As we the solar system manufactures only uses the word peak hour to and daytime to describe the charging hour of solar panels. Therefore, some people have this question in their mind does solar system work at night? Because they assume that solar city only works when it’s taking power from the sunlight. But the thing is different; the solar system also works at night as it works at day. To clear this myth, we have to know some facts about the solar panel working process.
How solar system works:
A solar panel is just a machine that produces electricity like the other power producing system. Such as wind energy generating system, heat energy generating system from fossil fuels, coil, petroleum and chemical energy generating system. But what we need to produce the energy through these systems are resources.
Solar system produces the energy from the day sunlight as like other energy generating system produces energy from its own resources. But to provide the energy or to convert the energy into a consuming state these all system needs the storage system. So, without storage system, solar panels cannot directly provide us the energy.
When the sunlight hits the solar panels, it consumes the light and starts its process. Through the converter machine, the consumed sunlight transforms into the energy and this energy stored into the battery. Thus, we are actually using the energy from the battery. So here the myth is clear. Because when its nigh though the sunlight is not hitting the panels but the solar system already stored the energy into the battery from the daylight. Here solar panels work as a via only for the energy generation process and the battery is the storage from where we get the energy.
For instance, if other energy generating system does not store the power into a storage, then it is not possible to provide a certain amount of energy. Like this battery also store a certain amount of energy for its capacity. When the battery is fully charged it stops taking the energy. If we use our appliances then the battery discharges its power. Generally, we do not use our home lights at daytime. So here the battery is not discharging the power that the light needs. SO, the unused energy of daytime can be used at night.
Another interesting thing about the solar system is that the batteries do not discharge its full energy. Before discharging its full energy, the solar panels again start to produce the energy. Basically, when we buy batteries either deep cycle marine battery or starting battery for home, commercial or for automotive we buy it on the basis of the total consuming power of our appliances. And the solar panel also comes on the basis of the battery capacity.
We usually by the solar panels double the size of the battery, so that it can produce more power than the discharging rate of the battery. If we need 3KW of energy on a daily basis we choose the solar system that can produce more than 10 KW. Therefore, if we are using the 3KW still we have 7 KW left in the battery if the battery can store 10 KW. So, the solar system again filling the 3KW on the next day. This is how the batteries do not get fully discharged.
Calculate the daily energy consumption rate:
To calculate the consumption rate of your daily appliances you can simply multiply the wattage of the appliance with the consuming hours. For instance, if you are using a ceiling fan that generally comes in 75 watts multiply it with the using hours. 75watts×20 using hours = 1500 kilowatts hours or 1.5KW. So, if you use a ceiling fan for 20 hours a day it will consume 1.5 KW. So, calculate the consumption rates of other appliances and see what the total consumption rate of your all appliances is?
Now as you know the consumption rates of your home appliances choose a battery that can store double the size than the consumption rate. Also, choose the solar system that can produce double the size than the battery capacity.
Now it’s clear to us why we don’t need sunlight to get the energy at night from the solar system. And the above calculation will make you clear how to calculate the daily energy consumption rate of our appliances. We must know this calculation before buying the solar system. Because If we install the solar system that produces less power than the consumption rate, the fast drainage of the battery will damage it so quickly. You can also tell the solar system installer to calculate the consumption rate. After calculating the consumption rate, they will recommend you what size solar panel and what size battery your daily appliances need.
