Solar International Botswana (PTY) LTD.

What you should know about your

Solar Electric System System configuration: 4x 55Wp Shell Solar Panels Steca 20A Regulator Electroflex 250W Inverter

Solar International Botswana (PTY) LTD. Corner Noko and Nakedi Road

Broadhurst Industrial

Plot 6384 Unit E

P.O. Box 149 - Gaborone Phone: 3182890 - Fax: 3182891 - Email: [email protected]

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HOW DOES THE SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEM WORK? The system uses the energy from the sun to make electricity. The solar panels generates 12 Volt DC electricity directly from sunlight. This electricity charges batteries during the day. After the sun has set, the battery can provide the electricity you need. The system transforms the 12 VDC electricity from the battery into 230 Volt AC electricity since most appliances run on 230V AC. During cloudy days, the electricity generated will be less than during sunny days. However, the batteries can usually store enough electricity to make up for a few cloudy days, and will still supply electricity. The amount of electricity that is generated by the solar panels is limited. You can use it for a certain number of hours per day. If it has been sunny you can use your Solar Electric System longer than after a cloudy day. You can connect lights, radio, music system, and other appliances that use small amounts of electricity but you cannot use an electric fridge, cooker or heater with the Solar Electric System.

Solar International Botswana (PTY) LTD. Corner Noko and Nakedi Road

Broadhurst Industrial

Plot 6384 Unit E

P.O. Box 149 - Gaborone Phone: 3182890 - Fax: 3182891 - Email: [email protected]

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HOW TO GET THE BEST USE OUT OF THE SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEM Some tips to help you get the best usage from your Solar Electric System Do not leave lights on when there is nobody in the room. Do not switch lights on during the day. Do not leave the TV or radio on when nobody is listening or watching. You can use the system for more hours if the volume of the radio or TV is set low. You can also use the system for more hours if you lower the brightness of the TV screen. • Do not let children play with the system. • • • • •

To use more hours of electricity from your Solar Electric System, use appliances that consume less electricity (e.g. small TV and radio instead of large ones). Also turning down the volume on your radio, music system or TV reduces electricity consumption so that you can operate these appliances for more hours every day.

HOW MUCH ELECTRICITY WILL BE AVAILABLE ? You can use electricity for a certain number of hours per day, depending on the number and Wattage of solar panels that are installed and on the charge condition of the battery. On a sunny day the batteries will recharge faster than on a cloudy day. The electric energy that is available is expressed in Watt hour (Wh). When the batteries are fully charged the following will apply: Table 1: Electric energy available from different panels

System size

3 panels of 55Wp

4 panels of 55Wp

5 panels of 55Wp

Electric energy available

660 Wh per day

880 Wh per day

1100 Wh per day

Now let’s look what appliances may be used and for how long, with the electricity that is available. Different appliances use different amounts of electricity, depending on their power rating. This is normally printed on the appliance. Look for a figure in Watts (W). For example: a TV is rated at 80 Watt and it is used for 3 hours per day. Than the daily electric energy required to run this TV is: 80 Watt x 3 hours = 240 Watt hours (240 Wh).

Solar International Botswana (PTY) LTD. Corner Noko and Nakedi Road

Broadhurst Industrial

Plot 6384 Unit E

P.O. Box 149 - Gaborone Phone: 3182890 - Fax: 3182891 - Email: [email protected]

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You can do this calculation for all the appliances that you use, and calculate the total Watt hours / day that are required to run your appliances. The calculation sheet below gives an example: Table 2: Daily load calculation sheet

DAILY LOAD CALCULATION SHEET Appliance

Lamp 1 living room Lamp 2 study room Lamp 3 kitchen Lamp 4 bedroom Radio TV Computer Computer monitor

Power rating (Watt)

Daily use (hours / day)

Daily energy demand (Watt hours / day)

11 11 11 11 12 80 70 85

4 2 3 1 6 3 2 2

44 22 33 11 72 240 140 170

291

732

Total Watts

Total Watt hours / day

From the calculation it can be concluded that a 3 panel system cannot run these appliances on a continues basis because the appliances require 742 Watt hours / day and only 660 Watt hours / day is available from a 3 panel system. The 4 and 5 panel systems can run these appliances. However, there is an other factor to be taken into consideration: the maximum number of Watts that may be drawn from the system at any given time. The maximum number of Watts that can be supplied by the inverter is 250 Watt. In the example above the appliances cannot be used all at the same time because the total number of Watts which is 291 Watts is greater than 250 Watt. If the user would switch off 3 lights and the radio (total 11 + 11 + 11 + 12 = 45 Watt), the power consumption would be 246 Watts which is just below the 250 Watts that can be used. Note: Lights and radio consume less electric energy, compared to the other appliances. Appendix 1 gives an overview of the energy consumption of different appliances.
What happens if I have used up my electricity for the day ? The system will switch off till tomorrow, then you will be able to use it again, after the batteries have been recharged by the solar panels.

Solar International Botswana (PTY) LTD. Corner Noko and Nakedi Road

Broadhurst Industrial

Plot 6384 Unit E

P.O. Box 149 - Gaborone Phone: 3182890 - Fax: 3182891 - Email: [email protected]

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The Solar Electric System uses energy from the sun – what happens in cloudy weather ? If there is only a thin layer of clouds the batteries will still charge. If there is a thick layer of clouds the batteries will not charge. Note:  When there have been a number of days of heavy clouds in a row, the system will switch off and the next day you will only be able to use a few lights.  Only when there has been a number of sunny days, will you be able to use other appliances that are connected to your system, again. THE REGULATOR You can check how your system is operating by looking at the regulator (controller). The regulator has two lights as is indicated in the figure below. There is an Information light on the left and a Battery light on the right. There is also an external Fuse.

Information light

Battery light

Fuse

Information light on the regulator The Information light gives information about the status of the system. The table below gives information about what the meaning is of the different colours of the Information light, what error has occurred and what action should be taken by the user.

Solar International Botswana (PTY) LTD. Corner Noko and Nakedi Road

Broadhurst Industrial

Plot 6384 Unit E

P.O. Box 149 - Gaborone Phone: 3182890 - Fax: 3182891 - Email: [email protected]

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Table 3: Explanation of the meaning of the different colours of the Information light Colour of Information light Green flashing

Error description All OK

Action to be taken by the user None

Red-green flashing

Load current is too high

Disconnect loads

Red-yellow flashing

Solar panel current is too high

Red constant light

Controller is overheated

Yellow flashing

Battery voltage is too high

Red flashing

Battery voltage is too low or battery is disconnected or battery is damaged

None, the regulator will reset automatically when the panel current decreases. None, the regulator will reset automatically when the temperature decreases None, the regulator will reset automatically when the battery voltage decreases. None, the regulator will reset automatically when the battery voltage decreases. If this does not happen in two days then check that the battery is connected or replace the battery.

Battery light on the regulator The Battery light changes colour from green to orange to red. If it shows green the battery is fully charged. If it shows orange the battery is half discharged and when it shows red the battery is fully discharged. When the battery is almost fully discharged the Battery light will be flashing fast. Fuse on the regulator The fuse protects the system from too high currents. Check if the fuse is burned. If so replace the fuse with a fuse of 20A rating. NEVER use any metal objects to replace the fuse. Allow for good ventilation The surroundings of the regulator should be kept clear to ensure good ventilation. Without ventilation the regulator will overheat and will not function properly. Therefore do not place anything on top of the regulator.

Solar International Botswana (PTY) LTD. Corner Noko and Nakedi Road

Broadhurst Industrial

Plot 6384 Unit E

P.O. Box 149 - Gaborone Phone: 3182890 - Fax: 3182891 - Email: [email protected]

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THE ELECTROFLEX INVERTER The Electroflex inverter changes the 12V DC from the battery to 230V AC. It also controls the load. There are eight lights at the front of the inverter and there is also a Reset button (see the figure below). The lights give information about the status of the system. When the Over Load light on the left shows red, the system has been overloaded. Disconnect all loads and push the Reset button on the inverter. The Over Load light should come off and the lights and other appliances can be switched on making sure not to overload the system again (switch on less lights and appliances). The six lights on the right give information about how much the battery is charged. These lights will only be on when a load has been connected. If all these lights are on, then the battery is fully charged. If the battery is discharged, the inverter automatically switches of all loads, until the battery is charged the following day by the solar panels. In that case the Battery Off light will be on (the second light from the left).

Lights Reset button

Note 1: If only the Battery Off light is on, the inverter is automatically switched off because the battery is discharged. You can use the system only the following day, after the battery has been charged by the solar panels. Note 2: If the Over Load light is on, the inverter is automatically switched off, because you have connected too many appliances or there is a short circuit. Note 3: If either of the above mentioned situations have occurred and the problem has been remedied, then the Reset button has to be pressed.

Solar International Botswana (PTY) LTD. Corner Noko and Nakedi Road

Broadhurst Industrial

Plot 6384 Unit E

P.O. Box 149 - Gaborone Phone: 3182890 - Fax: 3182891 - Email: [email protected]

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Allow for good ventilation All air vents should be kept clear to allow for good ventilation. Air circulation around the inverter is vital for efficient operation and a longer life for the components inside the inverter. Do not place anything on top of the inverter. MY APPLIANCES DON’T WORK – WHAT NOW? Follow these steps: 1. Check if all circuit breakers in the distribution board are switched on. If not, switch them on. 2. Check the Information light on the regulator. Use Table 3 to determine what is wrong with the system and what action to take. 3. Check the Battery light on the regulator. If it is flashing red the battery voltage is very low. Why? Has it been cloudy? Remember, your Solar Electric System needs the sun to generate electricity! Have you connected many appliances for a long time? Reduce the number of appliances or the time that they are used. You will now have to wait for the battery to recharge. This will happen the next day if the sun shines. 4. Check the lights on the inverter. When the Over Load light on the left shows red, the system has been overloaded or there is an external short-circuit. Disconnect all loads and push the Reset button on the inverter. Switch on the lights and the appliances one by one making sure not to overload the system again. 5. If the system is not activated after the Reset button has been pressed and after the batteries have been recharged by the solar panels after a sunny day, check the fuse in the inverter. It is located at the backside of the inverter. There should be a thin continues wire inside the glass tube. If the wire is broken, the fuse is blown and should be replaced with a fuse of 30A rating. NEVER use any metal objects to replace the fuse.

NOTE: If the battery has been very low you should only use few lights until the battery is fully charged. What if the lights still do not want to come on? 1. Wait a couple of days, until the batteries are fully charged. 2. Switch everything off – all the lights as well as the radio and TV if they are connected. Press the Reset button on the inverter and switch on all circuit breakers on the distribution board. Now switch the appliances on, one at a time starting with the lights. If the system goes off when you switch on one of the lights, that light is faulty. If you switch the radio or TV on and the system goes off, it shows you that your radio or TV is faulty.

Solar International Botswana (PTY) LTD. Corner Noko and Nakedi Road

Broadhurst Industrial

Plot 6384 Unit E

P.O. Box 149 - Gaborone Phone: 3182890 - Fax: 3182891 - Email: [email protected]

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DO NOT FIDDLE WITH THE SYSTEM! DO NOT REMOVE THE COVER OF THE INVERTER OR REGULATOR! DO NOT OPEN THE BATTERY BOX

MAINTENANCE OF YOUR SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEM General care of your Solar Electric System 1. 2. 3.

Keep the system and solar panel clean at all times. Keep the system free of dust, mud and dirt. Make sure that no water comes in contact with the indoor parts of the system. Keep all trees and bushes around the area of the panel cut down so that they do not shade the solar panels. Always check that nothing blocks the sun from shining onto the solar panel. Do not place anything on top of the inverter or regulator.

4. 5. 6.

NEVER ! NEVER ! NEVER …………..           

Never try and move the Solar Electric System. Never try and take the cover off any electric equipment. Never cut any wires. Never try and make your own connections to the Solar Electric System. Never connect the Solar Electric System wires to other appliances. Never make any fires near the system. Never leave burning candles, cigarettes or lamps too close to the system. Never spill water into or over the system. Never let children play with any parts of the system either indoors or outdoors. Never try and charge other batteries with your Solar Electric System. Never remover the batteries from your Solar Electric System.

Solar International Botswana (PTY) LTD. Corner Noko and Nakedi Road

Broadhurst Industrial

Plot 6384 Unit E

P.O. Box 149 - Gaborone Phone: 3182890 - Fax: 3182891 - Email: [email protected]

page 10

Appendix

Power consumption of appliances

Note: Only appliances that consume less than 250 Watts can be used with the Solar Electric System.

Solar International Botswana (PTY) LTD. Corner Noko and Nakedi Road

Broadhurst Industrial

Plot 6384 Unit E

P.O. Box 149 - Gaborone Phone: 3182890 - Fax: 3182891 - Email: [email protected]