How to make your own home solar. With Pictures + solar book

[glennjv]

I saw a lot worst regarding the messy side Lucky you to find these cheap prices. Here in Palawan, except the price of cdr king panels, everything is still either the same or more expensive! Still not affordable for most... and I expect the prices to skyrocket with the new tax on fuels
I think you are right about to keep your job... but at least, if something goes wrong, you know you have a good option!

I am curious about you setup: could you tell us what appliances you use in daytime and at night... or the wattage?

If ever you do plan to upgrade, I think you can ask the sellers to ship it via couriers. It'll probably still be cheaper and the quality is Tier 1.
Pero believe ako sa PowerStar niyo since its still alive and its been years already. My offgrid inverter is just for backup and i don't expect to use it much.

Daytime
It hovers around 66W (when the ref's compressor is off and nobody is watching tv)
- Ubiquiti Outdoor Access Point ~15w (for my internet. Naka connect ako sa internet on my brother and parents house ko. 3 houses. 1 internet. fiber)
- D-link Router ~15w
- Wireless Doorbell ~15w
- vampire load of Ref ~15w

When somebody is watching TV and DC-Fan, its around 200w.
If they turn on the 2HP split aircon, it spikes to 1400-1800w. (ouch)


Nighttime
200w - 400w from 6pm - 12mn
TV, DC Fan, Lights

250w 12mn to 7am
DC Fan, 1HP Kolin Inverter Window Type Aircon.
my GTIL turns on at 12mn to take on this load.
I have measured this and my consumption at night with aircon is around 1.6kwh so the batteries with GTIL takes care of it.

*if the room is at 25C the consumption of the inverter aircon is only 200w or less.

 

[TristanWS]

ATM sir hindi ko nilagyan ng load ang system ko para makita ko kung ilang boltahe talaga and max na maikarga sa batterya...as of now 12 NN nasa 13.5V na xa...pero nagtataka ako sir kasi sa controller ko PV OFF @ 14.7V .... paano ko po ma reach ung sinasabi nyo na 14.8V kung ang controller na mismo ang mag cut ng charge galing sa panel papuntang battery?.... Wla pong ganyan ang controller ko sir, please check nalang po sa pic na nasa taas.... Emtrac Plus 120AH maintenance free po ang battery ko...

wala ba siya manual?... ang ibig sabihin ng "PV OFF @ 14.7V" ay off na siya sa 14.7V... pero OK lang yan kasi ang equalize voltage ng sealed acid battery ay usually 14.6... therefore DAPAT ay umabot ka ng 14.6V for at least one hour man lang para siguradong full-charge na si battery... kung hindi HILAW pa ang charging mo.

at tsaka, obvious naman na sinabi ng PWM na mag-o-off siya sa 14.7volts, therefore DAPAT makita mo na umabot ka ng >14V... kung hindi, either hindi kaya ng powers ng panel mo (100W:120AH) or sira ang PWM mo.

 

[vashpj]

wala ba siya manual?... ang ibig sabihin ng "PV OFF @ 14.7V" ay off na siya sa 14.7V... pero OK lang yan kasi ang equalize voltage ng sealed acid battery ay usually 14.6... therefore DAPAT ay umabot ka ng 14.6V for at least one hour man lang para siguradong full-charge na si battery... kung hindi HILAW pa ang charging mo.

at tsaka, obvious naman na sinabi ng PWM na mag-o-off siya sa 14.7volts, therefore DAPAT makita mo na umabot ka ng >14V... kung hindi, either hindi kaya ng powers ng panel mo (100W:120AH) or sira ang PWM mo.

Titingnan natin bukas sir kasi tinanggal ko na lahat ng connection ngaun papunta sa battery...last reading ko kanina 13.5 habang nagchacharge sa panel....pagka tanggal ko ngaung hapon 12.78V ... malalaman ko bukas ng umaga kung same pa rin ba ang voltage.... tapos e charge ko na naman ulit sa panel...imposible cguro na hindi xa mapuno sa 2 days na matingkad ang araw gaya kanina...update nalang po ako bukas kung ilang volts sa bandang tanghali ang aabotin.

 

[TristanWS]

VOLTAGE, OHM and AMPERES

... ang AMP ay galing sa panel... itutulak siya ni VOLT papunta sa battery... ang bilis ng pagka-puno ni battery ay depende sa resistance ni OHM at lakas ni VOLT... kung malaki si panel at malakas si araw lalakas si VOLT at madaling mapupuno si battery... yan ang dahilan kaya mahalaga ang Watts is to AH ratio (200W:100AH).

 

[vashpj]

VOLTAGE, OHM and AMPERES
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/fe/31/88/fe3188511bbfc79b5396ce417888b4f1.jpg
... ang AMP ay galing sa panel... itutulak siya ni VOLT papunta sa battery... ang bilis ng pagka-puno ni battery ay depende sa resistance ni OHM at lakas ni VOLT... kung malaki si panel at malakas si araw lalakas si VOLT at madaling mapupuno si battery... yan ang dahilan kaya mahalaga ang Watts is to AH ratio (200W:100AH).

Quate ko lang po sir, para makita mo rin kung bakit napupuno ang batery ko...hindi ko naman kasalanan na mag 13.5V sya sa reading sa charge controller at sa volt meter ko everyday...pero pag nka andar po ang inverter nasa 13.1 to 13.3 lang po xa sir (Charging Condition)...ung load ko rin po na sample na 574 watts ay more or less po yan kasi hindi naman sa lahat ng pagkakataon same ang time allocated...120AH = 1440Watts...ung sample ko na 574 load ay nasa 25% DoD lang ng battery...akala mo cguro sir deep usage ung ginawa ko sa battery ko...so kung nasusunod ko ung 25% na discharge ko...25% lang din ang dapat kakargahan ng 100W na panel ko...kahit po 500AH ang battery with same load ang same panel...mapupuno pa rin po cguro...correct me if i am wrong...hindi po ako electrician, hindi po ako solar installer...sariling sikap ko po ito na matuto...dalawa po ung setup ko na ginawa isang 100W panel / 70Ah battery at yan ngang isang sample ko na isa 100W panel / 120Ah....parehas po yang tumatakbo ngaun sa magkaibang lugar... ung sa 70Ah na battery busog na busog lageh si battery kasi dalawang 12W lang na bulb ang load.

 

[tuffoman]

guys help! napasubo kasi ako bili ng 250watts panel 8,000 heheh problema ko ngayon wla akong charge controller na mabili dito. tapos dapat rin pala ako bibili ng battery bank na 24volts. medyo mahal pla mag 24volts na system.

anong mppt controller marecommend nyo? kita ko online mga 3k-36k prices nila. pakiconsider nlang din po na kapos ako sa pera pero makakaipon nman ng pambili after a year hahah

so far eto lang pinakamura nakita ko
http://www.lazada.com.ph/y-solar-10a-mppt-solar-regulator-lcd-12v-24v-auto-switch-with-rs485for-sealed-gel-flooded-1210a-5018059.html

ty ty

 

[TristanWS]

Quate ko lang po sir, para makita mo rin kung bakit napupuno ang batery ko...hindi ko naman kasalanan na mag 13.5V sya sa reading sa charge controller at sa volt meter ko everyday...pero pag nka andar po ang inverter nasa 13.1 to 13.3 lang po xa sir (Charging Condition)...ung load ko rin po na sample na 574 watts ay more or less po yan kasi hindi naman sa lahat ng pagkakataon same ang time allocated...120AH = 1440Watts...ung sample ko na 574 load ay nasa 25% DoD lang ng battery...akala mo cguro sir deep usage ung ginawa ko sa battery ko...so kung nasusunod ko ung 25% na discharge ko...25% lang din ang dapat kakargahan ng 100W na panel ko...kahit po 500AH ang battery with same load ang same panel...mapupuno pa rin po cguro...correct me if i am wrong...hindi po ako electrician, hindi po ako solar installer...sariling sikap ko po ito na matuto...dalawa po ung setup ko na ginawa isang 100W panel / 70Ah battery at yan ngang isang sample ko na isa 100W panel / 120Ah....parehas po yang tumatakbo ngaun sa magkaibang lugar... ung sa 70Ah na battery busog na busog lageh si battery kasi dalawang 12W lang na bulb ang load.

"kung 25% na discharge ko...25% lang din ang dapat kakargahan ng 100W na panel ko...kahit po 120AH ang battery" = i agree
... yung pag-estimate lang talaga ng DoD ang mahirap, specially kung may inverter kasi kumakain din sya ng amperes... sa computation ko (consider ko na may inverter) nasa 50% DoD na ang 574 watts mo (totoo kaya ito???) at need mo na ng araw from 6AM to 6PM with 100W panel... therefore posible talaga na HILAW pa ang charging mo... na sinasabi din ng PWM mo (dapat ay off ako sa 14.7volts pero >13V lang ang kaya ni panel).

 

[vashpj]

Update sa Status ng Battery ko:

- @ 6am 12.7V ang reading...kinabit ko na sa panel para mag charge...aroung 10am this morning naabot na ng battery ko ang sinasabi ni sir Tristan na 14.6V (reding sa indicator while charging).... at dahil fully charge na ang battery sa stage na yan, pinaandar ko na ngaun ang inverter na may load na 12W Router. bumagsak agad ng 13.6 ang reading considering na may load na xa...as of now 12NN ang reading ay 13.8 ... hindi ko alam kung taas pa ba to o hindi na kasi naka andar na ang inverter with router na load.

Conclusion: Tama ang sabi ni sir Tristan na dapat aabot ng 14.3 to 14.8V ang battery para masabi mo na full charge na ito (but without Load)...in addition babaksak pa rin sya sa 13.6 to 13.8 depending kung ano load mo...ngaun ito na ang starting cycle ko... salamat sa support sir Tristan and ma'am Awinahe.. more power and more ideas to share

- - - Updated - - -

guys help! napasubo kasi ako bili ng 250watts panel 8,000 heheh problema ko ngayon wla akong charge controller na mabili dito. tapos dapat rin pala ako bibili ng battery bank na 24volts. medyo mahal pla mag 24volts na system.

anong mppt controller marecommend nyo? kita ko online mga 3k-36k prices nila. pakiconsider nlang din po na kapos ako sa pera pero makakaipon nman ng pambili after a year hahah

so far eto lang pinakamura nakita ko
http://www.lazada.com.ph/y-solar-10a-mppt-solar-regulator-lcd-12v-24v-auto-switch-with-rs485for-sealed-gel-flooded-1210a-5018059.html

ty ty

Boss 10Amps lang yata yang nakita mo...at saka hindi magkapareha ang brand name sa picture...tracer ang nasa picture pero y-solar ang nasa name...ingat sa pag bili boss baka maisahan ka ng mga mananamantala...ito nalang boss ohh para maka cguro ka... http://www.lazada.com.ph/lcd-mppt-solar-regulator-charge-controller-4612845.html?ff=1 maganda pa ang rating and comment 10Amps lang din na MPPT.

 

[TristanWS]

Update sa Status ng Battery ko:

- @ 6am 12.7V ang reading...kinabit ko na sa panel para mag charge...aroung 10am this morning naabot na ng battery ko ang sinasabi ni sir Tristan na 14.6V (reding sa indicator while charging).... at dahil fully charge na ang battery sa stage na yan, pinaandar ko na ngaun ang inverter na may load na 12W Router. bumagsak agad ng 13.6 ang reading considering na may load na xa...as of now 12NN ang reading ay 13.8 ... hindi ko alam kung taas pa ba to o hindi na kasi naka andar na ang inverter with router na load.

Conclusion: Tama ang sabi ni sir Tristan na dapat aabot ng 14.3 to 14.8V ang battery para masabi mo na full charge na ito (but without Load)...in addition babaksak pa rin sya sa 13.6 to 13.8 depending kung ano load mo...ngaun ito na ang starting cycle ko... salamat sa support sir Tristan and ma'am Awinahe.. more power and more ideas to share

para ma-convert ang AC watt-hr to DC watt-hr (para sa appliances na nakasaksak sa inverter)
(AC watts / 12.5V x 1.15inverter efficiency) x hrs use x 12V

kapag kinonsider mo ang watts na naka-saksak sa inverter, ang DoD mo ay tataas sa >40%

 

[vashpj]

para ma-convert ang AC watt-hr to DC watt-hr (para sa appliances na nakasaksak sa inverter)
(AC watts / 12.5V x 1.15inverter efficiency) x hrs use x 12V

kapag kinonsider mo ang watts na naka-saksak sa inverter, ang DoD mo ay tataas sa >40%

Confused lang ako sir, asan galing ang 12.5V Denominator ng AC watts? at ano ibig sabihin sa 1.15 inverter Efficiency?

Ito kasi na search ko about inverter Efficiency:

ηinv=PAC/PDC

where PAC is AC power output in watts and PDC is DC power input in watts.

High quality sine wave inverters are rated at 90-95% efficiency. Lower quality modified sine wave inverters are less efficient - 75-85%. High frequency inverters are usually more efficient than low-frequency.

 

[TristanWS]

Confused lang ako sir, asan galing ang 12.5V Denominator ng AC watts? at ano ibig sabihin sa 1.15 inverter Efficiency?

Ito kasi na search ko about inverter Efficiency:

ηinv=PAC/PDC

where PAC is AC power output in watts and PDC is DC power input in watts.

High quality sine wave inverters are rated at 90-95% efficiency. Lower quality modified sine wave inverters are less efficient - 75-85%. High frequency inverters are usually more efficient than low-frequency.

12.5V is the standby voltage of the battery at rest
1.15 meaning 85% inverter efficiency

example yung 12W router mo na nakasaksak sa inverter ng 24 hrs
317.95 watt-hr = 12W/12.5Vx1.15x24hrx12V

Therefore: inabot ng mahigit isang araw (1 day and 6AM to 10AM the next day) bago umabot ng 14.6V kung ang gagamitin ay 100W panel charging 120AH battery... therefore again, kung 200W ang panel siguradong sa maghapon ay full charge na si battery using PWM.

ang tanong, paano ba ang pag-estimate ng recharging time kung halimbawa ang nasa-taas?

 

[vashpj]

12.5V is the standby voltage of the battery at rest
1.15 meaning 85% inverter efficiency

example yung 12W router mo na nakasaksak sa inverter ng 24 hrs
317.95 watt-hr = 12W/12.5Vx1.15x24hrx12V

Therefore: inabot ng mahigit isang araw (1 day and 6AM to 10AM the next day) bago umabot ng 14.6V kung ang gagamitin ay 100W panel charging 120AH battery... therefore again, kung 200W ang panel siguradong sa maghapon ay full charge na si battery using PWM.

ang tanong, paano ba ang pag-estimate ng recharging time kung halimbawa ang nasa-taas?

anlaki naman yata ng 317.95W na load sa 12W AC na gamit ng router...for 1 week na nagamit ang router sir, hindi naman nag drop ng less than 12V ang battery...kasi kung ang router kay nag consume ng ganyan kalaki...more than 80% na ang DoD within 3 days...pero bakit sa na observe ko...daily naman umaakyat ang Voltage 13V + ...so it means sa lahat ng load ko na 6 na bulbs + AC router nakakapag charge pa ng maayos compare sa 317.95 na estimated consumption.

 

[TristanWS]

anlaki naman yata ng 317.95W na load sa 12W AC na gamit ng router...for 1 week na nagamit ang router sir, hindi naman nag drop ng less than 12V ang battery...kasi kung ang router kay nag consume ng ganyan kalaki...more than 80% na ang DoD within 3 days...pero bakit sa na observe ko...daily naman umaakyat ang Voltage 13V + ...so it means sa lahat ng load ko na 6 na bulbs + AC router nakakapag charge pa ng maayos compare sa 317.95 na estimated consumption.

please research about "watt-hour" because it is very important in understanding solar power... paki post na lang yung hindi mo ma-intindihan masyado.

 

[rntobias]

BM muna, try ko pag may time na. thanks TS

 

[awinahe]

If ever you do plan to upgrade, I think you can ask the sellers to ship it via couriers. It'll probably still be cheaper and the quality is Tier 1.
Pero believe ako sa PowerStar niyo since its still alive and its been years already. My offgrid inverter is just for backup and i don't expect to use it much.

Daytime
It hovers around 66W (when the ref's compressor is off and nobody is watching tv)
- Ubiquiti Outdoor Access Point ~15w (for my internet. Naka connect ako sa internet on my brother and parents house ko. 3 houses. 1 internet. fiber)
- D-link Router ~15w
- Wireless Doorbell ~15w
- vampire load of Ref ~15w

When somebody is watching TV and DC-Fan, its around 200w.
If they turn on the 2HP split aircon, it spikes to 1400-1800w. (ouch)


Nighttime
200w - 400w from 6pm - 12mn
TV, DC Fan, Lights

250w 12mn to 7am
DC Fan, 1HP Kolin Inverter Window Type Aircon.
my GTIL turns on at 12mn to take on this load.
I have measured this and my consumption at night with aircon is around 1.6kwh so the batteries with GTIL takes care of it.

*if the room is at 25C the consumption of the inverter aircon is only 200w or less.

Many thanks for these details! Your inverter aircon is a winner All other kinds of aircon should be prohibited: less pollution, less energy consumption, less electicity bill...

guys help! napasubo kasi ako bili ng 250watts panel 8,000 heheh problema ko ngayon wla akong charge controller na mabili dito. tapos dapat rin pala ako bibili ng battery bank na 24volts. medyo mahal pla mag 24volts na system.

anong mppt controller marecommend nyo? kita ko online mga 3k-36k prices nila. pakiconsider nlang din po na kapos ako sa pera pero makakaipon nman ng pambili after a year hahah

so far eto lang pinakamura nakita ko
http://www.lazada.com.ph/y-solar-10a-mppt-solar-regulator-lcd-12v-24v-auto-switch-with-rs485for-sealed-gel-flooded-1210a-5018059.html

ty ty

Good brands are Epsolar and MorningStar... but there are others. They all have in common a high price! The one you selected on Lazada is not good for you as it is only a 10 ampere controller which is not enough for your 250 watt panel. Dapat 20 amp mppt controller for a 250 watt panel.


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What is the difference between a watt and a watt-hour?

Knowing the difference between a watt (W) and a watt-hour (Wh) helps you understand the impact of your home energy use on your electric bill.

While watts and watt-hours are related terms, they are not the same thing.

So what is a watt?

A watt (W) is a unit of power, and power is the rate at which energy is produced or consumed. Think of watts as a measure of electrical flow. Does an electrical device need a big flow or a small flow to work? For example, a 100 W light bulb uses energy at a higher rate than a 60 W bulb; this means that the 100 W light bulb needs a bigger “flow” to work. Likewise, the rate at which your solar energy system “flows” power into your home is measured in watts.


So what is a watt-hour?

A watt-hour (Wh) is a unit of energy; it’s a way to measure the amount of work performed or generated. Household appliances and other electrical devices perform “work” and that requires energy in the form of electricity. Power companies typically charge you for electrical energy by the kilowatt-hour (kWh), which is equal to 1,000 watt-hours.

 

[TristanWS]

sir vashpj... ito yung post mo sa page 551... please compute the "daily load" consumption in "watt-hour"... test ko lang kung gets mo na ang meaning ng "watt-hour"... need kasi ito sa pag-estimate ng DoD at how many hours needed to re-charge the battery.

100W Solar Panel, 120AH Battery, 500W inverter, 20Amp SSC.
Daily Load :
12 Watts Bulb (12V) = 1 pc. (Living Area) = 6 hours usage (5:00 PM to 11:00 PM)
9 Watts Bulb (12V) = 1 pc. (Kitchen) = 6 hours usage (5:00 PM to 11:00 PM)
5 Watts Bulb (12V) = 1 pc. (Terrace) = 12 hours usage (5:00 PM to 5:00 AM)
5 Watts Bulb (12V) = 3 pcs. (CR,Dirty Kitchen,Room) = Total of 5 hours usage (Indefinite Time)
12 Watts Router (Using AC power from inverter) = 1 pc. = 24 Hours running

 

[vashpj]

sir vashpj... ito yung post mo sa page 551... please compute the "daily load" consumption in "watt-hour"... test ko lang kung gets mo na ang meaning ng "watt-hour"... need kasi ito sa pag-estimate ng DoD at how many hours needed to re-charge the battery.

100W Solar Panel, 120AH Battery, 500W inverter, 20Amp SSC.
Daily Load :
12 Watts Bulb (12V) = 1 pc. (Living Area) = 6 hours usage (5:00 PM to 11:00 PM)
9 Watts Bulb (12V) = 1 pc. (Kitchen) = 6 hours usage (5:00 PM to 11:00 PM)
5 Watts Bulb (12V) = 1 pc. (Terrace) = 12 hours usage (5:00 PM to 5:00 AM)
5 Watts Bulb (12V) = 3 pcs. (CR,Dirty Kitchen,Room) = Total of 5 hours usage (Indefinite Time)
12 Watts Router (Using AC power from inverter) = 1 pc. = 24 Hours running

Paki clarify nalang po sir Tristan...yang mga bulb VDC po yan lahat...yang router lang ang gumagamit ng Inverter...if you have time sir give me an equivalent total watt-hour in your computation based on the data given above... thanks.

 

[TristanWS]

sir vashpj...
hindi naman ako expert... natuto lang ako sa internet at sa experience ko sa aking small solar setup... (kaya pino-promote ko rin na dapat maging "informed user" tayo ng solar energy system para masulit ang ginastos natin sa pag-setup at para masaya tayo sa ating project).

based on your data (page 551), ang mali mo lang ay yung "watts"... dapat ay "watt-hour"... corrected data below:

12 W(12VDC) = 1 pc. x 6 hours usage = 72Wh
9 W(12VDC) = 1 pc. x 6 hours usage = 54Wh
5 W(12VDC) = 1 pc. x 12 hours usage = 60Wh
5 W(12VDC) = 3 pcs. x 5 hours usage = 75Wh
12 W Router (AC power from inverter) = 1 pc. x 24 hours running = 313Wh
Total Energy (Watt-hour) generated = 574Wh

Ang 313Wh ng Router ay magde-depende sa efficiency ng inverter, in your case you assume the inverter to be 88%.

mali ka din nang sinabi mo na ang DoD mo 25%, bakit?...
120AH x 12 = 1440Wh
574Wh / 1440Wh x 100 = 39.86% DoD (assuming that the battery is 100% charged... in your case underchage ang battery mo kaya tataas pa iyan... example if 95% charged, 42% DoD na).

akala mo 25% ang DoD pero in theory, more than 40% na ang DoD mo... ito ang dahilan kaya inabot ng more than one day ang charging time mo bago na-full charge ulit.

 

[alarcon]

good am po maam,saan po kaya pwedi makaorder ng original 1.5 watt 12volts led bulb?maliwanag din kaya ito?thanks po

 

[vashpj]

good am po maam,saan po kaya pwedi makaorder ng original 1.5 watt 12volts led bulb?maliwanag din kaya ito?thanks po

ito nalang po bilhin mo boss 3Watts http://www.lazada.com.ph/2ps-3w-12v-high-power-white-led-bulb-intl-15513444.html?ff=1