EQUIPMENT & PRICES for a SMALL SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC BACK-UP SYSTEM
Our family wanted to learn about and try Solar Photovoltaic electricity generation, and also have a
small amount of back-up power during power-failures (for LED lights, radio, other small equipment).
Note: The simplified info below is NOT a recommendation to do this, or an endorsement of any product
ot vendor. You need to ask your professional vendor and/or do your own research. You connect
the solar panel to a charge controller, then the charge controller to the two battery terminals (power in),
then the inverter is connected to the same battery terminals (DC turned into AC power out, via outlets).
SOLAR PANEL -- CHARGE CONTROLLER -- BATTERY -- INVERTER (where you plug things in)
Prices (plus tax)
Equipment:
$193
HES PV, HES-100 (100 watt), 36-cell Mono-Crystalline Solar Module (panel)
Purchased from www.wegosolar.com, Carolyn Johnson, 250-246-4305
Headquarters in Chemainus, delivered through wholesaler HES PV in
Victoria (320 Mary Street, Esquimault, 1-866-258-0110 (cheaper sources?)
$ 58
50-foot cable (Multi-contact Solar Module Extension Cable, www.wegosolar.com)
Note: You cut the cable in half, and then connect the special MC4 connectors to
your solar panel, and the two bare wire ends to your charge controller (see below).
This means you have a maximum distance of 25 feet (plus the wires of your charge
controller) from the panel to your battery. For one panel like the above, you should
not have a longer cable run than this, or the voltage loss will be too great.
$35
Sun Force 7 Amp Charge Controller (charges the battery to a certain voltage,
then shuts off the charging so battery doesn’t overcharge and become damaged)
We had this already, price from Amazon, www.wegosolar.com has more expensive
charge controllers, but they said what we had was adequate for one 100 watt panel)
Also: your charge controller wires need ring connecters at the ends that slip over
battery terminals, or you have to buy them (e.g. Queale Electronics in Victoria)
$ 5
$223
Deka 8A27 AGM (Absorbed Glass Matt) 92 Ahr, 12 volt battery (63 lbs)
Bought from www.wegosolar.com. Better than cheaper lead acid RV or golf cart
battery because these need maintenance (adding water, acid danger if unsealed
and tips over). There are also sealed gel batteries, but… “Absorbed glass mat
battery technology has the advantages of sealed gel batteries without the
disadvantages. They are like sealed gel in that they will not leak if broken… and do
not have problems with the electrolyte separating from the plates when abused.”
$135
Wagan AC Inverter, 1000 watts, modified sine wave
(had this already, price from Amazon; if you wanted to run valuable computers or
nice audio equipment, then you would pay more, e.g. $325, for a “pure sine wave”
inverter (e.g. www.wegosolar.com has them); inverters cost more for a full house
Also: Your inverter needs two battery terminal cables with rings at the ends, to
connect inverter to battery terminals, or you have to buy them (Queale Electronics?)
$ 20 ?
$669
TOTAL PRICE (plus tax) to buy above equipment new (or look for good used stuff!)
CAUTION: Check this info with your vendors, and read all specs & cautions before connecting anything!