Thanks very much for the well explained tutorials on solar power system for beginners. I watched all more than once and planning to watch again and again. It give very well clear foundation of understanding what is solar power. Thanks again andagain.
This is a God sent. You answered so many questions. Funny thing is my family uses almost the exact number of KWH and we live just north of you in the Monadnock area of NH, Richmond to be exact. We have almost total sun from sun up to sun down. Thinking of supplementing solar with wind for those nights and less than sunny days but will check with the town first. Now if I can only figure out how to "afford" my way up to an 8k system? Maybe I have to start small and work my way up. Looking forward to watching all of your video's as this is the first I have seen - you really smacked it out of the park!!
If I get a chance to see you guys i really cook for you all and serve our Traditional south indian food... MEC Solar welcomes you Chennai. Good bag full of Business to altE all the year.
Hello there.. nice video however I am a bit confused. Firstly, the total array is 8000W, why did you choose an inverter of 7600watt? I noticed in the inverter spec sheet (6:14)that the max active power is 8300W. Do we size an inverter based on that figure? and if this is the case then why when you calculate the size breaker for the main AC distrib.box you calculate based on the 7600W figure instead of the max?
Excellent questions. Keep in mind that the array is rated at 8000W at ideal standard test conditions. Those conditions probably only happen an hour a day, a few months a year. Most of the time, the array will be outputting less. So it is common to oversize the array to get as much out as possible longer throughout the day. Most inverters and charge controllers are designed to have the input oversized (sometimes called over-paneled) by around 25%. In the short time that the panels are outputting their full rating, the inverter will clip the output to its rating, in this case 7600W. It will never output more than 7600W, regardless of its input. So you can safely design the output based on its rating, not the panels. Since it is putting out more power in the morning and afternoon, the average output of the bigger array will generally be more, even though the inverter may clip at 7600W some days at noon.
Sir,Request to please suggest suitable Inverter for 595W Canadian Solar 18.42 Amps Panels ,14 Nos for 8KW On Grid System.Looks like Sungrow SG8.0 RT is suitable as one MMPT Support 25 Amps while other supports 12.5 Amps.Pls check if my understanding is correct
It is partly an ad because they sell the equipment in the video. They are not here to give you something for nothing so their self-promotion should be expected and unquestioned.
Hi. i hope you read and answer this. Why am i getting very low breaker size for main AC distribution box with the formula (inverter watt rating / system voltage) x 1.25. My inverter is 600 Watts. I get only 3.125A >>>>> computation = (600/240) x 1.25. Looks unrealistic. What went wrong? Thanks for replying.
That calculation is correct. 600W at 240VAC only outputs 2.5 amps. (240V x 2.5A = 600W). Times 1.25 for only running the breaker at 80% brings you to 3.125A, so probably round up to a 5A breaker if you can find it.
Regarding fuses at the combiner box. Multiplying the short circuit current by 1.56, with the 315 watt panels that I hope to use, yields a value just slightly over 15 amps(15.47052). Can I use a 15 amp fuse or do I need to use a 20 amp fuse?
Hi Amy I would like to know how to connect 13 panel of 330 wp each in series or parallel to the Grid . It is a Three phase connection to my House and having an Inverter of 5kw Three phase. thanks for giving information.
It depends on the specs of the panel and the inverter. What is the panels' Voc, and what is the max input voltage for the inverter? or example, if the panel has 40Voc x 13 in series = 520V total into the inverter. CHeck the datasheet of the inverter, can it handle that voltage? If it gets cold where you are, you also have to add voltage for the panels' voltage going up when it is cold.
If you don't have net metering, you would simply lose any extra power you make during the day. SO the best thing to do is to make sure you run your highest loads during the day when the sun is shining. Do laundry, vacuum floors, make hot water. Anything that uses the power as you are making it.
@@AltEStoreif I'm using a smart meter would I loose the extra power to the grid? If yes is it true it'll count against my power consumption and add to my bill?
@@FrancisOpoku Yes, the meter could get confused and add the extra energy instead of subtract. That sometimes happens if people turn on the solar before completing the netmeter agreement. It is not a good idea to send power to the grid without the electric company being aware of it. Some inverters have the ability to restrict sending back power, and only limit the solar output to what is currently being used. For example, Fronius and SolarEdge have a meter available that measures your home's use, and only will output that much power. www.altestore.com/store/inverters/inverter-accessories/fronius-inverter-accessories/fronius-smart-meter-p40594/#FRNSMARTMTR240
@@AltEStorelooks like this is something I need for my setup. can this be used with micro inverters? If not do you sell solar power limiting devices that can be used with micro inverters?
DATE: 26-OCTOBER-2016 BY FELIX M.S.JR.: INDEED, THE PLUG-IN SMART GRID TIE INVERTER (GTI) SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPORT THE EXCESS GENERATED POWER THAT THE SOLAR PANELS (i.e. Po= 550WATTS) TO THE UTILITY POWER COMPANY if the demand load in Watts of the HOMEOWNER user is only just 250WATTS and the excess 250WATTS (and minus the internal losses in the GTI say -50WATTS) should find it's way back to the Power Utility Grid as excess power by the HOMEOWNER thereby supplying power to the UTILITY COMPANY as export since the generated electrical ENERGY can not be wasted or destroyed but is conserved and it can be used elsewhere in a COUPLED ELECTRIC SYSTEM WHICH IS POSSIBLE IN THIS CASE SINCE THE SOLAR PV PANELS THRU THE GTI DEVICE AND THE UTILITY POWER GRID ARE BOTH SYNCHRONIZED WITH EACH OTHER AT SAME VOLTAGE, FREQUENCY AND PHASE. SO IN THE PROCESS, THE EXISTING INSTALLED KW-HR METER OF THE HOMEOWNER SHOULD SLOW DOWN AND STOP AND THEN REVERSE IT'S DIRECTION INDICATING THAT THE ENERGY FLOW IS MOVING AWAY COMING FROM ANOTHER POWER SOURCE WHICH IS THE SOLAR PV PANELS WHICH IS TRUE EVEN NOT USING YET THE NET METERING SCHEME OF THE UTILITY POWER COMPANY OR THE SO CALLED BI-DIRECTIONAL KW-HR METER AND AS SUCH THE HOMEOWNER SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR.
For small loads, like charging your cell phone, yes. You can connect the solar panel to a cigarette outlet and use your car charger to manage it. See the video we did showing that, th-cam.com/video/_GcBfsEaerQ/w-d-xo.html . Solar water pumping connects the solar directly to the pump to pump water when the sun shines. Also, SMA has a feature on their grid tie inverter to power up to 1500W directly from the solar if the grid goes down. But the variable nature of the sun makes using the power directly from the sun unreliable, and isn't done for much more than that.
How come you came up multiplying the short circuit current in 1.56? What is 1.56? Is it a loss? or efficiency? I need this for my project. Thanks in advance :)
The 1.56 is x1.25 for over-irradiance, when the sun is brighter than 1000W/m2, like at the silver lining on the edge of a cloud, and another x1.25 for continuous current, amything that runs over 3 hours must be oversized. 1.25 x 1.25 = 1.56.
I had the same question. As per NEC section 690.8(B)(1) PV system currents are considered to be continuous, the maximum currents as calculated above must be multiplied by 125% to calculate the minimum conductor size. This calculation ensures that the conductors do not carry more than 80% of the continuous current value (0.8 is the inverse of 1.25). In the PV industry, the result of this calculation is commonly referred to as the “156% factor.” When this rule is applied, the module’s rated Isc has been multiplied by 156% (125% × 125% = 156%). Therefore equation for determining the nominal fuse ampere rating (In) is: In= Imax x 1.25 www.firstgreen.co/2014/09/solar-pv-system-sizing-sizing-fuses-for-your-pv-system/
can you please explain the cutting of 50percent of solar wattage for offset..how is that adding benefit? So that means 8000(average) times 4.5 so thats 36KW would be generated from solar and the rest 15 KW would be taken from grid is it??? But how is that making a difference?
Ani16 the goal of grid tied solar is to buy less electricity by making your own. For example, if you use 900kwh a month, and you pay $0.20 per kWh, that is $180 a month electric bill. But if you make 500kWh, you only need to buy 400kWh, dropping your monthly bill down to $80. You save $100 a month.
but in order to make that 500Kwh, i have to invest in solar panels, and converters and fuses, and wires, and installion charges..doesnt it all even out?? is it a really fair deal??
Ani16 it depends where you live. Here in Massachusetts, with expensive electricity and good local incentives, it's about a 6 year payback. That means at least 20 more years of free electricity. If you are in an area with cheap electricity and no incentives, it can be up to 15 year payback. But you can still making cleaner electricity, so there is always that benefit.
i had a question please, i am working on a project about sizing PV system grid-tied , in my project i have to design the system the way that the inverter should shutdown the PV modules when there is a excess of electricity , because in our country it s not allowed to sell the surplus to the grid. at the same time, in bad conditions of the PV system, we need to take electricity from the grid. help plz !!
A lot of inverter companies are now offering the Smart Meter, which monitors your house load and your inverter output, and throttles back the inverter if it is making more power than the house needs. You can see a video on it here, th-cam.com/video/1m98AfjvmWo/w-d-xo.html This is for Fronius, but a lot of other brands are doing it now too.
The tools I use are just generic electrical CAD. I created the library myself. So it does not do any design work, just drawing what I designed by hand.
Hello Amy...I am Pedro I followed some of your interesting videos aboit solar and find them really informative...that I am doing installs myself ...I am in the California Close to San Ysidro (the solar hours here it says its 5.3 altough I can tell its more than that)...I am in the process of installing some panels on a school (their bill tells the average is 8500 Kw/month)...so based on that I need a system of 54Kw...I would like your help to choose a Grid Tie Inverter for it (their budget is not so big) so I intend to install about 1/4 of the total of solar panels required and then in the future (one year later maybe) install another 1/4 of the total panels (asuming they had saved some ectra money on their electric bill) and so On until they have the 54Kw system complete...SO I am guessing the Inverter should be choosen for the total 54Kw from the beginning right?... What will you rcommend please ans if in the future they want to add batteries could they? Thanks for any advise adn keep up the good work
Pedro Cordoba My suggestion is to do 4 inverters. Underpowering a large inverter for years is very inefficient. Just get an inverter that is about 15kW, and add more when they have the budget.
I'm NOT impressed with the rudeness of their customer service dept! I called with a simple question and was told " this is not a technical support line, it's for customers only!" In my mind that was a bad move, as I for one will not buy anything from a company like this that only see's the bottom line.....greed on their part killed my interest! Jake
Sorry for the misunderstanding. If you called the customer support line, it is for customer issues. They aren't technical, and can't answer product question. You should call the technical sales line, they are able to answer technical questions. However, do know that we quite often get calls from people who have bought their system from other companies, then call us for technical support on it, because the company they bought from has none. So there is a line where it is unfair to expect us to support competitor's clients and still remain in business.
Thanks so much for the create content, helped me a lot to understand Solar Grid Systems. Sudan, Africa.
Thanks x 1000, very well explained, you are the queen of solar energy (confirmed)!!
Thanks very much for the well explained tutorials on solar power system for beginners. I watched all more than once and planning to watch again and again. It give very well clear foundation of understanding what is solar power. Thanks again andagain.
This is a God sent. You answered so many questions. Funny thing is my family uses almost the exact number of KWH and we live just north of you in the Monadnock area of NH, Richmond to be exact. We have almost total sun from sun up to sun down. Thinking of supplementing solar with wind for those nights and less than sunny days but will check with the town first. Now if I can only figure out how to "afford" my way up to an 8k system? Maybe I have to start small and work my way up. Looking forward to watching all of your video's as this is the first I have seen - you really smacked it out of the park!!
Thanks mam I am solar grid engineer your perfect calculation
Thank u altE.. i love altE Company..
Your job is tremendous, awesome teachings, my major doubts cleared...I love altE Team.
Please send the link that gave you solar data in Worcester
.
what are the practical issues of the power system when large solar PV plants are connected to the system.?
Thank you so much, for the well explained session .
this helps much to me as a beginner to understand deeply this field
Again thanks
If I get a chance to see you guys i really cook for you all and serve our Traditional south indian food...
MEC Solar welcomes you Chennai. Good bag full of Business to altE all the year.
I came from the future. Hello from July 08 - 2020. Great video. Thank you for sharing. Cheers
Hello from the past! How's the year 2020 going? I bet it's the best year ever.
Hello there.. nice video however I am a bit confused. Firstly, the total array is 8000W, why did you choose an inverter of 7600watt? I noticed in the inverter spec sheet (6:14)that the max active power is 8300W. Do we size an inverter based on that figure? and if this is the case then why when you calculate the size breaker for the main AC distrib.box you calculate based on the 7600W figure instead of the max?
Excellent questions. Keep in mind that the array is rated at 8000W at ideal standard test conditions. Those conditions probably only happen an hour a day, a few months a year. Most of the time, the array will be outputting less. So it is common to oversize the array to get as much out as possible longer throughout the day. Most inverters and charge controllers are designed to have the input oversized (sometimes called over-paneled) by around 25%. In the short time that the panels are outputting their full rating, the inverter will clip the output to its rating, in this case 7600W. It will never output more than 7600W, regardless of its input. So you can safely design the output based on its rating, not the panels. Since it is putting out more power in the morning and afternoon, the average output of the bigger array will generally be more, even though the inverter may clip at 7600W some days at noon.
whey inverter size more than pv array size
Sir,Request to please suggest suitable Inverter for 595W Canadian Solar 18.42 Amps Panels ,14 Nos for 8KW On Grid System.Looks like Sungrow SG8.0 RT is suitable as one MMPT Support 25 Amps while other supports 12.5 Amps.Pls check if my understanding is correct
The String sizer serves to choose the vdf inverter of a pumping system ?, if not.
What site or link recommends me ?. Thank you.
This feels partly like an ad but it still helped with some of my questions.
It is partly an ad because they sell the equipment in the video. They are not here to give you something for nothing so their self-promotion should be expected and unquestioned.
@@bluecollartrader1791 question everything.
Hi. i hope you read and answer this. Why am i getting very low breaker size for main AC distribution box with the formula (inverter watt rating / system voltage) x 1.25. My inverter is 600 Watts. I get only 3.125A >>>>> computation = (600/240) x 1.25. Looks unrealistic. What went wrong? Thanks for replying.
That calculation is correct. 600W at 240VAC only outputs 2.5 amps. (240V x 2.5A = 600W). Times 1.25 for only running the breaker at 80% brings you to 3.125A, so probably round up to a 5A breaker if you can find it.
Regarding fuses at the combiner box. Multiplying the short circuit current by 1.56, with the 315 watt panels that I hope to use, yields a value just slightly over 15 amps(15.47052). Can I use a 15 amp fuse or do I need to use a 20 amp fuse?
Technically, you are not supposed to round down, only up.
Hi Amy
I would like to know how to connect 13 panel of 330 wp each in series or parallel to the Grid .
It is a Three phase connection to my House and having an Inverter of 5kw Three phase.
thanks for giving information.
It depends on the specs of the panel and the inverter. What is the panels' Voc, and what is the max input voltage for the inverter? or example, if the panel has 40Voc x 13 in series = 520V total into the inverter. CHeck the datasheet of the inverter, can it handle that voltage? If it gets cold where you are, you also have to add voltage for the panels' voltage going up when it is cold.
@@AltEStore Thanks. Really appreciate
what happens to the installation if you do not have a net meter?
If you don't have net metering, you would simply lose any extra power you make during the day. SO the best thing to do is to make sure you run your highest loads during the day when the sun is shining. Do laundry, vacuum floors, make hot water. Anything that uses the power as you are making it.
@@AltEStoreif I'm using a smart meter would I loose the extra power to the grid? If yes is it true it'll count against my power consumption and add to my bill?
@@FrancisOpoku Yes, the meter could get confused and add the extra energy instead of subtract. That sometimes happens if people turn on the solar before completing the netmeter agreement. It is not a good idea to send power to the grid without the electric company being aware of it. Some inverters have the ability to restrict sending back power, and only limit the solar output to what is currently being used. For example, Fronius and SolarEdge have a meter available that measures your home's use, and only will output that much power. www.altestore.com/store/inverters/inverter-accessories/fronius-inverter-accessories/fronius-smart-meter-p40594/#FRNSMARTMTR240
@@AltEStorelooks like this is something I need for my setup. can this be used with micro inverters? If not do you sell solar power limiting devices that can be used with micro inverters?
DATE: 26-OCTOBER-2016 BY FELIX M.S.JR.:
INDEED, THE PLUG-IN SMART GRID TIE INVERTER (GTI) SHOULD BE ABLE TO
EXPORT THE EXCESS GENERATED POWER THAT THE SOLAR PANELS (i.e. Po=
550WATTS) TO THE UTILITY POWER COMPANY if the demand load in Watts of
the HOMEOWNER user is only just 250WATTS and the excess 250WATTS (and
minus the internal losses in the GTI say -50WATTS) should find it's way
back to the Power Utility Grid as excess power by the HOMEOWNER thereby
supplying power to the UTILITY COMPANY as export since the generated
electrical ENERGY can not be wasted or destroyed but is conserved and it
can be used elsewhere in a COUPLED ELECTRIC SYSTEM WHICH IS POSSIBLE IN
THIS CASE SINCE THE SOLAR PV PANELS THRU THE GTI DEVICE AND THE UTILITY
POWER GRID ARE BOTH SYNCHRONIZED WITH EACH OTHER AT SAME VOLTAGE,
FREQUENCY AND PHASE. SO IN THE PROCESS, THE EXISTING INSTALLED KW-HR
METER OF THE HOMEOWNER SHOULD SLOW DOWN AND STOP AND THEN REVERSE IT'S DIRECTION INDICATING THAT THE ENERGY FLOW IS MOVING AWAY COMING FROM
ANOTHER POWER SOURCE WHICH IS THE SOLAR PV PANELS WHICH IS TRUE EVEN NOT
USING YET THE NET METERING SCHEME OF THE UTILITY POWER COMPANY OR THE
SO CALLED BI-DIRECTIONAL KW-HR METER AND AS SUCH THE HOMEOWNER SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR.
is it possible to operate a solar system where electricity comes from solar panels directly to the loads without grid or battery back up ?
For small loads, like charging your cell phone, yes. You can connect the solar panel to a cigarette outlet and use your car charger to manage it. See the video we did showing that, th-cam.com/video/_GcBfsEaerQ/w-d-xo.html . Solar water pumping connects the solar directly to the pump to pump water when the sun shines. Also, SMA has a feature on their grid tie inverter to power up to 1500W directly from the solar if the grid goes down. But the variable nature of the sun makes using the power directly from the sun unreliable, and isn't done for much more than that.
How come you came up multiplying the short circuit current in 1.56? What is 1.56? Is it a loss? or efficiency? I need this for my project. Thanks in advance :)
The 1.56 is x1.25 for over-irradiance, when the sun is brighter than 1000W/m2, like at the silver lining on the edge of a cloud, and another x1.25 for continuous current, amything that runs over 3 hours must be oversized. 1.25 x 1.25 = 1.56.
I had the same question. As per NEC section 690.8(B)(1) PV system currents are considered to be continuous, the maximum currents as calculated above must be multiplied by 125% to calculate the minimum conductor size. This calculation ensures that the conductors do not carry more than 80% of the continuous current value (0.8 is the inverse of 1.25). In the PV industry, the result of this calculation is commonly referred to as the “156% factor.” When this rule is applied, the module’s rated Isc has been multiplied by 156% (125% × 125% = 156%). Therefore equation for determining the nominal fuse ampere rating (In) is:
In= Imax x 1.25
www.firstgreen.co/2014/09/solar-pv-system-sizing-sizing-fuses-for-your-pv-system/
can you please explain the cutting of 50percent of solar wattage for offset..how is that adding benefit? So that means 8000(average) times 4.5 so thats 36KW would be generated from solar and the rest 15 KW would be taken from grid is it??? But how is that making a difference?
Ani16 the goal of grid tied solar is to buy less electricity by making your own. For example, if you use 900kwh a month, and you pay $0.20 per kWh, that is $180 a month electric bill. But if you make 500kWh, you only need to buy 400kWh, dropping your monthly bill down to $80. You save $100 a month.
but in order to make that 500Kwh, i have to invest in solar panels, and converters and fuses, and wires, and installion charges..doesnt it all even out?? is it a really fair deal??
Ani16 it depends where you live. Here in Massachusetts, with expensive electricity and good local incentives, it's about a 6 year payback. That means at least 20 more years of free electricity. If you are in an area with cheap electricity and no incentives, it can be up to 15 year payback. But you can still making cleaner electricity, so there is always that benefit.
Here's a good summary of the US states. solarpowerrocks.com/2018-state-solar-power-rankings/
i had a question please, i am working on a project about sizing PV system grid-tied , in my project i have to design the system the way that the inverter should shutdown the PV modules when there is a excess of electricity , because in our country it s not allowed to sell the surplus to the grid. at the same time, in bad conditions of the PV system, we need to take electricity from the grid. help plz !!
A lot of inverter companies are now offering the Smart Meter, which monitors your house load and your inverter output, and throttles back the inverter if it is making more power than the house needs. You can see a video on it here, th-cam.com/video/1m98AfjvmWo/w-d-xo.html This is for Fronius, but a lot of other brands are doing it now too.
thank you so much for your quick response
please, what pc software can i use to draw a diagram similar to 10:30
I used Microsoft Visio for that schematic, but lately I've been using a free program called TinyCAD.
so it is not a specialized software for solar, I was using Solarius but I thought there is newer program.
Do you recommend a designing program or what do you prefer like PVsyst of PVsol etc....
The tools I use are just generic electrical CAD. I created the library myself. So it does not do any design work, just drawing what I designed by hand.
very handy and good idea ...so grateful
Hello Amy...I am Pedro
I followed some of your interesting videos aboit solar and find them really informative...that I am doing installs myself ...I am in the California Close to San Ysidro (the solar hours here it says its 5.3 altough I can tell its more than that)...I am in the process of installing some panels on a school (their bill tells the average is 8500 Kw/month)...so based on that I need a system of 54Kw...I would like your help to choose a Grid Tie Inverter for it (their budget is not so big) so I intend to install about 1/4 of the total of solar panels required and then in the future (one year later maybe) install another 1/4 of the total panels (asuming they had saved some ectra money on their electric bill) and so On until they have the 54Kw system complete...SO I am guessing the Inverter should be choosen for the total 54Kw from the beginning right?...
What will you rcommend please ans if in the future they want to add batteries could they?
Thanks for any advise adn keep up the good work
Pedro Cordoba My suggestion is to do 4 inverters. Underpowering a large inverter for years is very inefficient. Just get an inverter that is about 15kW, and add more when they have the budget.
Thank you...I will take your advise...Have a nice day
Very helpful
In middle East Jordan sun rise average is
You must know
I(max) of your (meter)
I(max) of solar panel
And
I(max) of your (meter)>I(max) of solar panel
If not your meter will fire
Your monthly bills is ridiculous compared to Europeans houses
I agree completely.
I'm NOT impressed with the rudeness of their customer service dept!
I called with a simple question and was told " this is not a technical support line, it's for customers only!"
In my mind that was a bad move, as I for one will not buy anything from a company like this that only see's the bottom line.....greed on their part killed my interest!
Jake
Sorry for the misunderstanding. If you called the customer support line, it is for customer issues. They aren't technical, and can't answer product question. You should call the technical sales line, they are able to answer technical questions. However, do know that we quite often get calls from people who have bought their system from other companies, then call us for technical support on it, because the company they bought from has none. So there is a line where it is unfair to expect us to support competitor's clients and still remain in business.