03-28-2014, 05:29 PM
There are several levels of solar systems. One of the most basic of them is a solar panel(s) that has wires going to a car type battery that saves up the electricity. When you want to use the power, you get it out of the car battery which is 12V DC with an inverter which changes it to 120 volts AC to run most "normal" electrical items. Those are usually plugged directly into the inverter and the inverter is sort of a cube with wires to the battery. This is one of the most basic systems and doesn't run much for very long. You also could use things such as a charge controller to keep from damaging the berry with over or under charging.
The next level up is when you have more and/or bigger panels wired to a controller that then sends the power (via wires) to a battery bank (mostly more batteries that still are similar to a car battery). That battery bank is wired to an inverter that changes the battery power to house power and sends the power to the house's electrical box. From the electrical box on out, it is just like a "normal" house although the electricity is limited and you have to sort of keep track of how much you've used or you'll run out. However, usually with a system this size, you also have a back up generator which will either be turned on or will automatically come on when the stored power in the battery bank gets low.
The easiest system for folks who aren't all that electrical savvy is the grid-tie system. An electrical contractor (technically, all electrical work in Hawaii is done by licensed electricians) installs the solar panels and the inverter on your house. It puts power into the island's electrical grid. There is a meter which keeps track of how much power you put in versus how much power you take out. When you give more than you use, you only pay $20 per month to Helco as a paperwork fee. When you use more than you provide, they send you a bill. No batteries, no back up generator, no muss, no fuss. No keeping track of how much power you have left in the system to use.
So, if you were planning on getting a PV system, I'd suggest a grid tie system. Either that or do an awful lot of study and research first.
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
The next level up is when you have more and/or bigger panels wired to a controller that then sends the power (via wires) to a battery bank (mostly more batteries that still are similar to a car battery). That battery bank is wired to an inverter that changes the battery power to house power and sends the power to the house's electrical box. From the electrical box on out, it is just like a "normal" house although the electricity is limited and you have to sort of keep track of how much you've used or you'll run out. However, usually with a system this size, you also have a back up generator which will either be turned on or will automatically come on when the stored power in the battery bank gets low.
The easiest system for folks who aren't all that electrical savvy is the grid-tie system. An electrical contractor (technically, all electrical work in Hawaii is done by licensed electricians) installs the solar panels and the inverter on your house. It puts power into the island's electrical grid. There is a meter which keeps track of how much power you put in versus how much power you take out. When you give more than you use, you only pay $20 per month to Helco as a paperwork fee. When you use more than you provide, they send you a bill. No batteries, no back up generator, no muss, no fuss. No keeping track of how much power you have left in the system to use.
So, if you were planning on getting a PV system, I'd suggest a grid tie system. Either that or do an awful lot of study and research first.
Kurt Wilson
Kurt Wilson