PV DESIGN 101

PHOTO VOLTAIC INSTALLATION

101

MR. REYNALDO S. MIRANDA
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LEARNING TARGETS:

1. I can define the term photovoltaic.

2. I can identify the different parts of an off-grid solar power setup.

3. I can install solar panels with ease and accuracy

3. I can use multimeter to test the parameters involved in solar panel
installation.

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

How can the mastery of the common competencies in
Solar Power Technology help us be better citizens of

our community?

Open Ended

What comes into your mind when your hear the term solar energy?

Solar energy

• Solar energy is, simply, energy provided by the sun.

This energy is in the form of solar radiation, which
makes the production of solar electricity possible.
Electricity can be produced directly from
photovoltaic, PV, cells. (Photovoltaic literally means
“light” and “electric.”)

3/5/2023

Solar ng Pilipino / Solar Power Philippines

BASIC TERMS

❑ Current
Electricity

is

the

flow

of

negatively

charged

electrons.

The

current

is

the

amount of negatively charged electrons in
a specific part of a circuit. It’s measured in
amps/amperes.

BASIC TERMS

❑ Power
Power is an AMOUNT of energy. It’s the
measurement of energy, measured in
kilowatts (kW). Power is measured in an
instant. Most of the sizing done in solar PV
design (conductors, inverters, fuses, etc.)
Power (watts) = current (Amps) X voltage
(volts)
P= IV

BASIC TERMS

❑ Voltage
Voltage is a measure of the force or
pressure of the electric current in a circuit.
It’s measured in volts.

BASIC TERMS

❑ Resistance
Electrical resistance is the resistance of the
flow of electricity through a conductor. It
does not reduce the current flow of
electrons (how many electrons there are in
the circuit), but it does reduce the voltage
(how fast they’re going). It is measured in
ohms.

BASIC TERMS

❑ Series Circuit

❑A series circuit is when one negative and
positive of each power source or
appliance are connected together.
❑Remember, CURRENT is constant and
Voltage ADDS in series circuits.

BASIC TERMS

❑ Parallel Circuit

❑In a parallel circuit, all of the positives are
connected together and the negative are
connected together, each separately.

❑In parallel circuits, CURRENT ADDS and
voltage stays constant.

BASIC TERMS

❑ Parallel Circuit

❑In a parallel circuit, all of the positives are
connected together and the negative are
connected together, each separately.

❑In parallel circuits, CURRENT ADDS and
voltage stays constant.

BASIC TERMS

❑ AC Current

AC refers to alternating current. It refers
to electrical systems where the voltage
and

current

are

constantly

changing

between positive and negative.

BASIC TERMS

❑ DC Current
DC stands for direct current. DC is the
type of electricity where the voltage and
current stay constant over time. Typical DC
applications are batteries, solar modules,
and wind turbines.

BASIC TERMS

❑ DC Current
DC stands for direct current. DC is the
type of electricity where the voltage and
current stay constant over time. Typical DC
applications are batteries, solar modules,
and wind turbines.

BASIC TERMS

❑ Voc: Volts open circuit is the maximum
voltage a solar module can ever make
when it has no load on it.
❑Vmp: Volts maximum power is the
reading of the maximum volts a module
can produce when under load under
standing testing condition (STC)

BASIC TERMS

❑ Voc: Volts open circuit is the maximum
voltage a solar module can ever make
when it has no load on it.
❑Vmp: Volts maximum power is the
reading of the maximum volts a module
can produce when under load under
standing testing condition (STC)

BASIC TERMS

❑ Isc: Amps short circuits it the maximum
amount of amps that a solar module
could produce.
❑Imp: Amps max power, like volts max
power, is the current point on the power
curve when the module is producing
maximum power.

Multiple Choice

CURRENT is constant and Voltage ADDS in series circuits.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Voltage is constant and current ADDS in parallel circuits.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

1.  What is the power when a voltage of 120 V drives a 2‐A current through a device?

• 240 W

• 220 W

• 210 W

• 250W

Multiple Choice

What is the current when a 60‐W lamp is connected to 120 V?

• 0.5 A

• 0.75 A

• 1.0 A

• 1.25 A

WHY WE NEED SOLAR ENERGY SETUP?

❑Saves you money

After the initial investment has been recovered, the
energy from the sun is
practically FREE.

Financial incentives are available form the
government that will reduce your
cost.

WHY WE NEED SOLAR ENERGY SETUP?

❑Environment friendly
It's not affected by the supply and
demand of fuel and is therefore not
subjected to the ever-increasing price of
gasoline.
Solar Energy is clean, renewable (unlike
gas, oil and coal), sustainable and protects
our environment.

WHY WE NEED SOLAR ENERGY SETUP?

❑It does no pollute air.
Therefore

Solar

Energy

does

not

contribute to global warming, acid rain or
smog.

It

actively

contributes

to

the

decrease of harmful green house gas
emissions. By not using any fuel, Solar
Energy does not contribute to the cost and
problems

of

the

recovery

and

transportation of fuel or the storage of
radioactive waste.

WHY WE NEED SOLAR ENERGY SETUP?

❑It does no pollute air.
Therefore

Solar

Energy

does

not

contribute to global warming, acid rain or
smog.

It

actively

contributes

to

the

decrease of harmful green house gas
emissions. By not using any fuel, Solar
Energy does not contribute to the cost and
problems

of

the

recovery

and

transportation of fuel or the storage of
radioactive waste.

BUILDING SOLAR SETUP IS NOT CHEAP

❑Prioritize what you NEED
❑How much is your budget?

SAVE ENERGY FIRST BEFORE SHIFTING TO SOLAR
ENERGY

❑It does no pollute air.
Therefore

Solar

Energy

does

not

contribute to global warming, acid rain or
smog.

It

actively

contributes

to

the

decrease of harmful green house gas
emissions. By not using any fuel, Solar
Energy does not contribute to the cost and
problems

of

the

recovery

and

transportation of fuel or the storage of
radioactive waste.

SAVE ENERGY FIRST BEFORE SHIFTING TO SOLAR
ENERGY

❑Replace your existing old lighting devices into LEDs

❑Clean your aircon / electric fan regularly

❑Turn off unwanted electric appliances

❑Set the refrigerator to minimum acceptable settings

SAVE ENERGY FIRST BEFORE SHIFTING TO SOLAR
ENERGY

When buying new appliances of your approved budget
(my own opinion)

❑Buy LED TV instead of LCD TV or CRT TV

❑Buy Inverter type appliances like Ref, Aircon or Washing
Machine

❑Buy Laptop instead of Desktop computers

❑Buy Induction type cooker instead of Conventional cooker

SAVE ENERGY FIRST BEFORE SHIFTING TO SOLAR
ENERGY

When buying new appliances of your approved budget
(my own opinion)

❑Buy LED TV instead of LCD TV or CRT TV

❑Buy Inverter type appliances like Ref, Aircon or Washing
Machine

❑Buy Laptop instead of Desktop computers

❑Buy Induction type cooker instead of Conventional cooker

BASIC SOLAR PV SETUP

OFF-GRID

BASIC SOLAR PV COMPONENTS

SOLAR PANEL

SOLAR PANEL CONNECTIONS ( SERIES)

PROBLEM ANALYSIS NO.1
Six solar panels are connected in series in an array. Each
panel is rated at 360 W ( Pmax) with the Vmp of 38 V
and Imp of 9.47 A. Determine the following:

Total Voltage =________ V

Total Current =_________ A

Total Wattage= ________ W

PROBLEM ANALYSIS NO. 2
10 solar panels are connected in series in an array. Each
panel is rated at 450 W ( Pmax) with the Vmp of 38 V
and Imp of 11.84 A. Determine the following:

Total Voltage =________ V

Total Current =_________ A

Total Wattage= ________ W

SOLAR PANEL CONNECTIONS ( PARALLEL)

PROBLEM ANALYSIS NO.1
Six solar panels are connected in parallel in an array.
Each panel is rated at 360 W ( Pmax) with the Vmp of
38 V and Imp of 9.47 A. Determine the following:

Total Voltage =________ V

Total Current =_________ A

Total Wattage= ________ W

PROBLEM ANALYSIS NO. 2
10 solar panels are connected in parallel in an array.
Each panel is rated at 450 W ( Pmax) with the Vmp of
38 V and Imp of 11.84 A. Determine the following:

Total Voltage =________ V

Total Current =_________ A

Total Wattage= ________ W

HOW TO INSTALL SOLAR PANELS

The following must be considered before installing Solar
panels:
Conduct site assessment.
1. Be sure there is in no shading in your area.
2. Consider the weight of the solar panel if you are going
to install it on the roof.
3. Consider the strength of materials where these panels
are to be installed.

TOOLS AND MATERIALS NEEDED FOR SOLAR
PANEL INSTALLATION ( GROUP ACTIVITY)

Tools :

1. Crimping Tool

2. Allen Wrench

Materials:

1. Rail

2. Mid Clamp

3. End Clamp

4. PPE