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Design Your Own Off-Grid Solar System: A Step-by-Step Guide

Name: Design Your Own Off-Grid Solar System: A Step-by-Step Guide
Rating: 4.6 (1392 reviews)

From Beginner to Pro: Design, Install, and Maintain Your Off-Grid Solar System

Created byJesse Gorter, Energy Engineer

Last updated 11/2024

English

What you'll learn

How to determine your energy needs and size a solar panel system
Choosing the right battery type (lead-acid, lithium-ion, AGM) for off-grid systems
Step-by-step installation guides for rooftop and ground-mounted systems
The vital COMPONENTS in an off grid energy systems
The correct DESIGN principles of energy systems
The truth behind INVERTER GENERATORS and what their advantages actually are
The reality of LITHIUM ION batteries versus the conventional lead acid batteries
The actual performance of the different SOLAR CHARGERS and their pro's and con's
The newest INVERTER technologies available and how they are wired into your system
A clear understanding of the different types of BATTERIES and which option is the best for your system
How a SOLAR PANEL actually works, and how to get the highest power output
The differences between the different TECHNOLOGIES available on the market
The basic principles on how ELECTRICITY works
The true functioning of ALTERNATORS and how their performance can be improved
The reasons behind POWER FLUCTUATIONS and how to mitigate their harmful effects
A true understanding of FUSES & BREAKERS and how they should protect your system
The reasons behind VOLTAGE DROP and how it really relates to wiring sizes

Course content

9 sections • 72 lectures • 2h 51m total length

Solar Panels // Photo Voltaic Effect4:50
The Semiconductor Material
Solar Panels // Materials3:30
Solar Panel Efficiencies
Solar Panels // From Cell to System Part 1 of 22:55
Explore how solar cells assemble into modules and panels, detailing polycrystalline cells, fingers, bus bars, connectors, and the wiring path from cell to module to array.
Solar System Nomenclature
Solar Panels // From Cell to System Part 2 of 22:01
The Layers of a Solar Module
Solar Panels // Connections Part 1 of 22:34
Bypass Diodes
Solar Panels // Connections Part 2 of 21:37
Understand external connectors, including male and female ms four types with locking clips that prevent disconnection. Review photovoltaic effect, solar cell materials, and wiring methods to form a solar system.

Generators // Jargon Part 1 of 33:38
Voltage Fluctuations
Generators // Jargon Part 2 of 32:08
Power & Mathematics
Generators // Jargon Part 3 of 32:28
The Tricky Power Factor
Generators // Fuel Consumption Part 1 of 23:37
Fuel Consumption Versus Effiency
Generators // Fuel Consumption Part 2 of 22:55
Fuel Consumption Calculation
Generators // Capacity3:21
Rated Vs. Peak Power
Generators // Inverter Generators Part 1 of 23:22
The Inverter Generator
Generators // Inverter Generators Part 2 of 22:37
Generator Noise Levels
Generators // Fuel Options1:57
Fuel Efficiencies
Generators // Externalities1:38
Assess fire hazards, fuel availability, and fuel rotation when choosing between gasoline and diesel generators for off-grid systems. Consider aligning the generator fuel with your main engine to simplify operation.

Alternators // Inside2:37
This lecture explains the basic operation of an alternator, detailing the stator and rotor and how rotating the magnetic field induces electricity per Faraday's law; it also introduces the regulator.
Faraday's Law Of Induction
Alternators // Regulators3:28
Alternator Regulators
Alternators // Smart Alternators // Part 1 of 22:40
Smart Alternators
Alternators // Smart Alternators // Part 2 of 2_copy0:26

Batteries // Battery Basics2:48
Explore the basics of batteries by examining the electrochemical cell, how chemical energy converts to electrical energy, and how charge and discharge efficiencies affect lead acid and lithium ion batteries.
Battery Efficiency
Batteries // Voltaic Cell3:29
Learn how a voltaic cell, also called a galvanic cell, uses an electrolyte and two electrodes to generate electricity and power a light bulb, with discharge and charging modes.
Charging the Voltaic Cell
Batteries // Cell Vs. Battery2:18
Series Vs. Parallel
Batteries // Charge Cycle // Bulk2:57
Bulk Charging Stage
Batteries // Charge Cycle // Absorption2:20
Absorption Charging Stage
Batteries // Charge Cycle // Equalization1:52
The Equalization Charge
Batteries // Lead Acid Family3:26
Battery Orientation
Batteries // Lead Acid Charge Cycle2:06
Explore lead-acid battery charge cycles and why equalization is unnecessary for AGM and gel types. Discover how temperature compensation on the charge controller adjusts charging voltage to extend battery life.
Temperature Compensation
Batteries // Lithium Ion Family1:51
About Ions
Batteries // Lithium Ion Charge Cycle3:21
The Lithium Battery
Batteries // Lithium Ion Topping Charge0:23

Chargers // Operation Principles3:16
Case Study: Your Phone Charger
Chargers // Source Vs. Load1:47
Charger Efficiencies
Chargers // I/V Curve Part 1 of 21:33
Voltage & Amperage
Chargers // I/V Curve Part 2 of 22:07
The Solar IV Curve
Chargers // PWM Solar Charger2:26
The Pulse Width Modulation
Chargers // PWM I/V Curve1:38
PWM Voltage Options
Chargers // MPPT Solar Charger2:19
Voltage Vs. Amperage: The MPPT Solar Charge Controller
Chargers // MPPT I/V Curve1:24
The magic of the MPPT Charge Controller
Chargers // Solar Charger Options2:03
Adjustable Settings & Solar Chargers
Chargers // PWM Wiring1:33
The Three Types of Chargers
Chargers // Battery Chargers1:10

Electricity // Battery Capacity2:08
Discharging your Battery
Electricity // The Battery Bank3:00
Discharging your Battery Bank
Electricity // DC Vs. AC Appliances2:17
DC Versus AC Appliances
Electricity // How AC is made2:06
Magnetic fields and AC power
Electricity // The AC Waveform1:33
The frequency of alternating current
Electricity // AC-DC Rectifier1:49
From AC to DC in 2 steps
Electricity // Wrap-up0:25

Inverters // The Basics3:44
The Total Harmonic Distortion
Inverters // Square Wave Inverter2:43
The Square Sine Wave
Inverters // Modified Sine Wave Inverter2:42
The Modified Sine Wave Inverter
Inverters // Pure Sine Wave Inverters1:57
Evaluate pure sine wave inverters against square and modified wave types, highlighting multi-step outputs that resemble a sine wave while delivering high quality, efficiency, and low distortion, at higher cost.
The [not so] Pure Sine Wave Inverter
Inverters // Battery Inverters2:21
Inverter Efficiency
Inverters // The Inverter Charger4:13
The Generator Assist Functionality
Inverters // Solar Inverters2:36
The 'Anti-Islanding' functionality
Inverters // Terminology3:17
Maximum & Nominal output power ratings
Inverters // Sizing Part 1 of 23:11
Sizing your inverter
Inverters // Sizing Part 2 of 22:53
Appliances & Maximum power ratings
Inverters // Wrap-up0:37

Fuses & Breakers // Fuses2:51
How to size your Fuse
Fuses & Breakers // Breakers2:18
The different current ratings for your breaker
Fuses & Breakers // Inside The Breaker2:04
The Magnetic Coil
Fuses & Breakers // The Arc Extinguisher1:55
The functioning of The Arc Extuinguisher
Fuses & Breakers // DC Vs. AC Breakers1:36
The Design of DC Breakers
Fuses & Breakers // Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters2:17
The function of the GFCI / RCD
Fuses & Breakers // Wrap-up1:10

Requirements

No prior knowledge is required, this course will teach you all that you need to know.
An eager mind is definitely helpful: Be ready to learn and absorb the knowledge!

Description

Are you interested in generating your power off the grid? This clear and comprehensive course teaches you how an off grid energy systems works, and which design options and considerations you should be aware of.

The video lectures implement the new Person-In-Presentation [PIP] format, whereby you watch both the instructor and the Dynamic Course Presentation at the same time: Boring lectures are a thing of the past.

This course provides you with solid and concise information, presented in a pleasant and enjoyable format: No more procrastination! Your course instructor is Jesse Gorter: A Renewable Energy Engineer with over 10 years of experience in the design and installation of Off Grid Energy Systems.

You will get a full understanding of all the topics related to Off Grid Energy Systems, brought to you in three [3] sections which each have three [3] subtopics: All you need to know in nine [9] chapters!

Generation [Section A]

Solar Panels
Generators
Alternators

Storage [Section B]

Batteries
Charge Controllers
Fundamentals of Electricity

Consumption [Section C]

Inverters
Wiring
Fuses & Breakers

You will learn the relevant material through small ‘chunks’ of video lectures of a few minutes each. After each lecture you have the possibility to test your knowledge through an [optional] multiple choice question.

Join the growing community of individuals who educate themselves properly on how to live off the grid. Take action now! Educate yourself by staring this course, so that you will be able to make well-informed decisions for your system. TIP: Udemy offers a very generous refund policy in case the course content turns out different than expected.

See you soon!

Jesse

Jesse Gorter

Renewable an Sustainable Energy Engineer, Master of Engineering

Mechanical Engineer, Energy Technology, Bachelor of Engineering

Who this course is for:

NOVICES who want to explore how to be self-sufficient in their energy needs
SYSTEM OWNERS who intend to upgrade their off grid energy system[s]
RV OWNERS who are planning to install a new energy system in their RV or upgrade the existing system
OFF GRID ENTHOUSIASTS who want to polish their understanding of energy systems and how to operate & configure the systems
COTTAGE OWNERS who current are without an energy system or are planning to upgrade their existing energy system
STUDENTS who want to have access to a compact and concise source of information on off grid energy systems
BOAT OWNERS who are planning to install a new energy system in their vessel or upgrade the existing system

Design Your Own Off-Grid Solar System: A Step-by-Step Guide

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Solar Panels6 lectures • 17min

Generators10 lectures • 28min

Alternators4 lectures • 9min

Batteries11 lectures • 27min

Charge Controllers11 lectures • 21min

Electricity7 lectures • 13min

Inverters11 lectures • 30min

Wiring5 lectures • 12min

Fuses & Breakers7 lectures • 14min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: