Unlike grid tied solar systems off grid systems have no connection to the utility grid and must make all the electricity necessary to power your home.
Solar panel grid system.
All solar power systems work on the same basic principles.
Off grid solar homes almost always will use batteries to store their excess electricity.
In addition to solar panels off grid homes may use micro wind turbines diesel generators or natural gas generators to supply their electricity.
A solar system comes in various sizes like 1 kw 3kw 5kw 10kw etc.
If a grid connect system is producing more power than the home consumes the surplus is fed into the power grid.
How a grid tied solar system works throughout a day.
The grid connect inverter converts the dc electricity produced by the solar panels into 240v ac electricity which can then be used by the property household.
An off grid solar system is designed for the power needs of mid to large size homes.
A typical solar system consists of solar panels which absorb sunlight inverter which converts dc into ac mounting structure that hold the panels in place batteries to store the extra power generated grid box and balance of systems wires nuts etc.
Off grid solar systems operate from the stored energy in a battery bank.
Solar panels first convert solar energy or sunlight into dc power using what is known as the photovoltaic pv effect.
When a household installs solar panels and connects them to the grid the home then becomes both a consumer and producer of electricity.
The dc power can then be stored in a battery or converted by a solar inverter into ac power which can be used to run home appliances.