Solar Power from the Balcony: Theory and Practice of Photovoltaics

Photovoltaic balcony power plants - How to understand and realize them # Basics - Concept - Component selection - Construction - Operation - Amortization #

This book is intended for anyone who wants to learn how to set up and operate a small photovoltaic system (PV system for short). Since balconies, especially south-facing balconies, are particularly suitable for installing small PV systems, the catchy term balcony power plant has become established for them. Somewhat more generally, one speaks of plug-in solar units. Typically, this involves a few square meters of PV module area with a peak output of less than 1000 W. The primary goal here is to reduce one's own electricity bill by a noticeable amount with comparatively little financial and technical effort. And this is indeed possible if you do it the right way.

Numerous diagrams show the maximum solar power (in kWh) that can be harvested on each day of the year. The payback analysis is based on those calculations.

In particular, the following aspects are explained: Basic terms of electrical engineering / Simple but important formulas Series and parallel connection of PV modules and batteries Registration with the grid operator and the Federal Network Agency Electricity meter variants On-grid systems, off-grid systems and hybrid systems / with and without battery storage Failure of the 120 or 230 V power grid / blackout danger Solar trajectory calculations / solar trajectory diagrams Maximum possible power or energy yield (with numerous diagrams) Angular geometry of the solar radiation with respect to the PV modules Influence of PV module orientation on daily and annual yields Concrete design of the PV systems / choice of other parameters Selection of PV modules / current-voltage diagram Bypass and blocking diodes Selection of the charge controller Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) Battery charge management Selection of the pure on-grid inverter Selection of the off-grid inverter Selection of the adjustable on-grid inverter Selection of batteries (accumulators) / life cycle assessment of lead and lithium batteries Battery monitor as control unit Fuses and switches / Overvoltage protection diode Wiring of the sample system / Required tools / Cable cross-sections Installation location / Commissioning procedure Power measurement / Remote monitoring via WLAN Procurement notes / Amortization consideration

You might ask how difficult and time-consuming it is to set up a balcony power plant on your own. The answer is: It is not rocket science! However, if you go about it too lightly, you may invest a lot of time and tuition money unnecessarily; unless, of course, you buy a prefabricated standard kit, which, however, rarely meets your personal needs. This book provides all the information needed to assemble and put into operation a small PV system. It shows which basic variants are available and what the respective advantages and disadvantages are.

Previous technical knowledge is an advantage, but not strictly necessary. Even complete laymen should be able to implement a balcony power plant after reading this book. The theoretical knowledge required is imparted, and the technical skills can be learned by doing. Once you have understood how a balcony power plant works, you will understand the larger PV systems on the roof (with 10 kW and more peak power) much better.

The book contains 56 mostly colored figures.

[The eBook can be viewed in color on smartphones, tablets, notebooks and PCs using the Kindle app. Zooming, highlighting, searching and inserting notes is possible in a convenient way].