Solar electric systems
Residential solar electric systems convert light from the sun into
electricity stored in batteries for use on demand. A typical residential
system should be designed with a 7 day battery reserve (if possible) so
that periods of bad weather will not always necesitate the use of an altrenate
power source. Electricity from the batteries is then used to power loads
(lighting & appliances) directly (in a DC system) or is used to supply
an inverter which produces house current (120v AC) to run the loads in
the home. Sometimes a combination of these approaches is used to optimize
performance (see AC or DC, which one is best...).
in any case, efficiency is paramount, because
solar generation capacity in rather expensive, and any steps taken to reduce
waste will usually pay for themselves. Most systems will incorporate a
back - up power source such as a generator to provide power during periods
when renewable power sources are not producing suficient power. Even under
these circumstances, a properly sized generator
in most systems should only require 5 to 15 hours of operation per week
to supply power 24 hrs a day.
