SOLAR SYSTEM COMPONENTS: How the parts work together

These days, the majority of electricity comes from non-renewable sources like crude oil, coal, and natural gas. These fossil fuels cost money and they pollute our environment. On top of that, those costs go right to you. Fortunately, the solar system components that produce solar power solve these problems nicely.

Here, let’s look at your solar power options and break down each component that goes into the system. For each component, we’ll look at how to calculate and determine the size and features needed. Then, we’ll look at solar installation. Therefore, read on to see how solar system components fit together.

Solar system components REVEALED

While you may find many variations and custom options that go into a solar system, there’s an assortment of essentials to identify and explain in simple terms. As such, let’s take a walk through each part to understand the basic system and what essential solar components go into it prior to installation.

Off-grid systems are enormously more complicated than common grid-connected solar systems. But, over 300,000 homes use them for their energy needs around the world. They know that when connected to the grid, they’re dependent on an external supplier for all their power. And when that power grid goes down, so does their power supply.

Check out the following components that make up a solar system. In this section, equip yourself with important knowledge while learning how to design a solar system. That way, you won’t run into surprises when purchasing you own off-grid solar system or hybrid solar system.

Solar panel arrays provide free electricity

Solar panel arrays require direct sunlight to produce maximum power output. Even on cloudy days, solar panels absorb solar energy and produce power. But of course, power output reduces significantly by 25% to 40% compared to sunny days.

Panel efficiency deals with the electrical output of each panel: 320W, 290W, 270W etc. This translates into the number of panels you’ll need. To calculate, power rating divides by total panel area. That means, having a larger panel doesn’t always equate to higher efficiency.

Power optimizers maximize energy performance

Use power optimizers to maximize the energy harvest from solar power systems. First, they achieve this by individually tuning the performance of each panel within the solar panel array. Then, power optimizers are especially useful when the component performance in a distributed system varies due to shading or facing different directions.

When you attach these power optimizers to each solar module, installers can easily monitor system performance reliably. In other words, installers will be able to track, pinpoint, and resolve issues at any point along a string with surgical precision. This lowers maintenance costs dramatically over the life of your system.

Battery bank choices to store backup solar power

Your battery bank provides complete electrical independence – it makes off-grid solar systems possible. To explain, it provides power at night when your solar panel array isn’t producing. Also, it provides extra power in those moments when power consumption spikes above what your solar panel array provides.

As you know, not having a grid connection means you need a reliable way to store the energy generated during the day for later use. Therefore, it’s critical to have a battery bank to store enough energy to get you through each night. Also, they must support off-peak production periods like cloudy days.

Traditionally, lead-acid deep cycle battery systems were the most common and reliable option for off-grid solar systems. Though a proven technology lasting over a decade, they must be kept at room temperature and not be discharged often. To explain, high temperatures, low temperatures, and fully draining lead-acid batteries internally damages and degrades them.

Lithium-ion batteries provide many advantages over lead-acid

Your best battery option for your off-grid solar system is the lithium-ion battery bank, an advanced storage device optimized for long lifespan, fast recharge, and high efficiency. Most notably, they’ve become extremely popular for their high efficiency ranging from 92% to 98%.

Lithium-ion battery banks are compact, lightweight and scalable. On top of that, they provide flexible sizing for additional capacity down the road. In other words, lithium-ion batteries may be added in the future as you’re power needs increase or if you just increase power storage for more peace of mind.

One giant advantage of lithium-ion battery banks are their ability to sustain a low or partial charge levels for prolonged periods without negative effects. Compare this to sulfation that is a common problem with lead-acid batteries. Also, lithium-ion batteries provide high charge rates – charge times are up to 70% faster than lead-acid.

Multi-mode inverter handles all household power

A sufficient solar system is a self-sustaining household solar system that also connects to the power grid. That means, it provides power from three sources: solar energy, battery bank backup, and your electrical utility grid. As such, it takes a powerful multi-mode inverter to handle all three power sources well.

Although your multi-mode inverter connects to your power grid, it functions as an off-grid solar inverter when your local power grid goes down. That means, it uses your solar panel array and your battery bank together to provide continuous household power while there’s a power blackout in your area.

In order to provide that continuous household power, your multi-mode inverter must support very large loads. Examples include air-conditioners, water pumps and heaters. That means, multi-mode inverters don’t require separation of essential loads and non-essential loads.

Systems that use self-sufficient multi-mode inverters

There are two types of solar systems that use multi-mode inverters: hybrid solar systems and off-grid solar systems. And, there are many similarities between the two. The primary difference is hybrid solar systems connect to the power grid and off-grid solar systems do not.

While both solar system types support household electricity independently, off-grid solar systems operate in this mode indefinitely. Therefore, they require much larger battery banks to support household power for long periods of time. Also, off-grid solar systems may require a solar system backup generator.

Smart meters replacements provide net metering

Using a smart meter for solar net metering, sell the excess electricity that your solar panels produce right back to your utility company. That means, you make a profit when your solar system becomes a source for your local electrical grid. Get credit for that excess power your solar systems produces.

As another way to understand net metering, think of your local electrical grid as a battery. During the day, most solar systems produce excess electricity. Net metering uses your electrical grid to store that surplus as a credit. After the sundown, your household uses that credited power – free electricity.

Smart meters also manage additional factors. To elaborate, they manage both the energy produced by your solar system and power consumed by your household. When exporting electricity to your local grid, your meter spins backwards. As a result, your electric bill receives applied credits each month.

Solar system components calculation

Before you calculate the size of your solar system components, you must determine the amount of power your household requires. First, calculate your daily and yearly energy usage. The reason is simple: off-grid solar systems and hybrid solar systems are inherently variable – day vs. night and sunny vs. cloudy.

Understanding your daily and yearly power rhythms or usage curves, your family’s energy consumption reveals itself. Then, you can plan for an efficient and reliable system. Using your household power usage data, calculate the adequate size of your off-grid solar system accurately.

To accurately determine your annual energy consumption, calculate each appliance individually. Or, use a meter to monitor all of it at once. According to Energy.Gov’s article about estimating appliance and home electronic power usage, estimate total electricity used with the following four methods:

1. Review each Energy Guide label to estimate the individual unit’s average energy consumption.
2. Use an Electric Consumption Meter to uncover how much electricity each appliance consumes.
3. Install a whole-house energy monitoring system to monitor your actual energy usage.
4. Calculate your total annual energy consumption using the formulas shown below.

Solar panel array size calculation

There is quite a range of solar panel performance levels based on quality. That means, higher quality translates into more power per square foot. Generally, individual solar panels vary between 150w to 345w per panel. It depends on the size and actual cell technology used to create each panel.

First, calculate the number of panels needed. Start by dividing your household hourly energy usage by the solar panel wattage. Do this for both low and high wattage options. To explain, this allows you to create a range of sizes. It’ll give you realistic expectations regarding available space on your property.

This will provide an estimate for the number of panels you need to generate adequate power. Then, a professional installer will determine the best angle for your solar panel array. Finally, your installer will determine how your solar panels should be arranged on your roof or other structures.

Calculating the total sunlight your solar panel array receives comes next. The first calculation is the amount of power your panels produce during peak sun-hours. Keep in mind, peak sun hours are not the same as hours of daylight. Peak sun hours are the maximum solar energy available during a typical day. To be specific, a peak sun hour is an hour where intensity of sunlight is 1000W per square meter.

Calculate the size of your battery bank

Since the sun doesn’t shine at night and many days will be cloudy, your battery bank must carry you through. Standard off-grid sizing calls for three days of autonomy. That means, when no power is generated by your solar panel array, your battery bank will only be down to 50% State-Of-Charge (SOC) after three days. In practice, that works out to more than three days of storage.

Generators are always recommended for power backup when using an off-grid solar system. Standard sizing is the balance between your battery bank and the frequency you need to use that generator. During winter, your battery bank will sometimes fall short. Therefore, a generator is recommended to bridge those gaps in sunlight.

Now, calculate the minimum battery capacity in AH or Amp Hours. First, take the watt-hours per day and multiply them by three days. This represents a 50% depth-of-discharge on your batteries. Then multiply by two and convert the kWh result into AH. This is done by dividing by the battery bank voltage (12V, 24V or 48V).

Find solar system components installers

First, never attempt to install your own solar system unless properly trained, experienced, and correctly certified to do so. In other words, this type of installation is not a DIY project. To explain, solar component installation and wiring requires an electrician and a construction contractor to do it right.

For a comparison, installing a complete solar system is like installing a circuit breaker unit along with other major electrical systems. One primary component of a solar system is the solar power inverter, which powers your entire home. That means, safety and reliability is no different between the two.

Construction skills are also necessary to install a solar system. To elaborate, solar panel arrays are typically secured on top of existing structures. As such, the physical connections must be strong and reliable. Sometimes, structures are built from the ground up to carry the load of your solar panel arrays sufficiently.

Now that you understand the importance of using a certified solar installer, let’s find great solar installers near you…

Find local certified solar system components installers

Starting with a solid definition, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics states that “Solar installers assemble, set up, and maintain rooftop or other systems that convert sunlight into energy.” Though quite a simple definition, that defines exactly what they will do for you.

As you’ll find, there are probably many service providers located near you. And, most of them will have a certification and a decent reputation. That being said, make sure you confirm each of their reputations and certifications. Then, ask them specific questions to understand what they offer.

First, ask them how they determine your overall energy usage. After that, ask them how they’ll lay out the solar system on your property. Next, ask about your short-term and long-term costs. Finally, ask them about their maintenance policy. To be specific, ask them about the required maintenance you can expect to perform over the lifetime of your solar system.