Difference between revisions of "Main Page"

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==Components==
 
==Components==
 
'''Certifications and ratings'''
 
'''Certifications and ratings'''
*[[Equipment certifications|Equipment certifications]]
+
{| style="width: 100%;"
*[[Weather ratings|Weather ratings]]
+
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Equipment certifications|Equipment certifications]]
 +
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Weather ratings|Weather ratings]]
 +
|style="width: 33%"|
 +
|}
 
'''PV source'''
 
'''PV source'''
*[[PV module|PV module (solar panel)]]
+
{| style="width: 100%;"
*[[Peak sun hours|Peak Sun Hours (PSH)]]
+
|style="width: 33%"|•[[PV module|PV module (solar panel)]]
*[[PV module loss factors|PV module loss factors]]
+
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Peak sun hours|Peak Sun Hours (PSH)]]
*[[Tilt and orientation|Tilt and orientation]]
+
|style="width: 33%"|•[[PV module loss factors|PV module loss factors]]
*[[Shading|Shading]]
+
|-
*[[Module connectors|Module connectors]]
+
|•[[Tilt and orientation|Tilt and orientation]]
*[[Combiner box|Combiner box]]
+
|•[[Shading|Shading]]
 +
|•[[Module connectors|Module connectors]]
 +
|-
 +
|•[[Combiner box|Combiner box]]
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|}
 
'''Energy storage'''
 
'''Energy storage'''
*[[Energy storage|Energy storage]]
+
{| style="width: 100%;"
*[[Lead acid batteries|Lead acid batteries]]
+
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Energy storage|Energy storage]]
*[[Shunt|Shunt]]
+
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Lead acid batteries|Lead acid batteries]]
 +
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Shunt|Shunt]]
 +
|}
 
'''Charge controller'''
 
'''Charge controller'''
*[[Charge controller|Charge controller]]
+
{| style="width: 100%;"
 +
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Charge controller|Charge controller]]
 +
|style="width: 33%"|
 +
|style="width: 33%"|
 +
|}
 
'''Inverter'''
 
'''Inverter'''
*[[Inverter|Inverter]]
+
{| style="width: 100%;"
 +
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Inverter|Inverter]]
 +
|style="width: 33%"|
 +
|style="width: 33%"|
 +
|}
 
'''Power distribution'''
 
'''Power distribution'''
*[[Distribution panel|Distribution panel]]
+
{| style="width: 100%;"
*[[DIN rail|DIN rail]]
+
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Distribution panel|Distribution panel]]
*[[Busbars|Busbars]]
+
|style="width: 33%"|•[[DIN rail|DIN rail]]
*[[Terminals|Terminals]]
+
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Busbars|Busbars]]
 +
|-
 +
|•[[Terminals|Terminals]]
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|}
 
'''Mounting system'''
 
'''Mounting system'''
*[[Mounting system|Mounting system]]
+
{| style="width: 100%;"
 +
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Mounting system|Mounting system]]
 +
|style="width: 33%"|
 +
|style="width: 33%"|
 +
|}
 
'''Wire and cable'''
 
'''Wire and cable'''
*[[Wire and cable types|Wire and cable types]]
+
{| style="width: 100%;"
*[[Wire size|Wire size]]
+
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Wire and cable types|Wire and cable types]]
*[[Wire color|Wire color]]
+
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Wire size|Wire size]]
 +
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Wire color|Wire color]]
 +
|}
 
'''Physical wire protection'''
 
'''Physical wire protection'''
*[[Conduit|Conduit]]
+
{| style="width: 100%;"
*[[Junction box|Junction box]]
+
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Conduit|Conduit]]
 +
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Junction box|Junction box]]
 +
|style="width: 33%"|
 +
|}
 
'''Overcurrent protection/disconnects'''
 
'''Overcurrent protection/disconnects'''
*[[Overcurrent protection|Overcurrent protection]]
+
{| style="width: 100%;"
*[[Disconnects|Disconnects]]
+
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Overcurrent protection|Overcurrent protection]]
 +
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Disconnects|Disconnects]]
 +
|style="width: 33%"|
 +
|}
 
'''Grounding'''
 
'''Grounding'''
*[[Grounding system|Grounding system]]
+
{| style="width: 100%;"
*[[Residual current device|Residual current device (RCD or GFCI)]]
+
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Grounding system|Grounding system]]
 +
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Residual current device|Residual current device (RCD or GFCI)]]
 +
|style="width: 33%"|
 +
|}
 
'''Loads (lighting and appliances)'''
 
'''Loads (lighting and appliances)'''
*[[Lighting|Lighting]]
+
{| style="width: 100%;"
*[[Energy efficient loads|Energy efficient loads]]
+
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Lighting|Lighting]]
*[[Low voltage disconnect|Low voltage disconnect]]
+
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Energy efficient loads|Energy efficient loads]]
 +
|style="width: 33%"|•[[Low voltage disconnect|Low voltage disconnect]]
 +
|}
  
 
==System design==
 
==System design==

Revision as of 14:01, 9 November 2020

Welcome to The Open Source Solar Project (OSSP)

The sun is the ultimate open energy source and OSSP aims to help everyone harness it. Solar PV in the developing world has been growing at an exponential rate and has managed to provide energy access to millions of people, unfortunately adequate standards and appropriate training programs have not followed suit. Many equipment vendors and installers have little to no training nor are they subject to any form of regulation and end users often have little understanding of the technology. This has lead to the proliferation of many improperly designed PV systems that not only lead to poor end-user experiences but also represent a safety risk. This website is an effort to improve small-scale battery-based (SSBB) solar PV system design, safety, and user experiences in these areas by providing appropriate information, resources and tools on the universal, basic aspects of off-grid system design and installation in these contexts. OSSP hopes to serve as both a direct resource in these areas and as a readily-adaptable base for the development of low-cost training materials and programs that are tailored to the needs and standards of a particular area. Please reach out to alex@opensourcesolar.org if you are interested in collaborating, contributing or need assistance creating training materials.

Aims of OSSP:

  • Provide an appropriate level of detail for each topic in a way that is practical and accessible for an audience with a varying level of technology literacy.
  • Present universal concepts in a way that is universal. Information or resources that are location specific should be added to a country page.
  • Utilize well-designed graphics that include minimal text to enable easy adapatation and translation using captions.

Consult the User's Guide for information on using the wiki software.

Basics

What is an off-grid (stand-alone) PV system? PV system types Basic stand-alone PV system components
Electricity and energy Types of electricity Voltage and frequency by country
Power flow between components Series and parallel Electrical codes
Electrical safety Multimeters

Components

Certifications and ratings

Equipment certifications Weather ratings

PV source

PV module (solar panel) Peak Sun Hours (PSH) PV module loss factors
Tilt and orientation Shading Module connectors
Combiner box

Energy storage

Energy storage Lead acid batteries Shunt

Charge controller

Charge controller

Inverter

Inverter

Power distribution

Distribution panel DIN rail Busbars
Terminals

Mounting system

Mounting system

Wire and cable

Wire and cable types Wire size Wire color

Physical wire protection

Conduit Junction box

Overcurrent protection/disconnects

Overcurrent protection Disconnects

Grounding

Grounding system Residual current device (RCD or GFCI)

Loads (lighting and appliances)

Lighting Energy efficient loads Low voltage disconnect

System design

Background

Overview of the design process
Surge loads
Power factor

Design phases

1. Site evaluation
2. Determining design coefficients
3. Energy storage sizing and selection
4. PV source and charge controller sizing and selection
5. Inverter sizing and selection
6. Wire sizing and selection
7. Disconnect and protection device sizing and selection

Design resources

1. Load estimation tools
2. Production estimation tools
3. Weather data

System installation

1. Principles of installation
2. Equipment clearances and safe working space
3. Wiring practices
4. Battery wiring
5. Installing module connectors
6. Charge controller programming
7. Inverter programming
8. Labeling
9. Commissioning

Operations and maintenance

Country pages