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Solar generator today has been widely used in many parts of the world. In Vietnam today, although it has been applied practically quite a lot, the price barrier for a solar power system is still pretty high for urbans as well as suburbs areas. However, if we widen the rate of using of solar power system, we will spend less expenses in the future. Then, all of us can build an eco-friendly environment together.
On the other hand, traditional generators often use fossil fuels to operate, such as gasoline and oil. Generators of this type have a low initial investment cost, but their point is that the power supply for the rear load using electricity is not qualified (possibly in terms of voltage as well as frequency) and another point is that they consume fuel / gasoline to operate with an annoying sound.
So what do we need to prepare before buying a solar generator for your family, here are some tips:
Generator sizing
As a general rule, the generator should have about 2 times more power than the inverter's output power. For example, a 4,000 Watt inverter will usually fit an 8,000 Watt generator.
The explanation for this is because the generator must simultaneously supply power to electrical devices and maintain a state of charge. If the total power supply to the electrical devices is 4,000 watts and the charger is 60 amps at 48 volts, the total output is about 7kW
Of course the above is just theory with ideal operating conditions. In fact, placing your solar system higher than the generator will likely result in a small loss of energy. It is estimated that for every 1000m of altitude difference, about 3% of energy is lost. Make sure you take this into account to optimize the performance of your device.
How much power does you house need?
Calculate the response time of a backup battery system, backup power system or backup generator at home, perform an energy test by calculating how much power your devices use. Once you have the insights from your energy testing, you can decide which system is best for your home or office and can use a battery backup system or a generator. .
What happened if we use incorrect size?
Bigger: A generator larger than the above standard can be beneficial if you use it to generate electricity for power-consuming equipment
Smaller case: Smaller transmitters will still work, but it often requires adjusting the settings to limit the battery charger's output. Most battery chargers allow you to adjust the AC input strength (alternating current) and charging speed.
You will need to balance the voltage between the generator and the inverter. For example, a 120V generator should be accompanied by a 120V inverter/charger, specifically when the generator output voltage is 120V it should be combined with an inverter with 120V input, as unsigned air conditioners, iron welding machines, etc...
However, there are some special types of inverters that can still accept a lower input voltage than the standard, as long as you adjust the low charging rate appropriately. This is useful so that you can combine an inverter with a generator with a lower voltage.
Types of fuel (natural gas, propane, diesel)
Most backup generators for solar systems use natural sunlight. Diesel generators tend to be more fuel efficient and last longer, but the initial investment cost can be 2-3 times higher than generators using natural gas or propane.
Notes
Warranty:
Generators will not have a standard warranty period covering stand-alone solar system use or other uses. So, when buying, consider and ask carefully the supplier about the generator's warranty, whether it applies to your home system and how long it takes.
However, to give you more information, currently, generators used in combination with independent solar power systems usually have an 18-month warranty (or up to 1000 hours).
Automatic generator on/off device:
The use of a generator in combination with an independent system will encounter a case when the electricity generated is not enough and you have to start the generator, during this time the electrical equipment will be temporarily shut down because there is no electricity. There is power supply so it will interrupt your activities.
Therefore, to overcome this problem, manufacturers have provided a device that supports automatic generator on/off. When the system's battery drops to a certain voltage level, this device will automatically start the generator to supply power to the battery allowing the power to flow into the equipment always in a stable state. determined.
Solar panel quality:
The quality of the solar panels from the beginning will greatly affect the long-term use efficiency. The photovoltaic cells on the panel are made of silicon with the purity of the silicon being an important deciding factor. They will affect the output, causing the panels to differ in efficiency and output when used. Therefore, you should carefully study and choose the branded, good quality, good rated batteries on the market.
There are three common types of solar cells: Mono, Poly and Amorphous panels. According to the evaluation, in areas with high temperature, typically in summer, monocrystalline panels will have high heat resistance and operate more efficiently than polycrystalline panels.
Solar panel installing position:
In fact, the performance of the system depends quite a lot on the location of exposure to the sun. Because sunlight will help cells absorb and generate electricity for daily activities. More specific explanation:
Efficiency is defined as the percentage of sunlight absorbed by cells and then converted into electricity. The output is the current generated from the contact between the solar system and sunlight.
Often the solar cells will be exposed to the circuit board. Therefore, if a single cell is shaded or receives little sunlight, the other cells can cause output (current) to be reduced.
Therefore, to increase the best performance for the panel, we should place the system in a place with maximum exposure. If the location you place has many trees, pay attention to pruning to create a space for more sunlight for the system.
If comparing solar generator vs gas generator, we can clearly see that solar generator contains more advantages. From now, solar generator should be more focused and used all around the world as a traditional generator. You can have a look at these brands to have a better overview:
Top 1. Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300
Top 2. Jackery Solar Generator 1000
