Ontario Solar and Wind

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    • Components

    System Components:


    The three major components of a PV system are: photovoltaic modules (solar panels), charge controllers and batteries.

    Modules:

    The first component of a PV system is the photovoltaic module, containing a number of photovoltaic cells connected together and encapsulated to protect them from the environment.

    Photovoltaic cells are solid-state devices that convert light or solar radiation directly into electricity.

    Batteries:

    Most off-grid PV systems use batteries to store power for use during periods of low or no sunlight. The choice of battery size and type is an important design consideration. Batteries can be 25 to 50 percent of the total system cost. Batteries are rated in Amp hours, which is a measurement of the amount of current the battery with deliver over a given number of hours.

    Charge Controller:

    The charge controller regulates the amount of electrical current entering the battery and protects it from overcharging.

    Other Equipment:

    More advanced systems may include an inverter, wind, backup generator and monitoring devices.