| Powering An Off-Grid House: Exterior Solar Panel Installation and Wiring |
From "Solar Solutions"
episode SLR-101 |
|
|
|
advertisement
|
Joe Wilson's 25-acre spread is currently a weekend retreat, but eventually, he and his wife plan to build a home there. For now, the Wilson's are using a barn -- with no electricity -- that they have converted to a small guest house. The problem with powering the house up? It will cost about $15,000 to run power from the utility company. Wilson's wife, an accountant, crunched some numbers and determined the feasibility of solar power. After discovering that the initial outlay for the solar system could be recouped in 6 years, the Wilsons decided to go solar. The Wilsons have decided to install a 1-kilowatt stand-alone system. Wilson hired solar installer and consultant Mike Howell to help with the job. - Before getting started, Wilson buries conduit running from his house to the area where the solar panel array will be located.
- With the conduit in place, Wilson builds a platform consisting of concrete pillars and 4 x 4s (figure A) that will support the solar array.
- Once the platform is finished, the experts are ready to get started. For the solar array, Mike Howell's team uses eight 24-volt 110-watt PV panels that have been pre-fastened to create the array. For the upstairs loft, four 12-volt, 255-amp sealed batteries will store power collected by the panels. And finally, a 5500-watt power inverter and 40-amp charge controller will be installed in the garage near the standard electrical box. This expandable system should produce 35,000 watt hours per month -- enough to power Wilson's deep well water pump, the interior lights, and a few appliances.
- Moving on, the team mounts the panels to the platform (figure B). Angle brackets are used at the mounting points, and the front feet are mounted first. The feet are squared and centered before being secured into place.
- After using meteorological data to determine the proper angle for the array, Howell's team elevates (figure C) and secures the rear legs.
- The solar modules are wired together and joined at a junction connector or fuse combiner box. The modules are stripped and wired in pairs before being connected to the fuse box mounted at the platform and connected to underground conduit output cables.
- When performing any electrical work, remember to take all safety precautions. Because of the danger involved, intricate electrical work is often best left to professionals. In the terminal box, the stripped wires must be connected properly ). In this instance, Howell connects the red wires to the positive terminal (figure D), and connects the black wires to the negative terminal. Once connected, the wires are fed up through the bottom of the junction box and connected to the corresponding positive and negative terminal blocks.
For more information on solar power, including product specifications and installation instructions, see Resources below.
RESOURCES :
Solar Living Source Book: The Complete Guide to Renewable Energy Technologies and Sustainable Living
Model: 0916571041
Author: John Schaeffer (Editor), Doug Pratt (Editor)
(Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook, 11th Ed)
Real Goods
Website: www.realgoods.com
The Solar Electric House: Energy for the Environmentally-Responsive, Energy-Independent Home
ISBN: 0963738321
Author: Steven J. Strong, William G. Scheller
Chelsea Green Publiishing Company
Solar Decathlon
U.S. Department of Energy
Website: www.solardecathlon.org
Solar Buildings
Covers zero-energy building and other solar technologies.
Solar Buildings
Website: www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/
U.S. Department of Energy - Solar Energy
U.S. Department of Energy - Solar Energy
Website: www1.eere.energy.gov/solar
Photovoltaic Panel Installation Guide (BP Solar MST Integra-Mount)
Model: Solar Panel SX-110
BP Solar (Integra-Mount Photovoltaic Panels)
Website: www.bpsolar.com
Solar Panels and Hardware (BP)
Model: SX-110
BP Solar (Solar Panels and Hardware)
Website: www.bpsolar.com
Solar Inverter, Converters and Charge Controllers (Xantrex)
SW Series Solar Installation Guides, Battery Specs for model 2580NC and PV Series
Xantrex
Website: www.xantrex.com
Solar Power Products, Packages and Installation (Atlantic Solar)
Including installation and operation of Sunmate generators.
Atlantic Solar Products
Phone: 410-686-2500
Solar System Design and Installation
Chesapeake Wind & Solar
Website: www.cwsenergy.com
| 
)
)
)
)
