 Off
Grid
System Sizing
Sizing
your system is elementary math. Power is measured in watts. A light
bulb, for instance, may require 40 watts of power, a blender 400. Appliance
wattage is usually listed on the manufacturer’s label. If only
amperage is listed, the formula to determine watts is as follows: amps
x volts = watts.
The amount
of power you will take out of the battery will depend upon the relationship
between the size of your load and the time it is operating. Your battery
bank should be big enough to supply power to your anticipated “electrical
wish list” for at least a few days.
Choosing
the right size inverter is based on a few major considerations. First
and foremost is the largest single load which will be operated by the
inverter. Another factor to consider is the largest group of loads which
may run at onetime. For example, a system which has a 1 kW electric
motor on a washing machine and 1kW automatic water pump in the well
has the potential to have a 2 kW load operating. The inverter must be
large enough to handle either maximum load condition.
Finally
there is inrush current which is the peak power that the load will draw
at the instant that it starts up. TVs, stereos, and drills have a surge
rating 1 1/2 to 2 times their continuous ratings. Power-hungry loads
with large motors, such as compressors, water pumps, refrigerators and
air conditioners, may surge at start-up 3 to 4 times their run wattage.
Most people have seen the effects of inrush current when a refrigerator
starting up momentarily dims the lights. We recommend that you add at
least 25% to whatever you come up with to allow room for system growth.
Renewable Energy Circuitry Tips
A
Renewable Energy system demands some knowledge on discharge, recharge
cycles and battery bank care. DC systems are the most common in these
setups. Direct Current utilises thiker wire in its circuitry of the
same area (coverage) with AC circuits. Since voltage drop is the main
issue here; 12-24 or 48 volts are low voltages and droping a volt will
mean less power to the consumers (lights e.t.c.). For every one Ohm
a volt is droped within the wire. Therefore for DC systems 2.5mm 2 core
(red and black) is required for entire house wiring while 10mm wire
and above is required for PVC or Windpower machine connection to the
battery bank and to the Consumer Unit.
AC
voltages are fairly high (120-240-380) hence droping one volts will
not cost as much as in DC. Therefore 1.5mm wire is recommended for house
wiring and at least 2.5 from the power source to the consumer unit.
It is also important to realize that when using an Inverter there are
loses introduced by the process of transformation from 12volts to 220-240volts.
There are diffent kinds of inverters with varying levels of efficiency.
Modern Toroidal Transformer inverters or switched mode types are more
efficeient than the old laminated core (E and I) type inverters. It
is advisable to run AC loads on Inverters in Renewable Energy systems
with a lot of care.
Batteries
Batteries
are a very important part of a Renewable Energy sysatem. We recommend
you use only deep cycle batteries from 100 AH and above or at lest 70AH;
commonly known as Solar batteries, TV batteries, sealed and tubular
batteries. Please do not use car batteries in your RE system. Car batteries
are designed to deliver a burst of power at a short time while deep
cycle batteries deliver more power longer and slower. You have more
power when you have more Amp Hours in your battery bank. Wind machines
normally deliver more power to batteries unlike solar panels. It is
advisable to size up your machine performance with the battery bank
so that no power is wasted.
Why
you can depend on our wind turbines
| 1.
Our Prices: Our Prices are very affordable to the local Mwananchi.
Our smallest machine (150 watts) goes for the price of a 60 watts
panel. We give you more power for less. Conventional wind machines
are quite expensive. |
| 2.
Durability: Our machines are made out of metal construction
and are very durable. Panels are made from glass and aluminum materials
hence delicate. Most Solar panels sold locally have failed due to
high UV rays from the same sun they are harvesting power from. Solar
Panels DO NOT last the life span they are labeled. They break
easily -- they are easily stolen from the house roofs -- they die
after a short time on purchase and kill the batteries they are supposed
to be charging. |
| 3.
Maintenance: Our machines need very little or neglible maintenance.
They run only on bearings which can be replaced after years of service.
They are also brushless -- hence no brashes to replace. All our
spares are locally available and serviceable by local technicians. |
| 4.
Efficiency: Our machines have a very high efficiency index due
to the fact that they are gearless and only run on the smoothness
of a bearing. A slight breeze starts producing power. Other machines
need a wind storm to start producing power. |
| 5.
Operation Time: Wind machines operate 24 hours while solar panels
operate with efficiency only in the crucial direct sun hours (4-6
hrs). |
| 6.
Wind seeking: Our Wind machines automatically seek wind in any
direction. Solar panels require expensive Sun seeking equipment
while most of them have rigid installations. |
| 7.
Compatibility: Our Wind Machines can be hybrid with Solar Panels
easily through our versatile Charge Control unit. |
| 8.
Control: Our Wind Machines are able to brake, stop and regulate
themselves during high wind speeds. This is done by the state-of-art
Charge Controller. Most Wind Machines are easily overdriven and
uprooted by wind storms. Solar Panels are easily ripped off with
or from their support structures. |
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