HOW YOUR SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEM WORKS

Your solar electric system is most likely to be what is called a direct grid-tie system. This means it is connected into the electricity system provided by your utility company.

Here’s how it works...

The sun strikes the panels of your solar array and a flow of direct current (DC) electricity is produced. This is the only type of current produced by solar cells.

Appliances and machinery, however, are run on higher voltage alternating current (AC) electricity as supplied by your utility.

The lower voltage DC is fed into an inverter that transforms it into alternating current. The AC feeds into the main electrical panel from which it powers your household’s or your business’s electrical needs.

Your electrical panel is also connected to a specially installed bi-directional utility meter. This is connected to the electrical grid, which is the utility’s means of delivering electricity. This set up allows AC electricity to flow both into, and out of, your home or business.

During the day, your solar electric system will be providing some, or all, of your electrical needs.

How much will depend, firstly, on the intensity of the sunlight; the system produces less power on cloudy days and during the winter months. It will also depend on the appliances or machinery you are running at the time.

If your solar system is not providing all the power you need at any time, the balance is automatically provided by your utility.

On days when sunlight is intense, your system may well produce more than you need. The excess is automatically fed into the grid. This is registered on you bi-directional meter which will spin backwards, giving you credit for the electricity you are providing. (This is known as net metering).

At night, your utility company automatically provides your electrical needs.

If there is a utility power outage, your grid-tie system will shut down immediately for safety reasons. Your power will be reinstated moments after grid power is restored.

A grid-tie solar electric system does not provide power during outages unless it incorporates a battery storage system. If your home or business has critical needs that require an uninterrupted power supply, we’ll be happy to take you through the various alternatives available to you.

Off-grid, or stand-alone, solar systems produce power independently of the utility grid. They are most appropriate for remote or environmentally sensitive areas; stand-alone systems may effectively provide farm lighting, fence charging or solar water pumps. Most of these systems rely on battery storage so that power produced during the day can be used at night.