SOLAR PV SYSTEMS - Photovoltaic (PV) Systems Complete Course

Explore solar radiation and its types: direct, diffuse, and rebounded, along with atmospheric loss, extraterrestrial solar radiation at 1367 watts per square meter, and altitude effects.

Explore the sun path concepts, including equator, Greenwich meridian, Tropic of Capricorn and Cancer, azimuth, and solar height, and learn to face and tilt solar panels for optimal PV performance.

Understand the difference between solar radiation and solar irradiation, and learn how peak sun hours convert daily irradiation into a practical sizing metric for PV systems.

Explore how solar irradiance varies by location using solar irradiation tables. Analyze how latitude, height, and panel tilt influence peak sun hours and seasonal variations across different regions.

Learn shadow calculations for photovoltaic systems, determine how shadows affect panel performance, and set spacing using latitude, declination, hour angle, and solar elevation.

Learn to use NASA's solar radiation tool via the Power Data Access Viewer to fetch site irradiance, set latitude, and evaluate wind, temperature, and tilt effects on PV output.

Off-grid photovoltaic systems operate independently of the grid, ideal for isolated locations or outages, providing backup with a battery bank. They use solar panels, charge controllers, an off-grid inverter.

Explore on-grid photovoltaic systems connected to the grid for self-consumption and surplus energy injection, through an on-grid inverter and bidirectional energy meter.

Understand hybrid photovoltaic systems that pair grid connection with battery back-up for self-consumption and grid injections, using solar panels, charge controller, hybrid inverter, and batteries.

Explore how solar panels use silicon photovoltaic cells and their depletion region to create an internal electric field that drives electron flow to electrical loads.

Polycrystalline panels run about 17% efficiency, while monocrystalline reach around 22%, with monocrystalline offering less area and similar cost per watt due to economies of scale, and MC4 connectors.

Examine the technical characteristics of solar panels, including max power, voltage and current at the maximum power point, and the effects of irradiance and temperature on performance, efficiency, and warranty.

Interconnect solar panels in series, parallel, or mixed strings to form PV arrays, adjusting voltage and current and enhancing energy output.

Bloomberg ranking classifies solar panel manufacturers into tiers 1–3 by financial strength, R&D, and production capacity, not by panels; tier 1 ~2%, tier 2 ~8%, tier 3 ~90%.

Explore how shadow density reduces current in solar cells, lowering panel output, and how bypass diodes and string design help preserve energy, highlighting the need for matched panels.

Learn how solar inverters convert DC to AC for home and industry, compare off-grid and on-grid inverters, and explore battery storage, charge controllers, and grid injections for savings.

Analyze the off grid inverter's technical characteristics for solar systems, covering DC input from PV arrays, MP truckers, maximum input power, AC input/output, battery types, efficiency, and sine wave options.

Explore on-grid and hybrid inverters, their grid synchronization, voltage limits, and grid injection for self-consumption. Capture input and output characteristics, efficiency, protection, and how inverters can be paralleled for capacity.

Master battery basics, including voltage, capacity, and amp-hours, and how series and parallel connections shape inverter voltage and energy storage for solar pv systems.

Explore how lead acid batteries operate, including charging and discharging dynamics, the role of electrolyte density, lead sulfate formation, and how depth of discharge and temperature affect service life.

Explore lead acid battery types: flooded, gel, and AGM, along with the charge stages of bulk, absorption, float, and equalization.

Learn about lithium batteries for solar PV: characteristics, charge stages, cycle life, temperature sensitivity, and the need for a charge controller.

Learn how charge controllers regulate battery charge and discharge to prevent overcharge and electrolyte boiling, extending battery life in off-grid inverter systems.

Classify charge controllers as pwm and mppt, showing pwm imposes battery voltage on the pv array while mppt operates at the maximum power point for higher efficiency.

Plan and design solar panel installations with safety at the forefront. Assess temperature, shading, and materials to prevent delays and maximize performance.

Explore solar panel structures for tile and flat roofs, including fixed and adjustable inclinations, clamps and counterweights, and methods to secure panels against wind.

Learn off-grid photovoltaic system sizing by calculating loads, selecting a 5 kw inverter, sizing a 6x580 w solar array, and designing a 48 volt lithium battery bank for 3 days.

Compare the economic evaluation of an off grid photovoltaic system against a generator, compute payback, fuel costs, and life-cycle costs, revealing accumulated net profit and long-term viability.

Size an on-grid photovoltaic system to cover 80% of daily energy use by analyzing South Carolina solar irradiation and selecting 580 W panels with a 7000 W inverter.

Evaluates the economics of an on-grid photovoltaic system with subsidies and net metering. Shows 10,552 kilowatt hours annual generation, 12,964 kilowatt hours consumption, $1,266 annual savings, and a 6.3-year payback.