An Inverter is an electronic device or circuitry that changes direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). In a simple lay man’s term, an inverter converts direct current stored in a battery, or from solar modules into alternating current in order to power AC electric appliances. The inverter does not produce any power, the power is provided by the DC source. The size of the inverter is dependent upon the nature of work load it is expected to carry, thus inverter ranges in sizes and forms from as low as 0.35KVA to as high as 2.5MegaWatt and even more.

The battery bank is the system/array of batteries that stores energy generated from the solar panels or other sources to be used a later time. This energy can either come from Solar panels, generators, wind energy or your local power company.

The solar panels also known as solar photovoltaic (PV) panels absorb sunlight and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity. These current is used to power appliances and also stored in the battery banks. There are mainly three types of Panels The Polycrystalline Panel The Monocrystalline panel The Thin-Film or Amorphous Of which only the first and the second are commonly found in our environment.

Contrary to popular belief, when it’s raining, solar power systems still generate electricity. Panels operate most efficiently in full sun, but they don’t stop producing electricity when it is raining or cloudy. The fact is, visible light still gets through rain and clouds. We can all see that the sky isn’t completely dark when it rains. Infrared light gets through cloud and rain even more easily. Almost everyone has gotten a sunburn on a cloudy day before. In fact, sunburns can be more severe on cloudy days. This provides more evidence that solar panels work even when it’s cloudy. If solar only worked in sunny areas, places like Germany wouldn’t be producing 20-30% of all its energy daily from solar power. New Jersey and Massachusetts aren’t nearly as sunny as California or Arizona yet New Jersey now ranks 3rd in the United States for solar capacity and Massachusetts ranks 4th. In Nigeria, places like Lagos state government and Akwa-Ibom wouldn’t embrace it as their major means of street lighting, etc One thing to note is solar photovoltaic systems only require as low as 25ºC to absorb rays. Clouds don’t stop the solar Ultraviolet rays from getting through except the very thick full covering ones, and paradoxically power production from photo-voltaic solar panels actually works most efficiently in colder temperatures.

Yes, very well. Solar can power anything that runs on electricity. The question should rather be if you can afford it. Complete off-grid solar system is used to power a complete island called island of Ta'u (in American Samoa) producing about 1.410Megawatts of electricity.

No you mustn’t, if you cannot afford a complete off-grid solar system installation in your home, business, office, etc. Then you can start from our smallest plan In every building that require solar energy, there are appliances on a scale of preference that have more priority attached to them than others, these appliances can be singled out and taken off-grid or grid-tied

No, you mustn’t. Complete solar system can be split into 2 sections; The first stage is the inverter battery stage where the user gets the battery charged via local electricity service provider or diesel/gasoline generators. This stage is being referred to as the GRID-TIED STAGE. The second stage is the inclusion of the solar panels to charge the battery. At this point one can be said to have gone OFF-GRID, since he/she no longer relies on the local electricity service provider for power supply. One can decide to install the first stage, then upgrade to the second subsequently.

There are a thousand and one reasons why your past system may have failed. The first and primary supposed reason why your system may have failed is your technician/ solar installer. He/she may not have been certified or may have just made a mistake. A second major and damning error is wrong acquisition of electric data for recommendation of inverter, solar modules and other related appliances. Faults or low standby time are also prone to occur when wrong specification of solar modules, battery banks are recommended by technicians. This happens because the panels are not sufficient, thus cannot charge the battery. And even when they do, the batteries are not large enough to supply sufficient power. Another related solar installation fault is one which occurs as a result of broken cells amongst many.

Yes, very well. Solar can power anything that runs on electricity. The question should rather be if you can afford it. Complete off-grid solar system is used to power a complete island called island of Ta'u (in American Samoa) producing about 1.410Megawatts of electricity.

Solar Off-grid systems don’t have an expiry date, they attract no maintenance cost and are quite very cheap in the long run. A normal solar module has a minimum warranty of 25years attached to it. It can go on to last you more than 55years, but should never go below a minimum of 25years. The inverter is no exception to this prolonged lifespan warranty cover. Premium inverters have up to 5years warranty as an electrical gadget. But will last you even more than 25years. The battery is the only sub system of the solar system that gets replaced within a minimum time of 5years, depending primarily on how you use the batteries. Secondly on the type of battery you buy. There are batteries with up to 30years lifespan, though very expensive.