How does an off-grid solar system work?

Solar panels have become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to reduce our dependency on traditional energy sources. Solar panels use the sun&#;s energy to create electricity that can be used to power homes and businesses. The most common type of solar panel system is a grid-tied system, which connects to the electricity grid. However, off-grid solar systems allow you to generate and store electricity without being connected to the grid.

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Off-grid solar systems are an excellent option for those who live in remote areas or who want to be completely self-sufficient. These systems are not connected to the electricity grid and rely on batteries to store the energy generated by the solar panels. This means you can still access electricity even when the sun goes down. However, few people know what they are, much less how they work, so we will discuss the details in this article.

How Off-Grid Solar Systems Work

Off-grid solar systems consist of solar panels, charge controllers, batteries, and inverters. The solar panels capture the sun&#;s energy and convert it into DC power sent to the charge controller. The charge controller regulates the power sent to the batteries to ensure they remain at a safe charge level.

The batteries store the energy the solar panels generate and provide power when the sun is not shining. The inverter then converts the DC power from the batteries into AC power that can be used to power your home or business. Some off-grid solar systems also have a backup generator that can provide power during extended periods of low sunlight.

Types of Off-Grid Solar Systems

Anyone who wants to create an off-grid solar panel system can have different options. These include:

DC Solar System

A DC solar system is a basic off-grid solar system that consists of solar panels, a charge controller, and a battery bank. The solar panels generate DC power stored in the battery bank. The charge controller regulates the charging of the batteries and prevents overcharging. The DC power from the batteries can be used to power DC appliances and devices directly.

AC Solar System

An AC solar system is a more advanced off-grid system with an inverter, solar panels, a charge controller, and a battery bank. The inverter converts the DC power from the solar panels and batteries into AC power, the standard type of electricity used in homes and buildings. This allows the AC power to be used to power AC appliances and devices.

AC System with a Backup Generator

As the name suggests, an AC system with a backup generator is an off-grid solar system with an inverter, solar panels, a charge controller, a battery bank, and a backup generator. This system is designed to provide power even when there is not enough sunlight to generate electricity or when the battery bank is depleted.

The backup generator is a secondary power source typically fueled by diesel, propane, or natural gas. It can automatically kick in when the battery bank is low, or there is a high electricity demand, ensuring that power is always available, especially during periods of low sunlight or peak usage.

Mixed AC and DC Solar Systems

In addition to the backup generator, this system can also include a mixed AC and DC solar setup. Solar panels can generate AC and DC power, allowing for greater flexibility in powering various appliances and devices.

The AC power generated by the solar panels can be used directly to power AC appliances and devices. In contrast, the DC power can be stored in the battery bank for later use or converted to AC power using an inverter. This mixed AC and DC system allow for more efficient use of the solar power generated, as it can be directly used without the need for conversion or stored for later use during periods of low sunlight or high electricity demand.

Is It Possible to Run a House&#;s Solar System Off-Grid?

Yes, it is possible to run a house&#;s solar system off-grid. However, it depends on several factors, such as your home&#;s annual electricity usage, the wattage of the solar panels, and the production ratio. The production ratio is the estimated kWh/year your system will produce divided by the total wattage. This is vital because

To achieve this, it is recommended to have 20 to 24 solar panels, depending on the wattage of the panels. You must also have enough battery storage to ensure enough power during periods of low sunlight.

Conclusion

Off-grid solar panel systems are viable for running a house&#;s solar system without relying on the grid. However, it requires careful planning and consideration of various factors to ensure they work correctly, so everything must be sized and designed properly. With the correct setup, you can enjoy the benefits of renewable energy and independence from the grid.

Renew Energy can help if you need solar panels in Perth! Our solar panel experts will ensure your home or business gets the ideal system to meet your energy needs. Book a free consultation today!

What is an off-grid solar power system?

Put simply, off-grid solar is a combination of electrical components that are used to create and supply power where a mains connection is not tenable.

An off-grid solar power system is usually made up of 4 components: solar panels, batteries, a charge controller, and an inverter.

Solar panels turn the sun&#;s rays into power that is then fed into the charge controller. The charge controller controls the amount of power going into the batteries to safely charge them up to 100%. The inverter then takes the energy stored in the batteries (48V DC) and turns it into power that is usable by everyday household appliances (240V AC). 

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Transcript:

So how does an off grid solar power system work?

It&#;s a pretty simple process!

The solar panels collect energy from the sun&#;s rays, which is stored in the batteries, so the energy will be available to use after the sun goes down. 

This is the key difference between grid-tied and off-grid solar - grid-tied solar doesn&#;t store any energy for later.

To make this system a little easier to understand, you can also visualise this as water collection.

The solar array is like the roof area that collects the rain, and the battery bank is like a water tank that stores the rain caught on the roof. When it rains, the water fills the tank at a rate proportional to how heavy it is raining. 

Having more roof area allows you to catch more rain, so you can catch more water even when it's raining lightly, than you would with a small roof. This is the same for solar panels - having more solar panels means you can catch more solar energy on a cloudy day than you would with fewer panels. 

In the same way, increasing how many batteries you have in your solar system is the same as having a larger water tank. You can store more power, and will have more energy available for times when there is less sun. Just like a water tank, the down side to a large battery bank is that it takes much longer to charge if the solar array (or the water collection area) isn&#;t sized to match. However, while you can leave a tank half filled, leaving batteries in a partial state of charge and charging them up slowly will reduce the lifespan of the batteries.

Our off-grid solar kits include two more components to make them work - a charge controller and an inverter. The charge controller goes between the solar panels and the batteries, and regulates the charge to the batteries. It ensures that they are evenly charged at the current voltage and current, up to 100%. When they reach 100%, the charge controller cuts off power to the batteries, and when you use that energy, the charge controller will top them back up when the sun comes out again. In our water collection analogy, the solar charge controller would be a valve that regulates the water flow to the water tank to stop it from overflowing.

The batteries store energy as direct current so we need an inverter that takes that energy and turns it into alternating current at 230V to mimic the grid power in order to power your normal household appliances. 

Both the charge controller and inverter need to be sized to match the solar array and battery bank. The larger your solar array and battery bank, the bigger your charge controller needs to be to handle the extra energy that's going to be running through it.

The inverter affects how much of your stored energy you can use at once. It needs to be the same voltage as your battery bank, and the size is determined by what you will be powering with your solar kit. If you think you might need to run a high-power item like a microwave, or multiple things at once, you&#;ll need a larger inverter. It&#;s best to have an inverter that is just large enough to handle your power needs, otherwise you run the risk of accidentally using more energy than you intended, just because you have it available.

Researching solar power can lead you down some incredibly technical and confusing rabbit holes, so feel free to get in touch with us if you&#;re not sure what the right solution is for you.

If you're ready to go solar, check out our kits, or find way more information in our off grid resources section.

Are you interested in learning more about Off grid solar systems? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!