disconnect
This is the breaker between the storage batteries and the inverter.
Inverter
The inverter is the component that transforms the DC (direct current) electricity, which is yielded by the array and stored in the batteries, into the AC (alternating current) electricity that can be used on your appliances at home.
The AC Breaker Panel
This is the same as breaker panel in which electric company uses. It serves as the connection of your electrical wiring to the company’s electrical source.
Backup Generator
This is used when your electricity stored in the batteries outlast. You can use traditional fossil fuels. If you want to preserve your green lifestyle, you can use bio diesel.
Now you can be an expert because the components of the photovoltaic system are relatively simple. The parts that are moving are in the backup generator which is not being used most of the time.
No Comments so far ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.