Solar Panels: Go Off Grid Now?

If you install solar panels on your home, can you go “off grid” and never have to deal with the electric company again?  Being energy independent is a nice thought.  No more triple digit electric bills.  No more hassle with the utility companies for any reason.  Is this possible for you and your family?  It depends on where you live, and how much money you’re willing to commit to maintain your own energy system.

First, consider where you live.  Are you in a part of the world that gets lots of sunlight all year long, or do you have lots of gray and overcast days?  Even when you install solar panels on your home, they only create electricity while the sun is shining on them.  That means you have to use batteries to store electricity in order for it to be available at night and during overcast days.

Here’s where your system can start getting expensive.  You’ll need to buy and maintain enough large DC (direct current) batteries to store enough electricity to get you through one to three days of cloudy weather.  You’ll need plenty of storage space for all of those batteries, and you’ll have to plan for the expense of replacing them periodically.

It’s also a good idea to keep a backup generator just in case you have a long stretch of cloudy weather that lasts beyond your battery storage capacity.  Your generator will need fuel, so you’ll have to store that, too. Generators usually use either gas or diesel fuel.  But that seems to defeat the purpose of a solar panel system, so you’ll probably want to use biodiesel.  So, yes it is possible to got “off grid”, but it’s not a simple or cheap project.

For most people, it makes more sense to look into “net metering”.  Find out  if it’s offered by your local electric utility company.  Net metering is a great way to cut down on your electricity bills, yet still have power available at night and during long spells of gray, cloudy days.  Net metering allows you to credits back from the electric company for excess electricity that your solar panels produce during the day.  Then you simply use the electricity from your local utility company at night and on days when there is not enough direct sunlight.  You won’t need to store banks of DC batteries in your basement or garage.  You won’t be completely “off grid”, but you can save significant amounts of money on your monthly electric bills.  Some months you may even have a zero balance.

So if you live on a large parcel of land and have an extra barn or outbuilding to store your DC batteries in, going “off grid” could be a reality for you.  But if you live in a subdivision, have no basement, and you’re already parking your car on the street because the garage is too full, “net metering” will probably be your best bet.

Living Off-Grid With Solar Electric System

If you have ever dreamed of being completely energy independent, then your ultimate goal is to live “off grid”. Most people who live off grid are located in remote areas where electric utility service is not even available. But more and more people are considering it as a personal lifestyle choice.

There are two main factors involved in living off-grid. First, you’ll need to become very aware of when and how you use electricity. You won’t have to live without it, but you won’t want to waste it, either.

Second, you’ll want to become familiar with how your solar power system works, and what kind of maintenance is required. It would be best if you become an expert on your particular system, so you can troubleshoot anything unexpected that arises. Becoming an expert is not that hard to do since there is so much information on solar energy available now. But it will require time and commitment on your part.

A basic off-grid system is made up of 9 components.

First, the photovoltaic array and mounting rack. Wikipedia describes the array as “a linked collection of photovoltaic modules, which are in turn made of multiple interconnected solar cells”. The mounting rack allows you to attach them the roof and point them toward the sun.

Second, the array DC disconnect. This is basically a breaker between the array and the rest of the system. It allows you to disconnect from the system in order to troubleshoot problems with the array.

Third, the charge controller keeps the batteries from overcharging.

Fourth, the battery bank stores excess electricity. You will usually need enough batteries for 2-3 days worth of stored electricity in case of a cloudy period.

Fifth, the system meter is like your car’s dashboard. It reports how the various components in your system are doing,

Sixth, is the main DC disconnect. This is a breaker between the storage batteries and the inverter.

Seventh, is the inverter. This is the component that transforms the DC (direct current) electricity, which is generated by the array and stored in the batteries, into the AC (alternating current) electricity that can be used by your household appliances.

Eighth, the AC breaker panel. This is the same kind of breaker panel that the electric company uses to connect your house wiring to its electrical source.

Ninth, your backup generator. This is in case you have a stretch of cloudy days that outlast the electricity stored in the batteries. You can use traditional fossil fuels, but you’ll probably want to use biodiesel to maintain your green lifestyle.

Now that you’ve seen the components of the photovoltaic system, you can see why it’s not that complicated to become your own expert. Each component is relatively simple.

The only moving parts are in the backup generator, and you hopefully won’t be using that very much.

How Do Solar Panels Work?

There are two basic types of solar panels.  One kind makes electricity, the other kind generates heat.  It’s important to know which kind you need for the job you have in mind, because they are not interchangeable.  But both kinds can save you money and help you live a greener lifestyle.

Solar thermal collectors use the sun’s energy to heat water and other fluids, like oil. They typically use plastic tubing, hoses or coils in the panel.  The liquid runs through the coils and is heated by the sun.   These types of panels are ideal for heating swimming pools, spas, hot tubs and hot water for homes and businesses.  They can also heat building interiors by using baseboard heating units and hot water flooring systems.  Once they are installed, there is usually no need for additional heating fuels.  But the systems usually require some kind of motorized pump to circulate the fluids.

Solar photovoltaic cells create DC (direct current) electricity.  Most typically, they use semi-conductor material (silicon) in the panel, which interacts with sunlight to create electricity.  The electricity then can be used to power computers and appliances, or the entire house, if you build the system big enough.  The electricity is only generated from the panels during the day when they are interacting with direct sunlight.

In order to use a photovoltaic system at night or during cloudy days, the electricity must be stored in a battery storage system.  You can use inexpensive lead-acid batteries (like you car uses), but you will need to make sure they are filled with distilled water in order to maintain their charge.  You can also use more expensive batteries.  Sealed AGM (absorbent glass mat) batteries don’t require maintenance to retain their charge.  Gel batteries are good choices for cold climates because of their freeze-resistance.

Both the thermal collector and the photovoltaic systems typically use glass panels to encase their collection systems, and both require access to direct sunlight.  The panels are ideally situated in a location that faces south and allows maximum exposure to sunlight during the entire day.   They can be used anywhere to harness the sun’s energy, but they are less effective in regions that typically have a lot of cloudy days throughout the year.

Even in mostly sunny regions, it’s always a good idea to add a backup generator to both kinds of solar panel system.  Backup generators can be fueled  with biodiesel to maintain your green lifestyle.  And the generators can be used if your battery storage fails, or whenever there is an unexpected stretch of cloudy days.