Ecology of consumption. Home: Alternative energy sources are becoming more accessible. Solar panels can increasingly be seen on country houses or city balconies.

Despite all the advantages of using solar panels, alternative energy in our country is rather poorly developed.

There are many reasons: from adverse weather conditions to the high cost of panels. But this does not stop many Russians, if you are one of this number, then two options are possible: purchase ready set consisting of panels and a battery system or self-assembly individual parts.

In the first case, the costs will be an order of magnitude higher. So, for example, one German company has developed a special solar design, the elements of which are panels with a power of 195 W. They are popularly called “balcony power plants.” Solar panels for the home, produced under the Sun Invention – Plug & Save brand, have standard sizes and no special skills are required for their installation. But their cost will confuse many - 2800 euros; such a solar system will not be affordable for everyone.

Another thing is the systems that numerous craftsmen make with their own hands. Information about them even sometimes appears in the media. The advantage of a solar battery assembled at home is not only its low cost (in comparison with a factory panel with identical characteristics, the costs will be 3 times less), 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 weak Russian natural sunlight. All panel elements with such a module are covered with a special laminate, which is resistant to both temperature changes and the effects of snow and rain.

Most of the ready-made solar installations are equipped with batteries, controllers and devices with USB outputs and standard outputs, suitable for charging lamps, portable devices and small household appliances.

Batteries on the balcony

Marina Bystrina from St. Petersburg installed a solar panel on her balcony.

I have a small solar battery, polycrystalline, standing on the balcony; my friends assembled it for me. It is connected to a USB adapter, and I use it to turn on a mini-fan in the summer and for Turkish colored lamps throughout the year, says Marina Bystrina.

Ivan Gerasimov from Novosibirsk has medium-sized 65-watt solar panels on his balcony. According to him, they allow you to accumulate approximately 6 Amperes/hour. With this amperage, he manages to charge his laptop about halfway. A battery-powered phone can be fully charged in a few sunny morning hours, and two night lights from a fully charged battery can work for three nights in a row.

The installation produces more than 2500 watts, or 2.5 kW. An average laptop consumes about 100 watts per hour during operation, a telephone – about 70, a lamp – 10-15 watts/hour.

Installation permission

No additional legal permits are required to install solar panels on a balcony. The housing department 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 contacting the Main Architectural and Planning Department of the Moscow Architecture Committee to find out if there would be any complaints about changing the appearance of the building. In a number of cases, when we are talking about houses that are objects of cultural heritage, architectural monuments, changing the appearance of the building facade is possible only after obtaining permission.

Redevelopment related to the installation of a solar battery is regulated by Decree No. 508-PP of the Moscow Government dated October 25, 2011 “On organizing the redevelopment and (or) redevelopment of residential and non-residential premises V apartment buildings And residential buildings" In it you can read in which cases approval will still be required.

This is also relevant for enterprises, but you need to order pnoolr to save on costs.

Moscow region experience

Dozens of companies offer installation of solar panels in Moscow and the Moscow region. Despite the fact that battery performance decreases three to four times during the winter months, their use can provide energy for a small Vacation home With the necessary minimum electrical appliances. Solar installations They are becoming increasingly popular among residents of the Moscow region.

The larger the battery, the more efficient it is. So, to illuminate a country house, you will need an installation costing no more than 150-200 thousand rubles. For big house– accordingly, a large and expensive installation. Snow is cleaned in winter with a regular brush, and water does not linger on the panels due to the installation position, which is selected by the master taking into account the conditions in a particular area.

Recently, the topic of searching for natural energy sources has become increasingly relevant. It's not just a matter of preserving environment, but also in significant savings. Among the most accessible and effective means, allowing you to get electricity literally from nothing, includes solar panels. The cost of a home kit, reviews and information about the 8 best budget models are in this material.

Read in the article

Operating principles and types of solar panels for a private home

First of all, in order not to look like an amateur in the eyes of professional consultants, you need to understand that solar panels are correctly called “photovoltaic converters.” A person who is at least somewhat familiar with school course physics, knows that light is converted into electricity through p-n junction. The operation of solar panels is based on this principle.

For your information! Per coefficient useful action photovoltaic cell is influenced by manufacturing technology. Manufacturers offer latest materials, capable of extracting energy even on cloudy and cloudy days.

It is necessary to dwell in more detail on the types of solar panels.

Amorphous photovoltaic converters

Made of silicon with a thin-film structure. They are considered ineffective, since they produce almost half as much energy compared to other types. But they have their advantage - they are very thin elements that can be installed on any roof. In addition, they are more sensitive than other types of batteries and can withstand overheating better. It makes sense to buy such solar panels for a private home in order to obtain not the main, but an additional energy source.

Micromorphic silicon

Material of a new generation of photoelectric converters. They confidently outperform their predecessors in terms of price and efficiency. Such solar storage devices are not so capricious regarding their orientation relative to the cardinal directions and the angle of inclination.

These converters are top sellers. They can be called the most successful ratio of quality, efficiency and price. Such converters look like bluish squares. They extract electricity even in high clouds and cloudy weather. Their only drawback is their relatively short service life. Due to natural oxidation of the surface, the efficiency will gradually decrease starting from the fourth year of operation.

Monocrystalline converters

Very efficient devices suitable for small roof. They are resistant to adverse weather conditions and oxidation. The black squares of these elements are covered with natural protective film under the influence of air. The exceptional characteristics of these elements correspond to their price. The cost of a set of such solar panels for home and garden starts from 500 thousand rubles.

What does the price of a set of solar panels for a home consist of?

A home power plant based on photovoltaic segments consists of a set of devices:

• panels – converters solar energy;
• batteries – storage devices;
• inverter and controller.

It is important to correctly calculate solar panels for a private home, their optimal quantity and power.

For your information! When calculating the required number of converters, it should be taken into account that storage devices also take part in the energy output. The higher the capacity of these devices, the more efficient the operation of the entire system.

The controller in a home solar power system is an important device. Many people prefer to save money and not purchase it, and as a result, they incur additional costs due to battery failure. The fact is that with excess energy supplied to the battery, its service life decreases.

So it turns out that the cost of a home station consists of three parts - panels (from 6,000 rubles), batteries (from 6,500 rubles) and a controller (from 3,500 rubles).

How to assemble a DIY solar panel kit for your home in the video below:

Solar batteries for home: kit cost, reviews, technical specifications

The demand for photovoltaic converters is growing and, accordingly, an increasing number of companies are appearing offering their services for the supply of home solar power plants. How much does a solar battery cost for a private home and are there kits that have already proven themselves in our climate?

So, the effectiveness of the device will depend on several factors:

• power indicators (average daily, peak, seasonal);
• duration of autonomous operation;
• intensity solar lighting area of ​​the site at different times.

Let's look at the most popular solar panels for the home, the cost of the kit, and customer reviews. Stations with a “budget” cost were selected for analysis:

Model	Equipment	Technical data and price		Review: Grigory, Saratov
SE Sunset (set)	Panel module FSM 100M 12V – 1 pc.	Battery capacity, Ah	55	Great option for small dacha! We go there on weekends, there is just enough energy for evening lighting and a couple of small appliances. The wife is very pleased, so far the task of installing a power line to the dacha is not worth it.
	Connectors MC 4 – 1 pc.	Installed power, W	100
	Controller EP RC-EC – 1 pc.	Rated power, W	300
	Inverter S 300 COTEK 12 V – 1 piece	Peak power, W	400
	Battery H RL Delta 55 – 1 pc.	Country of origin	China
		Price, rub	43 420

Model	Equipment	Technical data and price		Review: Arthur, Tver
SE (set) FES		System output, W per day	800-1000	In winter, the station operates underfloor heating, in summer - a pump with filters in the pool and lighting in the garden. The system works flawlessly and provides energy even on cloudy days.
	Inverter IS 2 12-300 – 1 pc.	Power of solar modules, W	100
	EP Solar Tracer (controller) MP PT 10A – 1 pc.	Accumulated power, W	1200
	Battery GX 12 V DELTA 100 Ah (GEL) – 1 pc.	Nom. inverter power, W	300
	Connector MC4 – 2 pcs.	Country of origin	Russia
	FSM module 100 W mono – 1 pc.	Price	44 720

Model	Equipment	Technical data and price		Review: Yuri, Petrozavodsk
Solar station (set) Economy Sunshines	Module FSM-150P 150W/12 V – 1 pc.	Battery capacity, Ah	100	We bought several systems for houses on the forest base. For two houses - one set. More than enough. It is clear that few consumers are connected, but there is light and the refrigerators are working. Fishermen don't need any more.
	Controller 10A – 1 pc.	Rated power, W	150
	Delta 100Ah/12V battery – 1 pc.	Peak power, W	600
	Inverter 300 W – 1 pc.	Rated voltage, V	12
		Country of origin	Russia
		Price, rub	53 260

Model	Equipment	Technical data and price		Review: Olga, Gatchina
SE (set) Dacha Mini	OSD panel 255:2	Battery capacity, Ah	200	In the summer we go to live in the country, the pump in the well runs from solar panels, this is very convenient. Plus we turn on the light on the veranda in the evening. Refrigerator, kettle, enough power for everything. If we lived here permanently, it would make sense to buy a more powerful set.
	Inverter 1kW ACME or exmork: 1	Installed power, W	510
	Battery 100Ah A GM: 2	Rated power, W	1000
	Connector for parallel connection: 1	Open circuit voltage, V	37,1
	Battery controller Shim: 1	Country of origin	Russia
	Cable 4 mm sq: 2	Price, rub	81 710

Model	Equipment	Technical data and price		Review: Alexey, Smolensk
Solar station (set) Sunforce PROMO	Sunways FSM 200P module – 2 pcs.	Battery capacity, Ah	75	It has not yet been possible to completely abandon wired electricity, but with the help of this station you can save a lot. Our energy consumption is high: in addition to the house, there are two greenhouses. Heating and lighting greenhouses is precisely the task of this installation. It does an excellent job.
	MC4 connectors – 1 pc.	Installed power, W	400
	Inverter/charge controller Sunways UMA 1K-24 MPPT – 1 pc.	Peak power, W	1600
	Delta HRL 75 Ah – 2 pcs.	Country of origin	China
		Price, rub	103 460

Model	Equipment	Technical data and price		Review: Evgeniy, Ufa
Solar station (set) Comfort Sunshines	Module FSM-250P (250W/24V) – 2 pcs.	Battery capacity, Ah	400	We live outside the city all the time. My wife didn’t agree to the purchase for a long time, but it was still a decent amount. And now he recommends that our neighbors follow our example. We calculated that the device would pay for itself in three years. Enough for all needs, very satisfied.
	Battery (GEL 200A*h/12V) – 2 pcs.	Rated power, W	480
	Controller MP PT 2210 RN 12/24V 20A – 1 pc.	Peak power, W	3000
	Inverter (sinusoidal, 1500 W) – 1 pc.	Rated voltage, V	24
		Country of origin	Russia
		Price, rub	181 120

Model	Equipment	Technical data and price		Review: Victor, Kursk
Solar station (set) Dacha Standard	OSD panel 255 – 4 pcs.	Battery capacity, Ah	400	I replaced all the lamps in the house and basically don’t pay for electricity. Fully autonomous system, for particularly cloudy days I keep a diesel generator in reserve, and this is enough for all the necessary electrical appliances.
	Inverter EP 3200 – 35 00-24 2 kW with charger – 1 pc.	Installed power	1020
	Batteries 200 Ah AGM – 2 pcs.	Rated power, W	2000
	Connector for parallel connection – 3 pcs.	Open circuit voltage, V	37,1
	Controller Tracer MP PT 4215 BN 40A 12/24 V – 1 pc.	Country of origin	Russia
	Cable 4 mm sq – 2 pcs.	Price, rub	195 950

Model	Equipment	Technical data and price		Review: Vlad, Tula
Solar-SE500 Mini	Inverter 12 Volt 450 Watt with built-in MP PT controller	Power, W	450	Installed it at the dacha. Quite enough to illuminate a house with a veranda and. On sunny days there is enough energy for lighting, operating the kettle, charging the phone and other little things.
	Solar battery BLD Solar BLD100	Peak power, W	900
	Battery Ventura GPL 12	Battery voltage, V	12
		Battery energy reserve, W*h	900
		Country of origin
		Price, rub	42 800

1. Photovoltaic converters must be installed in places that have the longest possible contact with sunlight. This can be either the side of the roof or the wall.
2. When installing solar panels, you need to remember that winter time they will have to be cleared of snow daily. It’s worth immediately thinking about how to make this process convenient and safe.
3. Converters need to prevent overheating. This must be taken into account during installation.

More details about the module installation process in the video below:

Summarizing

We reviewed the reviews, the cost of solar panel kits for the home. The conclusions are:

1. Photoelectric converters are indispensable in conditions where there is no wired electricity or in places where it is supplied intermittently.
2. Solar home power plants will make a private house autonomous and independent.
3. Among other things, with the help of an environmentally friendly energy source you will contribute to the conservation of nature.

For ease of maintenance of the panels, it is preferable to place them on the wall or on special stands on the site.

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Reasons for popularity alternative sources energy are quite understandable: there is an opportunity to save on fuel and make dreams of environmentally friendly life support systems come true. By skillfully using the energy of the sun, wind and water, you can country house turn into a modern eco-house.

We will tell you how to install solar heating in a private home, and we will analyze with you how profitable it is. In order to thoroughly cover the issues of using daylight energy, we have described in detail all the popular options that have received practical use and positive user reviews.

Taking into account our recommendations, you can build an effective solar system for your dacha or country house. To make difficult material easier to understand, we have supplemented the information visual diagrams, illustrations and video tutorials.

The intermediaries between the sun's rays and the energy-generating mechanism are solar panels or collectors, which differ in both purpose and design.

Batteries accumulate solar energy and allow it to be used to power household appliances. electrical appliances. They are panels with photocells on one side and a locking mechanism on the other. You can experiment and assemble the battery yourself, but it’s easier to buy ready-made elements - the choice is quite wide.

Solar systems (solar collectors) are part of the heating system of a house. Large thermally insulated boxes with coolant, like batteries, are mounted on raised panels facing the sun or roof slopes.

It is a mistake to believe that absolutely all northern regions receive much less natural heat than southern ones. Let's say in Chukotka or central Canada sunny days much more than in the UK to the south

To increase efficiency, the panels are placed on dynamic mechanisms that resemble a tracking system - they rotate following the movement of the sun. The energy conversion process occurs in tubes located inside the boxes.

The main difference between solar systems and solar panels is that the former heat the coolant, and the latter accumulate electricity. It is possible to heat the room using photocells, but the design schemes are irrational and are suitable only for those areas where there are at least 200 sunny days a year.

Diagram of a heating system with a solar collector connected to a boiler and a backup source of electricity (for example, a gas boiler) running on traditional fuel (+)

Pros and cons of an alternative heating system

There are not many advantages of a solar heating system, but each of them is significant and can become a reason for private experiments:

• Environmental benefits. This is a clean source of heat that is safe for the residents of the house and the surrounding environment and does not require the use of traditional types of fuel.
• Autonomy. System owners are absolutely independent of energy prices and the economic situation in the country.
• Economical. By maintaining the traditional heating system, it becomes possible to reduce the cost of paying for hot water supply.
• Public availability. To install solar systems, you do not need permission from government authorities.

But there are also unpleasant moments that can spoil the overall picture. For example, determining the efficiency of the system will require a long period - at least 3 years (provided that there is enough solar energy and it is used actively).

Installing solar modules alone will require large investments: the cheapest silicon panels will cost at least 2,200 rubles. per piece, and polycrystalline six-diode elements of the first category - up to 17,000 per piece. Calculating the cost of 30 modules is quite simple (+)

Users note the following disadvantages:

• high prices for equipment necessary to put the system into operation;
• direct dependence of the amount of heat produced on geographical location and weather;
• mandatory availability of a backup source, for example, gas boiler(in practice, the solar system often turns out to be a backup).

To achieve greater returns, you have to regularly monitor the serviceability of the collectors, clean them of debris and protect them from the formation of ice during frosts. If the temperature often drops below 0ºC, you need to take care of additional thermal insulation not only of the elements of the solar system, but also of the house as a whole.

Image gallery

Solar energy for heating

The main purpose of energy storage photovoltaic cells is to provide electricity to the home. To include them in the circuit and achieve optimal functioning, it is necessary to assemble the circuit with a storage tank.

It is in it that the water will be heated, which, having reached a certain temperature, will fill the pipes and radiators in the rooms that require heating (living room, bathroom).

A system powered by solar energy, with a double-circuit tank that organizes heating and supply hot water in two directions: in heating radiators and to parsing points (+)

Let's try to figure it out design features solar panels and determine their potential role in the heating system.

The principle of operation of panels with photocells

There are three common types of elements for solar panels:

• Monocrystalline. These are thin wafers of the purest silicon, cut from a crystal grown under artificial conditions. The most productive variety with an efficiency of about 17-18%. Optimal temperature for operation – from 5 ºС to 25 ºС.

• Polycrystalline. Made from wafers obtained by gradual cooling of silicon melt. The technology for their production is less labor-intensive, but the efficiency of photovoltaic elements made from polycrystalline is significantly lower - no more than 12%.

• Amorphous. They are film. Manufactured by the evaporation phase method, as a result of which silicon in the form of a thin film is deposited on a flexible polymer base. The cheapest production method is combined with low productivity, estimated at up to 7%.

For installation of autonomous heating systems in northern regions The most suitable option is considered to be those assembled from monocrystalline elements. However, batteries with amorphous modules are easier to install, practically do not require a base and are much cheaper.

A monocrystalline module consists of series-connected elements combined into modules. Several modules form a solar battery. The dark surface of solar photovoltaic systems optimizes the absorption of solar rays

The task of external elements is to absorb and transform the sun's rays. The released energy goes further and is concentrated in a storage tank. A small element provides about 100-250 W, and a prefabricated panel of 25-30 m² provides electricity small house. Installing a heating system will require 2-3 times more energy.

An inverter acts as a converter of direct current from solar “production” into electricity, since for operation household electrical appliances and lamps require alternating current.

If we talk specifically about the heating system, an electric boiler for heating water also runs on alternating current. To provide light to your home at night, you will need batteries that store daytime supplies.

Inverter modules are installed in a place convenient for maintenance, although it does not require constant control and operates in automatic mode (+)

Efficiency of using photocells

The easiest way is to purchase and apply one of the simple schemes that have been proven over the years. However, circumstances sometimes dictate their own conditions. Let's say you have a great functioning solar generator system, but for now it only serves to supply electricity and provide hot water to your home.

It is clear that buying new equipment is unprofitable, so it is easier to increase power by purchasing a certain number of photoelectric converters. A budget option– silicon panels with productivity up to 23-25%.

Must be connected to a power source heating device, powered by electricity. A universal option is a boiler equipped with distribution wiring.

Polymer film elements on Russian market are much less common than silicon mono- and polycrystalline analogues. They are easy to install, but have low efficiency - only 6%

If the electricity supply is properly organized, it should be enough for both hot water supply and heating. There are examples when the house is fully provided with heat - it can be recognized by the roof, almost completely covered with panels.

Sometimes it is necessary to erect special free-standing structures if the roof area is not enough. It turns out that to increase power, additional free space is needed.

Even the most careful calculations will not help you determine the exact amount of potential energy and quickly create an effective, well-functioning system. The fact is that in practice obstacles arise, the appearance of which is quite difficult to predict.

Here are some of the factors:

• Inconsistency of weather. The exact number of sunny days is unknown even in the southern regions. It is almost impossible to reliably predict their number in the northern regions.
• Irregularity of receiving electricity. For example, in the northern regions there are short daylight hours in winter, so a lot of recycled solar energy is spent on lighting. In addition, the intensity of solar radiation in winter period decreases significantly.
• Periodic breakdowns. Like all technical systems Solar panels can fail from time to time due to damage to individual elements, contract connections, protective surfaces, etc.

Consequently, you can find out about the effectiveness only after a certain period of time, at least after a year. It may be necessary to increase the number of photocells or batteries, consider additional thermal insulation of the house, and reduce the heated area. Suppose that in the northern regions of Germany, in order to save money, bedrooms are often not heated at all.

Maintenance of installed photocells does not require special skills and consists of regular cleaning: removing snow in winter and debris in warm periods, washing the glass surface with water from a hose

Home power plant installation diagram

The easiest way is to contact a company that sells system components and offers installation services. Pros – a professional project taking into account individual characteristics, warranty on all products and installation, minus – high cost.

If you have relevant experience, you can independently assemble a mini-power station with solar panels for heating a private home.

The most effective is considered to be a hybrid scheme for the design of an air-solar system, in which photocells are used to generate energy, collectors for heating water, and an additional wind generator is installed. It can be replaced with a backup fuel source (+)

All parts for assembling the heating system are sold in specialized stores.

You will need to purchase the following components:

• a set of silicon or film solar modules;
• a rechargeable battery that stores energy;
• charge controller that regulates the process of charging and discharging the battery;
• inverter converting D.C. to variable;
• set of connecting cables.

It is desirable that the batteries be the same (taking into account the brand, capacity and even batch) and be able to store energy for 3-4 days. The duration of their operation depends on the room temperature - in cold conditions they quickly discharge. If the daily consumption is 2400 Wh, batteries with a total capacity of at least 1000 Ah are required.

Using car batteries remember that they maximum efficiency– 70-75% (service life – 3 years), special devices for solar systems have the best performance – up to 85% (service life – 10 years). Some energy is lost during storage and conversion

The quality of the current generated by sinusoidal ones is higher than the current from centralized network. A special feature of the equipment is the synchronization of the voltage phase, in which the transition from 12 V to 220 V is carried out without interruption in the functioning of household electrical appliances.

Inverter power – from 250 W to 6000 W and above. You can increase the output power by emptying parallel connection several devices. For example, 3 x 3000 W = 9000 W (+)

After installing all elements of the solar system, you need to connect it to the inverter electric tank, heating the water, and in turn, a heating pipeline is connected to the tank.

Collector heating system

The greatest efficiency and return can be achieved by installing collectors instead of solar modules - external installations in which water is heated under the influence of solar radiation. Such a system is more logical and natural, since it does not require heating of the coolant by other devices.

Let's consider the design and principle of operation of two main types of devices: flat and tubular.

Flat version for self-production

The design of flat installations is so simple that experienced craftsmen assemble handicraft analogues with their own hands, purchasing some of the parts in a specialized store, and constructing some from scrap materials.

Inside the steel or aluminum insulated box there is a plate that absorbs solar heat. Most often it is coated with a layer of black chrome. The heat absorber is protected on top by a sealed transparent cover.

The water is heated in tubes arranged like a snake and connected to the plate. Water or antifreeze enters the box through the inlet pipe, heats up in the tubes and moves to the outlet - to the outlet pipe.

The light transmittance of the cover is due to the use transparent material– durable tempered glass or plastic (for example, polycarbonate). To prevent the sun's rays from being reflected, the glass or plastic surface is matted (+)

There are two types of connection, one-pipe and two-pipe; there is no fundamental difference in the choice. But there is a big difference in the way the coolant will be supplied to the collectors - gravity or using a pump. The first option is considered ineffective due to the low speed of water movement; according to the heating principle, it resembles a container for a summer shower.

The functioning of the second option occurs due to the connection circulation pump, which supplies coolant forcibly. Source of energy for work pumping equipment could become a solar-powered power system.

The temperature of the coolant when heated by the solar collector reaches 45-60 ºС, at the outlet the maximum value is 35-40 ºС. To increase the efficiency of the heating system, “warm floors” are used along with radiators (+)

Tubular collectors - a solution for the northern regions

The general principle of operation is reminiscent of the functioning of flat analogues, but with one difference - heat exchange tubes with coolant are located inside glass flasks. The tubes themselves are feather, sealed on one side and appearance resembling feathers, and coaxial (vacuum), inserted into each other and sealed on both sides.

Heat exchangers are also different:

• system for converting solar energy into thermal energy Heat-pipe;
• a regular U-type coolant transfer tube.

The second type of heat exchanger is considered more efficient, but is not popular enough due to the cost of repairs: if one tube fails, the entire section will have to be replaced.

The Heat-pipe is not part of an entire segment, so it can be changed in 2-3 minutes. Failed coaxial elements can be repaired by simply removing the plug and replacing the damaged channel.

Diagram explaining the cyclical heating process inside vacuum tubes: cold liquid under the influence solar heat heats up and evaporates, giving way to the next portion of cold coolant (+)

Having analyzed specifications collectors different types and summarizing the experience of their use, they decided that flat-plate collectors are more suitable for the southern regions, and tubular collectors for the northern ones. Installations with the Heat-pipe system have proven themselves especially well in harsh climates. They have heating ability even on cloudy days and at night, “feeding” on a minimal amount of sunlight.

Sample standard connection diagram solar collectors for boiler equipment: pumping station ensures water circulation, the controller regulates the heating process

Method for increasing productivity

Usually, after experimenting with a small number of solar modules, private home owners go further and improve the system in various ways.

The easiest way is to increase the number of modules involved, accordingly, attract additional space to accommodate them and purchase more powerful related equipment

What to do if there is a shortage of free space? Here are some recommendations for increasing the efficiency of a solar station (with photocells or collectors):

• Changing the orientation of modules. Moving elements relative to the position of the sun. Simply put, installing the bulk of the panels on the south side. With a long daylight hours It is also optimal to use surfaces facing east and west.

• Tilt angle adjustment. The manufacturer usually indicates which angle is most preferable (for example, 45º), but sometimes during installation it is necessary to make adjustments taking into account geographic latitude.

• Correct choice of installation location. The roof is suitable because it is most often the highest plane and is not obscured by other objects (assuming garden trees). But there are even more suitable areas - rotating sun tracking devices.

When the elements are positioned perpendicular to the rays of the sun, the system works more efficiently, but on a stable surface (for example, a roof) this is only possible for a short period of time. To increase this, practical tracking devices have been invented.

Tracking mechanisms are dynamic platforms that rotate with their planes following the sun. Thanks to them, generator productivity increases by about 35-40% in summer, and by 10-12% in winter.

The big disadvantage of tracking devices is their high cost. In some cases, it does not pay off, so there is no point in investing in useless mechanisms.

It is estimated that 8 panels is the minimum number at which the costs will be justified over time. You can use 3-4 modules, but under one condition: if they are directly connected to the water pump, bypassing the batteries.

Just the other day, Tesla Motors announced the creation of a new type of roof - with integrated ones. Elon Musk said that the modified roof will be cheaper than a conventional roof with collectors or modules installed on it.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Thematic videos will help you better imagine the design of home solar stations and will reveal some of the secrets of installing equipment.

Video #1. Accessibly presented Technical information about solar panels and charge controllers:

Video #2. Useful experience of using solar panels in the Moscow region:

Video #3. An example of a successfully operating solar station, completely assembled independently, providing both hot water supply and heating of the house:

As you can see, heating system solar-powered - a very real phenomenon that you can bring to life yourself. The field of alternative methods of obtaining energy is constantly developing, perhaps tomorrow you will hear about a new discovery.

Owners of city apartments will certainly be pleased by the opportunity to turn their own balcony into a small power plant - a source of free electricity. Such a balcony is unlikely to be able to compete with a nuclear reactor in energy productivity, but it will be quite capable of providing its own heating and lighting. This idea can be realized using solar panels. Read about what it is and how to install solar panels on a balcony in our material.

Free cheese without a mousetrap

The genius Nikola Tesla once said that the space around us is an ocean filled with free energy. Exhausted by gas and oil dependence, humanity has always looked for an opportunity to attach itself to this ocean and scoop up at least a small part of its contents. One of the ways to achieve this is associated with the use of devices called solar panels that appeared in the 50s of the 20th century. Since their invention, they have been continuously improved, becoming more efficient, reliable and durable.

So how does a solar panel work? The most important part of a modern solar battery is the photocell, the material of which has semiconductor properties. Many such parts are connected to each other, forming panels of various sizes. Under the influence of solar radiation, the photocell generates a constant electricity, but it cannot be used directly to power electrical consumers. To give such electricity a “digestible” form, a special device is used - an inverter..

Another important component of a solar cell is battery. It allows you to accumulate electrical energy during periods of intense solar radiation and then use it as needed.

Today, solar panels are used to produce photovoltaic cells. various materials, which differ from each other in cost and efficiency. The most common ones include:

1. Silicon polycrystals

This type of photovoltaic cells is in greatest demand, since it has the best ratio of cost and performance. Another advantage is ease of installation, which even an untrained person can easily handle. Polycrystalline elements can be recognized by their characteristic blue color.

2. Silicon monocrystals

Photocells of this type are more productive than polycrystalline ones, however, their cost is significantly higher. The main feature of single crystals is that they have a polygon shape. This determines their inherent disadvantage: monocrystalline photocells cannot be combined into a continuous array; there are always gaps between the individual parts. Thus, part of the area of ​​the panel assembled from similar elements is wasted.

3. Amorphous silicon

This type of photocells is inferior in performance to the two described above, but is still in sufficient demand due to its affordable cost.

4. Cadmium telluride

Photovoltaic cells made from this material take the form of a film up to 0.5 mm thick. Such a 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.

5. CIGS (semiconductor material)

CIGS-based solar cells are also manufactured in film form, but have higher performance compared to cadmium telluride.

The differences in performance between the listed materials are quite significant. For example, a panel with an area of ​​1 sq. m, made of monocrystalline silicon, in ideal conditions generates 125 W of electricity. An amorphous silicon battery of the same area has an electrical power of only 50 W.

The apartment is always warm. And keeping him in it for as long as possible will help. Read more about its characteristics and use in our article.

And if you decide to cover your balcony with siding, how to install it.

Advantages and disadvantages of solar panels

The advantages of solar panels are obvious:

• free electricity;
• environmental friendliness;
• durability (service life modern systems ranges from 20 to 25 years);
• reliability (since batteries do not contain moving parts, they fail only in exceptional cases);
• minimal maintenance (the panels only need to be cleaned from dust and dirt).

Among the disadvantages are:

• instability (battery performance depends not only on the time of day, but also on the weather);
• high cost (the price of a more or less serious installation for household use starts from 3500 euros);
• low productivity compared to traditional energy sources.

Installation and use on the balcony

Before you start installing solar panels on your balcony, you should understand two things. First: the battery included in the installation kit does not tolerate low temperatures, so the balcony must be, at a minimum, and. Second: it is necessary to provide for the possibility of switching all electrical consumers to power from a regular electrical network in case the performance of the solar battery drops due to bad weather.

Installing the battery is quite simple. The panels are fixed on a frame made of angles with a shelf width of 50 mm. 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.

Do not forget that the solar battery regularly has to be cleaned of dust and dirt remaining after precipitation, so its panels should be placed in an accessible field.

Note: The battery is most efficient if the rays fall on its surface at right angles. In winter, the sun deviates from its summer position by an angle of 12 degrees, so the frame with photocells must also be able to rotate by this angle

Note to Samodelkin

Lack of sufficient financial resources is not a reason to give up your dream. If you wish, you can organize a solar battery with your own hands using readily available materials.

You will need:

• glass or plexiglass 4 mm thick – 700x1050 mm (one sheet);
• solar cells (can be ordered online) - 48 pcs. (4 rows of 12 pieces);
• aluminum profile (angle 20x20 mm);
• sealant;
• soldering iron;
• flux;
• tin;
• soldering bars;
• multimeter

Selection of photocells

Manufacturers offer us two types of photocells:

• monocrystalline (efficiency 13%);
• polycrystalline (efficiency 7 - 9%).

Monocrystals last up to 30 years, but they are sensitive to weather fluctuations: if the sun is covered by clouds, the power of the elements will decrease significantly. Polycrystalline elements can be used for no more than 20 years, but they do not lose power in the presence of clouds.

Making a solar battery

The advisability of using solar panels for a country house in the absence of a central power supply is not worth talking about. Such systems are fully paid for and extremely economical when compared with generators running on fossil fuels. But what about the apartment? How feasible are solar panels for apartment buildings or separate apartments? We will try to analyze what are the features of installation and operation of such systems in this article.

Features of installation and operation of solar power plants in apartment buildings

In recent years, it has become extremely fashionable to build “Eco houses”, including multi-storey complexes with low energy consumption, energy-efficient lighting LED lamps or geothermal heating. People's interest in solar energy as a renewable and endless source has also awakened. electrical energy. Solar power plants have become so common in the suburbs of megacities and in the news media that there is probably not a single person left who has not at least heard about this technology. But use new technology in high-rise, apartment complexes there are often many restrictions:

• The space available for installing a solar array is usually too small in relation to the energy consumption of the square meter building area;
• shading from nearby buildings;
• high initial cost of equipment,

All this makes it impossible to implement solar systems into existing infrastructure. After all, justify to every resident apartment building the cost of introducing a new product is sometimes impossible. Therefore, in practice, “solar houses” are designed long before they are built, selecting locations and infrastructure that best meet the requirements of energy supply systems. At the design stage, engineers will think through all the nuances, minimizing future energy costs for residents. Or solar panels are installed in homes to provide general needs, such as:

• lighting of entrances and nearby areas;
• power supply for security and communication systems;
• uninterrupted power supply for electricians of boiler rooms and other public systems.

It is much easier to justify such systems, and the costs of their initial installation are usually lower and pay for themselves faster, benefiting every resident.

The third option for using photovoltaic elements in apartment buildings is customized systems backup power supply installed by residents of individual apartments for own needs. As a rule, the problems faced by apartment owners who dream of solar power plants, have the widest range:

• impossibility of installing the system on the roof of the building due to the failure of the management company;
• the absence of windows and, accordingly, adjacent walls (sometimes balconies) oriented to the south;
• shading from trees and nearby buildings, and as a result, limited areas for placing an array of solar panels;
• a ban on management companies installing foreign equipment on the façade of a house;
• other restrictions on the installation of other equipment components.

But despite the long list of restrictions, resourceful residents multi-storey buildings Nevertheless, they install backup systems that succinctly fit into the design of high-rise multi-story buildings.

Non-standard balcony design or mini-power station in the apartment?

The balcony located to the south and the radio engineering education of the owner of this apartment predetermined the future of its residents. Now they are not afraid of temporary blackouts or power outages. And the electricity bills will flash in smaller numbers. After all, on the balcony of this apartment, instead of the usual PVC panels, there are solar panels.

Four monocrystalline solar panels fit perfectly into the frame of a regular balcony, replacing its non-functional elements. Oriented almost due south, they are not shaded nearby standing houses, and produce almost the maximum possible energy. At the same time, the batteries do not harm overall design buildings, without being conspicuous and laconically coexisting with other elements of the house.

In summer, such a system produces 1.0 -1.5 kWh per day and can provide energy for a small refrigerator or energy-saving apartment lighting. In winter, when insolation drops significantly, the system will perform the function of an uninterruptible power supply during a power outage.