Heating a private house with solar panels: schemes and devices. Solar panels for an apartment: how to install

The reasons for the popularity of alternative energy sources are quite understandable: there is an opportunity to save on fuel and make dreams of environmentally friendly life support systems come true. Skillfully using the energy of the sun, wind and water, you can turn an ordinary country house into a modern eco-house.

We will tell you how to equip solar-powered heating in a private house, we will analyze together with you how profitable it is. In order to thoroughly illuminate the issues of using the energy of the daylight, we have described in detail all the popular options that have received practical use and positive reviews users.

Taking into account our recommendations, you will be able to build an effective solar system for summer cottages or country house. To make it easier to understand difficult material, we have added information visual diagrams, illustrations and video guides.

Intermediaries between the sun's rays and the mechanism that generates energy are solar batteries or collectors, which differ in both purpose and design.

Batteries store energy from the sun and allow it to be used to power household appliances. electrical appliances. They are panels with photocells on one side and a locking mechanism on the other. You can experiment and assemble the battery yourself, but it's easier to buy finished items- the choice is quite wide.

Solar systems ( solar collectors) are part of the heating system of the house. Large heat-insulated boxes with coolant, like batteries, are mounted on raised shields facing the sun, or roof slopes.

It is erroneous to assume that absolutely all northern regions receive much less natural heat than southern ones. Suppose there are much more sunny days in Chukotka or in central Canada than in Great Britain located to the south

To improve efficiency, the panels are placed on dynamic mechanisms that resemble a tracking system - they rotate following the movement of the sun. The energy conversion process takes place in tubes located inside the boxes.

The main difference between solar systems and solar panels is that the former heat the coolant, while the latter accumulate electricity. It is possible to heat the room with the help of photocells, but the device schemes are irrational and are suitable only for those areas where there are at least 200 sunny days a year.

Scheme of a heating system with a solar collector connected to a boiler and a spare source of electricity (for example, a gas boiler) running on traditional fuel (+)

Pros and cons of an alternative heating system

Advantages solar system there is not much heating, but each of them is significant and can be a reason for private experiments:

• environmental benefits. It is safe for the residents of the house and the environment, a clean source of heat that does not require application. traditional species fuel.
• autonomy. The owners of the systems are absolutely independent of energy prices and the economic situation in the country.
• Profitability. While maintaining the traditional heating system, it becomes possible to reduce the cost of paying for hot water supply.
• Publicity. Installation of solar systems does not require permission from government authorities.

But there is also unpleasant moments that can spoil the overall picture. For example, to determine the effectiveness of the system will require a long period of at least 3 years (provided that solar energy enough and it is actively used).

Installing only solar modules will require large investments: the cheapest silicon panels will cost at least 2200 rubles. per piece, and polycrystalline six-diode elements of the first category - up to 17,000 per piece. Calculating the cost of 30 modules is quite simple (+)

Users note the following disadvantages:

• high prices for the equipment needed to put the system into operation;
• direct dependence of the amount of heat produced on geographical location and weather;
• obligatory presence backup source, for example, a gas boiler (in practice, the solar system often turns out to be a backup).

To achieve greater returns, you have to regularly monitor the health of the collectors, clean them of debris and protect them from ice formation in frosts. If the temperature often drops below 0ºС, you need to take care of additional thermal insulation not only of the elements of the solar system, but also of the house as a whole.

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Solar energy for heating

The main purpose of photovoltaic cells that store energy is to provide electricity to the house. To include them in the circuit and achieve optimal functioning, it is necessary to assemble a circuit with a storage tank.

It is in it that water will be heated, which, having reached a certain temperature, will fill pipes and radiators in rooms that require heating (living room, bathroom).

Solar-powered system with a double-circuit tank that organizes heating and supply hot water in two directions: to heating radiators and to the points of analysis (+)

Let's try to parse design features solar panels and determine their potential role in the heating system.

The principle of operation of panels with photocells

There are three common types of solar cells:

• Monocrystalline. These are thin wafers of the purest silicon, cut from artificial conditions crystal. The most productive variety with an efficiency of about 17-18%. Optimum temperature for operation - from 5 ºС to 25 ºС.

• Polycrystalline. Made from plates obtained by gradual cooling of the silicon melt. The technologies for their production are less labor-intensive, but the efficiency of photovoltaic cells made of polycrystal is significantly lower - no more than 12%.

• Amorphous. They are film. Manufactured by the evaporation phase method, as a result of which silicon in the form of a thin film settles on a flexible polymer base. The cheapest production method is combined with our low productivity of up to 7%.

For the installation of autonomous heating systems in the northern regions, the most suitable option considered assembled from single-crystal elements. However, batteries with amorphous modules are easier to install, practically undemanding to the base, and much cheaper.

A monocrystalline module consists of series-connected elements combined into modules. Several modules form a solar battery. The dark surface of photovoltaic solar systems optimizes the absorption of sunlight

The task of external elements is to absorb and transform the sun's rays. The released energy goes further and is concentrated in the storage tank. A small element provides about 100-250 W, and a prefabricated panel of 25-30 m² provides electricity small house. The installation of a heating system will require 2-3 times more energy.

An inverter acts as a DC converter from solar “production” into electricity, since alternating current is needed for the operation of household electrical appliances and lamps.

Speaking specifically about the heating system, the electric boiler for heating water also runs on alternating current. To provide a home with light at night, batteries will be required that store daytime reserves.

Inverter modules are installed in a place convenient for maintenance, although it does not need constant control and operates in automatic mode (+)

Efficiency of using photocells

The easiest way is to purchase and apply one of the simple, proven over the years schemes. However, circumstances sometimes dictate their terms. Suppose you have an excellent functioning working system with a solar generator, but for now it serves to supply electricity and provide the house with hot water.

It is clear that it is not profitable to buy new equipment, so it is easier to increase the power by purchasing a certain number of photovoltaic converters. A budget option– silicon panels with productivity up to 23-25%.

Connect to a power source heater running on electricity. Universal option- a boiler equipped with distribution wiring.

Polymer film elements on the Russian market are much less common than silicon mono- and polycrystalline counterparts. They are easy to install, but have a low efficiency - only 6%

If you properly organize the supply of electricity, it should be enough for both hot water and heating. There are examples when the house is completely provided with heat - it can be recognized by the roof, almost completely covered with panels.

Sometimes it is required to build special separately standing structures if the roof area is not enough. It turns out that additional free space is needed to increase power.

Even the most careful calculations will not help you determine the exact amount of potential energy and quickly create an efficient, streamlined system. The fact is that in practice there are obstacles, the appearance of which is quite difficult to predict.

Here are some of the factors:

• The inconsistency of the weather. A clear number of sunny days is unknown even in the southern regions. It is almost impossible to reliably predict their number in the northern regions.
• Irregular supply of electricity. For example, in the northern regions in winter there is a short daylight hours, so a lot of recycled solar energy is spent on lighting. In addition, the intensity of solar radiation in winter period decreases significantly.
• Periodic breakdowns. Like all technical systems solar panels can fail from time to time due to damage to individual elements, contract connections, protective surface, etc.

Therefore, you can learn about the effectiveness only after a certain period of time, at least after a year. You may have to increase the number of photocells or batteries, consider additional thermal insulation of the house, reduce the heated area. Suppose that in the northern regions of Germany, in order to save money, bedrooms are often not heated at all.

Maintenance of installed photocells does not require special skills and consists in regular cleaning: removing snow in winter and debris in the warm period, washing the glass surface with water from a hose

Installation diagram of a home power plant

The easiest way is to contact a company that sells system components and offers installation services. Pluses - a professional project, taking into account individual characteristics, a guarantee for all products and installation, minus - high cost.

If you have relevant experience, you can independently assemble a mini power plant with solar panels for heating a private house.

The most effective is the hybrid scheme of the air-solar system, which uses photocells to generate energy, collectors for heating water and an additional wind turbine. It can be replaced by a backup fuel source (+)

All parts for assembling the heating system are sold in specialized stores.

You need to purchase the following items:

• a set of silicon or film solar modules;
• a battery that stores energy;
• a charge controller that regulates the process of charging and discharging the battery;
• an inverter that converts direct current to alternating current;
• set of connecting cables.

It is desirable that the batteries are the same (taking into account the brand, capacity and even batch) and have the ability to store energy for 3-4 days. The duration of their work depends on the temperature of the room - in cold conditions they are quickly discharged. If the daily consumption is 2400 Wh, batteries with a total capacity of at least 1000 Ah are required.

When using car batteries, remember that their maximum efficiency is 70-75% (service life - 3 years), special devices for solar systems have best performance– up to 85% (service life – 10 years). Some energy is lost during storage and conversion

The quality of the current generated by sinusoidal ones is higher than the current indicators from centralized network. A feature of the equipment is the synchronization of the voltage phase, in which the transition from 12 V to 220 V is carried out without interruption in the operation of household electrical appliances.

Power inverters - from 250 W to 6000 W and above. You can increase the output power by emptying the parallel connection of several devices. For example, 3 x 3000W = 9000W (+)

After installing all the elements of the solar system, it is necessary to connect an electric tank that heats water to the inverter, and to the tank, in turn, a heating pipeline.

Collector heating system

The greatest efficiency and return can be achieved by installing collectors instead of solar modules - outdoor installations in which water is heated under the influence of solar radiation. Such a system is more logical and natural, since it does not require heating of the coolant by other devices.

Consider the design and principle of operation of devices of two main types: flat and tubular.

Flat version for DIY

Design flat installations so simple that experienced craftsmen assemble handicraft analogues with their own hands, buying some of the parts in a specialized store, and building some from improvised material.

Inside a steel or aluminum insulated box, a plate is fixed that absorbs solar heat. Most often it is covered with a layer of black chrome. The top of the heat sink is protected by a sealed transparent cover.

Water is heated in tubes laid in a snake and connected to the plate. Water or antifreeze enters the box through the inlet pipe, heats up in the tubes and moves to the outlet - to the outlet pipe.

The light transmission of the cover is due to the use transparent material- durable tempered glass or plastic (for example, polycarbonate). So that the sun's rays are not reflected, glass or plastic surface matte (+)

There are two types of connection, one-pipe and two-pipe, there is no fundamental difference in the choice. But there is a big difference in how the coolant will be supplied to the collectors - gravity or using a pump. The first option is recognized as inefficient due to the low speed of water movement; according to the principle of heating, it resembles a container for a summer shower.

The operation of the second option occurs due to the connection of a circulation pump, which supplies the coolant forcibly. Energy source for work pumping equipment could become a solar power system.

The temperature of the coolant when heated by a solar collector reaches 45-60 ºС, at the outlet maximum rate- 35-40 ºС. To increase the efficiency of the heating system, along with radiators, "warm floors" are used (+)

Tubular collectors - a solution for the northern regions

The general principle of operation resembles the functioning of flat counterparts, but with one difference - the heat exchange tubes with the coolant are inside the glass flasks. The tubes themselves are feather, sealed on one side and resembling feathers in appearance, and coaxial (vacuum), inserted into each other and sealed on both sides.

Heat exchangers are also different:

• a system for converting solar energy into thermal energy Heat-pipe;
• a conventional tube for moving a U-type coolant.

The second type of heat exchangers is recognized as more efficient, but not popular enough due to the cost of repairs: if one tube fails, the entire section will have to be replaced.

The Heat-pipe is not part of a whole segment, so it can be changed in 2-3 minutes. Failed coaxial elements are repaired by simply removing the plug and replacing the damaged channel.

Scheme explaining the cycling of the heating process inside the vacuum tubes: cold liquid under the influence of solar heat, it heats up and evaporates, giving way to the next portion of the cold coolant (+)

Having analyzed specifications collectors different type and summarizing the experience of their use, we decided that flat collectors are more suitable for the southern regions, and tubular collectors for the northern regions. Especially well proved in the conditions of a severe climate of the installation with the Heat-pipe system. They have a heating capacity even on cloudy days and at night, "feeding" on a minimal amount of sunlight.

Sample standard scheme connection of solar collectors to boiler equipment: pumping station provides water circulation, the controller regulates the heating process

Method for increasing productivity

Usually, after experimenting with a small number of solar modules, private home owners go further and improve the system in various ways.

The easiest way is to increase the number of modules involved, respectively, to attract additional space for their placement and the purchase of more powerful related equipment

What to do if there is a shortage of free space? Here are some recommendations for increasing the efficiency of a solar station (with photovoltaic cells or collectors):

• Changing the orientation of modules. Moving elements relative to the position of the sun. Simply put, the installation of the main part of the panels on the south side. With a long daylight hours, it is also optimal to use surfaces facing east and west.

• Tilt angle adjustment. The manufacturer usually indicates which angle is most preferred (for example, 45º), but sometimes you have to make your own adjustments during installation, taking into account geographical latitude.

• Correct choice of installation location. The roof is suitable because it is most often the highest plane and is not obscured by other objects (assume garden trees). But there are even more suitable areas - rotary devices for tracking the sun.

When the elements are perpendicular to the rays of the sun, the system works more efficiently, however, on a stably fixed surface (for example, a roof), this is only possible on short span time. To increase it, they came up with practical tracking devices.

Tracking mechanisms are dynamic platforms that rotate with their plane following the sun. Thanks to them, the performance of the generator increases by about 35-40% in summer, and by 10-12% in winter.

The big disadvantage of tracking devices is their high cost. In some cases, it does not pay off, so it makes no sense to invest in useless mechanisms.

It is estimated that 8 panels is the minimum amount at which the costs will justify themselves over time. You can also use 3-4 modules, but on one condition: if they are directly connected to the water pump, bypassing the batteries.

Just the other day, Tesla Motors announced the creation of a new type of roof - with integrated ones. Elon Musk stated that a modified roof would be cheaper than a conventional roof with collectors or modules installed on it.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Thematic videos will help you better imagine the installation of home solar stations and reveal some of the secrets of installing equipment.

Video #1 The following technical information about solar panels and charge controllers is available:

Video #2 Useful experience of using solar panels in the Moscow region:

Video #3 An example of a successfully operating solar station, completely self-assembled, providing both domestic hot water and home heating:

As you can see heating system solar-powered is a very real phenomenon that you can bring to life on your own. Sphere alternative ways energy production is constantly developing, perhaps tomorrow you will hear about a new discovery.

The owners of private houses and cottages are very lucky - they can install entire fields of solar batteries on their roofs, combine central system power supply with solar, and as a result, significantly save. And what about the residents of urban high-rise buildings? Solar panels for an apartment - is it a utopia or is it a reality?

Installation

Of course, it is rather problematic to equip a full-fledged solar system within a standard city apartment. And the first difficulty to be faced is the placement of the solar panels themselves. And it's not just about their size, it's primarily about orientation to the sun. After all, the rays must fall on the photo surface at a certain angle, otherwise the panel will not work. But how to achieve this in an apartment building?

Well, if the balcony goes in the right direction. And if not? Another possible variant- installation of solar panels on the roof of the house. But this is justified if the apartment is located on top floor. Otherwise, the energy losses in the cables may be too high.

True, there is another possibility. This is the purchase of flexible thin film batteries. Today, products are produced that can be stuck on window glass like regular tint. This option is fully justified if the windows in the apartment have sufficient area (thin-film modules are large). But again, it all depends on the location of the windows.

Optional equipment

If installing solar panels in an apartment is possible, then you need to think about additional equipment. After all, the generated energy must be stored somewhere. So, you need to buy batteries (better - Li-ion, they have a higher cycle life). You will also need a charge controller and an inverter to convert DC to normal AC.

It is necessary to select the panels themselves based on the average daily energy consumption. For example, the cost of an apartment is approximately 200 kWh per month. In this way, about 6.6 kW is obtained per day. This means that panels with an average total output in the region of 6.6 kW / day are needed. If it is not possible to select panels that exactly correspond to this value, you can take the nearest ones. For example, two models with a capacity of 240-250 W will generate a little more than 5 kW of energy per day. Two batteries (gel or Li-ion), for example, 12 V / 220 A / h, are suitable for storing it. You also need to buy the appropriate inverter and charging controller.

Economic expediency

This is an approximate configuration of an average solar system for an apartment. It remains to be seen how economically justified its installation is. The price of one 25 W battery is 10-15 thousand rubles. Accordingly, two jokes will cost 20-30 thousand. Here we must add the cost of other equipment, and it becomes clear that an apartment solar station is not such a cheap pleasure. Such costs are justified only in conditions of regular and prolonged power outages.

Therefore, it is better to use the combined option. That is, to design a solar system as a backup source of energy. Then you can buy less powerful solar panels and less energy-intensive batteries. As a result, the total cost will drop sharply. And such a system will be enough to maintain the emergency lighting of the apartment for several hours.

Sunny apartment building

Another option is to install a solar station for the whole house. This requires the participation of all residents. Of course, the total cost of such a system will be much higher, but the costs of a single apartment will be significantly less than with an individual approach. And the performance of such a common house station will be significantly greater.

Moreover, such a solution will have several more advantages:

• No problems with the installation of the modules themselves, since they can be freely placed on the roof and on the southern wall of the building;
• Simplification of installation, since the roofs of most high-rise buildings are flat;
• Lack of shading, since the roofs of high-rise buildings are open to the sun's rays;
• The possibility of using the stored energy for night lighting of the building and the operation of elevators.

Thus, it is more economically expedient to equip not a separate apartment, but the whole house. Although it all depends on specific goals, and if solar panels are needed only as a backup source, then it is easier to equip only your apartment.

Owners of city apartments will certainly be pleased with the opportunity to turn their own balcony into a small power plant - a source of free electricity. Such a balcony is unlikely to be able to compete with a nuclear reactor in terms of energy efficiency, but it will be quite capable of providing its own heating and lighting. This idea can be realized with the help of solar panels. Read about what it is and how to install solar panels on a balcony in our material.

Free cheese without a mousetrap

The brilliant Nikola Tesla once said that the space around us is an ocean filled with free energy. Exhausted by oil and gas addiction, humanity has always been looking for an opportunity to attach itself to this ocean and scoop up at least a small part of its contents. One of the ways to achieve this is associated with the use of devices that appeared in the 50s of the 20th century, called solar panels. Since their invention, they have been constantly improved, becoming more efficient, reliable and durable.

So how does a solar battery work? most important part modern solar battery is a solar cell, the material of which has semiconductor properties. Many of these parts are interconnected, forming panels of various sizes. Under the influence of solar radiation, the photocell generates a direct electric current, but it cannot be used directly to power electrical consumers. To give such electricity a "digestible" form, they use a special device - an inverter..

Another important component of a solar cell is battery. It allows you to accumulate electrical energy during a period of intense solar radiation and then use it as needed.

Today, solar panels are used to produce photovoltaic cells. various materials, which differ from each other in cost and efficiency. The most common include:

1. Silicon polycrystals

This kind of photovoltaic cells is in the highest demand because it has the best cost-performance ratio. Another advantage is the ease of installation, which even an unprepared person can easily handle. You can recognize polycrystalline elements by their characteristic blue color.

2. Silicon monocrystals

Photocells of this type are more productive than polycrystalline, however, and their cost is significantly higher. The main feature of single crystals is that they have the shape of a polygon. This determines their inherent disadvantage: single-crystal photocells cannot be combined into a continuous array, there are always gaps between individual parts. Thus, part of the area collected from similar elements of the panel is wasted.

3. Amorphous silicon

This type of photocell is inferior in performance to the two described above, but still it is in sufficient demand due to its affordable cost.

4. Cadmium telluride

Photovoltaic cells made of this material have the form of a film up to 0.5 mm thick. Such a film can be partially transparent, which makes it possible to use it over the balcony glazing. In this case, in addition to its main function, it will play the role of glass tinting.

5. CIGS (semiconductor material)

CIGS-based photovoltaic cells are also made in the form of a film, but in comparison with cadmium telluride, they have a higher performance.

The differences in performance between these materials are very significant. For example, a panel of 1 sq. m, made of single-crystal silicon, in ideal conditions generates 125 watts of electricity. An amorphous silicon battery of the same area has an electrical power of only 50 watts.

The apartment is always warm. And to keep it in it as long as possible will help. Read more about its characteristics and use in our article.

And if you decide to sheathe your balcony with siding, for its installation.

Advantages and disadvantages of solar panels

The advantages of solar panels are obvious:

• free electricity;
• environmental friendliness;
• durability (service life modern systems ranges from 20 to 25 years);
• reliability (since batteries do not contain moving parts, they fail only in exceptional cases);
• minimal maintenance (panels only need to be cleaned from dust and dirt).

Among the shortcomings can be noted:

• instability (battery performance depends not only on the time of day, but also on the weather);
• high cost (the price of a more or less serious installation for domestic use starts at 3,500 euros);
• low productivity in comparison with traditional energy sources.

Installation and use on the balcony

Before you start installing solar panels on your balcony, you should understand two things. First: the battery included in the installation kit does not tolerate low temperatures, so the balcony must be at least and. Secondly, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of switching all electrical consumers to power from the conventional power grid in case the performance of the solar battery drops due to bad weather.

Installing the battery is fairly easy. The panels are fixed on a frame made of a corner with a shelf width of 50 mm. The frame must be securely attached to the capital elements of the building - walls or slabs, otherwise the structure will not withstand snow and wind loads.

Do not forget that the solar panel has to be regularly cleaned of dust and dirt remaining after precipitation, so its panels should be placed in an accessible area.

Note: The battery has the highest efficiency if the rays fall on its surface at a right angle. In winter, the sun deviates from the summer position by an angle of 12 degrees, so the frame with photocells must also be able to rotate by this angle

Note to Samodelkin

The lack of sufficient financial resources is not a reason to give up on a dream. If you wish, you can organize a solar battery device with your own hands from quite affordable materials.

You will need:

• glass or plexiglass 4 mm thick - 700x1050 mm (one sheet);
• solar cells (can be ordered via the Internet) - 48 pcs. (4 rows of 12 pieces);
• aluminum profile (corner 20x20 mm);
• sealant;
• soldering iron;
• flux;
• tin;
• tires for soldering;
• multimeter.

Choice of photocells

Manufacturers offer us two types of photocells:

• monocrystalline (efficiency 13%);
• polycrystalline (efficiency 7 - 9%).

Single crystals serve up to 30 years, but they are sensitive to weather fluctuations: if the sun is covered by clouds, the power of the elements will decrease significantly. Polycrystalline elements can be operated for no more than 20 years, but they do not lose power in the presence of clouds.

Solar battery manufacturing

The idea of ​​using solar energy for heating a house or for other needs is not new, devices have been developed that allow anyone to do this. In many countries, rooftop solar panels are the rule rather than the exception. Our country does not yet belong to them, but in our country such installations can already be seen more and more often. Solar systems for the home can be of two types. The first is solar collectors, which heat the coolant flowing in them. The second is solar panels that generate electricity. We will talk about them below.

Solar panels convert sunlight into electrical energy. The battery consists of a number of photoelectric converters, which are more commonly called photovoltaic cells. The number of converters in the battery is arbitrary, the connection is series-parallel. How is the number of photocells determined? Required current and voltage. The transducers are placed on some flat surface one next to the other. Because of appearance such designs are often referred to as "solar panels".

Solar panels for a private home in some countries - a common occurrence

It is inconvenient to use solar panels that are too large in area in everyday life, and if there is not enough power of the largest one, several devices are connected in a cascade. If more power is required, a significant area may be needed: the entire roof may be occupied, sometimes the walls of the house and part adjoining territory. Therefore, solar panels are more often used for a private house: there is where to place a large number of them. Apartment owners can only occupy windows and balconies.

Possibilities of use

How can solar panels be used to heat a house? Only to reduce energy bills, and also as a backup source in case of a power outage. This will help to achieve the same energy independence, and not freeze the heating system in the absence of a centralized power supply.

How realistic is a solar battery can meet the needs for electricity? If we talk about water heating, then this is real: a maximum of 200-300 W / h will be required to maintain the system's performance. So much on average "pull" boiler electronics + circulation pump+ possible control devices and controllers. If you have a larger system, take passports and calculate the required power. For 300 Wh, two will be enough solar panels medium power (their total performance should slightly exceed the need).

And do not think that in the absence of the sun there will be no electricity. The system includes batteries and an inverter. Choose the right battery power, and their charge, even under the worst weather conditions, will last you for several days of system operation.

By the way, many European manufacturers of heating equipment provide for the joint operation of their equipment with solar converters (for example, gas boilers and ). But they work with solar collectors (heat water) or with solar panels, you need to look at each type of equipment.

If everything is more serious. The power of most of these heaters is calculated in kilowatts. To generate this amount of energy would require a lot of panels to process solar energy. The installation of a solar panel system for heating a private house with electric floors can result in a very decent amount. But the system is good because its power can be increased gradually. You will, if possible, increase the number of panels and the amount of electricity generated.

If you wish, you can save: . Such homemade options will cost many times cheaper than the factory ones. And this is despite the fact that you will have to buy ready-made photoconverters: their manufacture in artisanal conditions is an unrealistic task. Therefore - only ready. The efficiency of homemade solar panels will be lower than factory ones, but the price is several times lower.

Calculation of solar panels for the house

Insolation (the amount of solar energy) varies greatly in different months. Therefore, you first need to decide what part of the electricity and for what period you are going to generate. If you want to work out all 100% at any time of the year on your own, you will have to count according to the worst month with a minimum number of sunny days. But then the question arises: what to do with the excess amount of electricity that will be generated in other months. If you plan to stay only during the garden season, consider the lowest insolation during this period. In general, the principle is clear.

Then you need to calculate how much power your solar system should produce for your home. To do this, enter all electrical appliances in the table, and from their passports enter data on power, current consumption and watt load. By knocking out the speakers, you will find out how much electricity per hour all your equipment and appliances need. It is clear that all of them are unlikely to turn on at the same time. You can try to calculate which of them work at the same time, and select solar panels according to this figure.

How to count the number of solar panels, let's look at an example. Let the need for electricity be 10 kW/h, insolation in the billing month 2 kW/h. The power of the battery that they were going to buy is 250 W (0.25 kW). Now we consider 10 / 2 / 0.25 = 20 pcs. That is, you need 20 solar panels.

To reduce electricity consumption, you need to replace all incandescent lamps with LED ones, and all old uneconomical equipment with energy-saving ones - then you will need something different a large number of solar panels.

Types of solar panels

There are different types of photovoltaic converters. Moreover, the material from which they are made and the technology differ. All these factors directly affect the performance of these converters. Some solar cells have an efficiency of 5-7%, and the most successful recent developments show 44% or more. It is clear that the distance from development to domestic use is huge, both in time and money. But you can imagine what awaits us in the near future. To receive the best performance other rare earth metals are used, but with improved performance, we have a decent price increase. The average performance of relatively inexpensive solar converters is 20-25%.

The most common silicon solar cells. This semiconductor is inexpensive, its production has been mastered for a long time. But they don't have the most high efficiency- those same 20-25%. Therefore, with all the diversity, three types of solar converters are mainly used today:

• The cheapest - thin film batteries. They are a thin coating of silicon on the carrier material. The silicon layer is covered with a protective film. The advantage of these elements is that they work even in diffused light, and, therefore, it is possible to install them even on the walls of buildings. Cons - low efficiency of 7-10%, and also, despite protective layer, gradual degradation of the silicon layer. However, by occupying a large area, you can get electricity even in cloudy weather.
• Polycrystalline solar cells are made from molten silicon, slowly cooling it. These elements can be distinguished by their bright blue color. These solar panels have the best productivity: efficiency is 17-20%, but they are inefficient in diffused light.
• The most expensive of the whole trinity, but at the same time quite widespread, are single-crystal solar panels. They are obtained by splitting a single silicon crystal into wafers and have a characteristic geometry with beveled corners. These elements have an efficiency of 20% to 25%.

Now, when you see the inscriptions “mono solar panel” or “polycrystalline solar panel”, you will understand that we are talking about a method for the production of silicon crystals. You will also know how effective you can expect from them.

Battery with monocrystalline converters

Solar panel efficiency in winter

You will probably be surprised, but on a winter day only 1.5-2 times less energy falls on a vertical surface than in summer. This is data for middle lane Russia. During the day, the picture is worse: during this period in the summer we get 4 times more energy. But pay attention: on a vertical surface. That is, on the wall. If speak about horizontal surface, here the difference is already 15 times.

The saddest picture of solar power generation awaits you not in winter, but in autumn: in cloudy weather, their efficiency is 20-40 times lower, depending on the density of cloud cover. In winter, after snow fell, insolation (the amount of light falling on the batteries) in sunny days may approach summer values. Therefore, solar systems for the home generate more electricity in winter than in autumn.

It turns out that in winter to achieve close to maximum efficiency, you need to place the solar panels vertically or almost vertically. And, if you hang them on the walls, then preferably in the southeast: in the morning, according to statistics, there is more often clear weather. If there is no southeast wall, or it is impossible to install anything on it, you can get out of the situation by making special stands. Then they put solar panels on the roof. Since the angle of incidence of sunlight varies depending on the season, it is advisable to make a stand with an adjustable tilt angle. There is an opportunity - turn the solar panels "face" to the southeast, there is no such possibility, let them "look" to the south.

Installation rules

The efficiency of silicon solar cells depends on the amount of solar energy falling on them (the entire radiation spectrum). Factors that we can somehow influence are:

The performance of many types of converters is affected by temperature indicators: the range of use of silicon elements is from -40 o C to +50 o C. Both lower and higher temperatures negatively affect performance. If you have an active sun in the summer, it is important to prevent overheating. To do this, you can put a white cloth or foil under the panel (more effective). If this does not help and the panel overheats, rotate it, or reposition it. It will be necessary to choose a position in which the thermal regime will be observed, and the performance will remain quite high.

These devices show their maximum productivity if the sun's rays fall at an angle of 90 o. Unfortunately, this is not possible all day long, but only for a short period of time. There are special tracking systems that change the angle of the panel so that the light falls constantly at the desired angle, but these are expensive installations.

And yet, you can find the optimal angle for installing solar panels. Just with a slight deviation from the ideal (less than 50 o), the performance drops a little, by about 5%. You can see the actual confirmation of this in the video.

For each region, the angle of installation of solar panels is different. It can be determined experimentally (as you saw), or it can be set based on geographic latitude - this slope is considered to be the best. Much depends on the orientation of the panel: if you turned it to the north or east, the optimal angle will be less.

Solar panels on the roof

First of all, you need to find out if the roof will withstand the additional load. One or two modules will withstand any, and for more will have to count.

For reliable fixation, they must be fastened at least at four points. Moreover, if you mount prefabricated panels, do not be too lazy to study the installation instructions: if at least one of the points is violated, the equipment is removed from the warranty. In most cases, the requirements are:

Mounting systems for solar panels can be different. There are ready-made ones (sold in the same place as the panels themselves), but it is quite possible to use those made with your own hands. It is only important to use reliable, corrosion-resistant materials. The thickness of the rails and fasteners must be large: they must withstand and wind loads, and the mass of panels with the thickest snow cover.

One of the methods of mounting solar panels on the roof of a private house can be seen in the video.

Now a little about electrical assembly. The solar battery connection diagram, in addition to the converters themselves, provides for the following:

• charge controller with connected batteries;
• a converter (inverter) that converts direct current into alternating current;
• fuses for protection against short circuit(will increase the security of both yours and the system).

The controller and converter have current and voltage limits. The total parameters of the solar system connected to your home should not exceed them. For the electrical connection of the batteries into a single system, you need to use only those wires that are brought out.

To connect the panels, a copper conductor in UV-resistant insulation is used. If the wires in suitable insulation are not found, hide it in a corrugated outdoor hose. The thickness of the wire cores depends on the expected current strength in the system and on the length of the line, but the minimum cross section is 4 mm 2. The connection of conductors is desirable to be done using connectors, and not on twists. The MC4 is recommended because the conductors coming out of most solar arrays are terminated in just such connectors. These connectors are good because they provide a tight connection, which is important on roofs. But not all firms install connectors of this standard. In cheap models (especially Chinese ones) there may be something else, so check when buying.

Now about the sequence of connecting equipment to the system. For a secure connection, follow the sequence as follows:

1. Batteries are connected to the controller with correct polarity. Wires - copper, the section is selected depending on the power of the controller.
2. Solar panels are connected to the controller. Polarity must also be observed.
3. 12 V consumers are connected to the controller through a fuse.
4. An inverter is connected to the batteries (through a fuse), and 220 V consumers are already connected to its output. Connecting the inverter directly to the controller is impossible: you will have to buy new devices. And this is approximately $ 600-1000, depending on the company and capacity.

Do not neglect the connection sequence - this is the most secure algorithm that guarantees (with respect to polarity) the working condition of the system.

Finally, another option for installation on the roof of a summer house with an adjustable tilt angle. Perhaps the video will be useful to you.

Currently, the use of energy generating technologies and devices for private use is gaining popularity. This allows to some extent save on the cost of heating and energy supply to the home. Multi-story buildings are considered an excellent option for hosting such systems, since in most cases the exposure to sunlight is maximum. Solar batteries on the balcony of the apartment will be able to ensure the operation of such devices as a lamp that can fully illuminate the balcony, loggia and other rooms, charge small battery equipment, appliances, etc.

A solar panel on a balcony can produce more than 2500 watts on average, depending on the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe battery, its efficiency, as well as the time of year and weather. Lamp in the closet or outside, radio or small Appliances, laptop or phone - this is just an incomplete list of those whose normal operation can be provided by small solar panels. To date, garden lamps for private households are popular, however, the use of solar panels in high-rise buildings also became less popular.

The installation of solar panels does not require additional approvals or permits from the authorities or institutions that operate the residential building. The main condition for the unhindered use of such an innovative system as a solar panel on a balcony is the absence of discomfort for neighbors and ensuring the safety of persons and material assets that are or are located in the immediate vicinity of a residential building.

Many manufacturers and users declare the many benefits of using solar energy, thanks to which the demand for such technologies is growing every year. These should include:

• Saving the cost of power supply to a residential building (at the same time, you can illuminate an apartment, an entrance, or install a lamp that can illuminate the entire yard);
• Environmentally friendly technology for generating electricity;
• Long service life;
• Installation of a solar battery can be done by hand;
• The solar panel on the balcony is alternative source energy, albeit defective, in case the main power supply is turned off;
• The solar battery on the balcony is easy to install and does not require additional costs for periodic maintenance.

Despite many advantages, such systems also have a number of disadvantages, which, however, do not affect the technical and rational attractiveness of such a technology. The "cons" of using solar panels on a balcony or loggia include:

• Massive batteries that store energy. Their placement on the balcony significantly reduces the useful area of ​​\u200b\u200bthis room;
• The high cost of finished equipment. In this case, you can significantly save on assembling the system with your own hands, however, the constituent components and parts are also very expensive;
• The solar battery on the balcony of the apartment is effective and useful only during daylight hours in clear weather.

Solar panels have different efficiencies, which largely depend on the type of solar cell used. There are the following types:

• silicon polycrystals. The most popular solar cell in the solar battery, because it has the best ratio of price and electricity produced. In addition, polysilicon batteries are much easier to install. They are bluish in color.
• Silicon monocrystals. More productive than the polycrystalline version of the batteries, but also more expensive. Their distinguishing feature is their shape. It is a polygon. This is their main drawback - it is impossible to assemble such photocells into a solid panel without gaps, therefore they are poorly suited for mounting on a balcony due to space limitations.
• amorphous silicon. Less efficient type of photocell compared to silicon. However, it is also quite often used for mounting on a balcony.
• Cadmium telluride. Photocell in the form of a thin film, up to 0.5 mm. Can be used over glazing to create a tinted effect.
• CIGS. It is a semiconductor material, also looks like a film, but is more productive than a panel based on cadmium telluride.

Different types of solar cells generate different amounts of energy. For example, a panel of 1 sq. m. of single-crystal silicon generates up to 125 watts, and the same area of ​​amorphous silicon will give only 50 watts. In addition, they are affected by different weather. Monocrystalline panels lose a lot of performance in cloudy weather, while polycrystalline panels produce the same power. Finally, their operational characteristics also differ - the service life of a single-crystal panel is up to 30 years, polycrystalline - up to 20.

The solar battery on the balcony provides for the use of special batteries, which are contraindicated low temperatures and high humidity. That is why, before installing such systems, you need to take care of the insulation of the loggia or balcony.

In the event that this room has a sufficient level of thermal insulation, you can proceed with the installation of solar panels.

Solar panels on the balcony are photocells in the form of plates, which are installed with the calculation of direct sunlight on their surface. For their reliable placement, a frame is formed from a metal or aluminum profile with a side thickness of about 50 mm. Electric welding is used to connect the parts of the frame. The distance between the horizontal profiles should not be more than 20 cm. The metal frame is securely fastened with a bolt tie to the balcony wall, taking into account that the user will have full access to the entire surface of the photocells in order to care for them.

It should be taken into account the fact that the angle of incidence of direct sunlight changes throughout the day, so it would be useful to provide for the possibility of adjusting the angle of inclination of the main frame, which will allow rational use of solar panels on the balcony.

The frame must be treated with anti-corrosion agents or paints, which will reliably protect against the effects of precipitation.

After the external part of the system is installed and connected to the batteries, they must be connected to a group of electricity consumers with a power wire.