Topic: Photovoltaic systems component selection

PV systems Integration powerpoint
Solar Decathlon (College solar contest) article from Home Power-Solar Decathlon specs1
                      Solar Decathlon specs2
                      Solar Decathlon article 2004

Single crystal PV
Polycrystalline PV
Thin-film PV panels
PV Panel comparison
PV-PN Junctions
Charge Controllers
Solar Trackers
Solar Batteries
Inverters
Backup Generators
Amp-Hour meter

Inverter Size: Peak KW determines the inverter size. Keep in mind you will never run everything at once. Use a good guess, and often it comes down to what you can afford. Off the grid you will need a bigger inverter to handle all the loads. Grid-tie inverter can be smaller, since the grid will back up excess loads.  Grid-tie inverter is based on maximum Watts coming from the PV array.

System voltage: Depends on wattage of your inverter.
1000-2500W = 12V
2500-4000W = 24V or 48V
4000W+ = 48V

PV Panels: Average KWH/day = PV panel array size x hours/day of sunlight (Use 4.3 hrs.)
or Average KWH/day / 4.3 = PV array size
example:
10KWH/day /4.3hrs = 2326W
2326 KW~2500W of PV panels would be 25 100watt panels. (about $12,500)

Charge Controller:
First determine voltage by inverter size.
Divide PV Panel wattage by voltage to get current
example:
10KW = 10,000W/24V = 416 amps
Find one or more controllers to handle 416 amps
Controller must be rated at least this amount or higher.

Batteries: AVE KWH/day x days of storage = size of battery bank
10KWH/day x 3days of storage = 30KWH storage needed
Example: using 12V 105AH batteries = 1260 WH or 1.26KWH
30/1.26 = 24 batteries
or 30KWH = 30,000 WH
30,000WH/12V = 2500amp-hours
2500/105AH = 24 batteries
NOTE: TRY TO AVOID WIRING BATTERIES IN PARALLEL. Use 2V or 6V batteries in single string. No 12V batteries in RE systems.

After doing this you can see the benefit of reducing your needs. Electric driers aren't recommended unless you have stock in electric utility.