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Grid-Tied Solar Systems

Grid-Tied Solar Systems
Grid connected solar systems, as the name indicates, are connected to the national electric grid. The reasons are simple. Unlike PV-Direct systems, when power from the PV panels is low or gone, the system keeps on working by utilizing power from the main grid.


In this system solar PV panels produce DC current feeding a solar power managing unit (also known as charge controller), which through its internal inverter converts it to usable 230V 50Hz AC. When the panels provide enough energy for all power users to be adequately fed (measured in kW per hour) the solar inverter uses no power from the grid. If the power is lacking, the inverter may compensate using power from the grid and at night or very cloudy days it may completely switch from solar panels to main grid power use. Solar charge controllers do everything automatically and the advanced ones have options for users to monitor and program their operation by a simple touch screen, safe from any hazardous electric current.

In the past 20 years there is an increasing trend of moving to grid-tied solar power households and commercial venues and grid-tied solar systems are what is currently most used in Australia today. The technology is trickling down and today buying your own solar system has never been cheaper and sun’s energy is as free as ever.

However, once you taste the freedom from the national electricity grid and loose the suffocating grip of the world’s most expensive electricity, you may want to go even a step further. Store your own electricity and even sell your excess solar power back to the electricity company through the main grid!

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