As a DIY solar power connect enthusiast, you will learn how to relate a solar array to a battery using these systematic installation manual instructions. Your 12 volt or more excellent battery will be charged by the sun after this tutorial. You can see how a solar panel is connected to a battery in this wiring diagram.
In no way, shape, or form should you link a solar panel to a battery? The battery may be harmed as a result. Instead, use a charge controller to link the battery and the solar panel.
Step by Step Installation Process
Step 1 –
It turns out to be a straightforward installation process. Just cut two sections to the desired length to strip the wire and strip them on both ends.
Make sure the fuse is in the holder. To determine the proper fuse size, please use our online calculator.
Using a wire connector of your choosing, attach one of the fuse holder’s wire leads to the shorter battery cable you have chosen. Connectors should be shrink-wrapped using a hot air gun and heat shrink tubing.
Step 2 –
Connect the charge controller to the battery as per the instructions in the documentation provided by your charge controller.
Connecting the “+” battery terminal to the positive thinking requires a cable, which has a fuse. Using a Renogy charge controller, connect the battery wires to the voltage regulator first. Connect the negative cable to the battery first, then the positive cable.
Your battery charger should signal that the battery is correctly connected by turning on or lighting up. For example, a light turns on in mine. The charge controller programming instructions in your handbook may direct you in this direction.
Step 3 –
A pre-attached MC4 connection is included with the majority of solar panel cables. Solar adapter cables may be used to connect solar panels to a charge controller. Attach the MC4 inline fuses, positive extension cable, and MC4 adapter cable to the panel’s positive cable.
If you use a negative extension cable, attach that first, followed by the MC4 adapter cable. Keep your fingers away from the exposed wires!
Step 4 –
Using my $11 Pvc solar array mount, you can easily place your solar array in direct sunshine at the optimal tilt angle in your region. Your battery charger should show that the batteries are charging after you have done so.
During regular charging, a light on my device flashes. Let the solar panel do all the work for you. Once the battery is fully charged, the battery charger will turn off the charger.
Before moving into rest, let’s refresh our foundation knowledge.
DIY Solar Installation Process For Renogy Solar Panels
Design
When you first start using solar electricity, you’ll need to consider the design. There are a few things to keep in mind throughout this process. The last thing you must do is hurry to purchase a solar kit without first doing your homework and preparing.
You must first plan and configure your system according to your energy requirements and available space before you can add solar panels. A certain amount of space on a cabin, van, or RV roof affects how many solar cells you can now have and how much power you can generate.
Make sure your roof is big enough to handle your electricity needs throughout the planning phase of your project. You will like to make sure you can meet your energy consumption objectives.
Precisely what do you need from it? A backup power source may help you reduce the cost of your grid energy, or it might provide you with total independence from the grid.
Your location’s climate and the hours of daylight you get each day have a significant role in your design decisions.
The energy you can generate depends on how much sunlight you get. How well your solar panels work depends on the direction of the sun, as well as the shape of your roof, and the size of your property.
Your ultimate objectives and space available will decide the best solution for you, the installation’s complexity, and the system’s cost. If you do not have any past expertise dealing with energy or electrical systems, the design phase might be the most challenging aspect of the installation procedure.
Solar Panel System With Grid Ties
The most common solar power system for a house is grid-tied or on-grid. An electric grid-tethered residential solar power system does not disconnect from it. A surplus of energy generated by these systems will be sent power into the system.
The utility company deducts the value of any solar electricity you send to the grid from your electricity bill. Additional financial or tax advantages are available in several states to install such a system.
How To Design A Solar Power System?
Invest In A Solar Charge Controller
Now that we have cells and solar, we need a mechanism to transfer the energy generated by the solar panels into our batteries.
To determine the appropriate solar charge controller size, you may use a crude method that divides the solar panel’s wattage by the battery energy voltage. An additional 25 percent should be added as a precautionary measure.
When choosing a charge controller, there’s more to think about now. PWM and MPPT are the two most common technologies used in charge controllers.
If your solar panel level is more constant than the battery banks, you must utilize an MPPT voltage regulator to match the voltages. You will need an MPPT charge controller if your solar panel output is 20 volts and your battery bank is 12 volts.
Decide On An Inverter As Your Power Source
As soon as the batteries have been fully recharged, the power must be converted into something useful. You may skip this step if you use your battery bank to power DC loads.
A converter is required for any AC loads you plan on powering since direct current from your batteries will not be sufficient. It’s critical to understand what kind of AC power source you’ll use.
You should expect 120/240V dual-phase, 60Hz in North America. 230V single 50Hz is the standard in Europe, Africa, and certain nations in South America.
Other inverters may be coupled or stacked to provide 240V, but each only outputs 120V. Some can only produce 120V and cannot be stacked, while others have a maximum output of 240V. To ensure you get the proper inverter, go through the specifications again.
The Factors We Should Consider In Deciding The Size
The Surface Area Of The Roof And The Amount Of Shading
The output of solar panels is highly dependent on the quantity of roof available space and the quantity of sunshine hitting that region.
As a result, avoiding shadowing is of utmost importance to us. Trees, houses, chimneys, and other objects all have the potential to decrease the output of solar panels.
The Efficiency Of The Panel
The same cannot be said for solar panels. Residential solar panels typically have a power range of 150 to 370 watts, depending on the panel’s size. Panels with a higher level of quality generate more power per square foot than lower-quality panels.
A more excellent panel may cost more, but it will generate more power in a smaller area if the roof space is restricted or the shade structures cannot be removed.
How To Design The Type Of Solar Power System You Need?
On-Grid Solar
By a wide margin, this is the most frequent kind of solar system. This is the most common form of the solar system in Australia. It’s a grid-tied solar power system. Batteries do not power it. When light strikes the solar panels, they produce DC power.
Recall that the sun’s power is generated by sunlight, not heat. As we’ll see later, the panels lose efficiency when hot. When the sun shines on a solar panel, it produces energy.
Pros –
- This service is a self-contained, 100 percent effective battery, so you don’t need to invest in a separate backup system.
- You will not have to adjust your daily routine or energy-saving techniques.
- On top of already lowered power costs, you will enjoy earning credits from the local electrical grid supplier for any unused energy you have created.
Cons –
- Due to safety concerns, on-grid solar systems cannot operate or produce energy during a power outage. A solar inverter feeding a broken grid would put the lives of anyone working on the network in danger, as blackouts are often caused by damage to power grids.
- At night or when there is no sunshine, they cannot create solar energy and lower your utility cost.
Off-Grid Solar Systems
Batteries, solar panels, and an inverter are all required for off-grid solar systems, which are not linked to a local power grid. No need to worry about running out of electricity since the system generates enough to power the house and all of its equipment.
Pros –
- Off-grid means you’re not dependent on your local power grid or utility provider for your energy needs. Therefore you’re completely self-sufficient.
- These systems may be easily upgraded as your energy requirements evolve.
- They serve as a helpful reminder to utilize power more wisely, which benefits the environment.
Cons –
- Batteries are required for off-grid devices, which may be both extensive and expensive.
- Battery systems powered by solar energy need to be checked and serviced regularly.
- The feed-in tariff isn’t available for off-grid choices since the system isn’t linked to the grid.
All-Solar Hybrid Power Systems
Hybrid solar power systems are the answer to this problem. Typically, hybrid solar systems combine two renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, into a single system. On bright days, solar power is used to create electricity, while on cloudy days, wind power may generate energy.
Pros –
- The hybrid solar systems include batteries that store the energy to deliver electricity without interruption. Because of this, the batteries act as an inverter to supply power in the event of a power loss.
- So because batteries are attached to the system and can store the energy created on sunny days, there is also no loss of the extra energy generated. Because they store energy while conditions are favorable and draw on it when they are not, these systems make efficient use of renewable energy sources. The equilibrium is preserved.
Cons –
- Control is difficult because of the variety of energy sources that must be managed. Controlling the interplay and coordination of many energy sources is a challenging task.
Solar Panels Series Or Parallel Connection?
If you are a homeowner learning about solar energy alternatives for the first time, it’s easy to get lost in all the jargon. Solar panels may be connected in many different ways, which you may have seen before. Is this very important to you? After all, all you care about is how much power the solar panel series or parallel generate!
Your solar panels’ wiring is essential. It affects your system’s performance and the inverter you may utilize. You will want your solar panels to be correctly connected to get the most bangs for your buck.
What Would It Mean To Connect Solar Panels In A Chain?
Solar panels feature two positive and just one negative terminal, much like a battery.
Series connections may be made by connecting the positive and negative terminals of two separate panels. A Conveys circuit is formed when two or more panels are connected.
If more than one solar panel is connected in series, the total voltage increases, but the total amperage does not change. The series voltage would be 80 volts, and the amperage would stay at five amps if two 40 volt solar cells with a 5 amp rated amperage were connected in series.
The voltage of an array may be increased by connecting panels in series. The inverter in a solar PV system must run at a specific voltage to be effective.
Your inverter’s operational voltage window requires series-connected solar panels, so you do just that.
What Does The Term “Parallel Wiring” Refer To?
It is common for solar panels to be wired in parallel, in which the positive end of one panel is linked to another’s, and their negative terminals are connected.
A combiner box has a positive connection for the positive wires and a negative connector for the negative wires. A PV generation circuit is called when many solar panels are connected in series.
Parallel solar panel wiring increases current while voltage stays constant. Because the voltage would stay at 40 volts if you connected two panels in parallel, the amperage would climb to 10 amps.
Your inverter’s operational voltage restrictions may be exceeded by connecting multiple solar panels in parallel. There are amperage limits on inverters, which may be overcome by connecting your photovoltaic power in series.
The Series And Parallel Connection Of Solar Panels With Pros And Cons –
- The cost of electricity is significantly reduced or perhaps eliminated when using solar power.
- A house with solar panels has a higher resale value.
- Reduce your carbon footprint by going solar.
- Rising energy expenses are something that the solar system guards against.
- You may recoup some of the money you invested in solar power.
- Solar power may be used in a variety of ways.
- The grid can recoup some of the cost of solar power.
Cons –
- Not all types of roofs are suitable for solar power.
- There are certain drawbacks to this if you plan on moving soon
- Reduced savings due to lower electric bills
- The initial outlay may be prohibitive.
- It might be challenging to find a good installer.
Instead Of Choosing Between Series And Parallel, Why Not Do Both?
Generally, connecting in series raises voltage, whereas connecting in parallel increases current. An inverter right for you will depend on voltage and amperage, so keep that in mind while planning your system.
Series/parallel connections are the most common configurations used by solar installers. As a result, your solar panels can perform to their full potential since the system can handle larger voltages and amps without damaging the inverter.
Renogy Solar Panels Wiring Diagram
Using the illustrations below, you will be well on the way to preparing your camper for off-grid excursions. In addition to ground-up DIY campers, OEM RV retrofits are shown below. In each of the following schematics, Battle Forged Lithium Batteries & Victron Energy Components are the primary components.
The size of your solar array may be customized based on the amount of roof space you have. From the ground up, this schematic and components list is ideal for converting skoolie, excursion vehicles, or campervans.
Systems with no pre-existing electrical system are best suited to employ this approach. In This Graphic, You will Find:
- Charger for 3000w inverter
- Battery Storage Capacity: 400+ Amp Hours
- Solar Array Power Range: 400W-1200W
- Power Source Charging: Alternator
- Passthrough and Charging through Shore Power
How To Install The Renogy Solar Panels?
Scaffolding Should Be Erected
To begin, you will need to create scaffolding on the roof to secure your safety throughout the installation procedure.
Add Mounts For The Solar Panels
After that, it’s time to put together the solar array mounting system. This will support the solar panel base. To get the most sunlight, the whole construction. Today must be slanted at an angle ranging from 18 to 36 degrees.
To Begin, Set Up The Solar Array
After the mounts are in place, the solar panel must be attached to the mounting framework. All the bolts & nuts should be tightened to secure the structure.
The Solar Panels Should Be Wired Up
Putting in the electrical wiring is the next stage in getting the job done. All solar panels may be connected using MC4 connections. Hence, they are the most common solar panel connector. To prevent damage to the home’s electrical system, turn off the power before beginning the wiring project.
How To Connect The Renogy Solar Panels?
Build A Solar Power System
Putting together, a solar power system starts with acquiring the essentials. Solar panels, a charge controller, an inverter, as well as a battery bank are the four main components you will need.
Additionally, you will need to purchase a breakaway switch and other electrical components such as an MC4 connection and fuses. Always remember to read the instructions that come with the solar panel module.
Make Sure That The Inverter Is Working Correctly
Power generated by solar panels (DC) is used by electrical equipment that needs AC power (AC). Using an inverter instead of an adapter may be a lifesaver while traveling. Inverters may be the square wave, modified sine-wave, or pure sine-wave inverters, depending on the wattage and inverter.
The output of a modified sine wave is not acceptable for specific appliances, such as a refrigerator, whereas square waves are not. Your solar system will benefit significantly from a power inverter.
If your are looking to connect your solar panels to an existing solar inverter, then read this article for more information.
Use A Battery Bank To Charge The Solar Panels
Batteries and solar panels must be connected. If you have a PV system with these features, you don’t have to perform any more work. Make series and parallel links if you’re not provided a single unit.
A series connection may be made by connecting a device’s positive and negative terminals. It would help if you connected one device’s negative terminal to another to make a parallel connection.
Conclusion
It would help if you permanently disconnected the solar panel and then the battery when removing it from the system. Charge your battery accessible by placing your solar array in direct sunlight. Think of your next solar power DIY project as you unwind.
Eng. Matthew Joseph Nandirio is the Founder of walkingsolar.
After graduating from the University of Houston in 2002, matt started working as an electrical and electronic engineer for several multi-national solar energy companies.
He has a wide range of experiences including solar system requirement analysis, planning, maintaining, debugging and even solar device development through research.
He now shares his 20 years of expertise through his articles on the walkingsolar website.
Further, he is also the author of two books on Solar Technology, “Solar Power for Villages” and “DIY Solar System for Dummies”.
