7 Components of Your Solar Power System
The 7 Components of Your Solar Power System
When starting out on a new home DIY solar energy project, one of the many question asked by a beginner is: “What component parts do I need to complete my solar power project”. The 7 components of your solar power system need not be expensive or hard to find, as many DIY solar power installations are built using secondhand parts from the internet as people look to upgrade their PV system.
But before you start buying or connecting together the individual component parts on your roof, it helps to get a good quality solar guide that will walk you step by step through the whole process of building, installing and setting up your own home solar energy system. Aside from the obvious requirements of time, tools and instructions, let us look at the 7 basic components you will need for your solar power system.
For installing a grid-tied solar power system for your home, there are basically 7 main components that you will need and we will organise these in the order in which they will be connected into your home solar energy system.
1. Solar Photovoltaic Panels
In most home installation and DIY solar power system, photovoltaic solar panels are built by the homeowner from individual parts found in their garage or workshop. But you can order discount photovoltaic cells online, and assemble these into complete 80W, 100W, or 120W Solar Panels.
If you do not have the time or skills to build a solar panel from scratch, there are plenty of commercially available panels to choose from. Once built, individual panels are wired together to make larger solar arrays.
2. Solar Power System Disconnects
A solar power system disconnects are basically just an electrical switch but is an important part of the system. It allows you to disconnect and cut-off the DC power output from your solar panels and array should any repairs be required or if there is a problem with the solar system. This disconnect switch needs to be strong enough to handle the full power output from the panels on a bright sunny day.
3. Battery Charge Controller
Most home solar systems are built with a battery backup included for when the sun does not shine such as on dull days or at night. The battery charge controller ensures that a consistent amount of electrical power is sent to the batteries so that they are not over charged, and to ensure that the backup batteries do not discharge back through the system at night. In many ways this component is similar to your automotive battery charger so will not be too expensive.
4. Deep Cycle Battery Storage
In order to store the solar power generated by your solar panels and keep the lights shinning through the night, your solar system will need deep cycle batteries. Deep cycle batteries are not the same as shallow charge automotive batteries which are designed with thinner lead plates for cars.
Deep cycle storage batteries for solar systems are more robust and are designed for the type of charging and discharging cycles they need to endure. New deep cycle batteries are expensive but reconditioned batteries are cheaper. Better still, you may be able to get old dead batteries for free used previously in fork trucks, golf carts, and electric buggies and recondition them yourself.
5. System Power System Metering
A solar power meter can be optional, but it is listed here as its inclusion will give you a clear way to see how much free solar power is being supplied to your home from your solar panels. Having a system power meter also helps you improve your system to gain the maximum efficiency from your solar installation as well as having the advantage of letting your neighbours know how much money your solar system is saving.
6. Solar Power System Inverter
Your solar panels generate DC power, and your home runs on mains AC power, the solar power inverter converts the DC solar energy from the photovoltaic panels into usable 115, 220 or 240V AC electrical energy in the home by providing the DC to AC conversion using electronic switching techniques.
In practical terms, the an inverter allows you to run electric drills, computers, vacuum cleaners, mains lighting, and most other mains electrical appliances that can be plugged into the wall sockets of your solar panels. There are many square wave, sine wave modified wave inverters on the market these days but a good quality 1200W sine wave inverter likely won’t cost you more than a few hundred dollars.
7. Backup Power
Some form of back power may be required for when the sun does not shine and the storage batteries are empty. Most systems will include some sort of backup power. In a stand alone installation this would generally be a diesel generator. In a grid-tied system the utility grid itself would provide the backup power through the inverter. But a backup power source can also be a wind turbine or a water wheel as part of a small scale hydro system.
So whether you build your own solar panels from scratch or buy pre-made commercial panels, using solar energy to power your home can be easier than you think. With a grid connected system you can even sell excess electricity you do not use back to the utility company who have been selling it to you for all these years giving you an additional income.
Alternative Energy Tutorials is dedicated to helping and showing you what you need to make Solar Power in your home a reality, and to help you on your way so why not consider Clicking Here and getting one of the solar books from Amazon about home made solar panel construction ensuring so that you have all the necessary information to get your solar power installation working efficiently and effectively the first time. Good luck!
Great post! As someone who is interested in going solar, I found the breakdown of the 7 components of a solar power system to be very informative. It’s surprising how complex the system can be, but it’s good to know that there are professionals who can help design and install a system that meets my specific needs. I’m looking forward to doing more research and learning more about the technology and benefits of solar power. Thanks for sharing!
I need help in my studies
There are so many items ,, theories not mentioned ,, solar is very expensive ,, if you do a good job setting up the equipment to truly handle real loads like ac and backup power,, and removing all beautiful trees ,, you shall spend a lot of money and will not save a dime it is just the opposite
Enjoyed reading the article above , really explains everything in detail, It really helpful to me understand solar system components, Microcare Group supplies components of solar system you require for an environmentally friendly solar system.
Great Information! If you need spare parts for a solar system contact us.
We have installed a 130 KWp solar inverter and connected on grid. I want to simply know about how much unit generated and consumed by connected load of office building.it is mentioned here that inverter has total energy meter. also it may please be clarified that if power of grid is in off condition, no power is being generated by solar. safety aspect may please be considered.
I will love to learn how to install, seriously I will be glad to learn more of it hear
Thank you for sharing. Setting up solar systems is a struggle so I’m glad this details a little more to help people out. https://santansolar.com/ I found to be a pretty good resource of cheap solar panels ($65+), if anyone’s looking! I just feel it’s unfair when people automatically rule solar out because they think it’s “too expensive”.
Thanks for sharing. Solar panel efficiency is taken into account when a panel is rated at a specific wattage.
This is really a best informative and so interesting post ever. I am very thankful for your post so much. Thanks for sharing this best information for us.
i need you to sen me the schematic wiring of a solar system simple and clear please . the how much are the photovoltaic cells
Great post, just the information I needed looking for a solar system for my home.
I need solar sysi for my self, can you pleaspi help me