1

Choosing the right size solar regulator :

A solar regulator must be able to handle the maximum current that can be produced by the solar panels. Reflected sunlight and specific temperature conditions can increase the output current of a solar panel by as much as 25% above its rated output current. The solar regulator must be sized to handle the increased current. Example: An 80W 12V solar panel has a rated output current of 4.55 Amps and a rated short circuit current of 4.8 Amps. Minimum solar regulator size for a single 80W solar panel should be: 4.8 Amps x 1.20 = 5.76 Amps. It is recommended that the regulator selected is even slightly larger than this figure to ensure that it is not constantly operating at 100% of its rating, particularly in regions with higher ambient temperatures. A good rule of thumb is a margin of between 20 and 30%.

Sizing your solar power system

In order for you to size your solar system correctly, you need to note the power rating of each appliance that will be drawing power from the system. Let us take some common household appliances like lighting, a TV, and a fridge to see how one calculates the correct size solar system: 10 x 12W globes = 120W operating 10 hours per day. = 1200W.H 2 x TV x 250W = 500W operating 6hrs per day = 3000W.H

Fridge x 250W = 250W operating 24/7 Power inverter sizing

= 6000W/day

Appliance total power draw = 120W(for the 10 lights) + 500W(for the 2 TVs) + 250W(for the fridge) = a total power draw of 870W. To provide a small buffer or margin your minimum size inverter choice should be around 1000W. A modified sine wave inverter with a 1500W continuous power rating will therefore be your obvious choice in this specific solar system design.

Determining the size and number of solar panels:

Here we take the total power usage daily = 1200W.H + 3000W.H + 6000W.H This = a total of 10200W.H Divide the total daily power requirement by the number of charge hours for that geographic region eg. 10200/5.5Hrs = 1854.54W Add 20% for inefficiencies = 2225.45 W This total power value determines the size and number of panels eg. 2225.45/75W panels = 30 x 75W panels. If you fancied say 125W panels , then 2225.45/125W = 18 panels.

How many batteries?

Well the 75W panels produce 4.4Amps, thus 30 x 4.4 A = 132A x 5.5 Hrs = 726Ah 105Ah batteries, should be discharged to no more than 50%, thus we divide total amps by 105A x 50% = 50A.H 726/50A = 14.5 x 105Ah batteries. For ease of possible 24V or 48V configuration, this would mean 16 batteries. What size regulator do we need ? Lets say we had 20A regulators at our disposal. One 75W panel produces around 4.4Amps. 3 x 4.4A = 13.2A So 30 solar panels would need 30/3 = 10 x 20A solar regulators. Complete the solar power system Well we have the following:

30 x 75W solar panels 10 x 20A solar regulators 16 x 105A.H deep cycle batteries 1 x 1000W modified sine wave power inverter

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Calculation of battery back up for Solar PV Power Plant

Total KWhr load = Total No. of Load*Wattage of each unit*total No. of working hours

Solar PV Module Capacity = (Total KWhr Load)/4 Considering insolation to be 4 hours Inverter Capacity = Solar PV Module Capacity Effective Load = (Total KWhr Load)/(Inverter Efficiency) Ampere hours per day = (Effective Load)/(System Voltage) Total Battery Bank Capacity = ((Total Module Capacity)*(No. of backup hours))/((System Voltage)*(Inverter Efficiency)*(Battery deep discharge))

Sample Sizing Calculation: In order for you to size the system correctly, you need to note the power rating of each appliance that will be drawing power from the system. For this example, we will calculate the power requirements for a campervan with:

2 x 15W 12VDC Fluorescent Lights 1 x 60W 12VDC Water Pump 1 x 48W 12VDC Fridge 1 x 50W 240VAC TV

1 x 600W 240VAC Microwave

(Note that a 600W microwave will consume approximately 900W of power) 1. Calculate Loads Calculate total DC and AC loads: DC Loads

Lighting - 2 x 15W DC Lights - each used 2 hours per day = 60Wh/day Pump - 1 x 60W DC Pump - used 1/4 hour per day = 15Wh/day Fridge - 1 x 48W Fridge - runs 8 hours per day = 384Wh/day

Total for DC Loads = 459Wh/day AC Loads

Television - 1 x 50W - used 2 hours per day = 100Wh/day Microwave - 1 x 900W - used 15 min per day = 225Wh/day

Total for AC Loads = 325Wh/day Allowing for inverter efficiency of 85% = 382Wh per day (ie. 325 / 0.85) Total for AC and DC Loads = 841Wh per day

2. Calculate Required Solar Input:

In Central to Northern NSW expect a usable average of around 5 peak sun hours per day. Required solar panel input = (841Wh / 5h) * 1.4 = 235W Note: The 1.4 used in this formula is a factor we have found that can be used to simplify the calculations for basic systems. To ensure that adequate power is produced in the winter months, use a figure of around 4.0 to 4.5 peak sun hours per day instead of 5.

3. Select Solar Panels

Select solar panels to provide a minimum of 235W. Always best to go bigger if possible:

2 x 123W solar panels chosen which, when connected in parallel, will provide 246W or 14.32 Amps.

4. Select Solar Regulators

The rated short circuit current of the 123W solar panels is 8.1 Amps each, giving a total of 16.2 Amps. Select a solar regulator that is more than capable of handling the total short circuit current: 16.2 x 1.25 = 20.25 Amps

Steca 30Amp regulator chosen.

Note that, as described in the notes above, you must allow 25% extra capacity in the regulator rating as solar panels can exceed their rated output in particular cool sunny conditions. A 30A regulator will allow for an additional panel in the future.

5. Select Inverter
Select an inverter that is more than capable of supplying the maximum anticipated combined AC load required. In this example, maximum load would occur if the microwave and TV were running at the same time. Load in this case would be 900W + 50W = 950W. Note that this calculation assumes that the inverter selected has a suitable surge rating to cope with the start-up surges of the microwave or other loads. A 1000W inverter would appear to be suitable, but a 1200W - 1500W inverter would be recommended.

1200Watt pure sine wave inverter chosen.

Note: A pure sinewave inverter is the preferred choice, but if the budget is tight, a modified sine wave unit could be used.

6. Select Battery
Select a battery, or a matched combination of batteries, that is capable of supplying the total power usage without being discharged more than 70%. In most cases it is recommended that the batteries are sized such that they have around 3 to 4 days back-up capacity. This allows for days with low sunlight and reduces the daily depth of discharge resulting in longer battery life.

With 3 days storage capacity, the battery sizing would be as follows:

Ah Required = (841Wh * 3 / 12V) / 0.7 * 1.1 = 330Ah.

Note: The 1.1 is used in this formula as batteries are generally only about 90% efficient.

10

Solar Power Calculator

Solar Angle Calculator : Tiruchchirappalli : Optimum Tilt of Solar Panels by Month Figures shown in degrees from vertical :
Jan 63 Jul 95 Feb 71 Aug 87 Winter Mar 79 Sep 79 Apr 87 Oct 71 May 95 Nov 63 Jun 102 Dec 56 Summer

Spring/Autumn

56 angle

79 angle

102 angle

Notes: On the 21st December, the sun will rise 86 east of due south and set 86 west of due south.

11

On the 21st March/21st September, the sun will rise 91 east of due south and set 91 west of due south.

Thanjavur : Optimum Tilt of Solar Panels by Month : Figures shown in degrees from vertical Jan 63 Jul 95 Feb 71 Mar Apr May Jun 79 87 Oct 71 95 102

Aug Sep 87 79

Nov Dec 63 56 Summer

Winter

Spring/Autumn

56 angle

79 angle

102 angle

Notes: On the 21st December, the sun will rise 86 east of due south and set 86 west of due south. On the 21st March/21st September, the sun will rise 91 east of due south and set 91 west of due

12

south. On the 21st June, the sun will rise 96 east of due south and set 96 west of due south. Coimbatore : Optimum Tilt of Solar Panels by Month : Figures shown in degrees from vertical Jan 63 Jul 95 Feb 71 Mar 79 Apr 87 Oct 71 May 95 Nov 63 Jun 102 Dec 56 Summer

Aug Sep 87 79

Winter

Spring/Autumn

56 angle

79 angle

102 angle

Notes: On the 21st December, the sun will rise 86 east of due south and set 86 west of due south.

13

On the 21st March/21st September, the sun will rise 91 east of due south and set 91 west of due south. On the 21st June, the sun will rise 96 east of due south and set 96 west of due south. How to Calculate the Solar Panels needed: 1. Identify what are the power of the equipment that you want to run on solar energy and the hours to run it them everyday. Take an example a 14" stand fan 75W to run 4 hours at night and a 16W light to run 4 hours at night. 2. The formula of the power of the solar panels needed is power of equipment X running hours X 1.5 (lost factor) / 4 hours of sunshine lost factor include the humidity and high temperature in the equator zone, battery charging and discharging lost and inverter conversion lost. 3. From the example, the solar panel needed for the fan is 112.5W and the solar panel needed for the light is 24W. So the total solar panel needed will be 136.5W. In this case, you can buy 1 piece of 140W solar panel or 2 pieces of 60W solar panels. 4. This calculation will work fine if there is 4 hours strong sun a day. How to Calculate the Batteries needed : Example a 14" stand fan 75W to run 4 hours at night and a 16W light to run 4 hours at night. Solar panel needed is 140W.

14

1. The formula of the battery needed is (power of solar panel / 1.2) x 5 hours sun x 2 (50% discharge) / 12V 2. From the example, the calculated battery needed is 97AH 12V. The standard battery can be found in the market is 100AH 12V. 3. The 50% discahrge factor is set at 2 in order to maintain the normal battery life span. The deep cycle battery is recommended to discahrge only 50% of the power stored. Over discahrge fo the battery will shorten the life time. Normal car battery is not recommended to use in solar system because they are designed for only 5 to 10% discharge. How to select the Charge Controller: Example a 14" stand fan 75W to run 4 hours at night and a 16W light to run 4 hours at night. Solar panel needed is 140W. 1. There is no formula needed for the charge controller. You need to get a charge controller with the currrent more than the maximum current of the solar panel or the maximum current of your load. 2. From the example the 140W solar panel selected will need a charge controller of more than 8.2A (maximum currrent that a 140W panel produced) input. The Phocos charge controller selected wil be the 12V 10A. The output power from the charge controller will be limited (12Vx10A) 120W. The charge controller will alarm and cut off the output if the currrent drawn is more than 10A. If your equipment has a high startup current or power, you will need to select a higher range charge controller to suit your equipment.

15

3. MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) charge controller is designed to maintain the solar panel voltage at the optimum voltage to charge the battery, even when the sun ligth is low. Thus stored more power to the battery compared to normal charge controller. Not popular to use in the lower power system because of high in price. 4. There are 24V and 48V range of charge controllers available for you to configure to your needs. How to select the Inverter needed: 1. Inverters are separated into 2 types: Modified sine wave and Pure sine wave. 2. Modified sine wave inverter is commonly selected for general purpose use. 3. Pure sine wave is a must to run the ac motor. The price is more than double the modified sine wave. 4. Always buy an inverter 4x the power that you need. The startup power of the equipment always double the power that it consumes. The unbranded inverter always over specify the power it can withstand.