FAQ
SOLAR WATER HEATING
How does it work?
A Solar Water Heater is comprised of a single or an array of solar collectors to collect solar energy and an insulated tank to store hot water. Both are connected to each other. During day time, the water in solar collectors gets heated and automatically rises up in the tank through a natural thermosyphon principle. The hot water stored in the tank can be used for various applications.
How long will the installation take for one unit?
A typical installation can take 1 – 2 days depending on the site.
Will I lack hot water during installation?
Our team will disconnect your existing heating system at the last minute ensuring seamless transition to solar water heating and you will not lack hot water to use.
Which collector is better: flat plate or evacuated tube?
We supply and sell both types of technologies. Flat plate collectors work very well in warm, sunny conditions. Evacuated tube collectors, work very well in cold, cloudy or otherwise unfavourable conditions thus are slightly more efficient.
Will I get hot water during the cold seasons?
Yes you will. A solar water heating installation in this country will supply most of your hot water needs. In case of bad weather, the unit also comes with an electrical backup that can be used during extremely cold months and can be programmed so that it only tops up the water temperature to what is needed or desired, thus avoiding wastage of electricity.
How long does it take to pay for itself?
Recoup of your investment is immediate while the financial payback will vary depending on your current mode of water heating. After you recover your initial investment, the savings are yours to spend on yourself and your family, year after year. This can be as early as after 2 years.
How long will the water remain hot in the tank?
Hot water produced by the solar system during the day is stored in an insulated storage tank. The insulation of the tank is such that the water remains hot without significant drops in temperature for up to 24-48 hrs. Thus, water heated during the previous day should be available for use the next morning.
Can I use a solar hot-water system for my business or to cut costs in my facility?
Absolutely. Solar hot-water systems can generally take care of the bulk of hot water needs for businesses, industrial facilities and manufacturing plants, to name a few. These types of applications generally use a large volume of hot water and can benefit greatly from a solar hot water system.
Do I have to put the solar tank on the roof?
In most constructions, the roof is the ideal location for the installation. However, ground mounting can also be done, however it requires the use of a water pump to push water to and from the solar installation and to the various areas of the building.
What are the environmental benefits of solar water heating?
Getting your hot water free from the sun saves energy as water heating accounts for around 30% of the average household’s energy usage. It also saves the greenhouse gas emissions that would have been produced in the generation of that energy.
POOL HEATING
Is heating my swimming pool worth it?
Certainly, yes! A pool heating system will make allow you to swim most of the year round.
What is the ideal water temperature for a swimming pool?
Water for swimming pools that are not heated is normally around 18° C (Nairobi and Upcountry areas). But if you are looking for a perfect pool temperature, not too hot, not too cold, 25 – 28°C (77 – 82°F) is the best.
What is the most efficient way to heat a swimming pool?
Solar pool heating systems are the most efficient systems but where space for solar panels is not available or extended cold weather is experienced a heat pump is the best alternative solution.
Do I have to cover my heated pool and how much heat can I lose overnight?
It is always advisable to cover your heated pool. Pools that are not covered can lose 10° C to 15° C overnight in most parts of the country. With a cover, you can reduce that heat loss by 50% or more. You also reduce the amount of debris and dust into the pool.
Can I combine heat pumps and solar water heating?
Yes, this can be done and will ensure your swimming pool water temperature is right for swimming all year round and that you can control the minimum temperature you want to have throughout.
Will my power bill increase?
Solar pool water heating and heat pumps are the most efficient method of heating the pool. If you compare this with other methods e.g. electrical heaters, these methods will save you lots of money and guarantee a long life with little maintenance.
SOLAR POWER
How do solar panels actually work?
Solar panels are made of highly excitable, conductive materials. When the sun’s rays hit the solar panels, the reaction creates direct current (DC) electricity. Since most homes and businesses use alternating current (AC) electricity, your solar-generated DC energy will pass through an inverter to become AC electricity. Then it flows through your property’s wiring and behaves just like the power you’ve been using your whole life.
Will my solar panels generate electricity during cloudy, rainy days? What about at night?
Your solar panels don’t need sunshine, per se, to generate electricity as much as they need direct, unobstructed access to the sun’s UV rays. Your solar panels will still generate electricity during cloudy, rainy days — they just won’t produce as much energy as they do during clear days.
Can I power my whole house using solar and how much is it going to cost me?
Yes, it is possible to power the entire house. Obviously, the cost of the installation will vary based on the size of the house and the equipment being used. A site visit or relevant information regarding the site is important to determine if the installation size is worth the investment.
What size system will I need to run my home?
That entirely depends on your energy usage and your geographical location. A 1.5 kW system is currently the “entry point” for grid connect. It will cover between 20 and 30% of the energy consumption of a medium household. A 4-5 kW system will cover 100% of the energy consumption of a medium energy use household. Any size grid connect solar power system will reduce your yearly power consumption and your power bill. Naturally, the bigger the system, the bigger the benefit. To make the most of solar power, the key is to implement simple energy efficiency strategies. It is easy to conserve energy by using appropriate lighting and efficient appliances. Running high power appliances such as electric bar heaters, electric hot water systems and air conditioners etc. is really not economical. Instead of considering a very large solar system; you can also invest in energy efficient heaters, solar hot water and design features such as strategically placed vents or insulation to avoid heat entering the house in the first place. In summary – all your energy can be supplied by solar power and your budget and daily energy usage will determine the size of your solar power system.
Should I choose monocrystalline, thin film or polycrystalline solar panels?
Between monocrystalline and polycrystalline there isn’t a lot of difference. However, a polycrystalline panel is slightly larger than the equivalent wattage in monocrystalline. That extra size can take up valuable rooftop in terms of adding extra panels at a later date.
POWER BACKUP SYSTEMS
How do these systems work?
The unit is permanently connected to utility power so that while the mains is present the extra large built-in battery charger recharges the batteries and keeps the batteries fully charged until a power failure occurs. The equipment you want to back up is also permanently connected via the system. In case of a power failure the backup system automatically switches over, via an extra fast transfer switch to the inverter, which will continue to provide power to the equipment within 15 msec. This is extremely fast and standard equipment like TVs, DSTV decoders, microwaves, fans, etc. are unaffected. When utility power returns, the whole procedure is reversed and the unit will switch back to utility power and will automatically start re-charging the batteries. Your equipment remains connected to the system even when power is restored. The whole process is fully automatic.
What size inverter should I buy?
The size you choose depends on the watts (or amps) of what you want to run. We recommend you buy a larger model than you think you'll need (at least 10% to 20% more than your largest load).
Do I need a Modified Sine Wave, or a Pure Sine Wave?
Advantages of Pure Sine Wave inverters over modified sine wave inverters are:
· The output voltage wave form is pure sine wave with very low harmonic distortion and the power is clean like utility-supplied electricity.
· Inductive loads like microwave ovens and motors run faster, quieter and cooler.
· Reduces audible and electrical noise in fans, fluorescent lights, audio amplifiers, TV, Game consoles, Fax, and answering machines.
· Prevents crashes in computers, weird print out, and glitches and noise in monitors.
· Reliably powers the following devices that will normally not work with modified sine wave inverters, e.g. Printers.
What is an overcurrent protection device? Why do I need one?
These are devices that will protect your PBS investment from damage by power surges. We recommended installing a battery fuse and an AVS to protect the inverter from these surges. In case of a power surge, the battery fuse and or AVS will disconnect the power protecting your inverter and battery from damage.
How long can I operate my inverter?
The runtime (i.e., amount of time that the inverter will power connected electronics) depends on the amount of battery power available and the load that it is supporting. In general, as you increase the load (e.g., plug in more equipment) your runtime will decrease. However, you can attach more batteries to extend the runtime. There is no limit to the number of batteries that can be connected.
What's the difference between an inverter and inverter/charger?
An inverter simply converts DC (battery) power into AC power and then passes it along to connected equipment. An inverter/charger does the same thing, except that it is connected to an AC power source to continuously charge the attached batteries when AC utility power is available. In the case of a power outage, the inverter will automatically switch to battery power to provide power to connected equipment.
Inverters will not have a power supply from mains AC either KPLC or Generator.
Inverter charges have the power inversion role from DC to AC and the charging part from AC to DC to store in the battery.
How fast will my inverter respond to a power outage?
During an outage, the inverter will transfer from utility to battery power in about 16.6 milliseconds.
How is an inverter different than a UPS?
A UPS typically includes the battery and battery charger in one standalone unit. A UPS system also can have communication with the equipment that it is powering, letting the equipment know that it is operating on standby, giving it shutdown warning or communicating with the human in the loop. Inverters typically don't have this capability.