6. Nameplate Test Results for 30 Watt Solar Panel Shown in Class, Nov

10. Elements of a Small Off-Grid 24 Volt Solar System
(Installed by Mack Grady at Gary Grady’s cabin, 15 miles north of Silverthorne, CO, in the Gore Range ’ elevation)

11. Cabin originally had only a 120Vac generator to power house wiring and water pump about 1 hour each day. There was no battery system.

12. Essential Load!
Watch out for shadows
150W Pair
on a good day, 1kWH

13. Straddles the Roof for Best Azimuth Angle
Separate grounding cable for lightning protection goes straight down to single-point ground rod
Use outdoor-rated UV wiring
Straddles the Roof for Best Azimuth Angle

14. Battery charger from portable generator
Ground wire connects all metal boxes to the single-point ground rod
Box for DC connections and breakers
PV battery charge controller
AC box and breakers for inverter output feed a separate set of inverter-powered outlets in the cabin
DC lightning arrestor
1100W Inverter

15. DC breaker from panels to controller
DC breaker from battery charger to batteries
Battery charger from portable generator
PV battery charge controller
DC breaker from batteries to inverter
DC lightning arrestor
DC breaker from controller to batteries
1100W Inverter

16. Inverter on/off switch goes to kitchen
Cables to battery breaker
Inverter output to AC breakers

17. Four 6 Volt, L6 Batteries in Series (24 Volt System)
in a Homemade Vented Box
Battery temperature sensor goes to PV charge controller

19. Two-person testing of the 30 Watt solar panel
Step 1 – Student A adjusts the test setup to face the sun and minimize the pin shadow.
Step 2 – Student B holds the probe