Place of installation
In order for solar panels to work with the greatest efficiency, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of their location. For example, if the battery is in a shaded area, it will not be able to generate enough power for normal operation. As a result of improper installation, the structure may fail after a while, not having time to justify the purchase costs.
Solar panels for the apartment should be directed towards the sun. It is important to carry out the installation so that the flow of sunlight falls on the solar cells of the battery most of the day. If the house is in the northern hemisphere, then the face of the device should be oriented to the south. When in the southern hemisphere, you must install the batteries so that they face north. The slope is also quite an important aspect and depends on the geographic location. As experts advise, the angle of inclination should be equal to the latitude in which it is located.
Additional recommendations for choosing a location
If the house is not at the equator, then the angle correction must be carried out depending on the season. It is important to provide access to the batteries. The invention is unpretentious, but its front surface can eventually become covered with dirt and dust; in winter, the battery can be covered with snow. If this happens, then the accumulation of energy will decrease. In order to solve the problem, the base of the structure must be regularly cleaned. It is important to remember that a layer of snow on the surface of the battery can cause interruption in energy production, therefore it is necessary to monitor the condition of this part of the panels.
Installation steps
You can install solar panels for an apartment yourself. It is important to decide where they will be located; special farms or the roof of a house can become a place. If you stop at the last option, you will have to install the profiles and fix the panels on the bolts. It is recommended to use fasteners for this, the diameter of which varies from 6 to 8 mm.
If solar panels for an apartment are installed on profiles, this will allow them to be fixed in a stationary state and save space on the balcony. When installation is carried out on land farms, you should first purchase them. They are usually aluminum profiles, corners or iron elements, supplied in a collapsible form.
Solar panels for home: customer reviews
Below we suggest reading the reviews of those who have already installed solar panels in their homes and decided to share their experience of using them.
I installed solar panels in a country house, but while I use them to power one kitchen, I plan to install them in stages for all parts of the house. Now on the roof there are plates with a capacity of 160, 180 and 300 W, their total operating current is 15 A. I buy them gradually as prices go down. I also reduce costs due to the fact that there are energy-saving San lamps in the kitchen, and I also have a controller for charging. I am very pleased, because due to the winds, wires often break and light goes out. Konstantin
It is often said that the installation of such batteries is very expensive, and they either will not pay for themselves when equipped, or after a whole eternity. At first we read all this and decided to install a transformer station, but estimated at the cost - it turned out to be much more expensive than a solar energy system. As a result, we installed an autonomous solar system SANFORS, Energy ”solar modules. It is really profitable and convenient!
Evgeniya
Your house in Murmansk. Sun's solar power system has been installed as an auxiliary power source. They chose for a long time, looked for information a lot. It functions quite successfully together with an autonomous gas heat supply. The house is warm even in severe frosts, and we still protected from power outages, and this is very profitable.
Galina
Most people in their reviews of solar panels note that while they cannot be used as an independent source of energy and you have to have the main one. Although progress is not standing still, it is quite possible that in just a few years they will completely replace traditional energy sources. Therefore, if there is an opportunity, then you can invest in such a purchase right now. Most likely, it will pay off much faster than you expect.
Method of work
To carry out the work, in addition to the fasteners, you will need keys, the size of which depends on the parameters of the bolts. In order to install solar panels in an apartment, you need to assemble the farms, and then choose a place, guided by the advice given above. The installation site can be the roof. The structure is fixed on it in the designated place, and then the panels are installed.
In the final step, it is important to make sure that the batteries do not move, even in strong gusts of wind. Once the above steps have been completed, you can proceed to connecting the batteries to the panels. The first ones will be connected to controllers or inverters.
The principle of the solar battery
A solar battery is, first of all, a set of photovoltaic cells, which, when connected to each other, form a panel. The peculiarity of solar cells is their ability to generate electrical energy when exposed to sunlight, which makes it practically free. The amount of energy produced depends on the material of the panel and on its area. Thus, at the output, a direct electric current is obtained, which enters the inverter, where it is converted into alternating current and can be used in everyday life. Since battery performance depends on many factors (season, weather, time of day), energy must be stored for future use, which is what the battery is used for. It accumulates electricity in itself, and then gradually gives it up even when there is no sun and the battery does not perform its functions.
Installing solar panels on the balcony
One of the main characteristics of any solar cell is the material for solar cells. Among the most popular:
- polycrystalline silicon - the most popular material today, combining an affordable price and good performance. Polycrystalline silicon panels are easy to install, so anyone can handle them. Their characteristic feature is the blue color of the surface, by which they are easy to recognize;
- silicon single crystals are more productive, but their cost is much higher. Another drawback is their polygon shape. It does not make it possible to fit individual single crystals close to each other, therefore, the working surface of the panel as a result turns out to be not solid, but with many gaps, which reduces the useful area;
- Amorphous silicon is the least efficient and cheapest of all silicon varieties. It is used in cases where a large battery power is not required, or in order to save;
- cadmium telluride is applied to glass in the form of a film less than 0.5 mm thick. The film itself can be opaque or partially transmit light, so that it can be used as a tint for window glass;
- CIGS is a semiconductor, from which photocells are also produced in the form of a film, but its efficiency is higher than that of cadmium talluride.
The choice of materials is quite large, and in order to choose the right one, you need to understand their performance characteristics. Less efficient solar cells are cheaper, but require more panel area, so the savings are relative. The performance difference is quite large. For example, a square meter of a monocrystalline silicon panel can deliver up to 125W, while an amorphous silicon panel can deliver 50W.
Monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar cells are in greatest demand on the modern market. The first ones have an efficiency of about 13%, their service life is about 30 years, but their performance is highly dependent on weather conditions. The maximum efficiency can be obtained only on a sunny, clear day, but in cloudy weather it is significantly reduced. Polycrystalline solar cells are less efficient - their maximum efficiency is 9%, their service life is also slightly shorter - up to 20 years, but their performance is practically independent of the weather.
We install solar panels on the balcony with our own hands
Installation features
If you decide to install solar panels for an apartment in an apartment building, you should study the nuances of installation. Whichever type of installation you choose, you need to monitor the angle of inclination. It is important to take into account that batteries, if installed incorrectly, may be shadowed by each other. If you install the elements on the same plane, then with the help of trusses you can form several levels. It is important to consider the distance to avoid shading.
In order to use the available space more efficiently, battery placement techniques should be combined. For example, roof-mounted batteries can be supplemented with ground-based systems. It is important to remember that after installing solar panels, it will not be possible to refuse the services of local power grids, because houses have energy-intensive devices such as TVs, irons, electric heaters, for the operation of which the charge of the modules will not be enough. Therefore, before installing solar panels in an apartment, you need to think about whether the event will be cost-effective. After all calculations have been made, it is necessary to purchase the main parts of the system, namely:
- solar panels;
- accumulators;
- inverters;
- controller.
Sales quality and prospects for the development of solar technologies
The modern market and its sales technologies do not leave the buyer an unambiguous assessment. Especially high-tech equipment and devices. This also applies to the market for the sale of solar power supply systems. Since production technologies themselves are very energy-intensive, if you want to purchase solar panels or buy a solar power plant for your home, the price in both cases will call for a detailed analysis not only for technical and technological features, but also for economic justifications.
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An important factor when buying an FSE is the quality of sales services. If by the price of the goods we mean only its check denomination, then by the cost we can also agree, within the framework of the article, to understand all types of overhead costs, the reliability of the seller and the goods, as well as the time and moral efforts.
So, the cost of solar panels for a home or the cost of a set of solar power plants for a home of the same manufacturer may differ significantly from different sellers. The reason may be as follows:
- the seller does not perform preliminary engineering calculations. This means that you need to go to another place. And this is time and transport;
- the seller does not carry out design work. You will have to spend money, use additional time and transport;
3D diagram of the installation of solar panels
- some components are missing from the seller. You will again have to look for goods in another store, which may be more expensive and again will require additional time and transport;
- the seller simply does not have assembly teams for installing equipment. Time costs again;
- the seller is not involved in logistics. This means that a situation is possible when everything will be assembled, but one important element will have to wait for an unknown number of days. Etc.
Helpful advice! Choose a seller with a full package of services, ranging from assistance with the project, high-quality equipment in the provision of professional installers to warranty service.
The future belongs to alternative energy sources
The rapid penetration into our lives of new technologies for the use of alternative sources of electricity and heat directs our choice to increasingly purchase solar power plants, solar collectors (heating plants), household wind and hydro power plants, as well as use heat pumps and a variety of electric generators. So in recent years, considerable experience has been gained in the application of photo electrical power supply systems in many areas of management. This applies to the use of solar panels and solar collectors in domestic conditions: in private houses and dachas.
The use of solar energy is the optimal solution for home and summer cottages
In conclusion, we can say that the solar technology market currently offers a wide variety of equipment. And most importantly, given the reasonable cost of solar battery kits for the home, reviews of their high quality and a long period of reliable operation, we can conclude that the use of this equipment is becoming more expedient and allows you to participate in large-scale environmental projects and programs.
Expert advice
As practice shows, the main problem when installing batteries and accumulators is choosing the right place. Solar panels should be exposed to sunlight for most of the day, there are very few such places in an apartment, so there is not much choice. To do this, you can use the walls closest to the balcony and balcony glazing. This is true if roof mounting is not possible.
Most often in recent years, batteries are installed on the glass of the balcony, but this negatively affects the natural light in the apartment. Some consumers find positive aspects in such a way out, which are associated with a delay in ultraviolet radiation. Fastening in this case can be carried out in a balcony frame or on glass.
A set of solar panels for an apartment can be installed using this technology only if the balcony is on the sunny side, otherwise the installation does not make sense. The next important point will be to find a place for the storage elements. When purchasing an average set for an apartment, you should get batteries in the amount of 20 to 30 pieces. For an apartment in a panel building, this area is quite large. It will be difficult to accommodate that many batteries.
You can solve the issue by placing the elements in the upper part of the balcony ceiling. However, this place is rarely used. For this, a shelf is usually built on which all the batteries are located, which in this case will not be visible, in addition, they will not interfere. It is important to remember about the weight of the elements, the weight of each can vary from 15 to 20 kg, so the shelf must be reliable.
Using solar energy to generate heat
Along with the use of solar energy for the production of electric current, there are no less common devices for converting the energy of sunlight into thermal energy.Such installations are called solar collectors and serve as heating elements for heating systems and hot water production. Regardless of the installed boilers in heating systems and hot water circuits, their combination with highly efficient solar collectors can save up to 36% on heating and hot water costs.
Household power supply using solar panels: 1 - LED lamps, 2 - electric fan, 3 - phone charger, 4 - small electric stove, 5 - refrigerator, 6 - external lighting, A - solar photovoltaic panels, B - control panel, C - inverter + charging controller + meters, D - batteries, E - de-energization (shutdown) panel, F - backup generator
In its design, the solar collector from the category of a hot-selling product is a rectangular panel approximately 1x2 m in size and up to 100 mm thick. The main difference between the collectors of the specified standard sizes is the heat flux of power, i.e. the amount of heat that can be transferred to any heat transfer fluid through the contact surface. In another way, this parameter is called the coefficient of heat loss and which has the dimension W / m2 × ° K, i.e. heat transferred across the area to raise the temperature of the receiving liquid. Modern designs of solar collectors have indicators (one panel) in terms of thermal power from 1.2 to 5 W / m² × ° K.
Prices of solar collectors for home heating
The main element of the system (heating plant) is the solar panel. Depending on the required capacity, it can be purchased on the market at a price of 18-20 thousand rubles. per 1 m² of usable area and an average heat loss coefficient of 2.5-2.7 W / m² × ° K.
For example, a panel of European quality with dimensions of 1.9x1.8 m (area 3.5 m²) and with a coefficient of 2.7 will cost about 70 thousand rubles.
Taking into account the competition, the analogue of the Chinese production can be cheaper by 30-55%, and the domestic prototype by 10-25%.
If we talk about the required set, which includes: a tank, a battery, a pump and automation, then the average market price of such a station will be 160-170 thousand rubles. A set of domestic production with similar parameters will cost 100-120 thousand rubles.
Installation of solar collectors on the roof of the house
Helpful advice! The combined use of solar collectors with solar panels, with the correct choice of parameters, can reduce the consumption of thermal energy for obtaining hot water by up to 61%.
What is important to remember
It is necessary to pay special attention to the insulation of the shelf. This is due to the fact that in cold weather the capacity of the batteries can be reduced if they are not protected from frost. In order for the batteries not to work in vain, they need to be insulated with high quality. If the installation of alternative sources is carried out incorrectly, then you will only face unnecessary costs. Therefore, you should reconsider your opinion regarding some electrical appliances.
Before installing batteries, experts recommend abandoning powerful consumers, replacing them with less energy-intensive ones. For example, a laptop or computer will perfectly replace plasma panels. They are not so energy intensive and allow you to save kilowatts. A prerequisite will be the use of energy-saving bulbs, but LED lighting devices are the ideal option.
