Off Grid Solar System

Solar panel is a device that converts sunlight into electricity by using photovoltaic (PV) cells. PV cells are made of materials that produce excited electrons when exposed to light. The electrons flow through a circuit and produce direct current (DC) electricity, which can be used to power various devices or be stored in batteries. Solar panels are also known as solar cell panels, solar electric panels, or PV modules.

Solar charge controllers are used in off-grid systems to maintain batteries at their highest state of charge without overcharging them to avoid gassing and battery damage. This helps to prolong battery life. Charge controllers also deliver proper current and voltage that meets the rated capacity of electrical loads. Without a charge controller connected to the PV array, the array would deliver too much power which would destroy the batteries and loads.

Solar charge controllers typically deploy either pulse width modulation (PWM) or maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technology to regulate and deliver the right amount of current and voltage from PV arrays to run electrical loads and safely charge batteries during the day. Then during the evening when there is no sunshine, the controller allows the battery bank to run the electrical loads. Solar controllers have electronic protections to protect against nighttime reverse current, short circuiting, high voltage, high temperatures, and battery reverse polarity. Additionally some controllers have low voltage disconnect capabilities and are equipped with LED warning lights to alert about installation errors and faults within the system.

Solar battery, also known as solar battery storage systems, work by storing the excess energy produced by solar panels (also referred to as solar PV panels) during the day, for later use when the sun isn’t shining. There are two main battery technologies currently used, lithium-ion and lead-acid, both of which are designed to handle the cyclic charging and discharging required for solar energy storage.

When sunlight hits a solar panel, the solar cells in the panel convert the sunlight into electrical energy in the form of direct current (DC). This DC electricity then flows to the inverter, which converts the DC into alternating current (AC) that can be used to power household appliances and devices. If the demand for electricity in your home is less than that being generated, then the DC can be taken from the solar panels and used to charge a battery.

During the night, when your home demands electricity your solar battery discharges to power your appliances and devices, so you’re reaping the benefits of solar PV long after the sun has set.

Solar inverter main function is to accept DC power input and turn it into AC power. They also act as the primary connection between the panels and the electrical distribution panel in the house. Modern inverters contain switches that can connect or isolate your solar energy system from the power grid and provide detailed information to your system’s monitoring equipment.

A solar inverter isn’t a charge controller. A charge controller manages electrical input and distributes it to batteries or the electrical system. They’re integral to solar energy storage systems in addition to inverters.

A solar inverter is essential for your solar panel system to convert DC electricity into AC electricity for everyday use. It’s also a critical part of your system; understanding how it works is important to get the most out of your solar panels.

The process begins with sunlight striking the photovoltaic cells of solar panels, creating a flow of DC electricity. However, since most homes and electrical grids use AC electricity, the DC electricity generated by solar panels needs to be converted. This is where the solar inverter steps in. Its main task is to convert the DC electricity into AC electricity with the appropriate voltage, frequency and phase, making it suitable for powering household appliances and feeding excess energy into the electrical grid.

There are two types of solar inverters. One of which can be enhanced to perform more efficiently. Although they perform similar functions, the main difference is when they do it instead of how. That difference means each type works best under different circumstances.

String Inverter
A string inverter, or central inverter, is a large device that accepts DC input from multiple solar panels and transforms all of the energy to AC. You could say that it works to transform energy in bulk amounts.

In a solar energy system with a string inverter, all or several solar panels are wired into one centrally located inverter. The inverter then feeds the electrical panel or the grid. In short, a string inverter changes the power from DC to AC after the power is collected from the solar array.

Microinverter
You’ll need more than one microinverter. Microinverters are located at each solar panel and convert that panel’s energy immediately before sending it to the house electrical to meet up with all of the other inverters’ power.

A solar energy system that uses microinverters treats each solar panel as its own
AC power source and feeds the energy to the home or electrical grid.

String Inverter With Optimizers
Technically not a different type of inverter; a string power inverter with optimizers is a combination of components. In such a system, a solar panel has an optimizer that gathers as much DC power as the panel can generate and sends it to the central inverter. The other optimizers do the same. The inverter collects the DC energy from each optimizer and inverts it into AC as a whole before sending it to the house or grid.