25-09 - Flipbook - Page 83
September
August 2025
Luckily, the NREL provides a PV Watts calculation tool. This will provide you with
area-specific energy costs related to other off-grid systems found in your area.
2. Choose the Right Type of Battery
Next, you must choose a battery strength for your solar systems: 12 volts, 24 volts,
or 48 volts. If you9re just powering a few small photo volatile panels, then a 12volt battery will do the trick.
If you need more power, then you9re better off gradually adding stronger
batteries. 24 and 48 volts can support systems as large as 400 watts.
3. Maximize the Amount of Sunlight Your Panels Receive
To get the most out of your solar panels you will need to find an area that
provides a lot of sunlight. Pay attention to how the sun moves around your
property. Avoid areas that have shade over them for good amounts of the day.
You should also make sure that it9s easy to access the panels for maintenance.
Roofs might provide a lot of suns, but they are a pain to reach anytime you
need to make repairs.
4. Avoid Voltage Drop With Heavy Wire
Voltage drop occurs when power is lost when traveling from the panel to the
final destination. If you use a small gauge wire, then you9re providing almost no
resistance for the electric current.
The result is a lot of voltage drop. You can solve this by investing in a heavier
gauge wire. Doing so will provide your system with more resistance against drops
in voltage.
5. Keep Your Solar Panels Clean
Over time solar panels will get dirty. Unfortunately, the pollen, bird poop, and dirt
that buildup can reduce the efficiency of the technology. In some cases, this
can reduce your energy output by as much as 30%.
You also can9t expect rain to clean it for you4you need to scrap it off manually.
So, if you want to get the most out of your system, then remember to clean it
with a gentle brush and soapy water once every few months.
6. More Energy is Better Than Less Energy
While it9s important to get a rough daily energy calculation, you need to factor
in variables you may not be accounted for.
Because of this, it9s better to have more energy than you9ll need, rather than
less. We recommend installing a system that provides 25% more solar energy
than you need.
7. Use LED Lights
It should come as no surprise that off-grid solar systems can provide the zerocarbon future we dream of. Unfortunately, none of that matters if we still use
appliances that drain energy.
Because of this, we recommend switching to more green energy appliances.
For example, LED light bulbs to use 75% less energy than incandescent light
bulbs, while lasting 25 times longer. These types of changes will help you stay
green and not overload your system.
