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PVCalculator PVsolarpanels PVsolarpanels PVsolarpanels
Chargecontroller Chargecontroller Chargecontroller
Lighting,TV,freezer(optionally) Lighting,TV,freezer(optionally) Inverter230V/50Hzor110V/60Hz
Batteries Batteries Batteries
PVDiagrams

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Ingeneral:thesimplerthesystem,thebetter.
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Worthtoknow,insimplewords
ChargecontrollerhighqualityPVchargecontrolleristhemostimportantcomponentwithinthePVoffgridsystems.Controls
theflowofcurrenttoandfromthebattery,toprotectitfromoverchargingafterreachingtherequiredvoltagewithinthebattery(eg
protectagainstboilingtheelectrolyte).Theoverdischargeprotectionoccurs,whentheloadswillcausecritical/minvoltagewithin
thebattery.Thedeepdischargeprotectionisanoptionalfeature(butverycommon),helpstoprotectthebatteriesagainstdamage
(fullydischargedbatterymaycauseitsdamage).

Donotexceedtheallowedvoltageandcurrentofchargecontroller.VoltagereferstoPVpanelsVocandcurrent,itsIsc.Calculate
panelVocx1.2,theIscx1.25forsafebufferunderextremeweatherconditions(morethanSTC:1000W/25C/1.5AM).

Example:ifinthePVsolarpaneldatasheetdefinedvoltage30Voc,calculateitasx1.2.Thuspossible(~max)occurring36V.This
sameincaseofpanel'sIsc,ifdefinedas(eg)8Acalculateasx1.25andpossibleoccurringmaybe10A.IfanPVstringwillbe
createdandinseriesconnected(severalmodulesinsection)thevoltageandcurrentaddsup(!).Thisisespeciallyimportant
whileselectingthePVchargecontrollers(itsmaxallowedparameters).InthiscaseforanPVmodulewith30V/8A,theneeded
chargecontrollershouldwithstand36Vand10A.

ForPhocosPWMchargecontrollersthemaxallowedVocis41/52Vocin12/24Vsystems,and95VocfortheMPPTand90Vocfor
MPSchargecontroller.

PVmodulesBuyagoodone,failureofonePVmodulecanmeanfailureofwholesystem.

BatteriesaretheweakestpointwithinthePVoffgridsystems.Importantcharacteristicistheallowabledischargelevel(%)ofits
fullchargeofcapacity(Ah)andthenumberchargingcycles.

Systemdesign(mainsteps):

1.Determineyourpowerconsumption(Whperday/week)
2.SizingthePVModules/Generator(Wp)
3.SizingtheDCchargecontrollerorACinverter(A,W)
4.Sizingthebatteries(Ah).

Mountingsequences:

1.Connectbatteriestothechargecontroller
2.ConnectPVpaneltothechargecontroller
3.Connectloadstothechargecontroller.

SeemorediagramsforPVoffgridsystems.

SystemComponents

Chargecontrollers
ThemostimportantcomponentinPVoffgridsystemsisthechargecontroller.Itisthebrainofthesystem,responsiblefor:
performance,durabilityandfunctions.Chargecontroller,alsoknownassolarregulator,coordinatethemaincomponentsofany
offgridsystems:PVgenerator,batteriesandloads.Thecommonvoltagesinoffgridsystemsare12/24Vand48V,whichmeans
thevoltageofsystembatteries.

Themostcommonfailureinchargecontrollersare:burnouts.

Thetwomaintypesofchargecontrollerare:PWMandMPPT.Thedifferenceresultfromthechargingmode.PWMcharge
controllerusesthePulseWidthModulationandanMPPTcontrollertheMaximumPowerPointTrackingandenablesupto30%
moreenergyyields,thanthePWMcontroller.

PWMsolarchargecontroller

PWM(PulseWideModulation)chargecontrollerreducesthevoltagefromthePVmoduletothatofthebattery,resultingina
decreaseinefficiency.PWMchargecontroller,worksbasedon1/2/3or4stagechargingmethod,switchingbetweenconstant
stagesaccordingtotheoccurringPVvoltageandcurrent.Theefficiencylossdependsonthedifferencesizeofthevoltage,
betweenPVmodulesandbatteries.PWMchargecontrollersarelessexpensive(thanMPPT)andareanidealsolutionforsmaller
PVsystemswherethepricecanbeacriticalpoint,orwherethemaximumefficiency(asinMPPT98%)andadditionalpoweris
notreallyneeded.

SizinganPVsystemwithanPWMchargecontroller,itisimportanttoconsidertheopencircuitvoltage(Voc)ofthemodule.Every
chargecontrollerhasamaximuminputvoltage.ThePVgeneratorshouldhaveatemperaturecompensatedVocless,thanthe
max.inputvoltageofthecontroller.DuringPWMswitchingcycles,thecontrollerisexposedtotheopencircuitvoltage(Voc).
UsinghigherVoc,thanthecontrollermax.allowedinputvoltage(Voc),willdamagethechargecontroller.

InPWMchargecontrollerthemax.PVvoltage(Voc)cannotexceed:

for12Vsystems=41V(maxpanelVoc)
for24Vsystems=52V(maxpanelVoc)

andresultsfrom:minbatteryvoltage+30V.Above41/52Vitwillbecritically.ThisruleappliestoPhocosPWMchargecontrollers
in12/24Vsystems,butalsotothemostcommonchargecontrollersbasedonPWMchargingmethod.

ToreachtheoptimalefficiencyofanPWMchargercontroller,theupperlimitofthePVratedpowerisataround130150Wp.
HoweverthePVratedpower(atSTC)willbereachedonlyseveraltimesinayear,atextremelyhotsummerdays,andmore
probablyatverysunnycoldwinterdays.

SometimesuserschooseconsciouslybiggerPVmodules(ratedpower)forhigherenergyyieldsatweaksolarirradiance.ThePV
systemsworksapprox6070%ofitsannualaverageworkingtimeat60%ofratedpower(inCentralEurope).Inthiscasethe
systemwillworkproper,alsowithPVmodulesathigherratedpower(~200Wp),butthecriticalpointis,nottoexceedtheallowed
VocandIscoftheconnectedchargecontroller.Thiscanhappeninwinteratlowertemperatureunderintensivesunshine,orinPV
systemsinstalled1.500maboveseelevel(ifyes,thenrequiresderatingofnominalparametersofappliedPVinverterorcharge
controller).That'swhyitisimportanttocalculatethePVmoduleorstringVocandIscat120%(x1.2)whereadditional20%are
bufferandcorrespondstoextremeweatherconditionsinlowtemperatureranges.

Athotsummerdaysthisproblemmayalsooccur,butdecreasesduethetemperaturecoefficient.Highermoduletemperature
decreasesitsratedpowerataround0.40.5%forevery1Cover25C.Inpraxisinhotsummerdayand60Csurfacetemp.ofan
100Wpmodule,hewillworkataround83Wpandthe17Warelossesduetothetemperaturecoefficient.AsresulttheVocandIsc
ofthePVmoduleinhotsummerdayswillbeless.

SystemswithslightlyoversizedPVmodules(~190200Wp)andanPWMchargecontroller,willbenotabletousethemax.PV
ratedpoweratfullsunshine,buttheywilloperateoptimallyundercloudyweatherconditions,typicalforcentralEuropean
locations.Theanotherreasonforsuchsolutionisthepossibilityofuseanhighquality190WpPVmodulewhichprobablywillbe
atsimilarprice,asan130WpPVmodule,whicharelesscommon.

Anverysaferulesays:calculate30%safetybuffer(especiallyinoffgridsystems).Thenifan20Achargecontroller,
withstandsupto52Voc(inan24Vbatterysystem),theparametersofdesiredPVpanelsshouldbecalculatedca30%,
about14A/36Voc,withrespecttothesystemsafety.Anotherpartissystemefficiency,ifhighestefficiencyisrequired,
choosetheMPPTchargecontroller.

MPPTsolarchargecontrollers

Theyaretwofundamentaladvantages(comparingtoPWMcontrollers):systemefficiencyandapplicableforbigPVpanels.

TheMPPTchargecontrollersallowPVmodulestooperateattheirhigheroptimumvoltageinvaryinglightconditions:summer,
winter,morning,noon,cloudyetc.TheMPPTchargecontrollertakesthevoltageoutputofthesolarpanelsandcomparesittothe
batteryvoltage.Itfiguresoutwhatisthebestvoltagetogetmaximumcurrent(A)intothebattery.Orsaidinanotherway,theMPPT
controllertracksthebestvoltagelevelandthendownconvertsittothevoltageofbatteries.MPPT(MaximumPowerPoint
Tracking)chargecontrollercalculatesinrealtimetheoptimalchargingparameters,continuouslybyitsinternal
algorithm.MPPTtrackingoftheoptimalpowerpoint,improvesperformancebyasmuchas30%(annualenergyproduction),
comparedwiththePWNchargecontroller.

PWM(PulseWideModulation)chargecontroller,worksbasedon1/2/3or4stagechargingmethod,switchingbetweenconstant
stagesaccordingtotheoccurringPVvoltageandcurrent.
TheMPPTchargecontrolleraremosteffectiveinfollowingconditions:

incoldweather,cloudyorhazydays(fall/winter/spring)andinlowtemperatureconditions.PVmoduleworksbetteratcold
temperaturesandMPPTisutilizedtoextractthemaximumpoweravailablefromthemodule
whenbatteryisdeeplydischarged:MPPTcanextractmorecurrent(A)andchargethebattery,ifthestateofchargeinthe
batteryislower.

ForPhocosMPPT100/30chargecontrollerthemax.(connectable)PVvoltageis95Voc,andenablesconnectingupto
450WpPVratedpowerin12Vsystems,andupto900Wpin24Vsystems.

ForPhocosCISMPPT75/20waterproofchargecontrollerthemax.(connectable)PVvoltageis75Voc,andenables
connectingupto250WpPVratedpowerin12Vsystems,andupto500Wpin24Vsystems.

TheMPPT100/30chargecontrollerisavailablewithintheModularPowerManagement(MPM)system,withadditional
components:

MCUascentralunit,coordinatesupto16MPMcomponents(MPPT,MPS,MCS)
MPSasdeepdischargeprotection,orPWMchargecontroller,alternativedumploadinhybridsystems
MCSforexternalgeneratorslikewindorhydroturbines.

ThePVmoduleorstringVocandIscmultipliedbyx1.2andx1.25cannotbehigherthenthemaxallowedcurrent(A)and
voltage(V)ofthechargecontroller.TheupperlimitofthemaximumVocandcurrent(A)shouldbedefinedinthedatasheet
ofthecontroller.ForMPPT100/30accordingto95Vand30A,andfortheCISMPPT75/20accordingto75Vand20A.Ifinthe
datasheetonlythemaxvoltageandcurrentdefined,theninthemostcasesitmeansVocandIsc,ofthePVgenerator.

Wiringandvoltagemanagement(connectioninseriesandparallel)

ConnectingseveralPVmodulesinstring(section),thesystemvoltagecanbeminimizedbyparallelconnection.Inseries
connectionthevoltage(V)willbeaddedup.Connectingpanelsparallel,thevoltage(V)willremainthesame.Especially
importantinoffgridsystems,wherethemax.PVvoltagemayhaveansignificantinfluenceonsystemefficiencyandsystem
designandcannotbeexceeded.Parallelconnectionsaretypicalinoffgridsystems,tominimizethePVvoltage.Herean
examplefortwoPVmodules(16V/2.5A):

Themaximumallowedvoltage(atthePVchargecontroller)canbecontrolledbyappropriateconnectiontypeofthePVmodules
(inseriesorparallel).

PVsolarpanels

InsizingandoperatingofPVoffgridsystemsandaccordingtotheriskandefficiency,PVmoduleshavesecondaryimportance,
buttheyaretheheartofaanyPVsystem.DysfunctionsofPVmodulesarerareandevenifoccur,arenoticeableoverlongtime,
yearsandseldomresultsinimmediatelysystemshutdown.ImportantparametersofPVmodulesare:

Voc(opencircuitvoltage)andIsc(shortcircuitcurrent)ofanyPVmoduleorstringcannotexceed,theallowedinputvoltage
andcurrentofchargecontrollerorPVinverter.Thetherebyresultingpossibledamagesonchargecontrollerorinverterarenot
coveredbythewarranty.Voltage(VocandVmp)canbemanagedbyappropriatewiringofthemodules,withinstring.When
modulesconnectedinseries,thePVvoltage(V)willbeaddedup.Ifmodulesareconnectedparallel,thevoltage(V)stayatthe
levelofonemodule,butthecurrent(A)addsup.

IscismaximumamperagegeneratedbyaPVpanelexposedtosunlight.ThePVcircuit'swiresizeandovercurrentprotection
(fusesandcircuitbreakers)calculationsarebasedonpanelIsc(A)andshouldberatedasminimum125%oftheratedpowerof
thechargecontroller.Foran30Acontroller,themax.allowedPVcurrent(Isc)willbe24A(23Ax1.25=30A).

Vmpisthevoltage,whereapaneloutputsthemaximumpower.Vmpshouldbehigherthan(butoptimallycloseto)the
maximumbatteryvoltage.

PVtechnologieshavedifferentvoltagecharacteristics.Forexamplethinfilmmodulesoperateatmuchhighervoltage,which
canbeanchallengeforoffgridsystems(concernsmodules<100Wp).

Oneofthewellknownqualityproblems,especiallyinPVoffgridsolarpanels,aresocalledmicrocracks.Themicrocracks
problemsaretypicalforlowqualityPVmodules,whichareoftennotsubjecttostrictqualitycontrols.Anthermovisiontestmay
costmorethanthePVmodule,andtheenergyyieldwillbeprobablyinthesummermonthscappedbythechargecontroller,if
batteryfullcharged.SoeventualtechnologicallossesinPVoffgridmodulesaredifficulttorecognize,especiallyinthefirstyears
ofusage.Thatissometimesthereasonwhyoffgridmoduleshave510yearswarrantyonratedpower,comparedtoongrid
moduleswith25years.Alldependsonqualityandprice,andiftwovisuallyidenticalPVmodulesareconsidered,antopquality
andannonamePVmodule,thedifferenceinqualitycanbenotrecognized,byanyone.Itwouldbevisibleinathermovisiontest
andlookslikethis:


Thatiswhy,werecommendtousehighqualityPVmodules,ifthemountingsurface(area)allows,takeprovenandstablePVon
gridmodules,optimallywithMPPTchargecontrollerforhighestefficiencyandlongtermtroublefreeoperation.

Batteries

Therearetwobasictypesofbatteriesthatareavailableforuseinastandardsolarenergyproductionsystem:sealedbatteries
(AGMorGelcell)andfloodedleadacid(FLA)batteries.Sealedbatteriesrequireonlylittlemaintenanceinordertokeepthem
workingproperly,theFLAbatterieshavealongerlifespan.

DeepCycleBatteries

Acycleinasolarbatteryoccurswhenitisdischargedandthenrechargedbacktoitsfulllevel.Howmuchasolarbatteryis
discharged,iscalledthedepthofdischarge.

Deepcyclesolarbatteriesaredesignedtoberepeatedlydischargedandrechargedincycles,whereupto80%ofthebattery
capacityisusedup.DeepcyclesolarbatteriesarededicatedforsolarPVsystemsandinsystemsaboveapprox200Ahcapacity,
theonlyrightchoice.Ashallowcyclebatteryiswhenthe20%orlessofthebatterycapacityisdischargedandrecharged.
Shallowcyclebatteriesaredesignedtogiveuplotsofpoweroverashortperiodoftime.Theyareusedincarsandvehiclesand
arelesssuitedforPVoffgridsystems.

SimilarlikeinPVmodules,properconnectingwiringofbatteriesinfluencethesystemvoltage.Inseriesconnectedtwobatteries
with12V,willbeanbatterybankwith24Vvoltage.Inlargescaleprojectsusuallyareused2Vor6Vbatteries,connectedinseries
tobuildupan24Vor48Vsystem.Then(mostly)convertingtoan230VACcurrent.Thelessvoltagedifferences48VDC/230V
AC,thehigherthesystemefficiency,inan12V/230Vsystem,thelosseswillbethehighest.

Batteriesconnectedtogethertoabatterybank,shouldhavethebethesamebatteriestypesandcapacity.Animportantinfluence
onthebatteryisitsambienttemperature,ideallyatabout1020C.Theirventilationandstorage.Inextremecases,lowquality
batteriescancatchfire,thatiswhyanappropriateventilatedandfireproofboxesareimportant.

Afusebetweenbatteryandchargecontroller(inverter)maybeveryuseful,andisnecessaryinmiddleandlargeoffgridPV
systems.Thefuseparametersarerelatedtothechargingcurrentandloadcurrentwithinthesystemandbattery.

InlargescalePVoffgridprojectsthebatteriesconnectedinseries,will"learneachother"atthefirstyearsofusageandthewhole
systemoperatesatthefirstmonthsorevenyearsundersuchlearningprocess,controlledbyanPVoffgridinverter(converting
DC>AC)andchargecontrollersontheDC>DCsite.

ForyourPVoffgridsystemyouwillneeddeepcyclebatteries.Thesearedesignedwiththickerplatesforconstantdeep
dischargingandrecharging.Thisisdifferentthanacarbatterywhichisdesignedtoprovideahighburstofpowerfora
shorttime.

Maintenance,basics
checkthebatteriestemp.andvoltage
checktheovervoltageanddeepdischargeprotection,workscorrectly?(on/offswitching)
checktheconnections,cablesandconnectors,nolooseparts?(inthemostsystems,verycommonproblem)
forhorizontalmountedPVmodules(eg.onthecamperroof)checkthedirtinessandcleanitifneeded
visualcheckofsystemcomponents(significantdiscolorations,cables,connectors,chargecontrollerport).

Systemdesign,basics

(seeourPVcalculator,alsoforPVoffgridsystems)

1.Determinethedemandsofpowerconsumption(Wh)
ThefirststepindesigningasolarPVsystemistofindoutthetotalpowerandenergyconsumptionofallloadsthatneedtobe
suppliedbythesolarPVsystemasfollows:

1.1CalculatetotalWatthours(Wh)perdayforeachapplianceused.

AddtheWatthoursneededforallappliancestogethertogetthetotalWatthoursperdaywhichmustbedeliveredtothe
appliances.
 1.2CalculatetotalWatthours(Wh)perdayneededfromthePVmodules.

MultiplythetotalappliancesWatthours(Wh)perdayx1.3(theenergylostinthesystem)togetthetotalWatthoursperday
whichmustbeprovidedbythepanels.

2.SizingthePVmodules(Wp)
DifferentsizeofPVmoduleswillproducedifferentamountofpower.TofindoutthesizingofPVmodule,thetotalwattpeak(Wp)
producedneeds.Thepeakwatt(Wp)produceddependsonsizeofthePVmoduleandsystemlocation.Wehavetoconsider
sunlightfactorwhichisdifferentineachsitelocation.Forcentraleuropethefactorisaround3,andcorrespondstoabout3
hoursofsunlight,perday,expectedaverageoverthewholeyear(includinginthewintertime).

TodeterminethesizingofPVmodules,calculateasfollows:

2.1CalculatethetotalWattpeakratingneededforPVmodules

DividethetotalWatthoursperdayneededfromthePVmodules(fromitem1.2)by3togetthetotalWattpeakrating
neededforthePVpanelsneededtooperatetheappliances.Thefactor3correspondstothedayhourssunradiationunder
centraleuropeanconditionsandallseasonworkingmode(alsowinter),ifPVsystemworkinginspringsummerautumnthe
factorwillbearound45andforsystemsworkingonlyinsummer,around67hourssunperday(factor=6to7).

2.2CalculatethenumberofPVpanelsforthesystem

Dividetheanswerobtainedinitem2.1bytheratedoutputWattpeakofthePVmodulesavailabletoyou.Increaseany
fractionalpartofresulttothenexthighestfullnumberandthatwillbethenumberofPVmodulesrequired.

ResultofthecalculationistheminimumnumberofPVpanels.IfmorePVmodulesareinstalled,thesystemwillperform
betterandbatterylifewillbeimproved.IffewerPVmodulesareused,thesystemmaynotworkatallduringcloudyperiods
andbatterylifewillbeshortened.

3.SizingpuresinewavePVinverter(230V/50Hzfrom12/24/48V)
Aninverterisusedinthesystemwhere230VACpoweroutputisneeded.Theinputratingoftheinvertershouldneverbelower
thanthetotalwattofappliances.Theinvertermusthavethesamenominalvoltageasyourbattery(12/24/48V).
Forstandalonesystems,theinvertermustbelargeenoughtohandlethetotalamountofwattsyouwillbeusingatonetime.The
invertersizeshouldbe2530%biggerthantotalwatts(W)ofappliances.Incaseofappliancetypeismotororcompressorthen
invertersizeshouldbeminimum3timesthecapacityofthoseappliancesandmustbeaddedtotheinvertercapacitytohandle
surgecurrentduringstarting(first36seconds).

Example:iftotalwatts(W)ofworkingappliancesis150W,yourPVinverterconvertingtheelectricityfrombatteriesin12/24/48V
DCinto230V/50HzAC,shouldbearound200W(150W+30%).

4.Sizingthebattery(Ah)
ThebatterytyperecommendedforusinginsolarPVsystemisdeepcyclebattery.Deepcyclebatteryisspecificallydesignedfor
tobedischargedtolowenergylevelandrapidrechargedorcyclechargedanddischargeddayafterdayforyears.Thebattery
shouldbelargeenoughtostoresufficientenergytooperatetheappliancesatnight,cloudydaysandifneededinwinter.Tofind
outthesizeofbattery,calculateasfollows:

4.1CalculatetotalWatthoursperdayusedbyappliances.
4.2DividethetotalWatthoursperdayusedby0.85forbatteryloss.
4.3Dividetheanswerobtainedinitem4.2by0.5fordepthofdischarge.
4.4Dividetheanswerobtainedinitem4.3bythenominalbatteryvoltage.
4.5Multiplytheanswerobtainedinitem4.4withdaysofautonomy(thenumberofdaysthatyou
needthesystemtooperatewhenthereisnopowerproducedbyPVpanels)togettherequired
Amperehourcapacityofdeepcyclebattery.

BatteryCapacity(Ah)=TotalWatthoursperdayusedbyappliancesxDaysofautonomy(0.85x0.5xnominalbattery
voltage)

5.Sizingthechargecontroller(A)
Asmentionedabove,thesolarchargecontrolleristypicallyratedagainstAmperage(A)andVoltage(V)capacities.Selectthe
solarchargecontrollertomatchthevoltageofPVsystemandbatteriesandthenidentifywhichtypeofsolarchargecontrolleris
rightforyourapplication.MakesurethatsolarchargecontrollerhasenoughcapacitytohandlethecurrentfromPVsystem.

ForthePWMchargecontrollertype,thesizingofcontrollerdependsonthetotalPVinputcurrentwhichisdeliveredtothe
controllerandalsodependsonPVpanelconfiguration(seriesorparallelconfiguration).
Accordingtostandardpractice,thesizingofsolarchargecontrolleristotaketheshortcircuitcurrent(Isc)ofthePVmodule,and
multiplyitbyx1.3

Calculationsinpractice

Exampleahousehasthefollowingelectricalapplianceusage:

1x18Wlampwithused8hoursperday
1x60Wfanusedfor8hoursperday
1x75WTVthatruns8hoursperday

Thesystemwillbepoweredby190WpPVmodules.
 ad1.Determinepowerconsumptiondemands
Totalapplianceuse=(18Wx5hours)+(60Wx4hours)+(75Wx7hours)=916Wh/day
TotalPVpanelsenergyneeded=916x1.25=1145Wh/day[+25%reserveenergyandlosses]

ad2.SizingthePVgenerator(panels)
2.1TotalWpofPVpanelcapacityneeded=1145/3=382Wp[factor3=averagedailysolarexposureinhoursforcentralEUlocation]

Fundamentalquestion:shouldthePVoffgridsystemoperateoverthewholeyear(summerandwinter)orseasonally?

Ifseasonallythentheamountofsolarsunhoursshouldberelatedtothedesiredseason(inCentralEuropeinwinterabout
23hupto68hinthesummer).
ForallyearPVoffgridsystems,theaveragedailysolarexposureexpressedinhours,shouldberelatedtothelowestsolar
radiationinwinter(eg.23hours).Andthedailysolarsunexposure(h)willbedifferentforEstonia,SloweniaorSpain,
additionallythesolarexposureformountainhutat2000aboveseelevelwillbemuchhigherthaninthecity.

2.2NumberofPVpanelsneeded=382/190=2module
Actualrequirement=2modulesa190Wp
Sothissystemshouldbepoweredbyatleast2modulesof190WpPVmodule.

ad3.Sizingtheinverter(DC230VACsite)
TotalWattofallappliances=18+60+75=153W
Forsafety,theinvertershouldbeconsidered2530%biggersize.
Theinvertersizeshouldbeabout(153x1.3)200Worgreater.

ad4.Sizingthebattery
Totalappliancesuse=(18Wx5hours)+(60Wx4hours)+(75Wx7hours)
Nominalbatteryvoltage:12V
Daysofautonomy:3days
Batterycapacity=[(18Wx5hours)+(60Wx4hours)+(75Wx7hours)]x3/(0.85x0.5x12)[losses,ratiodischargeofbattery,
voltage]
TotalAmperehoursrequired:538Ah
Sothebatteryshouldberated12Vand538Ahfor3dayautonomy
Sothebatteryshouldberated12Vand179Ahfor1dayautonomy
Themainpointhereisthealloweddischargelevelofbattery(here50%)ifmore,theneededcapacity(Ah)significantless.

ad5.Sizingthechargecontroller
AccordingPVenergydemandsfromabove,2x190Wp(eg.GermanSolarGSP6PremiumLine)andtechnicalspecifications:

Pm=190Wp
Vmp=24.77V
Imp=7.68A
Voc=31.15V
Isc=8.28A

A(current)

Theratedcurrentforsolarchargecontroller=(2x8,28A)x1.25=20A[25%safetybuffer]
Thesolarchargecontrollershouldberatedat20Aorgreaterandwouldbealittleundersized,butOK.

V(voltage)

ThePVvoltage(Voc)of2x190Wppanels,connectedparallel(!)willbe31.15,multipliedx1.2=37Voc.
Themaxallowedvoltagewithinan12VPWMchargecontrolleris41Voc,andwillbenotexceeded(37V),thusisOK.

Accordingexampleabove(2x190Wp)an20APWMchargecontrollerfor12Vsystemshouldbechosen.Andwillwork
optimallyatslightlycloudyweather,typicalforcentralEuropeanlocation.

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