An Explanation of the Off-Grid Solar Electric System

Is one of your dreams to make your own electricity and not have to depend on a utility company? Then your goal should be to live “off grid.” Most people who are off grid live in rural areas where electric utility service is not even available. But there is growing interest in choosing off-grid living as a way of life.

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There are a couple of main factors to think about regarding living off-grid. First, you’ll need to become very aware of when and how you use electricity.  You want to be careful not to waste it.

It’s also important that you familiarize yourself with your solar energy system – how it functions and what kind of maintenence it requires. It would be good to become an expert on your particular system, so you can troubleshoot anything unexpected that arises. Becoming an expert is not that hard to do because there an abundance of information on solar power readily available. However, it can require a bit of your time and commitment.

Typically, an off-grid system consists of nine components

First, the photovoltaic array and mounting rack. Wikipedia describes the array as “a linked collection of photovoltaic modules, which are in turn made of multiple interconnected solar cells”. The mounting rack is what attaches the array to the roof.

2. The array DC (direct current) disconnect. This is basically a breaker between the array and the rest of the system.  It allows you to disconnect from the system so you can fix any problems with the array.

Third, the charge controller keeps the batteries from overcharging.

Fourth, the battery bank stores excess electricity. You will usually need enough batteries for 2-3 days worth of stored electricity in case of an overcast period.

5. The system meter. The system meter works like the dashboard of your car. It shows what’s going on with the various components of the system.

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Sixth, is the main DC disconnect. This breaker is connected from the batteries to the inverter.

Seventh, is the inverter. This is the component that converts the DC (direct current) electricity, which is generated by the array and stored in the batteries, into the AC (alternating current) electricity that can run your household appliances.

8. The breaker panel. This is the same type of breaker panel the power company would use.

9. The backup generator. A backup generator may become necessary if there is a stretch of cloudy days and you have depleted the power that was stored in the batteries. You can use traditional fossil fuels, but you’ll probably want to use biodiesel to support your green lifestyle.

As you can see, each component is relatively simple in and of itself. The only motorized parts are in the backup generator (which you hopefully won’t have to use much). Now that we’ve examined the components of the solar energy system, you can see why it’s not too complicated to become your own expert.

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