Transcript
Thelin Hearth Products Solar Panel Fact Sheet Solar power is a cheap, renewable, energy efficient and an environmentally friendly way to power an appliance which requires electrical energy. With the combination of Thelin’s efficient 12 Volt DC Technology, recent advances in photovoltaic technology, as well as increases in manufacturing scale and sophis‐ tication, the cost of solar power equipment has become much more economical. It has never been more affordable or easier to harness the power of the sun to run your Thelin pellet stove. In this guide, we will explore solar power, solar pan‐ els, and some basic information you will need prior to purchasing solar equip‐ ment. Let’s begin with solar power. Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV) or in‐ directly using Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) systems. CSP systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking sys‐ tems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. The concentrated heat is then used as a heat source for a conventional power plant. PV systems, on the other hand, use a method of generating electri‐ cal power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using certain materials which exhibit the photoelectric effect. The photoelectric effect is the creation of a voltage in a material upon exposure to light. Specifically, the photons of light (from the Sun) move electrons in a photovoltaic material (solar cell) into a higher state of energy to create electricity. This electricity can then be used to power equip‐ ment, for example, or even recharge a battery. Solar panels are the main component in a solar powered system. Solar panels contain photovoltaic cells which use light energy from the sun to generate electricity through the photoelectric effect. The solar panel itself is actually an assembly of solar cells which are connected electrically to each other and to the rest of the system. These cells must be protected from mechanical damage during manufacture, transpor‐ tation, installation and use (in particular against hail impact, wind and snow loads). They must also be pro‐ tected from moisture which can corrode metal contacts and interconnections. Solar energy is not attainable at night which makes energy storage an important issue in order to pro‐ vide the continuous availability of energy. Off‐grid PV systems have traditionally used rechargeable batter‐ ies to store excess electricity. Because Thelin stoves are so energy efficient (see Thelin Hearth Products 12 Volt Technology Fact Sheet) and because utilizing a battery back up is so easy to do (see Thelin Hearth Products Battery Fact Sheet) Solar Panels are an excellent way to maximize the combined benefits of own‐ ing a Thelin pellet stove. Many cities even have rebate programs for utilizing solar energy. Call your local official or check your cities website to see if such rebate pro‐ grams are available in your area. In the next section, we’ll take a look at some gen‐ eral guidelines for solar systems. Page 1 of 2 MP-REF-SLS-202 Rev. A
The primary concern in a solar system is to provide enough solar power to accommodate running the stove and recharging the battery. With any solar system, you must put as much power into the battery (or more) than you are using on a daily basis. Geographic location also plays a large part in determining the solar requirements of a system. If your area receives less sun than average, your solar requirements will be greater. Geographic location also determines the direction and angle that the solar panel(s) should be fac‐ ing. Normally, solar panels should be facing south or south‐west at an angle of 40 degrees. Thelin pellet stoves draw approximately 35 watts. Remember, though, that the solar panel must be able to run the stove as well as recharge the battery. It is always a good idea to add a buffer to either the total wattage being used by the stove when you calculate your solar panel needs or the solar panel you decide to use with your system (the same idea applies to the battery you choose to use). It is always more appealing to purchase the additional capacity with the initial purchase rather than three or four months later. Solar systems are only as good as their design and installation. Keep solar cells clear of any obstruc‐ tions. Even small branches can cause a significant drop in power output. If the leads of a solar panel need to be extended use wire of adequate size and type to minimize power loss. Larger panels need larger wires. Any time there is to be 20 watts or more of power in a system, a regulator should be used to pre‐ vent he overcharging of the battery. Thelin pellet stoves are unique in the stove industry. Thelin stoves are pre‐wired to run off of battery back up, and because our stoves are designed using 12 Volt DC Technology, completing the system with solar panels makes sense. Whether you want to “get off the grid”, “go green” or just plain save money, Thelin pellet stoves make it easy! Page 2 of 2
