Stand-alone Power Systems
Stand Alone Power Systems (SPS)
If you are not connected to the electricity grid and generate your own power then you have a Stand Alone Power System or SAPS.
SAPS generally consist of
- Solar panels
- Solar regulator
- Maybe a wind generator
- Batteries
- A generator
- An inverter/battery charger
The solar panels & wind generator or other energy-collecting devices are called "renewables".
The amount of renewables your system has and how much energy you require will determine how often your generator will need to run. Ideally this will be never but constraints such as budget may require a compromise on this front.
One thing that we are particular about at Adelaide Hills Solar Depot is the quality of components used. We are uncompromising in this regard because of our commitment to building systems that do what they say they will & perform reliably. One main issue is battery selection. We believe vehemently in using sealed Gel batteries instead of the older technology of "flooded cells. (like your car battery where you have to check water levels from time to time)
- "Flooded" batteries are cheaper (approximately 30%), last about 6-12 years and require regular maintenance and a strict adherence to safety when handling.
- "Sealed" batteries will last longer - up to 18 years with little maintenance and are a safer product due to their sealed characteristic. You can often use a smaller battery bank as well which further helps with cost.
Generators are not included in the price of the systems because you may already have one and there is also a vast range available.
The final chart gives an indication of cost for a generator depending on the hours per day you will need to run it.
Naturally this information is very general and there are much more specific techniques for specifying a system for your needs.
You may also be a little baffled by the technical nature of this information!
At the Solar Depot we can carefully specify a SAPS to suit your needs and provide a fixed quote for that system. Contact us for more information.