Form of renewable energy emitted by the Sun, coming in two flavours: photovoltaic and thermal. The former, especially, relates closely to electrical engineering since it is traditionally harnessed through semiconductor devices and converted to AC in order to feed the electric grid or individual users' homes.
Questions tagged [solar-energy]
503 questions
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Calculating realistic solar cell output
This past summer I installed a couple of 12 volt 100 watt solar cells on the roof of my caravan.
I was never naive enough to actually expect to get 100 watts out of them, but I've still been very disappointed with the actual power produced.
Here are…
ConanTheGerbil
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How can microinverters be as efficient, or more, than power optimizers of solar arrays?
According to Wikipedia:
solar panels produce voltages around 30 V. This is too low to be effectively converted into AC to feed to the power grid. To address this, panels are strung together in series to increase the voltage to something more…
Jacob Davis-Hansson
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PC fan, powering directly by small 12V solar panel - adding more panels to help working with less sun
So I have a 12 V solar panel and a fan (size of a PC fan, assume 12 V and 0.15 A) that if connected directly work great in a full sun. Its located in a shady environment and if I kick-start it with my hand - it will keep working until dark, but has…
Dmitry
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What to do with the excess of energy from a solar off grid system?
I have an off grid solar system and I'm playing with it with a Raspberry Pi and an Arduino.
I'm looking for an automatic usage of the 12V power produced when the battery is full. (The Arduino has a sensor for voltage and my Raspberry is ready to do…
bob dylan
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Solar charger behind heat-reflecting windscreen
I am looking for help as my knowledge of solar charging (and apparently physics) is limited.
I have a solar charger that plugs into the 12 V socket in the car. It's intended placement is on the dashboard (although I do consider placing it on the…
user1018551
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What happens to electricity generated in solar panel when no load is connected?
What happens to electricity generated in solar panel when no load is connected?
How does it get dissipated?
Sreeraj Chundayil
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How does a 90 watt fan consume power from a 500 watt solar panel?
I have a ceiling fan that consumes 90-watt energy. If I have a solar panel that generates 500-watt energy, then how does a 90-watt fan consumes only what it requires from a 500-watt solar panel.?
KurioZ7
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Solar requirements for 5000W equivalent system
I currently run a fridge-freezer and larger freezer, some lights and computers off of a 5000W, 220V to 110V (50 Hz) transformer. I am trying to run that on off-grid solar instead of using the transformer.
Would a 5000W (pure sine wave) inverter be…
Guage
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Solar panels sharing two controllers on two separate batteries
Installed a system for a client but it's not working well.two panels each 175watts have 2 bringing in 350watts to a controller of 10amps to charge two different batteries of 100Ahr each total of 200Ahr so if I get another charge controller of 15amps…
John
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Excess PV damage load?
Assume a 200 A service with a 40 A PV and a sub panel with a 20 A breaker. If it is mid-day and if there is excess PV (say 35 A) in the main service panel and light loading the load subpanel, why does the excess current (36 A) not flow towards the…
boneym
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Can a higher wattage solar panel in series pick up slack for lower wattage panels?
I have (in series) three 100 W panels and one 175 W panel. The 100 W panels (with bypass diode) are rated at just under 5 amps, and the 175 W panel is rated at 9 amps. From what I have read this means my 175 W panel will be limited to 5 amps.
I’m…
Garrett Burke
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PV voltage spike causing charge power to drop randomly
Need some help with an issue. I have a MUST 5 kW hybrid inverter (this is probably a Voltronic white labelled inverter) and its MPPT range is 64-130 V, 9 x 375 W Fivestar solar panels connected with 3 strings (so 3 x 3), and 4 x 200 Ah Gel…
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Is there a measurable increase in the output of solar panels during the solar maximum?
During the solar maximum do solar panels benefit from a measurable increase in power output?
Clouds and weather conditions certainly contribute to ups and downs in power output, but on average do we generally see a measurable increase during the…
F Chopin
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Solar panel and mppt / battery system advice
I got a free solar panel with specifications:
Voc: 62.00 V
Vmpp: 43.00 V
Impp: 1.17 A
My question is can I hook-up a 12V / 24V mppt charger and charge a 12V battery pack with no effort?
If not, how can I approach this? I'm a bit new and need a…
Bram B
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How can I combine 10 amp current from solar panel with power from the national grid?
I want 10 amp current into my load.
I want my solar panel to provide as much as it can, but the remaining should come from national grid. How can I combine these two currents into one unified 10 amp current?
