Solar Electricity Handbook 2012 Edition

Pages 1130
Views 619
Size 4.6 MiB
Downloads 58
Solar Electricity Handbook 2012 Edition

Table of Contents

Introducing Solar Energy
Who this book is aimed at
The rapidly changing world of
solar energy
Solar electricity and solar heating
The source of solar power
The principles of solar electricity
Understanding the terminology
Setting expectations for solar
electricity
Why choose a solar electric
system?
Cost-justifying solar

Solar power and wind power
Fuel cells
Grid-tied solar electric systems
Solar electricity and the
environment
Environmental efficiency:
comparing supply and demand
In conclusion
A Brief Introduction to Electricity
Don’t panic
A brief introduction to electricity
How to measure electricity
The relationship between volts,
amps, ohms, watts and watt-hours
Volts
Power
Energy
A word for non-electricians
In conclusion
The Four Configurations for Solar
Power
Stand-alone/off-grid
Examples of simple stand-alone
systems
Grid-tie
An example of a grid-tie system
Grid-tie with power backup (grid
interactive)
An example of a grid interactive
system
Grid fallback
An example of a grid fallback
system
Grid failover
How grid-tie systems differ from
stand-alone
In conclusion
Components of a Solar Electric
System
Solar panels
Batteries
Controller
Inverter
Electrical devices
Connecting everything together
A stand-alone system
A grid-tie system using a single
central inverter
A grid-tie system using multiple
micro-inverters
In conclusion
The Design Process
Short-cutting the design work
Solar energy and emotions
In conclusion
Scoping the Project
Designing grid-tie or grid fallback
systems
Comparing supply with demand
Fleshing out the scope
Producing a power analysis
A word of warning
When you are ready to proceed
Calculating inefficiencies
Adding the inefficiencies to our

power analysis
When do you need to use the solar
system?
Keeping it simple
Improving the scope
In conclusion
Calculating Solar Energy
What is solar energy?
Why is this useful?
Calculating solar irradiance
Capturing more of the sun’s
energy
The impact of tilting solar
panels on solar irradiance
Calculating the optimum tilt for
solar panels
Getting the best from solar
panels at different times of the
year
Positioning your solar panels
Using solar irradiance to work
out how much energy a solar
panel will generate
Using solar irradiance to give
you an approximate guide for the
required power capacity of your
solar array
Solar panels and shade
Solar array power point
efficiencies
The effects of temperature on
solar panels
Temperature impact on solar
performance in Austin, Texas

during the summer months
Working out an approximate cost
What if the figures do not add
up?
Working out dimensions
In conclusion
Surveying Your Site
What we want to achieve
What you will need
First impressions
Drawing a rough sketch of the
site
Positioning the solar array
Roof-mounting
Ground-mounting
Pole-mounting
Splitting the solar array into
several smaller arrays
Identifying the path of the sun
across the sky
Shading
Professional tools for obstacle
analysis
Cell phone applications
Using paper and pencil
Future proof your system
What if there are shading
obstructions?
Positioning batteries, controllers
and inverters
Cabling
Site survey for the holiday home
In conclusion

Understanding the Components
How to use these chapters
Common components for all
systems
Solar panels
Amorphous solar panels
Polycrystalline solar panels
Monocrystalline solar panels
Which solar panel technology is
best?
What to look for when choosing
a solar panel
Buying cheap solar panels
Second-hand solar PV panels
Fresnel lenses and mirrors
Solar panel mountings
Solar trackers

Solar array cables
Fuses and isolation switches
Ground fault protection
Components for Grid-Tie systems
High voltage in-series
Low voltage systems
Micro-inverter systems
Grid-tie solar panels
Grid-tie inverters
Input voltage
Power rating
Power tracking
Multiple strings
Diagnostics and reporting
information
Installation options and
operating environment
Buying from eBay
Components for Stand-Alone
Systems
Calculate your optimum voltage
Voltages and currents
What voltages can I run at?
How to work out what voltage
you should be running at
How to calculate your current
Calculating cable thicknesses
Converting wire sizes:
Mixing and matching solar panels
Batteries
Types of batteries
Battery configurations
Battery lifespan
Holdover
Calculating how long a set of
batteries will last
Second-hand batteries
Building your battery bank
Battery safety
Solar controller
Balancing the batteries
Allow for expansion
Maximum power point tracking
Ground fault protection
Backup power
Using multiple controllers
Inverters
Battery bank voltage
Power rating
Waveform
Installation options and
operating environment
Ground fault protection
Cables
Battery cables
Appliance cabling
Plugs and sockets
Appliances
Lighting
Refrigeration
Microwave ovens
Televisions, DVDs, computer
games consoles and music
Music systems
Dishwashers, washing machines
and tumble dryers
Air conditioning systems
Reputable brand names
Solar panel manufacturers and
brands
Solar controller and inverter
manufacturers and brands
Battery manufacturers and
brands
Shopping list for the holiday home
In conclusion
Planning, regulations and approvals
National and international
standards for solar components
Installation regulations
Getting your electricity supplier
involved
Solar grants and selling your
power
General information about
grants, tax credits and feed-in
tariffs
In conclusion
Detailed Design
Safety is designed in
What is the worst that can
happen with a solar installation?
Grounding your electrics
DC Electrics
AC electrics
High temperatures
Think safety
Solar array design

Solar array design – stand-alone
systems
Solar array design – grid-tie
systems with micro-inverters
Solar array design – grid-tie
systems with a single inverter
Batteries
Controller
Inverter
Devices
Specifics for a grid fallback
system
Circuit protection
Earthing (grounding)
DC circuit protection
AC circuit protection
Cable sizing and selection

Sizing your cables
Protecting cable runs
Designing your system to keep
your cables runs as short as
possible
Selecting solar cable
Controller cable
Battery interconnection cables
Some sample wiring diagrams
The holiday home wiring
diagram
The next step
Solar frame mounting
Positioning batteries
Planning the installation
In conclusion

Installation
Have you read the instructions?
Safety
Your First Aid kit
Chemical clean-up kit
Considering the general public
Working at height
Handling
Working with batteries
Gloves
Electrical safety
Assembling your toolkit
Preparing your site
Testing your solar panels
Installing the solar array
Cleaning the panels
Assembly and connections

Roof-mounting a solar array
Final wiring
Installing the batteries
Pre-installation
Positioning the batteries
Ventilation
Access
Insulation
Connections
Installing the control equipment
Installing a grid-tie system
Commissioning the system
Programming your solar
controller
Testing your system
Charging up your batteries
Connecting your devices

In conclusion
Troubleshooting
Keep safe
Common faults
Excessive power usage
Solutions
Insufficient power generation
Solutions
Damaged wiring/ poor
connections
Weak battery
Changing batteries
Inverter issues
Maintaining Your System
As required
Every month

Every three months
Every six months
Every year
At the start of each winter
Internet Support
Tools available on the website
Online project analysis
Monthly insolation figures
Solar angle calculator
Solar resources
Questions and answers
Author online!
Solar articles
A Final Word
Appendix A – Crystalline Solar
Panels and Shading

Types of obstruction
Designing shade-tolerant solar
systems
Track the shade
Increasing the number of solar
panels
Panel orientation
Choice of solar panel
Use micro-inverters
Design a parallel solar array
Design a multi-string solar array
Other options
If all else fails…
In conclusion
Appendix B – Solar Insolation
Understanding this information

Solar insolation values –
Australia
Solar insolation values –
Canada
Solar insolation values – Ireland
Solar insolation values – New
Zealand
Solar insolation values – United
Kingdom
Solar insolation values – United
States of America
Appendix C – Typical Power