is there a was of like charging the power into some kind of batterie during the day when the sun gives my solar panel energy and then use it anytime? even at night? i am asking cause i have property that have no electricity but i can build my house on it if i use alternative energy? has anyone heard of anything like this working well and where i might be able to get more info about it
thank you so much!
This is a very standard method of running a solar power electrical system. As you say, the panels provide electrical energy to charge a set of batteries. When required, the power is drawn from the battery, converted to the correct voltage and also changed fron DC current to AC current. During the night the curent is used to give light and also to power TV and computer etc – it all depends on the size of the installation. The batteries become partially discharged during this time. However, the next day the solar panels are again active and recharge the batteries ready for the next night. It is in reality not a good proposition to have the solar panels directly powering lights, etc, because when the panels are charging ( daylight) there is no need for electric lighting.Unless the installation is extemely large, it is not possible to run high energy consumers, wahing machines, dishwashers, clothes dryers, cookers, hot water heating etc from the solar panels.
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Yes you can have it charging a group of heavy duty batteries, i’m suprised no one told you this when you had the solar panel fitted, most are installed with this feature.
look it up on the internet for some more details. Your better off getting an electrician to do it.
References :
It is and always has been standard practice to connect solar cells to deep cycle rechargeable batteries. Inverters are often used to convert the stored DC into 110 volts AC to power appliances. Just search "solar charging systems" on the net. There is plenty to learn. The main issues are matching your system to your power needs, and getting the most powerful system for your money. Some of the best deals are on ebay.
References :
This is a very standard method of running a solar power electrical system. As you say, the panels provide electrical energy to charge a set of batteries. When required, the power is drawn from the battery, converted to the correct voltage and also changed fron DC current to AC current. During the night the curent is used to give light and also to power TV and computer etc – it all depends on the size of the installation. The batteries become partially discharged during this time. However, the next day the solar panels are again active and recharge the batteries ready for the next night. It is in reality not a good proposition to have the solar panels directly powering lights, etc, because when the panels are charging ( daylight) there is no need for electric lighting.Unless the installation is extemely large, it is not possible to run high energy consumers, wahing machines, dishwashers, clothes dryers, cookers, hot water heating etc from the solar panels.
References :
More than likely you are going to need a voltage converter in between your panel and your battery. This converter is a switching powersupply, and takes the nominal voltage of your panel and steps it up/down to the correct voltage for your battery.
Switchers have the advantage of being able to take a certain amount of power and turn it into a fixed voltage output. The design of the supply sets the input voltage range, but it can swing across several hundred volt range if designed properly.
This is important for one main reason: solar cells have what is called an IV curve. You plot voltage against current for your panel and it shows a nice curve with a bend at high V/I levels. At a specific point on this curve, where V and I are both maximized, is the Maximum Power Point. This is the voltage and current where you get the most power off your panel.
Some converters are smart and find this point. They are called Maximum Power Point Trackers or MPPTs. They will draw as much power as possible out of your panel for you to use. The Biel school of Engineering makes some that work well, but they are not cheap. I believe Xantrex technologies makes some as well. I’ve only played with the Biel’s during my tenure on the ISU Solar Car Team.
Other converters do not track. They just draw at a certain power level, and if it’s not the max so be it. They are the cheaper of the two types. If this is a home panel this type of converter is a viable option as you can set the maximum power output to your battery. Since you don’t want to overcharge your battery, the unused potential power from your supply is kind of a wash.
Finally, you may be thinking "Well, why don’t I just hook it up directly?" Good question. Firstly, if the maximum output voltage of the panel is too high, it can damage the battery. If the maximum output voltage is too low, it will never fully charge your battery. If the voltage output of the panel is less than the battery voltage (Low light), your battery will not charge. This set up will take a long time to fully charge your battery as you are on the high voltage side of the IV curve. The converter eliminates all this by taking a certain amount of power (voltage independant) from the panel and converting it to the correct charge levels for the battery.
You will have to research this, as you need to match your converter to your project and panel. Take a look at Xantrex technologies, I believe they make setups for this exact project. Also, if you plan to drive your home with this be sure to talk to your power company. They will tell you how to do it safely, and, if your system is big enough, may let you sell power back onto the grid. Good luck.
References :
http://diysolarpanelsfordummies.blogspot.com/
Batteries are the only real answer to solar-off-the-grid electric power. If you’re a real tech kind of guy you could install an extra couple of panels and use that current to create hydrogen gas that you could set up to turn a turbine to produce night time power, but let’s be real…that’s a fix for folks that love complications in their lives. The battery idea is a proven and simple setup. Of course you could also have wind turbine set up charge batteries….that works well too. Admittedly this is a big investment, but the feds are offering a fairly substancial taxbreak for these kinds of installations to get this industry off the ground….check it out!
References :
Absolutely. An off-grid battery backup solar electric system is actually becoming very common.
It is very important to buy a quality charge controller and a properly sized battery bank. (multiple batteries linked together) I recommend that you find a local expert in the solar field to size your system and ensure that the different components are compatible. I have two links below that may give you some more information as well as an idea on pricing.
References :
http://earthenergyinnovations.com/photovoltaic-energy
http://www.partsonsale.com/cabins2intermediatetemp.html
Yes. Absolutely. In fact, it is quite the norm. Just make sure that your system can convert the current, like I believe someone else said. You can even keep multiple batteries charged for cloudy conditions. That’s what we used to do in 3rd world installations.
References :
http://klimanet.org/favorite-diy-solar-electricity-guide/
yes you can if you have battery charged by the solar panels at day.
References :
http://www.portablesolarpanels-forsale.com/