Installation and use on the balcony
Before you begin installing solar panels on your balcony, you must understand two things. Firstly: The battery which is included in the installation set cannot tolerate low temperatures and therefore the balcony must, as a minimum, be glazed and insulated. Second: it is necessary to provide for the possibility of switching all electrical consumers to power from the regular power grid in case the performance of the solar panel drops due to bad weather.
The battery is installed quite simply. The panels are fixed to the frame made of angle bars with 50 mm wide shelf. The frame must be securely attached to the capital elements of the building. walls or slabs, otherwise the structure will not withstand snow and wind loads.
Installing solar panels on the balcony
Do not forget that the solar panel regularly has to be cleaned from dust and dirt left by precipitation, so its panels should be placed in the field of access.
Note: A radiator is most effective if the rays fall on its surface at a right angle. In winter the sun deviates from the summer position at an angle of 12 degrees, so the framework with photovoltaic cells should also be able to rotate by this angle
Pros of solar panels in a multi-story house
In addition to the obvious advantage of solar energy as such, the installation of SES in a city apartment building provides the following benefits to the occupants:
- the use of a large area of the roof that does not perform any other useful functions;
- receiving increased generation due to the considerable height of the location, where the air in urban conditions is cleaner (according to calculations. about 5% for houses on 9 floors and up to 20%. for buildings up to 24 floors);
- Substantial, by several orders of magnitude, reduction of costs for lighting entrances and driveway.
solar panel mounting
Before starting to install the battery, one should weigh all the positive and negative features of each of the representatives of this area. On installing batteries in a private home, see this
It is necessary to remember that the room should be properly insulated and a constant temperature should be maintained there, as specified in the recommendation.
The system is simple to assemble and can be installed by yourself without the help of specialists. Solar panels on the balcony are placed so that they do not interfere with other useful items.
Since they need to be cleaned periodically, you should place the items in a convenient and reachable location. Photocells generate maximum when they are exposed to the sun at an angle of 90°. Since the sun is constantly changing its position the panels should be able to rotate at least 12 °, forming the optimum angle of the sun in the summer.
Tool kit
Photocell in the form of a film. CIGS For installation you must have the following materials
- glass, having the parameters: 700x1050x4 mm;
- Photocell set. 48 pcs.;
- Angle of aluminum 20×20 mm;
- soldering tool;
- soldering bars;
- Oxide removal mixture;
- tin;
- installation sealant;
- multimeter.
Stages of performing the work
- Execution of the case. Its dimensions should be larger than the glass by several centimeters. It consists of angles, qualitatively welded together. The resulting gaps between the joints must be closed with sealant. This in turn will increase the strength of the fabricated structure.
- Soldering photocells. Work with them should be extremely carefully, because they are fragile, and the cost is expensive. The last items are soldered directly onto the rails.
- Preparing the glass. This element should be treated with a special degreaser.
- Installing the glass. Position the glass in the prepared frame and fix it in position.
- Fastening the photocells. Fix them to the pane surface so that gaps are left between them.
- Checking the quality of the seal. If you need to correct deficiencies, you can do this by applying sealant on the glass border.
- Finishing the back side. This can be done with acrylic varnish. For more information on installing a 100-watt solar panel, see this
The solar panel, despite its positive qualities, is only a supplementary source of energy. So you shouldn’t give up a steady supply of electricity, which is centrally supplied. However, to save the budget, you can get rid of the use of powerful electric devices and give preference to saving.
The main problem in such conditions is the limited area suitable for installation. In addition, it should be taken into account the preference for windows facing south or a relatively small deviation from this direction, which can not be compensated for in all cases.
Apartment owners have only three options.
Installation of solar panels for the apartment on the balcony
Is not the best option. The main disadvantages:
- Requirement as close as possible to the perpendicular orientation of the working planes of the panels relative to the sun;
- The possibility of using a minimum area, so that the total power of the station will not exceed 1-2 kW.
For this reason, mini solar power plants of this type are used for a limited number of purposes:
- arranging a “winter garden” on the balcony, for lighting and heating which would be sufficient even in winter. It is not possible to use such solar panels for heating the entire apartment;
- providing power to the most important current-consuming devices. lights, laptops, gas boilers. in the event of a power outage.
Theoretically, installation and commissioning can be done independently, but to avoid problems it is better to contact the experts MyWatt.
Set of solar panels for the apartment on the bearing wall of the building
technically complex, but with expanded functionality and increased power variant. Disadvantages of “balcony” installation it is practically absent. Of the advantages of the modification should be noted:
- By varying the shape and design of fasteners the panels can be given an optimum angle of inclination in a wide range;
- The only insurmountable circumstance is the lack of space on the wall, illuminated by the sun. This is only possible if the house is located surrounded by trees with dense foliage, or if the shade is constantly cast by nearby tall buildings;
- The total capacity of the station and the specific efficiency is much higher than when placed on the balcony.
Solar panels for apartments on the roof of a high-rise building
Option, the most attractive in terms of opportunities, but characterized by serious administrative complexities and technical limitations.
The main technological problem is the impracticality of using such SES by the occupants of apartments located on the lower floors of tall buildings. This is due to a direct dependence of energy loss on the length of cables. With a distance of tens of meters to the roof, the system efficiency could fall by 15-25%.
Nevertheless, in the southern regions of Russia such SES in multi-storey buildings have been functioning for several years. True, they are installed for the whole house at the builder’s expense, and mainly cover the need for lighting entrances and power elevators.
Theoretically, such a station is limited in power only by the area of the roof. Installation on flat roofs is also not difficult and allows:
Efficiency of the solar panel
According to user feedback, the 4-panel balcony system is capable of generating up to 2 kW of electricity per daylight-summer day. This is enough to illuminate the apartment with energy-saving lamps, recharge your cell phone and, perhaps, to run some household appliances. For full use of all appliances (washing machine, water heater and stove) current generated by the balcony solar system, of course, not enough. In winter, the performance of the system is lower by 3-4 times.
Free cheese without a mousetrap
The genius Nikola Tesla once said that the space around us is an ocean of free energy. Exhausted by gas and oil addiction, mankind has always looked for an opportunity to join this ocean and scoop up at least a small part of its contents. One way this can be done is by using devices invented in the 1950’s called solar cells. Since their invention, they have been continually improved, becoming more efficient, reliable and durable.
So how does a solar panel work?? The most important part of a modern solar cell is the photovoltaic cell, the material of which has semiconductor properties. Many such parts are interconnected to form panels of different sizes. Under the influence of solar radiation, the solar cell generates direct electrical current, but it can not be used directly to power electrical consumers. To give such electricity a “digestible” form, a special device. an inverter. is used.
Another important component in the solar cell is the battery. It makes it possible to store electrical energy in the period of intensive solar radiation and then use it as required.
Today for the manufacture of solar cells different materials are used, which differ in cost and efficiency. Some of the most common include:
Silicon polycrystals
This type of photovoltaic cells is the most in demand because it has the best cost/performance ratio. Another advantage is the simplicity of installation, which can be easily handled even by an untrained person. Polycrystalline cells can be recognized by their characteristic blue color.
Silicon Monocrystals
This type of photovoltaic cells are more powerful than polycrystalline, but they are much more expensive. The main feature of monocrystals is that they are polygonal in shape. This determines their inherent disadvantage: monocrystalline photocells cannot be combined into a solid array, there are always gaps between the individual parts. Thus, part of the area assembled from such elements is wasted.
This type of photocells is inferior in performance to the two described above, but is still in sufficient demand due to its affordable price.
Photovoltaic cells made from this material are in the form of a film up to 0.5 mm thick. Such film can be partially transparent, which makes it possible to use it over balcony glazing. In this case, in addition to its main function, it will play the role of glass tinting.
CIGS (semiconductor material)
Photovoltaic cells based on CIGS are also made as a film, but compared with cadmium telluride they have a higher performance.
Differences in performance between the materials listed are quite significant. For example, a 1 sq. m, made of monocrystalline silicon, in ideal conditions generates 125 watts of electricity. A similarly sized ammonium silicon battery has an electrical output of only 50 watts.
There is always warmth in the apartment. And to keep it in it as long as possible will help heat-saving film for windows. Read more about its characteristics and use in our article.
And if you’ve decided to clad your balcony with siding you might be interested in our article with instructions on how to install it
Solar Solution For Apartments?? | Sunpower 50 Watt Flex Panel
Solar panels on the balcony and loggia
Autonomous power supply will help to create solar panels on the balcony or loggia.
On the autonomy of their homes thoughtful not only the owners of private houses. This topic is also relevant for apartment owners. And if their own well they can not get, then the installation of solar panels on the balcony or loggia multi-storey are ready to tell you.
What happens if you put a solar panel on your balcony
Ecology of Consumption.Home:Alternative energy sources are becoming more affordable. Solar panels are increasingly seen on country houses or city balconies.
Despite all the advantages of using solar panels, alternative energy in our country is underdeveloped enough.
There are many reasons for this: from adverse weather conditions to the high cost of the panels. But this does not stop many Russians, if you are among them, then you can choose between two options: buying a ready-made set, consisting of panels and a system of batteries, or self-assembly of individual parts.
In the first case, the costs will be much higher. So, for example, a German company has developed a special solar construction, the elements of which are panels with a capacity of 195 W. They are popularly known as “balcony power plants”. Solar panels for home, produced under the brand Sun Invention. Plug Save, have standard sizes and special skills are not required for their installation. That’s just their cost will confuse many. 2800 euros, such a solar system will not be affordable to everyone.
Another thing is the system, which many craftsmen make their own hands. Information about them even sometimes appears in the media. The advantage of the solar panel, assembled at home, is not only its low cost (compared to the factory panel with identical characteristics costs will be 3 times lower), but also the ability to take into account all the necessary technical nuances that meet your personal needs.
For Russian conditions, experts advise choosing a polycrystalline module. It is better suited to the weak Russian natural sunlight. All elements of the panel with such a module covered by a special laminate, which is resistant to both temperature changes, and the effects of snow and rain.
Most of the ready-made solar plants are equipped with batteries, controllers and devices with USB-outlets and standard outputs, suitable for charging lamps, portable devices and small household appliances.
Batteries on the balcony
Marina Bystrina from St. Petersburg had a solar panel installed on her balcony.
I have a small solar panel, polycrystal, stands on the balcony, it was assembled for me by friends. It’s hooked up to a USB adapter, and I use it to turn on a mini-fan in the summer and for the Turkish color lights all year round,” Marina Bystrina said.
Ivan Gerasimov from Novosibirsk has 65-watt medium-sized solar panels on his balcony. According to him, they allow to accumulate about 6 amps/hour each. With this amperage, he manages to charge his laptop by about half. A phone from the batteries can be fully charged in a few sunny morning hours, and two nightlights from a fully charged battery can run for three nights in a row.
The machine generates more than 2,500 watts, or 2.5 kilowatts. The average laptop consumes about 100 watts per hour, the telephone about 70, a lamp 10-15 watts per hour.
No additional legal permits are required to install solar panels on the balcony. The Department of Housing and Communal Services at the place of residence clarified that if the batteries do not interfere with other residents, then there is no need to obtain permits for their installation.
Just in case, the Moscow Housing Inspectorate recommended to contact the Chief Architectural and Planning Department of Moskomarhitektura, in order to find out if there will be any complaints about the change in the appearance of the building. In some cases, when we are talking about houses that are objects of cultural heritage, monuments of architecture, changing the appearance of the facade of the building is possible only after obtaining permission.
Related to the installation of solar panels redevelopment is regulated by the decree of October 25, 2011. N 508-PP of the Government of Moscow “On the organization of the alteration and (or) redevelopment of residential and nonresidential premises in apartment buildings and apartment houses. In it you can read, in which cases approval is still required.
This is also true for businesses, but you have to order a pnolr to save on costs.
Dozens of companies offer installation of solar panels and the Moscow region. Despite the fact that the productivity of batteries in the winter months is reduced by three or four times, their use can provide energy to a small country house with the necessary minimum of electrical appliances. Solar installations are more and more popular among Moscow suburbs.
The larger the size of the battery, the more efficient it works. So, to light a cottage, you need a big house, respectively, a large and expensive installation. Winter snow can be cleaned with a regular brush, and water is not trapped on the panels due to the position of the installation, which is selected by the installer taking into account the conditions on a particular site.
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Advantages and disadvantages of solar panels
The advantages of solar panels are obvious:
- free electricity;
- environmental friendliness;
- durability (service life of modern systems is 20 to 25 years)
- reliability (since batteries contain no moving parts, they fail only in exceptional cases);
- minimum maintenance (the panels only need to be cleaned of dust and dirt).
- instability (battery performance depends not only on time of day, but also on the weather);
- high cost (the price of a more or less serious installation for domestic use starts at 3,500 euros);
- low performance compared to traditional energy sources.
