
Solar Panels

An off-grid solar system must have all the necessary equipment to generate, supply and store solar energy onsite. Off-grid solar systems are also referred to as standalone solar power systems, as they operate without a connection to any external power source. They are made up of 12 volt solar panels (or modules) that can be used individually or combined into a single array. The solar panels use a solar charge controller to send power to charge solar batteries and a solar inverter to convert direct current (DC), which the solar panel generates, to useable alternating current (AC). Off-grid solar systems are ideal for remote rural areas and applications where power sources are either impractical or unavailable.
Solar panels are made up of silicon based photovoltaic (PV) cells which generate DC electricity from sunlight. The PV cells are linked together within the solar panel and connected to other panels using cables. The amount of solar energy generated depends on the orientation and tilt angle of the panels, the efficiency of the panels, plus any losses due to dirt, shading and ambient temperature.
Many off-grid solar systems are used in industrial applications that may be located in potentially hazardous areas. These include: remote telemetry, Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition (SCADA), gas flow meters, gas well injection pumps, communication hubs, off-shore platforms and central station monitoring. Class 1, Division 2 certification permits use of electrical devices in environments where explosive gases are periodically present. Many solar panels designed for industrial off-grid applications will have this certification.
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Important things to consider when setting up a solar system:
Properly calculate energy needs. It is important to make sure not to underestimate how much power is being consumed by the system. This is especially important for any sites that are completely off grid, like a water tank that is monitoring various values at a given location. It is not uncommon to see these tanks located in areas that have no access to utility power. In these types of situations, it is critical to make sure that the total energy consumption has been calculated properly. So make sure to take time up front and properly calculate the amount of power that is required, and add a safety factor to the calculation in order to provide excess power in case things change in the future.
Battery backup. Battery power is essential when solar panels are not producing enough energy for critical operations. Solar panels only generate power when they are in direct sunlight. Night time, winter and times of inclement weather require an alternate source of power.
When in doubt, go big. It is always better to oversize when planning a solar system and determining power requirements.