Basic Tutorials: System Overview for Solar Energy Systems http://www.freesunpower.com/overview.

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Please help solar education-Thank you!

Energy Saving Blackout Curtains and Custom Window Treatments

Save energy costs with blackout curtains, custom roman shades and thermal draperies. Order your curtain panels with lining and interlining for maximum heat/cold/sunlight
protection.
Serving home, commercial and hospitality for custom window treatments. We provide tips, information, and ideas for choosing the right window coverings.

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Run your own Solar Energy Build it yourself. Save

System! 5 Meters display money. Have fun!
charging amps, power,
voltage, & more as you
change the sun intensity, load Save $$
usage, etc. with
Blackout
Curtains
from Best
Window
Treatments

Click here for new pictures &

details on this energy efficient,
earth sheltered, solar
powered home.

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Basic Tutorials :
Overview

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Basic Tutorials: System Overview for Solar Energy Systems http://www.freesunpower.com/overview.php

Solar Panels
Charge Controllers
Power Inverters
Storage Batteries
AC Generators
Wires & Cables
Meters & Monitors

Advanced Info :
Watts & Power
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Battery Wiring Diagrams

Design Tools :
System Sizing Estimator
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Basic Tutorials: System Overview

System Overview Solar Panels Charge Controllers Power Inverters

Storage Batteries AC Generators Wires & Cables Meters & Monitors

A Solar Energy System is

sometimes referred to as
an Alternative Energy
System. And while that's
true, wind, geothermal,
and hydro systems are
also alternative energy
sources. We focus
primarily on Solar and will
therefore simply use the
phrase Solar Energy
System or Solar Power
System. To the left are the
basic components
required to produce
electricity from the sun.
You will need one or more
Solar Panels, a Charger
Controller, a Power
Inverter, and of course,
Batteries. A brief

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Basic Tutorials: System Overview for Solar Energy Systems http://www.freesunpower.com/overview.php

explanation on each
follows. After you get an
idea of the components
you'll need for your solar
energy system, be sure to
check out our new
interactive Design Tools
to calculate how many
solar panels and storage
batteries you will need,
determine battery bank
wiring, and calculate
proper wire sizes.

The first component

needed is one or
more Solar Panels.
They supply the
electricity and
charge the batteries.
A very small system
could get away with
a couple 80 watt
panels but figure at
least 4 to 8 for a
small to medium
system. I am
currently using only
6 panels to
completely power
this Solar Home.

A Charge Controller. is needed to prevent

overcharging of the batteries. Proper charging will
prevent damage and increase the life and
performance of the batteries.

The Power Inverter is the heart of the

system. It makes 120 volts AC from the
12 volts DC stored in the batteries. It can
also charge the batteries if connected to
a generator or the AC line.

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Last are the storage Batteries.

They store the electrical power
in the form of a chemical
reaction. Without storage you
would only have power when
the sun was shining or the
generator was running.

Summary
To summarize, there are four basic components: the Solar Panels, a
Charge Controller, a Power Inverter, and the Storage Batteries. You
will of course need the proper wires & cables to connect everything
and a meter to keep an eye on things would be nice. Depending on
system size, costs vary widely from as little as $1,500 to $50,000 or
more. Much more information is available in the remaining tutorials.
For more detailed information also view the Advanced Tutorial
section. And don't miss our new interactive Design Tools.

This small energy efficient home uses six

80 watt solar panels, a Trace 60 amp
charge controller, a Trace 2500 watt true
sine wave inverter and fifteen 105
AmpHour batteries. Click on the image
for details and new updated pictures of
Solar array. (Trace is now Xantrex)

Previous Page Top of Page Next Tutorial

Home Page Solar Power Simulation FAQ's About Solar Power Easy 5 Step Guide Example Systems
System Overview Solar Projects Solar Combiner Mini Junction Box Solar Panels Charge Controllers
Storage Batteries AC Generators Inverters Wires & Cables Meters & Monitors
Solar Energy Tutorials Advanced Tutorials Ohm's Law Solar Radiation Battery Wiring Diagrams
Solar Powered Home Nasa Sun Animations Solar Design Tools System Sizing Estimator
Battery Bank Designer Wire Sizing Tool Terms & Definitions Domain Names For Sale Helpful Links
Site Map
Please help solar education-Thank you!

Energy Saving Blackout Curtains and Custom Window Treatments

Save energy costs with blackout curtains, custom roman shades and thermal draperies. Order your curtain
panels with lining and interlining for maximum heat/cold/sunlight protection.
Serving home, commercial and hospitality for custom window treatments. We provide tips, information, and
ideas for choosing the right window coverings.

4 of 4 5/5/2016 22:23