Overview of putting a complete, small-scale solar system together
This is an overview of the various aspects and equipment needed to install a really simple small-scale, simple solar system. Click on ‘Read More’ in the relevant section to explore in more detail.
By small-scale I don’t mean a system where your roof is completely covered in solar panels and you have a massive battery that can power everything in your house for days, as well as charge an electric car. To me, small-scale is a system that can provide power for your cabin, caravan, small home, or glamping setup, and provide power for lighting, USB charging and maybe a few other things (like running the fan in a compost toilet).
Small-scale systems are (relatively) affordable, easy to understand, easy to maintain and importantly, easy to trouble-shoot. The downside is that you might have to keep a close eye on how charged your battery is, and adjust your consumption accordingly. Generally, winter is the time when it’s hardest to maintain battery charge levels.
The final part is you (or the occupants) – your attitude, understanding and approach: what I mean is that it’s important to be responsive and adapt to the seasons (as per the previous paragraph) and to be understanding/accepting of the times when power is limited or simply not available.
So here is my take on the six components that make up a small-scale solar system:
Solar panel
The solar panel converts sunlight into electricity, which is then stored in the battery. Generally, the bigger they are, the more energy they can produce. You’ll need to work out what size you need, based on your likely energy consumption.
Charge controller
An essential piece of electronics that sits between the solar panel and the battery. It controls the amount of energy going into the battery, protecting it and ensuring the best performance over its life. The charge controller is matched to your solar panel in terms of how much input power it can handle.
Battery
Your battery stores the energy that the solar panel generates, so you can have electricity when you need it, day or night. There are different battery technologies, some of which are better suited to simple solar systems, and of course, different capacities to suit your expected needs.
Wiring
Wires enable the electricity to flow through your system, from the solar panel to the battery and around to your devices. Choosing the right gauge or thickness is important to prevent power loss or overheating. It’s easy to overlook the importance of getting the wiring gauge right.
Devices
These are the ‘things’ that consume the electricity you generate and store. Mostly likely it’ll include lights, and USB chargers, but could also include a water pump, a fridge, a fan and so on…
You!
You, or the residents of the dwelling, should have a basic understanding of what’s going on so can appreciate that there might not be an endless supply of electricity if you’ve had a week of overcast weather.