Getting Started with Solar Charge Controllers: A Beginner's Guide
Charge controllers are essential to your solar power system. You have to take into consideration whether you're using a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) or an MPPT controller. At SanTan Solar, we carry MPPT charge controllers, these will be the primary discussion of this blog.
Solar Panels: How Many and What Size Do I Need?
In this segment of our series on building an off-grid solar power system is how to figure out how many solar panels you'll need for your solar system. The number of solar panels needed to go off-grid depends on the following factors:
- Amount of electricity you use
- Amount of usable mounting space
- Amount of direct daily sunlight
- The type of solar panel you need
After discovering how much power you need to make per day, you'll need to determine how much usable sunshine you'll have.
Choosing the Perfect Battery for Your Off-Grid System
Deciding on the right battery for an off-grid solar power system is an important factor that will impact the performance and longevity of your system. Here are some factors to consider:
What to Ask Yourself Before Installing an Off-Grid Solar System
The Important Questions:
When you decide to build the solar system you have been wanting, there are some questions to ask yourself in order to get started:
2. How long without sun do you want to be able to run your stuff?
3. What is your budget?
We will be covering these questions below!
Programing Charge Controllers
What is a Solar Charge Controller?:
Solar charge controllers are electronic devices that are used to regulate the charge of a battery from a solar panel. They ensure that the battery is not overcharged or discharged excessively, which can damage the battery and shorten its lifespan.
Used Solar Panel Deep Dive
Used Panels and Their Benefits:
If you know what to expect and know your way around used products, then used solar panels are a great, cost-effective way to go. Keep in mind that these panels will never be as good as brand-new ones, however, that shouldn’t deter you from considering used solar panels that can be more suitable for your budget.
What is an Off-Grid Kit and How Are They Different?
The Essentials for Off-Grid Kits May Include:
- Charge controller and inverter or a hybrid inverter
- Combiner box or parallel adaptors
- 10 AWG PV wire
- DC disconnects
- Fuses
- MC4 connectors
- Solar panels*
- Battery storage*
*as an option on some of our kits
Which Grid-Tie Solar Kit is Right for Me?
Are Solar Kits a good option for you?
If you are looking to put solar on your home, the grid-tied solar kits at SanTan Solar are a great option for you! By utilizing components from trusted manufacturers and bundling them, these kits offer a more economical solution when compared to many other solar options on the market.