Hybrid Solar Air Conditioner

AC Distribution Board/Box (ACDB): This box is installed between the solar inverter and appliances or devices. The two main components of ACDB Box are SPD and MCB. Here, SPD is Surge Protection Device that protects the system against power surges by earthing the voltage. Miniature Circuit Breaker or MCB trips and breaks the circuit in case of high voltage. AC MCB is used for low circuit currents and for high circuit currents AC Molded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB) is used.
With a system ranging between 1 kW and 6 kW, you need a single-phase ACDB box that has a live and neutral wire. Whereas a solar system with more than 6 kW capacity needs a 3-phase junction box that has 3 live wires and 1 neutral wire. Such wiring helps in the adequate management of higher voltages of the system.

Bidirectional (Power) Meter: A hybrid solar system needs a bidirectional meter to measure both the incoming and outgoing electricity into the grid from the solar panel system. Once the batteries are fully charged, the inverter supplies excess generated current to the utility grid which is not used by appliances and gets fed into the grid. Excess power stored in the utility grid is converted into credits and these credits are used to pay for electricity supplied from the grid. Bill received at month end will have entries for both, power fed from solar panels into the grid and power supplied from grid to house.

Charge Controller: Next in hybrid solar system components is a charge controller that maintains the health of battery backup. They regulate ampere and voltage delivered to loads, inverters, and batteries. Two types of charge controllers are mostly used with solar power systems, namely, PWM and MPPT. Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) and Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) manage current and protect the components from overcharge, undercharge, and sudden voltage surges.

a) MPPT
This device integrated into the solar system provides voltage and current conversions. MPPT charge controller detects the point when solar panels produce maximum output. This charge controller regulates the current entering battery without breaking the circuit between the solar battery and solar panels. It ensures voltage entering batteries adhere to their voltage requirements. Preferably, this charge controller is used for negative ground systems because it basically uses a negative line as a reference and then again switches back to a positive line.

b) PWM
These series charge regulators use a transistor to reconnect panels with high-frequency batteries. A PWM self-adjusts the current by changing the speed, and length of outgoing pulses to the battery. Constantly, this charge controller works as a rapid on/off the controller. A transistor in a pulse width modulation is placed in either a positive or negative line, allowing it to be used in both positive and negative grounds.

DC Distribution Board/Box (DCDB): This protection device is installed between solar panels and solar hybrid inverters to protect them from short circuits and high voltage. A direct current distribution box has SPD. It protects the system against power surges and a fuse that breaks to stop current flow in case of high voltages. You have 2 options: single and three-phase junction boxes when purchasing this component that solely depends on the wattage of your solar panel system.

Hybrid Inverter: The primary function of a hybrid solar inverter is not distinct from any other inverter. The hybrid inverter converts Direct Current (DC) generated from solar panels into Alternating Current (AC) that can be supplied to appliances and batteries connected to the solar system. A hybrid inverter is considered the heart of hybrid solar system components. It is capable of converting power supply from one source to another easily without human interference. Different wattages of hybrid inverters are available to suit your requirements and match the efficiency of solar panel systems.

Racking and Mounts: Every solar panel system requires racks and mounts to fix solar panels on the roof. You cannot just put the panels on your roof as every roof has a different inclination and panels get maximum exposure to sunlight. Solar panels need to be inclined to a certain degree to ensure sunlight absorption for longer hours of sunlight exposure. Different types of solar racks and mounts are available. The usage of types depends on the type of roof.

Solar Batteries: A hybrid solar system has a battery backup which enables a constant power supply to your house. Solar batteries with C ratings are preferably good for a hybrid solar system. The time for which they provide backup depends on their efficiency. If your solar panels are not sufficiently generating power and there is a power outage at that time, the battery will supply power to your house. Excess power generated from solar panels is stored in a battery which is used as per required.