Calculating load for Solar Panel System (Technical Version)

Solar panels are the plates or surfaces that absorb sunlight and convert it into heat or electricity.

Photovoltaic cells are used in these plates which gather sunlight and convert it into solar

electricity. The use of solar panels has been increasing in the world because it generate pollution

free and renewable energy. Before installing the solar panels, the load requirements should be

assessed first. Load requirements are the load. These days most solar panel are five and half feet

tall and 3 feet wide. Solar panels consist of cells which are linked with wires. The electricity is

given with these cells.

Battery capacity is measured in Amp Hours. In order to calculate the Watt Hours we use formula

Battery Size in AH x Battery Voltage = Power available in watt-hour. For example a 40 AH,

10V battery the Watt Hours figure will be 40 x 10 = 400 WH . This means that battery will

supply 240W for 1 hour. The power consumption of appliances is generally given in Watts. To

calculate the energy you will use over tome just multiply the power consumption to number of

hours. The 20W Television for 4 hours will consume 20 x 4 =80 WH from the battery. Similarly,

10w radio for 5 hours per day will consume 10 x 5 =50 W per day.

In order to size solar system power generation of the solar panel is necessary. The power

generation of solar panel is also calculated in watts. In most of solar panel we will see that chip is

attached on the back side of solar panel like STP020. This means the solar panel is of 20W. In

point of theory the energy supplied to battery is find by just multiplied the power with number of

hours exposed to sunshine. The power of solar panel is different in different seasons. In summer

power of solar panel is more than in winter. For example 10w panel will provide 10w of energy
back into the battery. (10w x 1=10w) while in summer 10w panel will provide 60w of energy

back into battery.

When there is power there will be the link of power factor with it. The power factor is the ratio

of real power to apparent power. The power which is coming in our home is of real power.

Power is defined as the ratio of work done to the time. The current which is coming in our homes

is Alternating current (AC). The energy stored elements are inductors and capacitors which may

affect their time of flow. If energy comes in our home without any component means it flows in

one direction than it is called the real power. The portion of power due to energy stored elements

means if energy comes back to the source in each cycle. In an AC circuit there include the

sinusoidal of both the current and voltage. If the load is purely resistive than the product of both

the voltage and current are zero. This means that the direction of flow does not reverse.

In reactive load there include the load of capacitor and Inductor. If load is reactive than it means

that current and voltage are 90 degrees out of phase with each other. I