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In this video, I break down how to correctly size a solar power system to run essential household appliances like a refrigerator, an LED TV, and six light bulbs. You’ll learn how to calculate power consumption, choose the right solar panels, battery capacity, charge controller, and inverter size—so your system is efficient, reliable, and cost-effective. Perfect for beginners and DIY off-grid enthusiasts.
Transcript
00:00Hello everyone and welcome back to my channel. In today's video, we're going to explore how to
00:05design a solar power system capable of running a fridge, an LED TV, six LED bulbs, one in the
00:13bedroom, one in the kitchen, one in the sitting area, one in the bathroom and two outside.
00:21We'll dive into the energy consumption, the sizing of solar panels, batteries,
00:26charge controller and inverter, and give you a comprehensive guide to help you set up your own
00:31system. Please note that in this video we are going to be using terms like watts and kilowatts.
00:37One kilowatt is equal to 1000 watts. For example, a 24 volts 100 AH lithium ion battery equals to
00:452400 watt hours or 2.4 kilowatt hours. Let's start with understanding the energy requirements.
00:52A typical refrigerator, especially an energy efficient model of 60 watts,
00:57consumes around 0.48 kilowatt hours per day or 480 watt hours. This is less than expected because
01:04the fridge compressor does not run for 24 hours. It runs for around 8 hours a day so 8 times
01:1160 watts
01:11is 480 watts. The six LED bulbs, each at about 10 watts, will total around 60 watts. If we assume
01:21they run for 10 hours, that's about 0.6 kilowatt hours per day or 600 watt hours. The TV, assuming
01:28it's an LED model using roughly 100 watts and running for 5 hours, would consume about 0.5 kilowatt
01:35hours per day or 500 watt hours. Adding these up, we get a total daily consumption of 1.58 kilowatt
01:42hours or 1580 watt hours. Now let's talk about solar panels. For this setup, I would recommend a 24 volt
01:50system for a balanced and efficient rig. The amount of energy a panel can produce depends on your
01:56geographic location and the number of peak sunlight hours per day. On average, one solar panel rated at
02:02300 watts might produce about 1.2 to 1.5 kilowatt hours per day under optimal conditions. Therefore,
02:09to meet our daily consumption of about 1.58 kilowatt hours, we'd need roughly three solar panels which
02:15totaled to 900 watts. This also accounts for inefficiencies and weather variations.
02:21Battery storage is crucial for ensuring a continuous power supply, especially during the night or cloudy
02:28days. For our daily consumption of around 1.58 kilowatt hours, we'd ideally want a battery capacity of
02:35about 5 to 6 kilowatt hours. For a 24 volt system, that's 250 AH lithium ion battery, which is equal
02:43to
02:436,000 watt hours or 6 kilowatt hours. This extra capacity helps buffer against days when the sun
02:49isn't shining as brightly. The charge controller is the device that manages the power going from the
02:55solar panels to the battery. For a system of this size, a charge controller rated at 60 amps MPPT
03:02charge controller would be suitable, and it should match the voltage of your battery, typically 24 volts.
03:07The charge controller ensures that the battery isn't overcharged or excessively discharged,
03:13which extends the battery life and improves efficiency. The inverter's role is to convert the
03:18direct current, DC, from the battery into alternating current, AC, that your appliances use. For our setup,
03:27which includes a fridge, bulbs, and a TV, a 24 volts inverter rated at around 2 kilowatts or 2,000
03:33watts
03:33would be sufficient. It's important to choose a pure sine wave inverter because it provides clean
03:38power, which is better for sensitive electronics and ensures the longevity of your appliances.
03:44Putting it all together, it's essential to ensure that each component is compatible.
03:49The solar panels should match the battery voltage, which is 24 volts, and the inverter capacity should
03:55comfortably handle the peak load. It's also wise to include a safety margin by slightly oversizing
04:01your system to accommodate any unexpected energy demands or future additions, which we have done.
04:07900-watt solar panels, 250 AH lithium-ion battery, 60 amps MPPT charge controller, and a 2,000 watts
04:15pure sine wave inverter would properly power a fridge, a TV, and 6 LED bulbs without running out.
04:22Now let's break down the total cost of this solar power system, component by component,
04:27so you can clearly understand the budget. Starting with the charge controller, we're using a Renegy 60
04:33amp, 24 volt MPPT charge controller. This controller efficiently converts solar power while protecting
04:40the battery from overcharging. The price for this unit is $339. Next is the inverter. We're using a
04:49Renegy 2000-watt 24-volt pure sine wave inverter, priced at $339. Each panel is a 300-watt solar panel,
05:00priced at $249. We are using three panels, giving us 900 watts of total solar capacity. That brings the
05:09total cost for the solar panels to $747. For energy storage, we're using a lead-time 24-volt,
05:17230-amp-hour lithium battery. This battery offers high capacity of 5,888 watt-hours or 5.8 kilowatt-hours,
05:26very close to the 6 kilowatts but in one package. Fast charging and a long lifespan.
05:33The cost of this battery is $929. Now let's include the cables and protection equipment,
05:39which are critical for safety and system reliability. From the solar panels to the charge
05:45controller, we're using 10 AWG solar PV cables that are 10 feet long, priced at $16. From the charge
05:52controller to the battery, we're using 4 AWG heavy-duty battery cables that are 4 feet long,
05:58priced at $28. The cables that connect the inverter to the battery are usually included with the inverter.
06:05On the positive battery cable going to the inverter, we must install a DC fuse for protection.
06:11For this system, a 150-amp fuse works perfectly. The fuse costs $6. When we add all these costs
06:19together, the total system cost comes to $2,404. This total gives you a complete, safe, and efficient
06:2624-volt solar system capable of running essential appliances like a fridge, lights, TV, and small
06:33electronics reliably. The Amazon links to these components are in the description box.
06:40When installing a solar power system, the order in which components are connected is very important
06:46for safety and equipment protection. The charge controller should always be connected to the
06:51battery before connecting the solar panels. This is because the charge controller needs a stable
06:56voltage reference. When it connects to the battery first, it automatically detects the correct system
07:02voltage, whether it is 12 volts, 24 volts, or 48 volts. If solar panels are connected before the
07:09battery, the controller may power up using panel voltage. This can confuse the controller or permanently
07:15damage it. Many charge controllers fail simply because the panels were connected first. The battery also
07:22acts as a stabilizer. It provides clean, steady power that allows the charge controller to operate
07:28correctly. Once the controller is connected to the battery and powered on, it is then safe to connect
07:34the solar panels. It is also completely fine to connect the inverter to the battery at the same time as
07:40the
07:40charge controller. Both devices are designed to be connected directly to the battery bank. This is standard
07:47practice in most solar installations. However, the inverter should remain switched off during installation.
07:53Always use the correct cable size and install a fuse or circuit breaker between the battery and the
07:59inverter to protect the system. After the battery, charge controller, and inverter are securely connected
08:06and checked. You can then connect the solar panels. Finally, turn on the inverter and test the system.
08:12Following this simple connection order protects your equipment, improves reliability, and ensures a safe solar
08:19installation. Check out a detailed video on how to put them together in the description. And that wraps up
08:26our comprehensive guide to setting up a solar power system for your home. We hope you found this detailed
08:32walkthrough helpful. If you have any questions or want more tips, don't forget to like, subscribe,
08:37and leave a comment below. Thanks a lot. Take care.

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