Before taking a decision for the installation of any solar system, there are seven points, seven basic things, seven criteria. The year 2024 is going on, dollar has become almost 280 rupees in Pakistan. Inflation has broken the back of the people and electricity prices are increasing day by day.
A common man whose monthly electricity bill is between 250 to 300 units, his average monthly bill is almost 18 to 20 thousand. It is important to raise awareness of solar energy.
The sun rises 300 days out of 365 days in Pakistan. And apart from this, the government has also provided facilities such as net metering. So those who can afford it should shift to the solar system and make their bill zero. And those who cannot afford it should try for it.
Content Table
- Main Criteria
- Solar Panels in Pakistan
- Backbone of Solar System
- How to Choose a suitable Solar system?
- On-grid System
- Hybrid System
- Best On-grid Inverters in Pakistan
- Best Hybrid Inverters in Pakistan
- IP21 vs IP65 Inverters
- Solar Structure
- Standard vs Elevated Structure
- How Air Pressure is tackled
- Which Solar System Requires Batteries
- Types of Batteries in Solar system
- Biggest Negative point of Hybrid System
- In case of Lithium Batteries
- On-Grid vs Hybrid Inverters
- Problems during Solar System Installation
- Professional vs Private Installer
- Professional installer
- How to Choose Best Installer
Main Criteria
There are 7 basic things. There are 7 criteria on which you have to take the decision of the solar system.
- The first number is the solar panels.
- The second number is the solar structure.
- The third number is the solar inverter.
- The fourth number is the batteries.
- The fifth number is the control, monitoring and protection system of the solar system.
- The sixth number is the net metering.
- And last but not the least, the most important part and the seventh point, is the fitting or installation or commissioning of the solar system.
So first of all, let’s talk about the solar panels.
Solar Panels
So in today’s date, there are many types, many varieties, many technologies available in the market. There are many brands like Longi, Jinko, Canadian, Trina, Inverx panels. And apart from this, you get to see many other brands in the market of solar panels.
In this, the brand doesn’t matter. You can buy any company’s solar panel. The main thing is what is the manufacturing technology of those solar panels.
Like you get two types of panels. One is P-type panels and the other is N-type panels. The latest and most advanced technology in this is N-type panels, whose low-light performance is also very good. These are Phosphorus-based solar panels. You get to see these in Canadian solar as well as in Jinko.
And other companies are also shifting on this. In this two, you get to see two types of panels, such as monofacial and bifacial panels. So whenever you try to install a solar system in your house, you shift to the latest technology of N-type panels.
Backbone of Solar System
You can buy any brand’s solar panel in this. Now let’s come to the second most important thing, which is the backbone of your solar system. If you make a mistake in buying this or take a wrong decision, then you will be in a lot of trouble and it will be difficult for you to reverse your decision.
Yes, I am talking about solar inverters. Now there are two types in this. One is on-grid solar inverters and the other is hybrid solar inverters.
How to Choose a suitable system?
First of all, you have to make a decision. And every person who wants to install a solar system, comes to this point and gets stuck. Does on-grid suit me or does hybrid suit me?
Case for On-grid System
If you are just zeroing your bill, if you live in an area where there is zero load shedding, or load shedding happens very rarely, or if your budget is low, then on-grid solar system suits you. In which you just make electricity and sell WAPDA. For backup, you have to use your UPS.
Case for Hybrid System
But if you live in an area where there is a lot of load shedding, electricity keeps coming again and again, and if you are a person who wants to get power supply non-stop at home 24 hours a day, then you have to go to a hybrid solar system. So when you decide whether you want to go to on-grid or hybrid, then you have to select a brand and select a rating as to how many kilowatts the system suits you. So I will tell you the names of the top brands of on-grid solar inverters.
Best On-grid Inverters in Pakistan
If we talk about the Pakistani market, then you have Huawei Inverters, Solis, Growatt.
Best Hybrid Inverters in Pakistan
Now let’s come to hybrid inverters. So here you have two options, two categories.
IP21 vs IP65
The first category is IP21 Inverters and the second category is IP65 Inverters. First of all, you have to decide according to your budget and requirements whether you want to buy IP21 Inverters or IP65 Inverters. IP21 is the rating of those inverters, those inverters are called those which have cooling fans.
When they run, their fans make a good noise. They have anti-dust filters in them which suck in the surrounding air and cool the entire circuitry inside. Their example is just like your car has air filters.
And if your car’s air filters do not change over time or if they choke, then your car can heat up. The same example is of solar inverters that if you do not clean your inverter’s dust filters on time, then your inverter will heat up, there will be an over-temperature fault and your inverter can burn.
They are made of aluminum. They have a very heavy-duty and strong body. Any rating inverter of 6kW, 5kW, 3kW or 10kW IP65 Inverters come with environment protections.
They have dust protection, rain protection and sun rays protection. There are many options in them like 1kW to 12-15kW Hybrid Inverters that you get to see in the Pakistani market. Like InverX’s Nitrox Series, SolarMax’s Onyx Series.
You also get to see many brands of IP65 Inverters. So always try to move towards IP65 Inverters even though they have a little more budget but they will benefit you in the long term and will keep you company for a long time.
Solar Structure
After Solar Panels, the second most important part of your solar system is Solar Structure.
Now, Solar Structure depends on your rooftop. If your roof is on the south side, South is called Junoob. Now, how to know which side is Junoob on the roof? The way to find out is if you face the east side, where the sun rises, then the side on your right hand is called South Facing.
Standard vs Elevated Structure
And the tilt of Solar Panels is done on this side. Solar Panels are placed facing this side.
So, if you want to place Solar Panels on your roof in such a way that there is no wall or boundary wall on the south side of your roof, or there is no water tank, or there is no object whose shadow falls on your roof, then you can make your Solar Structure with the help of L3 or L2 stands.
But if your roof is on the south side and there is a boundary wall, or there is a water tank on the front or there is an object whose shadow falls on it, then you have to go towards Customized Fabrication. That means you have to uplift the structure. Now, you can do this Customized Fabrication with the help of Pipes and with the help of Guarders.
If you make a structure with the help of Pipes, then it is very cheap, but its life is reduced. Because if water goes inside the Pipes, then it gets damaged. On the other hand, your I-Beam Structure, it is also called I-Beam, some people also call it H-Beam. And when you do I-Beam Structure or Customized Fabrication, then there are a lot of calculations and factors involved in it.
How Air Pressure is tackled
Vertically and Horizontally, there is a gap between all the panels for air. The air pocket has to be kept in front so that when air pressure comes, it comes out from the middle. Apart from this, the most important thing is that often installers or companies or fabrication companies make this mistake that they have the pieces that are left from the previous project or from any side. Whether it is of iron, guarder or pipe, they join them together and make the whole structure.
Which weakens the strength of your structure. Along with the guarders, another thing is that the C-Channels that you have to install, which can be of iron or GI, their gauge should be proper. And apart from this, the nut bolts that you have to tighten the panels for that should also be of good quality and should be of GI so that they do not get rusty over time.
Which Solar System Requires Batteries
So, solar structure is a fundamental thing You have to try to make it strong and not compromise. So, solar panels, solar structure, after the solar inverter, the next most important thing is the battery. The battery is used when you are installing the hybrid solar system at your home.
Types of Batteries in Solar system
There are two main types of batteries that are used in solar. One is Lead Acid Batteries and the other is Lithium-Ion Batteries. There are also two types of Lead Acid Batteries.
One is the common, simple and durable battery that you often install with UPS. Some people also install it with solar system. If you are installing a system below 3 kilowatts, then these two are used in solar configuration.
Biggest Negative point of Hybrid System
If you are installing a system above 3 kilowatts, 5, 6 or 8 kilowatts, then you have to install 4 batteries. But when you install these batteries, then after every 2 years, you have to reinvest on these batteries because their maximum life is only 2 years. In this, there are some better ones, Deep Cycle Batteries, also known as Tall Tubular Batteries.
And these are designed for 4 to 5 years. Their life cycle is more than normal batteries. But the problem with them is that you cannot put heavy duty load on them.
If you install these batteries and want to run an AC or a motor, then you have to remove this thing from your mind. For that, you have to move on Lithium Ion Batteries which are designed for 10 to 12 years with 4 to 5 thousand life cycles. In the Pakistani market, you can find many brands of Lithium Ion Batteries like Pylon Tech, Dongjin Batteries, Zionic Batteries and many other local and Pakistani brands of Lithium Ion Batteries.
In case of Lithium Batteries
If you choose Lithium Ion Batteries in your solar system, then the most important thing which you have to take care of is that it has something called BMS. Battery Management System [BMS] must be compatible with your inverter. If BMS is not compatible, then there is no use of installing Lithium Ion Batteries.
Now, let’s come to the 5th and most important point which is the control, monitoring and protection system which you can see here. For Example we have installed two inverters One is On-Grid Inverter 20 KW by Growatt Company and the other is Hybrid Inverter 6 KW by SolarMax PV9000 is a very famous model.
It is an IP65 Inverter. So, in this control, monitoring and protection system, the thing to remember and the important factor is which wire you are using in it whether it is AC wire or DC wire which DC breakers you are using and which AC breakers you are using what is the quality of change over switch and what is the amperage, rating, type and company you are using I will clear all these factors in this point. The most important thing is your solar inverter.
On-Grid vs Hybrid Inverters
One is On-Grid and the other is Hybrid. On-Grid is a 20 KW grid-tied inverter which is also known as On-Grid Inverter. It is a three-phase inverter.
And as this inverter does not work during load shedding it is grid-dependent. So, during load shedding, there is an important load like washing machine, iron, fans, lights and such things like CCTV cameras. To fulfil their requirements, we install a separate 6 KW hybrid solar inverter.
Both the inverters are of different distributions of Hybrid and On-Grid. With the Hybrid one, it has its own separate distribution box. And with the On-Grid one, it has its own DB box.
Apart from this, keeping in mind the safety principles we install both the distribution boxes inside the metal body so that if there is any kind of fire there is minimal damage. In case of fire, for dual protection, the fire safety balls known as AFO have been installed on top and one near the battery so that if there is any kind of fire it can be controlled automatically. Now, I will give you an overview of this distribution system and what all things are there inside it.
Problems during Solar System Installation
People often get stuck in Pakistan and waste their lakhs of investment. That is the installation of your solar system. Sometimes, there are many unknown small companies who are hard-working and clean.
Professional vs Private Installer
Sometimes, you find lazy people in big companies. Basically, the installation should not be company-based but installer-based. Because the main thing is that you get a person from a big company to work for you. Actually, his expertise and knowledge is more important.
Sometimes, people buy the most expensive things and try to get the best solar panel and inverter. But in the end, when it comes to finding an installer, they say that we should find a person with minimum money to install our solar system. We have seen people arguing with installers for 500 rupees. Sometimes, people are eager to install the biggest solar system of 10-15 kW.
Professional installer
On the other hand, there is a person who has industrial tools which is required for any professional solar system installation. There will be a difference in the installation charges as well as the quality. There are people who want to take advantage of everything.
It is human nature that we want to benefit from everything. People with technical background or electrical engineers are not related to solar industry.
Degree vs Market
The ground reality is that if you have done a Ph.D. in electrical engineering, you won’t know about the market and the types of inverters and panels. You won’t know which company has good after-sales services. All these things can be told by someone who is doing this commercially.
The market doesn’t support and as a result, you purchase something wrong and after a year or 6 months, all your investment goes down. Some people try to be smart in this as well. They try to install solar system in their homes or call installers for site visits.
What they are doing is just want to steal ideas. They understand the layout, plan, wiring, design and routes. After a month, they realize that they have installed the system with the help of a local electrician.
How to Choose Best Installer
It is immoral to waste other people’s time and money. My advice to you is that whenever you install solar system in your home, try to visit the site of the vendor, installation company or installer and see their pictures or visit their site. This is such a point that once your installation is done, your decision cannot be reversed.
If you take a month to research your products, solar panels and solar inverters, then try to choose an installer for 2 months. But your decision should be right.
In This blog we discussed 7 points that keeping these 7 criteria in mind, you can decide on the installation of your solar system.
