F.A.Q

– Solar panels, to capture energy from the sun.

– An inverter, to convert that energy to a format that can power our appliances

– Batteries, to store the energy you generate

– Charge controller, to control the rate at which batteries charge from solar

Aside from these main components, systems also come bundled with small parts like meters, disconnects, and wires.

Batteries make off-grid solar possible. Without access to the utility grid, you need a reliable way to store the energy you generate for later use.

Your battery bank keeps your appliances running — even when the sun isn’t shining. It’s critical to build a battery bank that can store enough energy to get you through off-peak production periods. Our available battery banks come packaged with the capacity to get the job done.

Batteries are only required if you want to have energy storage.

A simple grid connected solar system does not need batteries to function. However if you are looking for backup power then you will definitely need batteries.

To take care of your battery, remember you must replace the energy you have used by re-charging the battery immediately; if you don’t, the battery sulphates (coating the lead plates of the batteries) and that affects performance and longevity.

Most batteries have the tendency to discharge themselves by 2 – 4% per month, if they are left disconnected and just standing there. This can be worse if the battery is exposed to extreme temperatures.

A charge controller or charge regulator is basically a voltage and/or current regulator to keep batteries from overcharging. They regulate the voltage and current coming from the solar panels going to the battery. If there is no regulation the batteries will be damaged from overcharging.

Our Solar Charge Controllers come with built-in Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technology.

What is MMPT?

An MPPT, or maximum power point tracker is an electronic DC to DC converter that optimizes the match between the solar array (PV panels), and the battery bank. It converts a higher voltage DC output from solar panels down to the lower voltage needed to charge batteries.

You can calculate how many solar panels you need by multiplying your household’s hourly energy requirement by the peak sunlight hours for your area and dividing that by a panel’s wattage.

Remember: It is often expensive and complicated to add panels after the install.

Contact us and let our solar experts will handle all these calculations for you.

To get the most from solar panels, you need to point them in the direction that captures the most sun, in our case in Zimbabwe is when they are facing North.

A tilted/angled mount produces 20% more energy than panels that are mounted flat.

It is simplest to mount your solar panels at a fixed tilt and just leave them there. But because the sun is higher in the summer and lower in the winter, you can capture more energy during the whole year by adjusting the tilt of the panels according to the season.

First – the absolute basics. The sun rises in the east, and sets in the west.

This means:

East-facing panels will peak in power production in the morning.

West-facing panels will peak in the late afternoon.

North-facing solar panels will peak around midday (and provide the most energy overall).

There are three important questions you consider before you make the move to solar energy:

What does your roof look like?

What is the condition of your roof?

How much shade does your roof get throughout the day?

If your roof will need renovation a few years down the road, it’ll be easier to take care of that before the panels go up.

If the roof is unobstructed now but you’ve just planted bushy trees around your property, you might run into trouble a few years down the road. Be prepared to do a lot of regular pruning.

Even though solar panels need a maximum amount of light, they can still function normally during cloudy days. If your system is shaded, it should be shaded for a short period in the day.

For the most part, solar panels are placed in high locations where they are not vulnerable to damage and ground-level debris.

However, it’s a good practice to give your panels a close-up inspection from time to time, in order to make sure you’re not losing power due to a buildup of pollen or tree material.

The same type of dirt that accumulates on your windows will eventually find its way to your solar panels, so it makes sense to check their cleanliness now and then.

Even though solar panels need a maximum amount of light, they can still function normally during cloudy days. If your system is shaded, it should be shaded for a short period in the day.

So that you can figure out the size or capacity of the solar system you will need.

The easiest way to figure this out is to take a weekly or monthly reading of your electricity meter or keep a note of how many units you use/buy per month.

It’s important to consider when you use electricity. Is your home generally empty during weekdays, with everyone at work or school, so that your main power consumption comes in the evening?

Also, consider whether some days you use more power than others; the weekend for instance when everyone is at home. And do you use more power in winter (running heaters)?

Your minimum aim is to cover as much of your household consumption as reasonably possible for a typical day.

• Work with your contractor to make sure your roof is free of obstructions before installation day. This might include pruning tree limbs or relocating your satellite dish.
• Solar panel installation can be noisy, so consider how the sounds of hammering will impact your daily routine. For example, small children or pets might be more comfortable staying with family during installation.
• Make extra space in your yard and driveway for the installation team. Remove decorations and outdoor furniture from the vicinity to allow room for scaffolding. You should also relocate your vehicles, so construction crews can park as close to your home as possible.

HYBRID systems allow for full control over your power while keeping you grid-connected in case of emergency.

A hybrid system is possibly the most expandable, future-ready home solar setup. With some customisable hybrid systems, you can expand capacity by buying more panels or batteries.

An OFF-GRID solar system isn’t connected to the utility grid. You have to rely on your solar panels to generate all your power, all the time.

With an off-grid system, solar batteries are necessary for storing energy. It’s also smart to budget for a backup generator for extended periods of bad weather in case solar battery storage runs out.