Worksheet 1: Daily System Energy Requirement

Use this worksheet to calculate the energy which must be supplied by the
array each day to power all of the lights and appliances in your system
1. Calculate the total daily load energy demand using the table below

Column A

Column B

Column C

Column D

Column E

Lamp or Appliance

Voltage

Power

Daily Use

Daily Energy
Use (DC)

list below

volts

watts

hours

watt hours

DC Appliances
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
AC Appliances
Centrifuge

240

200

0.5

HIV Testing
Laptop computer

240
240

300
30

1.5
8

Printer

240

20

0.5

Copier
Refrigerator

240
240

600
60

0.5
6

Video/TV

240

120

Admin block lights (8 * 10W)

Maternity lights (4 * 15W)

240
240

80
60

4
2

Ward lights (4 * 8W)

240

32

Security (4 * 15W)
Cell phone recharging

240
240

60
40

6
8

BOX G: Total Daily DC Energy Demand

BOX H: Total Daily AC Energy Demand

2. Estimate system energy losses

Box I: DC losses

Energy is always lost due to inefficiencies in cables

modules, batteries, charge controllers and inverters.
The extra amount of energy lost must be estimated
and added to the daily energy demand.

Box J: AC losses

3. Add AC & DC Demand and AC & DC Losses

Box K: Total Daily

For DC power multiply Box G by

For AC power multiplyBox H by

0.20
0.35

4. Select System Voltage

Box L: System Voltage

System Energy Requirement

24 volts

5. Calculate Daily System Charge Require

Divide Box K by the system voltage in Box L
Box M

NB

The following shades indicate how cells should be used

Enter data in this cell
See text for a description of this cell
This cell contains a calculation and is locked

Worksheet 2: Sizing and Choosing the Modules

Use this worhsheet to calculate the size of array in your

system
Step 1: Obtain your site's insolation value
Estimated annua
Do you have
meteorological data?

Column F
Daily Energy
Use (AC)

insolation psh
NO

watt hours
YES

Box 2A Solar Records

Select the lowest
Mean insolation data should b
filled below.
montly insolation figure
Month Peak Sun Hours
Jan
4.87
Feb

4.82

Mar

5.19

Apr

5.43

May

5.42

100

Jun

5.23

450
240

Jul

5.19
5.13

10
300
360
240
320
120
96
360
320

Watt-hours
2916 Wh

Aug
Sep

Design Month psh

5.07
4.71
6.03

Oct
Nov
Dec

5.22

AVG

5.19
Box 2C

Box 2D

164.025

Daily System
Charge Requirement
Amp-hours

Design Solar
Insolation Value
Peak sun hours

From Worksheet 1
BOX M

Wh
1020.6 Wh

mand and AC & DC Losses

Step 4: Select enough modules

Details of Selected Module
to produce the design charging currentCompany
Use the manufacture's data
Peak watts
(I-V curve & temperature data).

Rated voltage

Step 5: Draw the configuration of

the module array

Rated current
Current at NOCT
Number of modules require

3936.6 Wh

y System Charge Requirement

e system voltage in Box L
164.025 Ah

w cells should be used

ription of this cell

calculation and is locked

Insolation in kWh/m2/day/month

e Modules

Worksheet 3: Battery Sizing and Selection

BOX 2C
Estimated annual
insolation psh

Use this worksheet to select your battery and charge

controller
Step 1: What type of battery will you use?
Shop around to get an idea of the batteries available
Type of Battery
Voltage
Modified SLI
(Portable)
Traction Battery
Lead Calcium
Maintenance Free
Captive Electrolyte Gel
Cells
Absorbed Glass Mat
Tubular Plate Batteries

Step 2: Select Design Solar

Insolation Value
BOX 2B

Other

Step 2: Calculate the capacity required capacity

of your battery in amp hours.
Box 3A

Design Month psh

5

164.025
Daily System
Charge Requirement
Amp-hours
From Worksheet 1 BOX M
Step 3: Determine the
battery configuration

Step 3: Calculate the design

charging current

sign Solar
lation Value
ak sun hours

Box 2E

32.81
System Design
Charging Current
Amps

Step 4: Does battery

require special
charge control setting?
Step 5: Determine your
battery cycle life and
maintenance needs.
Maintenence needs

Reserve Days

Topping up
YES
Cleaning corrosio YES
Equalizing
Check SoC

etails of Selected Modules

BP 790
BP Solar

ted voltage

ted current
rrent at NOCT
mber of modules require

90
24
5
5.3
6.19

Expected
Life Cycle

YES
YES

attery Sizing and Selection

Worksheet 4: Charge

o select your battery and charge

e of battery will you use?

an idea of the batteries available (see Tabe 4.3)
Capacity
Recommended Recommended Price
Daily DoD (%) Max DoD (%)

Use this worksheet to size a

controller and inverter
Charge Controller Sizing
Step 1: Select Charge Co
Cycle Life @
25% DoD

Array Input Rating

Box 4A

63.60

50%

Maximum Array
Short Circuit Current
Amps

Step 2: Select Desired CC

Shop around to get an idea
Controller Specification

the capacity required capacity

amp hours.
Box 3B

Box 3C

Box 3D

Rated Voltage
Maximum Array ISC Input

0.5

Reserve Days

Maximum DoD

Required System

Self Consumption

Minimum 1

Express as decimal

Battery Capacity

Feature

Maximum 4

(ex. 30% is 0.30)

656.1

Amp-hours

Maximum Load Output

High voltage disconnect

Make a drawing of battery configuration/voltage

Low voltage disconnect

Temperature compensation

Indicate the voltage and parallel/series connections

Load timer

Displays
YES

Solar charge indicator

SoC indicator (LED)

NO

LCD display
Amp hour meter

Inverter Sizing and Selec

How often

Details of Selected Battery

Company

Trojan

Step 1: Is an Inverter N
Step 2: Inverter/Charge

Monthly
Monthly

Model
Type

Quarterly
Weekly

C20 Capacity Ah
Individual Battery Voltage
Battery Bank Voltage
Number in series
Number in parallel

Cycles
(Days)

Total number of batteries

Total battery capacity
Rated cycle life @ 25% DoD

L16RE-2V
Flooded
1200 Ah
2V
12V
6

Step 3: Inverter & Charg

Box 4E

1602
Watts

Rated Charge Current

6
1200

For battery charging (A)

Accepts power from:

orksheet 4: Charge Controller/Inverter Sizing and Selection

e this worksheet to size and select your charge

ntroller and inverter
harge Controller Sizing and Selection
ep 1: Select Charge Controller Size

ray Input Rating

DC Load Output Current Rating

Box 4B

x 1.25 =

aximum Array

Box 4C

79.5

0.0

Array Input Rating

hort Circuit Current

Box 4D

x 1.25 =

Maximum DC Load

aximum Array ISC Input

aximum Load Output

lf Consumption

Load Output

Amps

Rating
Amps

ep 2: Select Desired CC Features

op around to get an idea of the charge regulators available (see Table [])
ontroller Specification
Rating
Protection

ted Voltage

0.0

V
A
A
mA

See Box L

YES/NO

Short circuit protection (array)

See Box 4B Short circuit protection (load)

See Box 4D Reverse polarity (array)
Reverse polarity (load & battery)

YES/NO

Lightning protection

gh voltage disconnect

Open circuit battery

w voltage disconnect
mperature compensation

Sealed battery charge settings

YES/NO

Desired Charging Type

lar charge indicator

C indicator (LED)

YES/NO

Pulse Width Modulation

Equalization
MPPT

mp hour meter

Other

verter Sizing and Selection

ep 1: Is an Inverter Needed?
ep 2: Inverter/Charger?

YES/NO
YES
YES

Only if 230/110 VAC appliances are used.

Only if a charging source is available

ep 3: Inverter & Charger Rating

Box 4F

x 1.25

2002.5

Inverter Rating
Watts

ated Charge Current

Box 4G

r battery charging (A)

cepts power from: Genset/wind/solar
Select appropriate choice

Step 4: Select Desired Inverter Features

Details of Desired Inverter
Continuous Power (W)
Peak Surge Power (W)
Input DC Volts
Output AC Volts
Wave shape
Efficiency
Self-Consumption (A)
Low Voltage Disconnect (V)

Worksheet 5: Wiring, Voltage Drop and Fuses

Use this worksheet to size and select your electrical
accessories
Step 1: Map the Site and
Estimated Cable Runs
Draw a scale map of the site and
estimate the distance of all cable runs,
including from the modules to the
control, the control to battery and the
circuits. Note the locations of each
lamp, socket, switch, junction box, and
fuses. Note the voltage of major
circuits.

Step 2: Determine the proper cable sizes to avoid voltage drop

See Chapter 7 for instructions on the use of the table below.
Column A

Column B

Column C

Column D

Column E

Column F

Cable Run (List Circuits)

Distance of
Cable (m)

Maximum
Current (A)

K Value of
wire
(ohms/m)

Total
Resistance
(ohms)

Voltage Drop
(V)

0
0

0
0

Make sure all voltage drops are less than 2%!

Step 3: Sizing Fuses and Circuit Breakers
See Chapter 7 for detailed instructions on sizing fuses
List circuits to be protected in Column A
Write each circuit's maximum power drawn (W) in Column B
Calculate each circuits' maximum current (A) in Column C
Increase the figure by 20% in Column D

Step 4. List all electrical

accessies required.
Cables (all sizes & types)
Conduit
Switches
Sockets

This is the minimum size of the fuse required.

Column A
Cable Run (List Circuits)

Fuses
Junction boxes

Column B

Column C

Column D

Max Rated
Power (W)

Maximum
Current (A)

Fuse Size (A)

0
0
0
0
0
0
0

Connector strips
Lightening protection
Grounding/earthing
Bolts, screws, nuts, etc.

0
0
0
0 Use the list of electrical accessories to
0 make sure you have everything you
0 need before going to site!
0

Column G
Voltage Drop
(%)

0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%

electrical

ectrical accessories to
have everything you
ng to site!