A "Grid-tie" solar system is useful for homes that are already connected to the utility grid. The advantage of this type of system is the price reduction of utility. The system has to be wired with an inverter that produces pure-sine-wave AC electricity, which is necessary for connecting to the utility grid. Another advantage to this type of system are the tax incentives and rebates available from different state and local agencies. Most of these systems typically do not have the battery storage that allows for power when the utility fails. Grid-tie system can be installed with battery backup power to keep critical loads operating in the event of a power failure. For more info on grid tie/ net metering see Net Metering in the information section of the wind power page of this website. Sizing your system- The size of your system can depend on your usage. Or you may just set a price of how much you want to spend on the system. Grid tie systems are designed so that you are not limited to only use the power you produce. Although, you may not want to produce more than you will use on any given month since your utility company will only give you a credit for the excess electricity you produce. You will not receive actual money for the excess electricity produced. First, gather utility bills for a years usage. Then give us a call or you can use chart on our Solar Sizing & Incentives page to get a rough ideal. |
A Complete "Stand-Alone" solar system is useful for complete independence from fossil fuels and electric utility companies. The advantage to this type of system is its ability to provide power away from the utility grid, and to create a measure of self independence. A complete stand-alone home solar system will typically have 2 inverters to supply the AC house current necessary to power large loads such as air conditioners. Having a second inverter helps to insure that power is available when one of the inverters eventually requires servicing. These self contained systems need a sizable battery storage capacity to provide electricity when solar power is unavailable due to prolonged adverse weather conditions. A complete stand-alone solar system will usually require at least 20 solar panels to keep the batteries at a safe and proper state of charge. Typically this type of system is most cost-effective when the system is located away from the utility grid. Sizing your system- The size of your system depends on your usage. First, gather utility bills for a years usage. Then give us a call or you can use chart on our Solar Sizing & Incentives page to get a rough ideal. |
The small "Stand-Alone" system is an excellent system for providing electricity economically. These systems are used primarily for RV power, lighting, cabins, backup or portable power systems. The size of the photovoltaic array (number of solar panels) and battery will depend upon individual power requirements. The solar panels charge the battery during daylight hours and the battery supplies power to the inverter as needed. The inverter changes the 12 volt batteries DC power into 120 volt AC power, which is the most useful type of current for most applications. The charge controller terminates the charging when the battery reaches full charge, to keep the batteries from "gassing-out", which prolongs battery longevity. Sizing your system- The size of your system depends on your usage. First, gather information on all the lighting, appliances, and electrical heating and cooling devices that you may want your system to run. Then give us a call or you can use chart on our Solar Sizing & Incentives page to get a rough ideal. |
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INDEPENDENT ENERGY |
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ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SPECIALIST |
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SOLAR POWER INFORMATION · Now is the time to become your own power producer. · Residential, commercial or industrial– we can help with all your power needs. This page is for information purposes only. We can help you design a system for your needs. |
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New incentives available through electrical utility companies help reduce cost & lower pay back time. See Solar sizing & incentives for more info. |
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What makes up a Solar Electric System There are three types of solar electric systems. There is a grid tie, a grid tie with battery back up, and an off grid. The most common solar electric system is an off grid which is made up of four major components: photovoltaic panels, a charge controller, batteries, and if you are using AC appliances or selling back to the grid, an inverter. If you have more questions or would like some more in-depth info, please feel free to ask us by phone or email.. The Photovoltaic Panels, also known as solar panels or PV for short, are made of semiconductor materials. Within solar panels there are both a positive and a negative layer of semiconductor material. When sunlight hits the semiconductor layer in the solar panel, electrons travel across the junction of the two different layers of semiconductor materials, creating an electric current. The Charge Controller of any solar system that uses batteries needs a charge controller to protect the life of the batteries. A charge controller prevents the solar panels from overcharging the batteries, and stops the batteries from being drained by the solar panels at night. Many charge controllers also show information about your solar system’s performance. Some even include a function called Low Voltage Disconnect, which prevents the batteries from being discharged too heavily. To pick the right charge controller for your system, you should first determine the type of batteries you'll be using (gel or lead-acid), then the voltage of your system (Usually 12, 24, or 48VDC), and the maximum amps your system can generate at that voltage. Remember, since charge controllers are relatively inexpensive, it is a good idea to oversize the charge controller. Doing so will not hinder system performance and will allow you to easily expand your solar array in the future. |
