Nov 22
Topic: Photovoltaic systems component selection

PV systems Integration powerpoint
Solar Decathlon (College solar contest) article from Home Power-Solar Decathlon.pdf file

Single crystal PV
Polycrystalline PV
Thin-film PV panels
PV Panel comparison
PV-PN Junctions
Charge Controllers
Solar Trackers
Solar Batteries
Inverters
Backup Generators
Amp-Hour meter

Inverter Size: Peak KW determines the inverter size. Keep in mind you will never run everything at once. Use a good guess, and often it comes down to what you can afford. Off the grid you will need a bigger inverter to handle all the loads. Grid-tie inverter can be smaller, since the grid will back up excess loads.

PV Panels: Average KWH/day = PV panel array size x hours/day of sunlight (Use 4 hrs.)
or Average KWH/day / 4 = PV array size
example:
10KWH/day /4hrs = 2.5KW
2.5 KW of PV panels would be 25 100watt panels. (about $12,500)

Batteries: AVE KWH/day x days of storage = size of battery bank
10KWH/day x 3days of storage = 30KWH storage needed
Example: using 12V 105AH batteries = 1260 WH or 1.26KWH
30/1.26 = 24 batteries
or 30KWH = 30,000 WH
30,000WH/12V = 2500amp-hours
2500/105AH = 24 batteries

After doing this you can see the benefit of reducing your needs. Electric driers aren't recommended unless you have stock in electric utility.

HOMEWORK for Nov. 29
PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PV POWERPOINTS!
Pick your PV system and components, based on your load calculations.