The main equipment of a solar panel system

Below are the basic and general equipment and devices needed to install a solar panel system at home. Details of each device are given below that section.

1) Solar panel

The solar panel, also called the solar cell or photovoltaic cell, is the backbone of the solar system. There are different types of solar panels including polycrystalline (polycrystalline [1]) and monocrystalline (monocrystalline).

Monocrystalline solar panels are more efficient and slightly more expensive than polycrystalline solar panels. The criteria for choosing a solar panel are different; Such as space required, warranty, efficiency, type of technology, cost, etc. Keep in mind that when choosing the right solar panel to run your residential solar power, its output is crucial.

2) Charging controller

As its name suggests, a charge controller (also known as a charge regulator) is a device used to regulate the voltage and current of solar panels connected to batteries. The main purpose of a charge controller is to prevent overcharging of the batteries (which may damage the batteries) through the solar panels, because 12-volt solar panels, in the absence of load or in direct sunlight, They supply 17-20 volts. The reason is that the manufacturer designs the solar panel for different climates and environments, so that it provides the highest voltage rate even in the case of cloud cover, weak sun, thick fog, etc.

3) Battery

Batteries are used to store backup charging current. There are several types of batteries used in solar systems, and their purpose is to store and backup operations during the night, it means when power is not supplied directly from the solar panels. Series, parallel or series-parallel connection of the battery bank depends on the system design which means the system configuration is 12 volts, 24 volts or 48 volts. In cloudy weather and in the absence of sunlight, the battery bank can be charged via the AC power supply from the mains and through the inverter for later use.

4) Inverter / UPS

An inverter is a device that converts a DC power supply to an AC power supply. An inverter and converter, known as a UPS (uninterruptible power supply), is used to convert DC voltage to AC because home appliances work with AC. The UPS is also used to convert AC to DC to charge the battery from a direct AC power supply.