Photo Voltaic System Sizing

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solutions to help you harvest nature's energy

PV modules produce electricity only when sunlight shines on them. Shading has more than four times the affect you would expect it has. When sizing a stand-alone PV system, the energy output of the PV panels and the storage capacity of the batteries must be sufficient to to smooth over average daily light available within season as well as the average electrical demands on the system.

To determine the amount of energy you need, multiply an electrical device's power in watts by the number of hours a day the device will be used. For example, a 17-watt fluorescent light lit for 18 hours a day uses 306 watt-hours (or 0.306 kilowatt-hours) of electricity. To get total power use, do this calculation for each electric device and add the results. WE have a MS Excel spreadsheet that can do this work for you. The math and logic of our calculations can be found on our http://www.enviroharvest.ca/getting_started.htm page. Or you can contact us by email and request a copy of the spreadsheet.

Your PV system should supply at least as many Watt hours (under a variety of lighting conditions) as your total electric needs. When sizing your PV system you should also consider the ability of your system to expand to meet any unexpected demands, such as the purchase of a new appliance, computer etc. You should also take into account that your system will have capacity for and the ability to catch up after a few days of overcast.

PV systems can power any electric device but they are not suitable for water heating or other heat related appliances. A solar heater can heat water more quickly and efficiently than an electric water heater powered by PV panels. Solar heaters convert up to 60 per cent of the sun's energy into heat whereas PV cells are far less efficient and convert only 12 to 15 per cent of the sun's energy into electricity.

We have a solar system configuration tool available which we would be glad to email to you. Click on Configurator to request a copy from us.

Links to our Photovoltaic Panels

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Contact Us: Telephone: toll free at 1-888-810-4709 Parry Sound,Northern Ontario,Muskoka and Georgian Bay
Send mail to: info@enviroharvest.ca with questions or comments about our product or web site.