Part 1 of Arizona Consumer’s Guide to Buying a Solar Electric System. Are you thinking about buying a PV system for your home or business? If so, this series will provide basic information that you need to know. Consumer’s in Arizona are showing increased interest in solar electric systems for their homes and businesses. These […]
After you have assessed the appropriateness of your site, you need to determine how much electricity your PV system must generate. This depends on how much electricity your loads require. Again, your dealer can help you with sizing a system that will meet your needs. The sidebar illustrates the steps involved in sizing a PV […]
Part 5 of Battery Power for Your Residential Solar Electric System. 1. The largest cost, over the life of the system, is the batteries. The lifetime cost, including maintenance, of your batteries is dependent on your initial purchase price, how well you adhere to a maintenance schedule, and the replacement interval for the batteries you […]
Part 4 of Battery Power for Your Residential Solar Electric System. All batteries will wear out in 1-15 years, even if they are rarely used, because the acid in the battery wears down the internal components regardless of use. However, you can maximize the life of your battery bank by adhering to the following practices: Avoid […]
Part 3 of Battery Power for Your Residential Solar Electric System. A long cycle life, or how many deep discharges the batteries can provide. Thick lead plates—the thicker the plates, the deeper the discharge and the longer the battery life. If you have flooded batteries, look for space at the bottom of the battery case […]
Part 1 of Battery Power for Your Residential Solar Electric System. A Winning Combination—Design, Efficiency, and Solar Technology A battery bank stores electricity produced by a solar electric system. If your house is not connected to the utility grid, or if you anticipate long power outages from the grid, you will need a battery bank. […]