Equations and Formulas

UNITS

Compass directions 180 may also be 0 Solar South

V Volt
Voc open circuit voltage
A Amp (referred to as current, or I) Isc short circuit current I
W Watts
kW kilowatt
MW megawatt
watt-hrs wh
kilowatt-hrs kWh
1000 watt-hrs = 1 kWh
1 MW = 1000 kW = 1,000,000 Watts
Average Peak solar radiation at sea level, perpendicular to the sun:
1000 watts/m2
Watts per square meter watts/m2
MPP maximum power point, and MPPT max. power point racking
Earths tilt from plane of planetary solar system: 23.5 degrees
RULES OF THUMB
Standard Test Conditions: 1000 watts/ square meter, 25 C,
Area: Estimated PV system wattage per sq ft. for average efficiency PV array = 10 watts DC/sq ft
Estimated size of solar electric system: customer kWh/year x super duper PVWATTS design factor for
location
Optimal tilt angle for annual performance PV system is tilt = latitude of location
Average electricity usage, in kWh/day, kWh/month, and kWh/year Typical US residential in the following
range: low 10 kWh/day, med 25 kWh/day, high 40 kWh/day, extreme greater than 50 kWh/day
Simple economic payback in years = (Net Cost of PV system) divided by (Savings on electric bill/year)
Average Daily Peak Sun Hours is a handy design factor for grid-tie PV systems. For off-grid PV systems,
design for worst-case use winter peak sun hours and # of days of autonomy
EQUATIONS
E = IR Volts = Impedance x Resistance
W = V x A Watts = Volts x Amps
Wh = V x A x time (in hours)
Series: Add the voltage, current stays the same
Parallel: Add the current, Voltage stays the same
Series and parallel together: Add the Voltages for ONLY one string of solar panels, and add the current for
ALL the strings
SYSTEM RATINGS
DC Power Rating = # of solar modules x STC wattage rating
AC Power Rating = # of solar modules x PTC wattage rating x inverter efficiency. also called AC-CEC
rating, or CEC-AC rating
Estimate average PV system production, in kwh/day: peak sun hours x # of solar modules x STC wattage
rating x 0.8 overall PV system efficiency.
Take into account tilt and orientation. KWh/day x tilt and orient efficiency factor; or upsize PV system to
generate more electricity such as, AC rating divided by tilt and orientation efficiency factor
INVERTER SIZING
Maximum Voltage
Calculate Voc for one string of panels
Maximum Voltage = # of modules x Voc x (temperature correction factor) Refer to NEC 690 temperature
correction factors Table 690.7
Maximum Current
Maximum current Amps = # of strings x Isc / string x 125%
Maximum Size Breaker
(solar breaker Amps + Main service entrance breaker Amps) x 120% may not be greater than the rating for
the service entrance electrical panel.