Solar/invertors

Question 1

What are the three types of investors?

Answer 1

True sine wave
Modified sine wave
Square sine wave

Question 2

Which inverter is the closest to an actual AC sine wave?

Answer 2

True sine wave inverters

Question 3

How does a true sine wave inverter work?

Answer 3

Uses transistors that switch very rapidly.

Question 4

How is the modified sine wave produced?

Answer 4

It’s produced by introducing an “off” time between the alternating polarities

Question 5

How are the inverters sized?

Answer 5

Sized to the customers AC load demands

Question 6

What is the minimum an inverter can be sized to

Answer 6

Sized to the demand from the largest single AC load

Question 7

What’s the maximum recommended battery cable run for a large inverter?

Answer 7

10’ max combined power and ground

Question 8

What two things need to be isolated during inverter operation?

Answer 8

The DC converter and the fridge

Question 9

What should be the circuit protection be for the inverter

Answer 9

200-400amp dude

Question 10

Where should the control panel be installed?

Answer 10

Should be installed in a protected location that is convenient for the customer to access

Question 11

What is the efficiency of the newer inverters?

Answer 11

90%

Question 12

How many amp/hrs should the battery bank be capable of supplying?

Answer 12

Twice the calculated amount/hrs

Question 13

What is the common gassing point of a deap cycle wet cell battery?

Answer 13

At 25C the gassing point is about 14V

Question 14

What happens when a wet cell battery isn’t brought to it gassing point during charging?

Answer 14

The surface is left on the plates and deterioration of the battery begins

Question 15

True or false?

All batteries should be brought up to their gassing point to properly charge?

Answer 15

FALSE!

AGM and GEL cell batteries must not be charged to their gassing point as it will be harmful to the battery

Question 16

How do you charge an AGM or GEL cell battery?

Answer 16

With a lower bulk charge voltage and a higher float voltage than a wet cell battery

Question 17

What are the 4 stages of a multi-stage charging system?

Answer 17

Bulk
Equalization
Absorption
Float

Question 18

What is a BULK charge?

Answer 18

A charge that gets as much current into the battery as fast as possible without damaging the battery

Question 19

What is the ABSORPTION charge?

Answer 19

Where voltage stays at 14.5V but current will slowly drop as the battery resistance increases

Question 20

What is the FLOAT charge?

Answer 20

This stage will keep the battery “full” but prevent gassing

Question 21

What is the basic purpose of a solar charging system?

Answer 21

To provide a potential source of DC power when sunlight is present

Question 22

What are the 4 components of a solar charging system?

Answer 22

Solar array
Regulator
Battery or battery bank
Conductors (wiring)

Question 23

What is the most important part of the solar panel? And what do they do?

Answer 23

Silicon cells. It’s a non-metal with conductive properties that give it the ability to convert sunlight into electricity

Question 24

What are the three types of silicon?

Answer 24

Single cell (monocrystalline)
Polycrystalline
Amorphous

Question 25

What is the efficiency and life expectancy of the monocrystalline panel

Answer 25

``` High efficiency (approx 12-16%) Longest life (25-30) ```

Question 26

What is the efficiency of polycrystalline?

Answer 26

Approx 11-12%

Question 27

Which type of silicon is the most susceptible to output loss does to heat?

Answer 27

Polycrystalline

Question 28

Which type of silicon is: Blue: Black: Brown:

Answer 28

Blue is polycrystalline Black is crystalline Brown is amorphous

Question 29

How efficient is amorphous?

Answer 29

6-8%

Question 30

When is amorphous generally used?

Answer 30

On calculators, trickle charge, or flexible panels

Question 31

What is added to the front of a solar panel to add durability and protection for the silicon

Answer 31

Glass

Question 32

What is the cell count of a high voltage panel?

Answer 32

60 cells at 0.53-0.54 volts/cell

Question 33

What is the cell count of a convention solar panel

Answer 33

36 cells at 0.5 volts/cell

Question 34

What’s the cell count of a self-regulating panel?

Answer 34

30-33 cells at 0.48 volts/cell

Question 35

What regulator do you need to use on a high voltage panel?

Answer 35

An MPPT ( multi power point tracker)

Question 36

What regulator do you need to use on a conventional solar panel?

Answer 36

A PWN (pulse width modulation) controller to reduce the voltage to 14.5V

Question 37

How is a solar panel rated?

Answer 37

In peak wattage at 24C and 1000watts per square meter of solar radiation

Question 38

What is the rate of loss due to temp?

Answer 38

0.4 volts for every 5C change above 27C

Question 39

What is the purpose of a charge controller?

Answer 39

To protect the batteries from overcharging

Question 40

What should you use to clean a solar panel?

Answer 40

Use a mild detergent and soft cloth