1. SOLAR INSTALLATION AND DESIGN: THE DOS AND DON’TS
POWER NIGERIA 2017
Engr. Tajudeen Humble Sikiru (PhD)
Electrical Engineering Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Rana World Tech Shop Limited, Kaduna, Nigeria

2. Essential Steps for Good Solar Systems
Accurate Survey data + Good Design + Good Installation + Regular Maintenance = Excellent Solar System
8-Nov-18

3. Accurate Survey & Design
Survey: Location and Load parameters
Know your solar installation location
Accurately determine the load size
8-Nov-18
Power Nigeria 2017

4. Accurate Survey & Design
Use Google earth to determine roof top space and orientation
Alternatively, physically measure and determine available space
8-Nov-18
Power Nigeria 2017

5. Solar Design: Critical Component Selection (Solar panel)
Solar Panel Selection:
Monocrystalline Vs Polycrystalline
b. What does the data sheet means?
c. Beyond the price, what do engineers lookout for?
Polycrystalline
Monocrystalline
8-Nov-18
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6. Solar Design: Critical Component Selection (Solar panel)
Manufacturer A
Solar Panel Selection:
What do engineers lookout for?
b. price factor?
Manufacturer B
8-Nov-18
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7. Solar Design: Critical Component Selection (Solar panel)
Manufacturer A
Solar Panel Selection:
What do engineers look at for?
b. price factor?
Manufacturer B
8-Nov-18
Power Nigeria 2017

8. Solar Design: Critical Component Selection (Solar panel)
Manufacturer B
Manufacturer A
8-Nov-18
Power Nigeria 2017

9. Solar Design: Critical Component Selection (Inverters and Mppt Charge controllers)
Manufacturer B
ii. Inverter Selection
What is the purpose of technical data sheet?
Beyond what the manufacturers claims?
Effect of wrong inverter on system performance?
Right inverter Vs price?
Manufacturer A
8-Nov-18
Power Nigeria 2017

10. Solar Design: Critical Component Selection (Inverters and Mppt Charge controllers)
What is the purpose of technical data sheet?
Manufacturer B
Manufacturer A
8-Nov-18
Power Nigeria 2017

11. Solar Design: Critical Component Selection (Inverters and Mppt Charge controllers)
The purpose of technical data sheet?
Manufacturer B
Manufacturer A
Effect of wrong inverter on system performance?
Premature damage of battery bank
Damage of sensitive equipment
b. Right inverter Vs price?
Application dependent
At least know what you are expecting
8-Nov-18
Power Nigeria 2017

12. Solar Design: Critical Component Selection (Inverters and Mppt Charge controllers)
The Effect of Battery Algorithm on Battery Lifespan?
Manufacturer B
Manufacturer A
8-Nov-18
Power Nigeria 2017

13. Solar Design: Critical Component Selection (Battery Bank)
ii. Critical Questions Before Battery Selection:
Question 1
Battery type ?:
Maintenance Free Maintenance Required
e.g. Gel, AGM e.g. Flooded
Question 2
Battery use ?:
Low starting current loads High starting current loads
e.g. TV, lighting point, home appliances e.g. Air conditioners, induction machines
Question 3
Expected period of use (autonomy)?
Question 4
Is the number of string less than or equal to 3 per battery bank?
8-Nov-18
Power Nigeria 2017

14. Solar Design: Critical Component Selection (Battery Bank)
Effect of duty cycles on battery life span:
Manufacturer B
Manufacturer A
8-Nov-18
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15. Solar Design: Critical Component Selection (Battery Bank)
Effect of temperature on battery life span:
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16. Solar Design: Critical Component Selection (Battery Bank)
battery selection based on capacity:
Manufacturer B
Manufacturer A
8-Nov-18
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17. SOLAR DESIGN EXAMPLES
A 3 bedroom flat has the loads indicated in Table 1, design:
A solar solution with 6 hours grid/generator support
A solar solution with 12 hours grid/generator support
A solar solution totally off grid
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8-Nov-18

18. SOLAR DESIGN EXAMPLES s/n Description of load Number
Power consumption (W)
Hours of use (h)
Energy consumption (kWh) 1
Television/radio/decoder 4
250 5 2
Fan 75 12
4.5 3
Air conditioner
1400
11.2
Lighting (bulbs) 18 26
5.6
Washing machining
800
2.4 6
Water pump
1200
Total
6.57 kW
31.1 kWh/day
Diversity factor =0.65
4.27 kW
20.2 kWh/day
6 hours of grid/generator
5.05 kWh/day
12 hours grid/generator
10.1 kWh/day
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8-Nov-18

19. SOLAR DESIGN 1 (6 hours of grid/generator support)
Location : Abuja
15.15 kWh/day is the minimum power generation from the solar system
50 % Depth Of Discharge (DOD) of battery per day (i.e. Battery bank capacity =30.3 kWh)
1 day autonomy of the battery back up system
Design:
Assumed all system loses of 15% (AC and DC cables +inverter)
In Abuja, 1 kWp solar system will generate 3.8 kWh per day, hence 4kWp solar system must be installed.
265 W panel was selected , then we need 15 number panels
The selected panel has Voc = 37.8V, Isc =9.01 A, we use this information to select charge controller, we could select 150V, 60A or 600 V, 80A or 5kW grid tied PV inverter
We could select 4.6 kW or 5.5 kW battery inverter
Expected battery capacity bank =30.3 kWh
The selected inverter is 48 V, DC input, we need 24 number of C10 ( 2 V, 700 Ah). We could select OPZV 750 , OPZV, or
We could select an alternative battery that would be max. of 2 C10 (2V, 350 Ah). But we need 48 numbers of batteries.
Power Nigeria 2017
8-Nov-18

20. SOLAR DESIGN 2 (12 hours of grid/generator support)
Location : Abuja
10.1 kWh/day is the minimum power generation from the solar system
50 % Depth Of Discharge (DOD) of battery per day (i.e. Battery bank capacity =20.12kWh)
1 day autonomy of the battery back up system
Design:
Assumed all system loses of 15% (AC and DC cables +inverter)
In Abuja, 1 kWp solar system will generate 3.8 kWh per day, hence 2.65kWp solar system must be installed.
265 W panel was selected , then we need 10 number panels
The selected panel has Voc = 37.8V, Isc =9.01 A, we use this information to select charge controller, we could select 150V, 60A or 2.5 kW grid tied PV inverter
We could select 4.6 kW or 5.5 kW battery inverter
Expected battery capacity bank =20.12kWh
The selected inverter is 48 V, DC input, we need 24 number of battery @ C10 ( 2 V, 500 Ah). We could select OPZV 520 , OPZV, Or
We could select an alternative battery that would be max. of 2 string @ C10 (2V, 250 Ah). But we need 48 numbers of batteries.
Power Nigeria 2017
8-Nov-18

21. SOLAR DESIGN 3 ( totally off grid)
Location : Abuja
20.2 kWh/day is the minimum power generation from the solar system
50 % Depth Of Discharge (DOD) of battery per day (i.e. Battery bank capacity = 40.4 kWh)
1 day autonomy of the battery back up system
Design:
Assumed all system loses of 15% (AC and DC cables +inverter)
In Abuja, 1 kWp solar system will generate 3.8 kWh per day, hence 5.3 kWp solar system must be installed.
265 W panel was selected , then we need 20 number panels
The selected panel has Voc = 37.8V, Isc =9.01 A, we use this information to select charge controller, we could select 2 number of 150V, 60A or 1 number of 5.3 kW grid tied PV inverter
We could select 4.6 kW or 5.5 kW battery inverter
Expected battery capacity bank =40.4kWh
The selected inverter is 48 V, DC input, we need 24 number of C10 ( 2 V, 900 Ah). We could select OPZV , OPZV, or
We could select an alternative battery that would be max. of 2 C10 (2V, 500 Ah). But we need 48 numbers of batteries.
Power Nigeria 2017
8-Nov-18

22. Installation: Dos and Don’ts
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Your Safety is Your Responsibility
Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility on Site
8-Nov-18
Power Nigeria 2017

23. Installation: Dos and Don’ts
Mounting System & Panel Installation
What is the roof integrity?
What is the orientation and nature of the roof ?
Does wind speed pose a threat?
Don’t walk on the panels, you’ll cause
micro cracks
8-Nov-18
Power Nigeria 2017

24. Installation: Dos and Don’ts
The danger of bad Solar Panel Installation:
Fire
Death
Electrocution
Law suits
Equipment damage
8-Nov-18
Power Nigeria 2017

25. Installation: Dos and Don’ts
Inverter and Mppt Charge Controller Installation
Inverter must be mounted on a solid
Strong wall or metal frame
DC cables must be separated from AC cables
Communication cables must be separated from power cables
Make your installation neat as must as possible
8-Nov-18
Power Nigeria 2017

26. Installation: Dos and Don’ts
Inverter and Mppt Charge Controller Installation
Provide the customer with a
detailed wiring diagram for ease
of maintenance
As built diagram must be accurate
As built diagram must be simple to read
8-Nov-18
Power Nigeria 2017

27. Installation: Dos and Don’ts
Battery bank Installation
Never place tools or metal components on Batteries
Ensure that batteries are not mistakenly grounded
Never smoke or handle flames near batteries
Always use the correct cable size
8-Nov-18
Power Nigeria 2017

28. Commissioning and Testing Procedures
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29. Commissioning and Testing Procedures
8-Nov-18
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30. Commissioning and Testing Procedures
8-Nov-18
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31. Commissioning and Testing Procedures
8-Nov-18
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32. SOLAR INSTALLATION AND DESIGN: THE DOS AND DON’TS
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
POWER NIGERIA 2017
Engr. Tajudeen Humble Sikiru (PhD)
Electrical Engineering Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Rana World Tech Shop Limited, Kaduna, Nigeria