How to install an Off-grid solar system?

Because solar panels are environmentally friendly, they can solve the problem of electricity consumption and save electricity bills. Many families want to arrange solar panels to develop renewable energy. Therefore, they want to know the knowledge and precautions about solar energy systems. Today we will share with you this aspect of knowledge.

1. Notes on solar panels

Solar frames are usually made of steel. In fact, some of the properties of this material are not so good. In order to ensure its use effect, it is usually galvanized to improve its corrosion resistance and so on. However, some solar street lamp manufacturers will use cold galvanizing in order to save costs. The coating treated in this way is very thin and has poor corrosion resistance. Care should be taken to discern.

If it is close to an island due to heavy salt spray, choose stainless steel or heat-treated aluminum alloy, which has high corrosion resistance and high durability. If it is an inland city, the environment is better, and you can choose a panel frame according to your actual needs.

In addition, in addition to choosing the material of the frame, it is also necessary to ensure that the welding or installation between the frame and the foundation is firm so that the solar panels can have sufficient strength and stability to resist weather such as strong winds or heavy snow. Installing solar panels is best not to block.

2. Pay attention to distinguish the positive and negative poles of the solar panel

Secondly, pay attention to distinguish the positive and negative poles of the solar panel during installation, and do not connect them wrongly. If it is wrongly connected, the solar panel will short circuit and will not work, it will not charge, the indicator light of the controller will not light up, or even burn out the diode, so be careful.

Reminder: The distance between the cables connected to the solar panel should be as short as possible to reduce the internal resistance of the line, and the connection should be firm without increasing the contact resistance, so that the working efficiency of the solar panel will be higher. Also, pay attention to the ambient temperature. According to the temperature at the time of installation, the temperature parameters of the wires should have a margin.

3. The installation direction of the solar panel

Solar systems are installed with the panels facing south, and by orienting the panels based on true south and azimuth—the angle of the sun relative to true north and south—you can get the best orientation for the solar panels. The installation slope of the solar panel is 20-40 degrees (need to be calculated according to the local latitude).

It is necessary to avoid tall buildings, trees or other areas around the installation of solar panels to prevent the sun from being blocked and the solar panels cannot be illuminated

4. Install a lightning protection device

When installing a solar system, it is necessary to install a lightning protection device. We can buy an existing combiner box on the market or install a cheap and dedicated photovoltaic power supply SPD separately, especially in cities with more thunderstorms. Avoid overvoltage and overcurrent during lightning strikes and lightning surge damage to the solar system.

How to calculate how many solar panels should be connected:

  For example: 48V80AMPPT controller, solar maximum input power: 54V battery voltage*80A current=4320W

        Solar panel PV maximum input voltage 160VDC

So we can choose 9 pieces of 450W or 480W solar panels, 3 pieces in series, 3 groups in parallel

5. Connection between the solar panel and solar controller or solar hybrid inverter:

1. After the solar panel is installed, it needs to be connected to the solar controller inside the solar charge controller/solar hybrid inverter/integrated solar generator to charge the battery, so we need to confirm that the total power of the solar panel does not exceed the solar charge control Inverter or hybrid inverter maximum PV input maximum power.

At the same time, Before the solar panel and solar controller/hybrid inverter/solar generator are connected, you need to use a multimeter to measure the total input voltage of the solar panel to ensure that the total voltage of the solar panel does not exceed the maximum input voltage of the solar controller or hybrid inverter. If one of the two is out of range, the solar controller or hybrid will not work or will be damaged.

6. Matters needing attention when connecting the solar charger to the battery

   If you need to install a DC over-current switch in front of the battery to ensure safety when connecting the DC battery, make sure that the switch is activated only when the battery is connected correctly, so as to avoid damage to the system caused by the wrong connection of the battery voltage or reverse connection of positive and negative poles.

After all the equipment is installed, please confirm that all wiring is correct before turning on the switch and starting the equipment.

Off-grid solar system installation diagram