Off Grid Solar

About LimitLess Solar

Limitless Solar is dedicated to reducing pollution and promoting widespread solar adoption. Limitless Solar was a two-member group in 2017. We’ve helped 1,000+ homes go solar and have been helping our customers save up to 90% on their monthly electricity bills. We install both on-grid and hybrid solar systems. In the near future, we will start the installation of off-grid solar systems too. Some of the services that have set us apart from other vendors include the following.

• We offer free solar consultation services
• We use premium-quality prefabricated mounting structures that are resilient and durable enough to handle cyclonic wind speeds reaching up to 150+ kmph
• We offer easy, 10-minute loan approval
• Our solar consultants and design team procures a 3D model of how solar would look on your rooftop within 15 minutes of the site survey
• We offer many EMI schemes; zero-cost being the most popular one
• We offer a 5-year AMC contract

We're building a customer-centric legacy brand.

Overview of an off grid solar system

An off-grid solar system is also known as a stand alone solar system. Why? Because it’s not connected to the grid. It works as an isolated island of its own. An off grid solar power plant is an intricate setup of the following components.

• Solar panels (modules)
• Mounting structures
• Batteries
• Solar charge controller
• Solar inverter
• Solar accessories

Off grid solar components and their working

#1. Solar panels

Solar panels are made up of solar cells. When they’re made of one single silicon crystal, the resulting panel is monocrystalline. When they’re made of multiple silicon crystals, the resulting panel is polycrystalline (multicrystalline).

The efficiency of both types differ but they work the same way.

Off grid solar panels trap sunlight and convert it into DC electricity. The one thing that should be taken care of at the time of installation is that the panels should not be clouded by shadows.

#2. Solar inverter

The power from solar panels is in the form of direct current. Home appliances run on AC power. This is where the solar inverter comes into the picture. It converts DC power into AC power. An off grid solar inverter, just like an on-grid inverter, is the heart of the solar system.

#3. Batteries

Off grid solar functions on batteries. During the sunshine hours, the electricity that the panels are producing is used to run the house. Whatever is extra is used to charge the batteries. That same power from the battery is then used to keep the house running at night.

#4. Charge controller

The charge controller in off grid solar controls the charge. It’s in parallel with the solar inverter. The panels produce electricity that goes into the charge controller. It’s the charge control that feeds power into the inverter as well as uses the extra units to charge the batteries.

#5. Mounting structures

You have the panels and the inverter, but without proper mounting structures, the system cannot be set up. The mounting structures should be at a proper tilt angle (near perpendicular to the sun for as long as possible) so that they receive maximum sunlight.

Hot-dipped zinc galvanized mounting structures by LimitLess Solar are unbeatable quality products.

#6. Solar accessories

You know the major components of an off grid solar system but there are other accessories without which the system will not be safe. Here are the accessories we’re talking about:

• DC cables and DC combiner box
• AC cables and AC combiner box
• MC4 connectors
• Earthing strips and conduit trays
• Lightning arrester

Working of an off grid solar system for home

The working of an off grid pv system isn’t super complex. We’ve simplified it for you. Have a look.

Off grid solar panels absorb and trap sunlight, converting it into direct current (DC)

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The DC current goes into a combiner box

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From the combiner box, it goes into the solar charge controller

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The charge controller gives current to the batteries and charges them

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The charge controller also communicates with the off grid solar inverter

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The off grid inverter converts DC power into AC power

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Most off grid solar inverters nowadays have built-in battery management systems

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The solar inverter finally passes the AC current to run household appliances

Off grid solar system with different capacities

You know the components, you also know the functioning. So, it’s time that we walk you through the specifics of different types of off grid solar power plants. We’ve tabulated the details below.

Needless to say, the higher the capacity of the off grid solar system, the more units it will generate. The one you choose should cover your power requirements.

Fun fact: Did you know that most houses in India install on-grid solar systems for homes? However, when there’s no grid nearby (in rural areas or for agricultural purposes), a stand alone solar system i.e. off grid solar system is the best option.

Cost of an off grid solar power system

When we talk about the off grid solar system price, we’re talking about everything ranging from procurement to installation and after-installation services.

Including everything, the off grid solar system price comes between ₹85-100/ watt peak including batteries. This price variation is because the end cost depends on the battery backup.

For instance, if somebody requires a backup for 30 minutes to an hour, smaller batteries will be able to cater to that need. On the other hand, if somebody requires a backup of 6-7 hours, the battery size increases; so will the cost.

Putting it out simply, the higher the battery’s capacity, the more will the off grid solar system price.

And we, at Limit Less Solar, have the right people, tools, and experience to handle installations from scratch.

ROI on an off grid system

ROI (return on investment) in the case of off grid solar takes more time than an on-grid system of the same capacity. Why? Well, because batteries are expensive. Usually, the off grid solar system price breaks even in about 6-7 years.

This is actually one of the limitations of an off grid solar system. Batteries are yet not that scalable due to their high cost. That’s why it takes time for the cost to break even.

Benefits of using a stand alone solar system

Yes, ROI is a limitation of having an off grid solar system, but off grid power has certain amazing benefits that make it a good investment. Have a look.

• A solar power off grid system is the only option in places where there’s no grid; mostly in rural areas.
• Off grid power is clean and green. Not only does it power homes where there’s no grid, but it also ensures that no pollution is being caused in lieu of generating electricity.
• The cost of fossil-fuel-based electricity from the grid is super expensive. So, even though the investment in an off grid solar system takes a little longer to break even, it is still more economical than having to pay for grid electricity.

Conclusion

A solar power off grid system aka a stand alone solar system is the perfect solution in places where there’s no grid.

Undoubtedly, the off grid solar system price breaks even in about 6-7 years, but when you look at it in a way that grid electricity from fossil fuels is extremely expensive, the cost of an off grid solar system for home will automatically be justified.

FAQs

1. What is an off-grid solar system?

An off grid solar system is also known as a stand alone solar system. It works independently from the grid.

Solar panels turn sunlight into electricity and a charge controller distributes that electricity to run household appliances during the sunshine hours and simultaneously charges the batteries when there’s extra power.

The stored energy in the batteries is then used to keep the house running at night.

2. What is the drawback of off-grid system in solar electric power?

Its cost is its major drawback. The off grid solar system price with batteries is between ₹85-100/ watt peak. And the installation cost breaks even in about 6-7 years.

3. How does an off-grid solar system work?

Here’s the simplest explanation of how an off grid solar system for home works:

• Off grid solar panels absorb and trap sunlight, converting it into direct current (DC)
• The DC current goes into a combiner box
• From the combiner box, it goes into the solar charge controller
• The charge controller gives current to the batteries and charges them
• The charge controller also communicates with the off grid solar inverter
• The off grid inverter converts DC power into AC power
• Most off grid solar inverters nowadays have built-in battery management systems
• Finally, the solar inverter passes the AC current to the load