How to Build Your Own Solar Generator
A solar generator is a device that converts sunlight energy to electrical energy. You can store this energy in the batteries for future use or use it immediately. All the solar generators were complex in the past. It was hard to make a DIY system because most pats were heavy. It was also complicated to install these parts. It required expertise to do it. You can find some DIY solar generators in the market. You need to find your consumption requirements to know which type of system is for you. You have to find the parts from the market. How to build your own solar generator guide will help you in the installation process.
Purpose
You may need the solar generator for different purposes. We calculate the power of the solar generator in the units of watts. The generator should produce enough watt-hours to fulfill your energy requirements. Most people need it for camping trips. If you want to light only four led lights, you may only need a small solar generator with 20-watt power. You can add different things to the energy requirements because a cooler may add 60 watts to the power requirements. The phone and speakers add 30 watts to the power requirements. Home energy requirements are different as you may want to run many appliances with solar generators. Laptops, fans, refrigerators, and power tools drain more energy. You may need more than 1000 watt solar generator to run all home appliances.
Components
You will not get all the components of the generator in one place. You have to find different parts from the market for your DIY project. It is crucial to start with solar panels. There are many types of solar panels. You can get monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels. You may need more solar panels when you want to produce more energy. You can get away with only one penal when you want to run a small fan in RV. It is impossible to run home appliances with one panel. You have to consider your budget as some panels are expensive because of their high efficiency.
When you live in an area with irregular sunlight, you require an MPPT solar charge controller. It will help the system generate a stable current to prevent system damage. Your battery will run longer when you use this controller with your panels.
You will need the batteries for the system also. There are two types of batteries on the market. You can buy lead-acid batteries or lithium-ion batteries. Lead-acid batteries are cheap but do not have high durability. You may have to replace them after a year. The lithium-ion batteries are expensive. You can use them for many years because of their high durability. You do not need to care for lithium-ion batteries much. You need to install more batteries if you want your system to run for a long time. More of these can increase the backup time of the solar generators when the sunlight is unavailable.
This generator produces a direct current. You cannot use it for home appliances as they run on the alternate current. The direct current is known as DC while the alternate current is known as AC. You need to convert the DC to AC with the inverter. There are different types of investors. You can get on-grid, off-grid, and hybrid system inverters. The inverter power also depends on the energy requirements.
You need a case also to keep all the devices in one place. It is easier to place all the components in a case to prevent damage when you are traveling. You can also put some components in the case to protect them from environmental damage. The case size depends on the type of other components you are using.
Process
When you have all the components, you can fix them together to make the solar system. You cannot place all of them in one place as the solar panels need to go outside to collect the sunlight energy. We will explain how you can make the generator by combining all these components.
Case Preparation
You need a case to put all the components in one place. You can use the case as a central point to attach all the components. You can take the wiring of the panels and the batteries to the case. You can place the invertor in the case. The case should have plug-and-play attachments to help you attach all the components in one place.
Battery Installation
You can place the batteries on the side of the case. It is better to get a bigger case when you need to place two batteries. It is better to fix the battery with a strap to avoid movement. If the battery falls on electrical components, it can cause system damage. It is better to place the battery first as you can place the other components according to the remaining space.
Solar Charge Controller Installation
You need to get the glue to attach the charge controller inside the case. It will not be a problem to fix it when you get the right size case. You need to look for the electrical wires also when placing the charge controller as wires should not block it.
Fixing the Inverter
The inverter is the second biggest component after the solar panels. You can place it on the wall with the specialized parts. It is better to fix it on the wall with straps. You need to keep some space for the airflow. This system can heat up when there is high power consumption. If there is no place for the heat to escape, it can lead to system failure.
Fix Wires and Protect With Fuse
It is unsuitable that the wires hang in your house as it can lead to accidents. It is better to use clips to fix them on the wall and in the box. Once you set all the wires, you can install the fuse to protect your generator. If there is a high current influx, the fuse will protect the other components.