Thinking about an Off Grid system and not sure if it's right for you? John Davis has been working with Rainbow Power Company as an Off Grid Solar Deisgner & Installer since 2008 and answers all the questions you might have about Off Grid and how it all works with our Pre-Wired Systems.
Why would someone buy an Off-Grid solar system?
The main reason is you would have bought a block of land that's in an area where you can't get electricity to or it's expensive to get the power to the location where you want to have your house. We love selling off grid systems because it gives people independence in their power needs.
When you move to your new block or tiny house, you have to provide your own power and water. Water is clearly understood by most people: you buy a water tank and you fill it up when it rains and that's straightforward.
Getting solar power is similar. We're looking to get our energy from the sun. We're storing it in batteries and then we're using electronic equipment to convert it to power that we can use in the house to run our appliances.
How far has Off-Grid Technology come in recent years?
One of the great things to see over the years in the industry is how far the Off Grid solar market has come in terms of the equipment available.
We've got these fantastic lithium batteries which have completely changed the way Off Grid systems work. We can put these massive solar arrays on solar inverters now. That allows us to get great value for money, in terms of Off Grid systems and what they can run.
How does Rainbow Power Company go about designing the right systems for my needs?
One of the things I do at Rainbow Power Company is I help people to get the systems that are going to be suitable for them by designing systems around their needs.
Obviously, people's needs are different. Some people don't need a lot of electricity. They might have some basic appliances, like a fridge and freezer, lights, often a water pump to pressurize the house. They want entertainment in terms of TVs and computers. Then some kitchen applicances, like microwaves, and so on. Basic systems like that don't have to be very big. So we really focus on discovering your needs and tailoring a system to suit. See our blog about how to calculate the Load you need and how that works when it comes to system design.
Why would you choose an SMA system over other systems?
One of the great benefits of going to SMA Off Grid Solar Systems is that they can reliably run the bigger loads, msuch as swimming pools and air conditioning. Plus electric ovens and induction cook tops where that's required. A great new development is being able to run heat pumps for your hot water. It's no longer necessary to get a separate solar hot water system. We can run them electrically off the solar power system.
What are the basic componets of the SMA Pre-Wired Systems from Rainbow Power Company?
- Inverter Charger: we typically use the Sunny Island Series. It's an inverter charger and it connects to the battery bank and is actually the main part of the system. They're a very well designed unit. They are more expensive than most other units but we really think that that is the best place to spend your money: a really solid inverter charger.
- Solar Inverter: The Inverter Charger gets its incoming energy from the Sunny Boy Sunny Island. The unit in this example is an SB6, which means it can have, 6 kilowatts of solar power, coming into the system. You can easily double the size of solar capacity coming in by adding another one and again, that's great for running big daytime loads, like pools and air conditioners.
- AC Distribution Box: The third major component is the AC distribution Box, where everything meets. This is custom built by us and some of the benefits include a inverter transfer switch and manual inverter transfer switch in case there's any issue with the system or anything goes wrong, you're not left without power. You can easi;y switch the unit over to the backup power supply.
What can the SMA Off-Grid Systems run?
The versatility of the SMA systems allows you to run anything from a medium sized house, up to large luxury residences. We can even go up to three phase industrial applications to run schools, hospitals, and even small villages in the Pacific Islands. Check out our Commercial Case Studies over here!
Where do the systems need to be stored?
We've got a couple of options as to how we can mount the SMS Systems. One of the options is we can have the equipment located on a board and that would be then inside either a shed or a place where we can keep them nice and dry and out of the weather. But we also have the option to mount them outside because these units are actually IP rated. By combining these systems with an IP rated electrical box, we can essentially have everything mounted outside
What about the warranty with the Rainbow Power Compant Pre-Built SMA Solar Systems?
The warranty that is offered with the system is very important. And it's very important that it's supported by a company that has the ability to fulfill that warranty.
One of the most important things that people want assurance of when they're buying an Off-Grid system is, 'is this system going to work? Is it going to perform over the years without any problems?'. And if they do have any sort of issue, they want to make sure that that issue can be resolved and covered by a Warranty.
That's the important thing about going with someone like Rainbow Power Company, who's been operating since 1987 and SMA, which is a quality manufacturer of Off Grid Technology.
Are the Pre-Wired Off-Grid SMA Systems compliant and how do they get installed?
All the pre wired systems that leave Rainbow Power Company are designed to suit your needs. They are pre-assembled on a board, they are commissioned so that they're ready to go and they are SAA compliant ready to be installed by a local electrician.
How do I get in touch?
If you're thinking about an off grid system, give us a call or send us an email because we really want to be able to help you. We want to put you on the right track and we want to supply the best equipment for you that's going to suit your needs and allow you to live comfortably in this new off grid location.
(02) 6689 1430
team@rpc.com.au
John Davis & The Rainbow Power Company Team