Essential Tips for Solar System Survival Through the Winters!
Essential Tips for Solar System Survival Through the Winters!
It’s winter time, and with utmost fog and cold winds, it’s undoubtedly the most challenging time for solar panel systems.
Do the solar panel systems work during the winter times? Absolutely yes.
You may be worrying whether your rooftop solar system will work in the winter effectively or not. It’s simple. You just need to employ some precautionary measures for the solar system before the winter season kicks in.
As the days become shorter and colder, the thought of approaching winter weather becomes more apparent with an increase in indoor activities.
If your house is solar-powered, it is time to think about your home energy system to ensure that your house stays warm throughout the winter and that all your power-consuming indoor appliances and electronic equipment are operating effectively and smoothly.
What can you do to ensure your solar system is running and provide your home with the electricity it needs during the winter?
No worries. GEL Pakistan has some tips for your solar panel system to keep running smoothly during the winter season.
How to Prepare Your Rooftop Solar Panel System for the Winter Weather in Pakistan?
It is essential getting your solar panel system ready before winter even arrives. Ensure you have all the necessary diagnostic equipment as clampers, cutters, a digital multimeter, etc. The off-grid solar system owners should have enough anti-freeze distilled water ready for the batteries.
1. Arrange the Solar System Panels!
Your solar panels should face the sun straight for peak performance. Install solar panels at a steep angle to capture optimum sunlight in the winter.
If you alter the angles of solar panels, it will also boost the energy output. The solar panels’ acute angle will also make it easier for dust filled with smog to slide off them, which is another advantage.
2. Get the Solar Batteries Insulated
You may find information about the ideal temperature range for solar panel batteries in your owner’s manual.
Solar panel batteries are unable to operate in subzero temperatures. For every 15-20 degrees below 26°C, as recorded in the cells, most solar batteries lose roughly 10% of their rated capacity.
Want to get your solar panel system ready for the winter season? Insulate the solar batteries or get your system indoors, because lead-acid batteries can get frozen in extreme weather conditions.
Ensure your home’s solar batteries be kept in an area shielded from the elements to get the most out of their storage capacity. The garage or house is the most common location for solar battery storage during winter.
3. Keep a Keen Eye on the Battery Discharge Levels!
You should assess your battery’s depth of discharge if you are adding battery storage to your solar energy system (DoD).
There is a maximum capacity for each solar battery. The battery capacity is its available electrical energy supply, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
Discharge level is the percentage of the battery’s capacity exhausted with its total capacity.
When you discharge 6 kWh from an 8 kWh battery, the battery has been exhausted by 75%.
Another way to preserve solar panels is to keep your battery discharge levels in check. It affects the health of solar batteries and guarantees that your battery bank is being used properly.
4. Add Spare Batteries to Maximize Backup Generator
For solar batteries, recommended discharge levels might vary depending on the battery design and manufacturing requirements. Irrespective of the battery type, 50% discharge is the ideal level since it guarantees power provision on days that will inevitably see significant usage.
Nevertheless, it is advisable to buy a dependable backup generator and spare batteries and keep sufficient fuel on hand to ensure you always have power during winter.
GEL Pakistan advises backup generators that are CARB/EPA compliant to provide you with the utmost peace of mind. To ensure that your generator is ready for winter storms, keep in mind to check its condition every few months.
5. Battery Maintenance for Off-Grid Solar System!
If you have an off-grid solar system for your house, ensure that your battery system is carefully inspected and maintained.
Since all battery types have ideal operating temperatures, the temperature is a crucial component of battery maintenance. Extreme hot or cold temperatures harm battery performance and longevity. We recommend that fuel cells be installed or kept indoors or in a climate-controlled, insulated environment.
The battery type determines the required level of maintenance. Moreover, you should check the condition of the battery charge routinely with the help of a digital multimeter or hydrometer.
Every 60 to 90 days, flooded lead-acid batteries should undergo controlled overcharging to ensure that each cell gets charged uniformly.
Deep cycle 12V lithium and AGM batteries are more practical and simpler to use with off-grid solar setups. With a high-quality charge controller, you can effectively monitor them to guarantee the security and effectiveness of your off-grid solar system.
6. Energy Conservation Tips for Your Solar System!
The less energy usage, the less reliant you will be on utility companies to supply you with extra energy. There are several techniques to reduce your use of electricity, including:
Energy Saving Lightbulbs
Utilize energy-saving lightbulbs such as halogen incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Energy-saving lightbulbs may temporarily cost more, but their extended lifespan (they can last three to twenty-five times longer than standard incandescents) and excellent efficiency more than make up for this.
Every demand can be met by an energy-efficient bulb, even those that produce gentle, pleasant light.
Turn Off the Unnecessary Appliances
You shouldn’t keep the television or stereo on if no one is watching it, and common sense dictates to turn off lights in an empty room.
Use Smart Thermostats
Utilizing smart thermostats or setting lights and thermostats on timers can assist a coordinated energy use when required, reducing wasted energy and its associated costs.
Wrap Yourself in warm Layers!
If you want to feel warmer inside, think of lowering the temperature and wrapping up in blankets or sweaters.
A Final Word From GEL Pakistan!
GEL Pakistan ensures you that your solar panel system will keep on running in the winter, providing you with light and warmth efficiently. For that, you need to take care of the solar panel system – from solar plates and backup generators to inverters and spare batteries, everything demands attention to function properly.
If you want to discuss a solar panel system plan for your house, living establishments, or workplaces, reach out to us at GEL Pakistan the best solar energy company in Lahore to learn more about our services.
Our goal is to change the modern world and create sustainable and nature-friendly energy solutions for future generations.
- 124 DD, Sector CCA Dha Phase 4, Lahore, Punjab
- info@gelpakistan.com
- +92 321 887 4333
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