GREEN

Guide to going Solar

Words by Fatima C. Alba and Sef Alba Carandang

Charge
Controller
Battery
To DC Load

Inverter

In 2012, young entrepreneur

and green energy advocate
Giancarlo Capco established
Calriger Technologies with the
vision of bringing innovation and
advancement to Filipino families,
communities and businesses.
A Commerce graduate with a
major in Business Management
of the Far Eastern University,
Gian was an Outstanding
YMCA Student Leader in 2005.
In 2006, he represented the
country in a World Business
Plan Competition sponsored
by the Harvard Business School
where he garnered international
recognition and multiple awards
for his invention: the Sanitary Aqua
Vendo Water Vending Machine for
Public Toilets.
Gian is also co-founder of Global
Advocacies Towards Empowered
Societies International Missions
(GATES IM), a non-profit comprised
of about 50 young business
professionals worldwide who are
passionate about the sustainable
development of communities.
Calrigers products and
services include solar and wind
technology, defense system
technologies, survival gear and
emergency tools, and website
development and graphic design.
For more information, visit
www.calriger.com.
2

NOVEMBER 2015

Solar Panel

To AC Load

Whether youre an environmentalist concerned

about clean, renewable energy or someone looking
to lower electricity costs in your home or business,
solar power is a sustainable and exciting solution.
This is especially relevant for countries like the
Philippines that enjoy many hours of sunshine
almost all throughout the year. And with solar panels
and their installation becoming less expensive and
more accessible in recent years, there is no reason
why ordinary homeownersthe low to middle
income earnerscant tap into this awesome
energy source.
Heres what you need to know before investing in
and putting up your own solar energy system.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK

Not all solar energy systems are the same, and

the cost varies greatly depending on the size and
specifications of the set up. Make a list of the items
and appliances that you plan to use the solar energy
for. Solar power works well for most appliances
except for those that use an electric heat element
such as a water heater or electric stove. From
there, work backwards to compute your energy
requirements and get an idea of the size of the set
up you will need: too small and you may not have
enough power for your needs, too big and you may
be spending money needlessly. In order to be costeffective, make sure you invest in a set up that fits
your purpose.

Avail of any training that your solar provider

can give you.
The basic components include the solar panel,
charge controller, battery, inverter, alternative
current (AC) line and direct current (DC) line.
1. Solar panel
A solar panel is made of the natural element, silicon,
which becomes electrically charged when exposed
to sunlight. The output of a solar panel is usually
stated in watts. The wattage you will need depends
on how much power you intend to produce. A
basic set up (non-commercial, non-industrial) will
usually require a minimum 100-watt solar panel. A
mono crystalline panel (usually dark blue in color)
is preferred over a poly crystalline one because it
captures sunlight more efficiently.

FIND A SOLAR PANEL PRO

Talk to a few solar providers before you commit to a

panel installation. You may find that pricing is similar,
so you will have to base your final decision on other
equally important things such as reputation and
willingness of the supplier to discuss solar set-up
options with you in detail. From here you can
already gage the kind of after sales support you are
likely to get.

KNOW HOW YOUR CHOSEN

SET UP WORKS

Arming yourself with knowledge will help you

maximize efficiency and troubleshoot simple
problems that may be encountered after installation.

Choose a high quality solar panel with a warranty of

at least five years.
2. Charge controller
A charge controller (or charge regulator) is directly
connected to the solar panel to regulate the
transfer of power from the panel to a battery. It
also monitors the state-of-charge of the battery,
and allows the current to enter the battery as it
www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

12V Solar Panel

12V Solar Panel

12V Solar Panel

Battery Volts
Solar Amps
Load Amps

30 Amp Charge Controller

DC LOAD
LED LIGHTS
SOLAR FANS
LED TV
& MANY MORE

is charging while ensuring that the battery is not

overcharged. Connecting a solar panel directly to a
battery without a charge controller risks damaging
the battery and may cause potential hazards.
Charge controllers are rated based on the amount
of amperage. The amperage you will need depends
on the wattage of the solar panels you are installing.
A basic set up will usually require a minimum 20
amp controller. A digital controller is preferred over
analogue as the former tends to be more accurate.

12V Battery

www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

12V Battery

5. AC line
The AC line is connected to the inverter and supplies
standard 220V AC power. You can plug in your
standard items and appliances here. Just bear in
mind that the wattage of each item or appliance you
use will determine how much power is consumed
or how long the power stored in the battery will last
especially during periods of no sun (like at night)
when the solar panel and battery are not charging.
Thats why planning ahead is very important to
make sure your set up is of the correct size and
specifications to meet your energy needs. Add a
fuse and switch in every AC line that you will
create for added safety.

12V Battery

4. Inverter
An inverter is a device that changes the direct
current (DC) power stored in the battery to a
standard 220 volt alternative current (AC) electricity.
Nearly all lighting and appliances are designed to
use AC power, so it takes an inverter to make the
switch from AC to DC. The size of the inverter should
be at least double that of your energy requirement.
A basic set up usually requires a minimum 500 to
1000 watts inverter. Choose an inverter with an
external fuse for added safety.

Inverter

220 Volts AC

3. Battery
The battery is where the electrical energy produced
by the solar panels is stored and released. Batteries
are rated in amp hours (ah), which refers to the
amount of current (in amps) which can be supplied
by the battery over the period of hours. The battery
should have sufficient amp hour capacity to supply
the needed power during the longest expected
period of no sun or extremely cloudy conditions.
Deep cycle, lead acid batteries are the most
commonly used because of their wide availability
and lower initial cost; they can also be discharged
and re-charged hundreds or even thousands of
times. Choose a sealed, no-maintenance version
over a wet cell battery.

12V DC
Fuse Panel

AC LOAD
6. DC line
The DC line is connected directly to the battery
(again, integrate special fuses and circuit breakers
specifically design for DC power line for that added
safety) and does not go through the inverter.
It supplies 12V DC power which can be used for DC
or solar compatible appliances. The advantage of
adding a DC line is that it makes your set-up more
energy efficient. For example, a DC solar compatible
electric fan consumes around 15 watts per hour
while a standard 220V electric fan consumes around
65-80 watts per hour. While not all appliances have
a DC compatible counterpart, investing in those that
do can make your solar energy system more
cost-efficient in the long run. Aside from electric
fans, DC solar compatible lighting, television,
refrigerators and air conditioners are slowly making
their way into the market.

CONSERVE ENERGY

Do this even before or while you are thinking

about installing a solar energy system. We need
to consume with our children in mindthis goes
for food, water, energy and everything else on this
planet.
Worldwide, solar technology is advancing as more
people recognize the need for solutions that are
better for the environment. Imagine a world
powered by the sun and be part of the solution.

The authors, pictured here with their

beautiful mom, recently installed a
basic solar energy system at their
family farm in Botolan, Zambales.
Their Php 25,000 investment
includes a 100 watt solar panel,
24 amp solar master 12V battery,
30 amp charger controller and
1000 watt inverterplus a few
solar-ready bulbs, wires and
even a solar fan. Supplies, training
and excellent after sales support
provided by Calriger!
NOVEMBER 2015