Going off the grid is different than a solar installation which will be tied to the grid. Off the grid, your solar installation must provide for all your power needs, you won’t have utility backup power to depend on. Off-grid solar installations require a few additional elements that aren’t needed for a grid-tied solar installation. Below is a list of the components you may find in an off-grid solar installation.
Battery Bank
The battery bank is an essential component of an off-grid solar installation. It stores extra electricity which isn’t immediately used, and will power a home or business through periods where sunlight is not optimal. The bank is usually composed of multiple individual batteries arranged as a series or in parallel, which are connected via cables.
Charge Controller
The solar installation’s charge controller is the component which feeds collected current into the batteries in the bank. The charge controller has a big impact on the economics of the solar installation. To make the most of your solar power, you’ll need a charge controller that can maximize the performance of the batteries in the bank.
Inverter
The inverter component switches DC voltage to the AC voltages which are needed to power most household devices and appliances. If only DC voltages are used in the facility, an inverter may not be necessary.
DC Loads Controller
A DC loads controller is needed in installations where DC and AC voltages are needed, and maintains the necessary voltages and currents for DC loads.
AC Generator
The AC generator isn’t a necessary component for your solar installation, but is useful for providing backup power during periods where solar collection isn’t optimal.
AC Loads Controller
Like the DC loads controller, the AC loads controller maintains appropriate voltages and currents for the AC appliances which are being operated.
Transfer Switch
The transfer switch is used to switch between power coming from the inverter and power created by the AC generator.
Battery Bank
The battery bank is an essential component of an off-grid solar installation. It stores extra electricity which isn’t immediately used, and will power a home or business through periods where sunlight is not optimal. The bank is usually composed of multiple individual batteries arranged as a series or in parallel, which are connected via cables.
Charge Controller
The solar installation’s charge controller is the component which feeds collected current into the batteries in the bank. The charge controller has a big impact on the economics of the solar installation. To make the most of your solar power, you’ll need a charge controller that can maximize the performance of the batteries in the bank.
Inverter
The inverter component switches DC voltage to the AC voltages which are needed to power most household devices and appliances. If only DC voltages are used in the facility, an inverter may not be necessary.
DC Loads Controller
A DC loads controller is needed in installations where DC and AC voltages are needed, and maintains the necessary voltages and currents for DC loads.
AC Generator
The AC generator isn’t a necessary component for your solar installation, but is useful for providing backup power during periods where solar collection isn’t optimal.
AC Loads Controller
Like the DC loads controller, the AC loads controller maintains appropriate voltages and currents for the AC appliances which are being operated.
Transfer Switch
The transfer switch is used to switch between power coming from the inverter and power created by the AC generator.
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