Meeting 2: Choosing the Right Hardware

Every member of the group researched into a particular hardware for the photovoltaic system we plan to build.

The major components for solar PV system are solar charge controller, inverter, battery bank, auxiliary energy sources and loads.
• PV module – converts sunlight into DC electricity.
• Solar charge controller – regulates the voltage and current coming from the PV panels going to
battery and prevents battery overcharging and prolongs the battery life.
• Inverter – converts DC output of PV panels or wind turbine into a clean AC current for AC
appliances or fed back into grid line.
• Battery – stores energy for supplying to electrical appliances when there is a demand.
• Load – is electrical appliances that connected to solar PV system such as lights, radio, TV, computer,
refrigerator, etc.

 Listed below is a list of the different hardware we found:

Battery:

Our group decided to go ahead with the Trojan 24-AGM battery

Light Source:

For the light source we came across two options that we could choose from:

1. Designer's Edge Goliath Power Light: 100 Watt, 100,00 Lumens, Model# L-4210

• Bulb Type: Metal Halide
• Power Supply: AC
• Bulb Life: 12,000 hrs
• Bulb (qty.): 1
• Power Cord: 15 ft
• Dimensions LxWxH (in.): 17 x 20.5 x 24

2.  Industrial Performance 1000 Watt, 71,000 Lumens BT56 Mogul Screw (E39)

  

     

• Bulb Life: 12000 hrs
• Cost: $30.00

We plan to use multiple bulbs to produce the desire power.

Digital or Analog Ammeter and Voltmeter:

After researching on a few digital and analog ammeters/voltmeters we found that digital ammeter/voltmeter were cheaper than analog devices. Therefore, we chose the following digital devices:

1.  DC 50A Blue LCD Digital Ammeter and Shunt

•        This is a ammeter with blue LED
•        Comes with connecting wire and a 50A 75mVshunt. Convenient for you to install
•        Great for DIY
•        Low power consumption
•        Measuring Input Range: DC 50A
•        Working Power Range: DC 6V to 15V
•        Working Current: <60mA
•        Accuracy: ±0.2%
•        Resolution: 0.1A
•        Meter Dimensions(LxWxH): Approx: 7.2 x 3.6 x 2.5cm (2.9 x 1.4 x 1 inch)
•        Shunt Dimensions(LxWxH): Approx: 12 x 2.5 x 1.8cm (4.7 x 1 x 0.7 inch)
•        Wire Length: Approx. 20cm(8 inches)
•        Cost: $12

 2. Mini DC 99.9V Blue LED Digital Panel Meter Voltmeter

• 3 digital bright LED, easy to read the digits
• Power Supply: DC 6V to 15V
• Type: Blue LED
• Measuring Range: 0 -99.9V
• It's easy to install, ideal for DIY
• Safe to use
• Accuracy: ± 0.2%
• Resolution: 0.1V
• Cutout Dimensions: Approx. 38mm (L) x 20mm (W) (1.5 x 0.8 inch)
• Voltmeter Dimensions: Approx. 45(L) x 25(W) x 20(H)mm (1.8 x 1 x 0.8 inch)
• Cable Length: Approx. 20 cm(8 inch)
• Cost: $7.19

Cart to keep the system on:

Inorder to keep the system together and enable easy movement of the system, we also looked into numerous carts and picked the following for our project:

Northern Industrial Structural Foam Service Cart

• Material Type: Structural foam
• Capacity: 500 lbs
• Shelves: 3
• Shelf Capacity: 165 lbs
• Dimensions W x D x H(in) : 26 x 38 x 33 5/16
• Cost: $144.99

Inverter

SureSine Pure Sine Wave Inverter 300 Watts