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Off-Grid Solar Electric System Explained

If you have ever dreamed of being completely energy independent, then your ultimate goal is to live "off grid". Most people who live off grid are located in remote areas where electric utility service is not even available. But more and more people are considering it as a personal lifestyle choice.

There are two main factors involved in living off-grid. First, you'll need to become very aware of when and how you use electricity. You won't have to live without it, but you won't want to waste it, either.

Second, you'll want to become familiar with how your solar power system works, and what kind of maintenance is required. It would be best if you become an expert on your particular system, so you can troubleshoot anything unexpected that arises. Becoming an expert is not that hard to do since there is so much information on solar energy available now. But it will require time and commitment on your part.

A basic off-grid system is made up of 9 components.

First, the photovoltaic array and mounting rack. Wikipedia describes the array as “a linked collection of photovoltaic modules, which are in turn made of multiple interconnected solar cells”. The mounting rack allows you to attach them the roof and point them toward the sun.

Second, the array DC disconnect. This is basically a breaker between the array and the rest of the system. It allows you to disconnect from the system in order to troubleshoot problems with the array.

Third, the charge controller keeps the batteries from overcharging.

Fourth, the battery bank stores excess electricity. You will usually need enough batteries for 2-3 days worth of stored electricity in case of a cloudy period.

Fifth, the system meter is like your car's dashboard. It reports how the various components in your system are doing,

Sixth, is the main DC disconnect. This is a breaker between the storage batteries and the inverter.

Seventh, is the inverter. This is the component that transforms the DC (direct current) electricity, which is generated by the array and stored in the batteries, into the AC (alternating current) electricity that can be used by your household appliances.

Eighth, the AC breaker panel. This is the same kind of breaker panel that the electric company uses to connect your house wiring to its electrical source.

Ninth, your backup generator. This is in case you have a stretch of cloudy days that outlast the electricity stored in the batteries. You can use traditional fossil fuels, but you’ll probably want to use biodiesel to maintain your green lifestyle.

Now that you’ve seen the components of the photovoltaic system, you can see why it's not that complicated to become your own expert. Each component is relatively simple. The only moving parts are in the backup generator, and you hopefully won't be using that very much.

Build Your Own Solar Panels: How Hard Can It Be?

Your utility bills are getting higher every month, so you’ve been thinking about installing solar panels on your home. You know how to use a screwdriver and drill, and you’re wondering...how hard could it be to build your own solar panels? This article will give you an overview of the process so you can make a good decision.

To clarify, we're talking here about building solar panels that will deliver electricity to your home. (These are not the same as "solar energy" devices that will heat water, but won’t deliver electricity). The most widely used solar panel designs for generating electricity are photovoltaic arrays. They convert sunlight directly into electricity.

There are at least two popular ways to build do-it-yourself solar panels. First, there are solar panel kits. These are straightforward designs and can be built by anyone who has moderate handy-man skills. Second, there are built-from scratch-solar panels. These are a bit more complex, and are better projects for more adventurous people who don’t mind experimenting.

Solar Panel Kits:
You can buy these from various local or online suppliers. Use the search engines to look for "solar cell kits". You’ll find hundreds of websites that offer books, online videos or DVDs of plans and instructions, along with the materials you’ll need.

The kits basically supply you with the photovoltaic cells, the wiring, the assembly hardware and the mounting devices. They're somewhat like putting together a computer desk kit from the hardware store. But you'll need to check your local building codes to determine whether or not you need permits and a licensed installer.

Build Your Cells From Scratch:
This is an inexpensive, but labor-intensive way to build your solar cells from scratch. It uses raw copper sheeting, like the copper flashing available at hardware stores, and a heat source. You need to heat the copper for about a half hour, or long to cause the chemical reaction that produces copper oxide on the surface of the copper sheet.

After the copper panel is cooled properly, combine it with other similar-sized non-oxidized copper panel, add salt water solution and encase all of the components in a shatterproof glass panel. Add wiring and mounting components after the panel is assembled. This produces a low-voltage panel. You'll need to make a lot of them in order to have an array that produces enough electricity to power household devices.

Building your solar panels from scratch is relatively cheap, but takes a lot of time and space. Solar kits are a good solution if you like to work on projects around the house, but don't have the time for building solar panels from scratch. Either way, be sure to check your local building codes for installation requirements. And be sure you really have enough time to complete the project. You don't want to leave it half finished and leave yourself with no electricity during a hot summer or a cold winter.

SEE HOW TO BUILD IT STEP BY STEP Click Here!

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