How to Set Up a Solar Energy System
You can harness the power of sunlight with a solar energy system, which converts that energy into electricity for running appliances. You can set up a solar energy system to include storage batteries, enabling you to draw on solar power at any time. By setting up an off-grid solar energy system, you can bypass the local electrical grid, producing electricity for your home. Your only cost will be the system components; the electricity is free.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Solar panels Array DC disconnect Charge controller Batteries DC disconnect Inverter
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How to Set Up a Solar Energy System
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1
Secure an array of solar panels to your roof. The array should be facing southward and at an angle equal to the latitude of your location. For example, Phoenix, Arizona, is at 33 degrees latitude. If you're living there, your panels would be mounted at a 33-degree angle.
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2
Install the array DC disconnect. This unit is installed on the exterior of your home. Run the wires from the solar panels to the array DC disconnect. The array DC disconnect will allow you to "switch off" the connection if you need to work on the solar panels.
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3
Run the wires from the array DC disconnect to the charge controller. The charge controller protects the batteries that will store the DC power. When the batteries are fully charged, the charge controller will cut the power from the solar panels.
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4
Run the wires from the charge controller to the batteries. Run wires from the batteries to the DC disconnect. The DC disconnect allows you to switch off the power from the solar panels and the batteries if you need to work on the system.
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5
Connect the DC disconnect to the inverter. The inverter converts the DC power into AC power. The electrical system in your home runs on AC power.
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6
Connect the inverter to the appliance you wish to operate. There are two different types of output on inverters. How you connect your appliances to the inverter depends on what type of output your inverter has. A receptacle output looks like a standard outlet you would find in your home. Simply plug the appliance into the receptacle. The other output is a pair of screw terminals. For this type you need to hardwire your appliance to the terminal. Connect the power wires of the appliance directly to the screw terminals.
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