Solar Project #3

The 190 watt panels are lighter in weight than expected. High efficiency I suppose but the ten panels are mounted on the ballast plates in pairs. A ten degree lift strut and a wind shield tilts the panels upward into the southern sun at something less than the optimum 34.7 degrees for our latitude but since the power goes as the tangent of the incident rays what we may lose in the dead of winter by not being optimum I expect we will regain in the sweltering summer Alabama sun.

Each of the panels contains a single Enphase converter that turns the DC output of the panels into phase matched power to connect directly to the grid. This eliminates the need for batteries which is a topic of discussion all its own. There is little or no need for batteries in modern systems since the microprocessor grid tie inverter technology has effectively turned the entire US grid into a giant battery. The inverters automatically turn off the output in the event of loss of line voltage.

Batteries are the bottleneck in any alternative energy system. Truly, at this point in battery development the only use of a battery is to eliminate the extension cord. Any other use of them, from a green standpoint, considering the carbon footprint of manufacture, or from a economic standpoint, makes no sense. So, the micro inverter puts us into the position of being able to get a 200 watt panel in our hands with a zip cord that plugs right into a socket on the front porch. You might not want to do that. It might not meet codes. But, the day is upon us when a person with little electrical skill can set up a solar panel and plug it in with the same ease that one would set up an ironing board and plug in the iron. {if you don't know what an iron is, look it up}