Basics of Electricity 1

Basics of Electricity

Solar PV systems are electrical system

Basic electricity is essential to understand solar PV systems

‘ Basic elements of electricity

± Voltage, Current, Resistance, Power, AC and DC
± Parallel and Series connections
‘ Calculation
± 2KP¶V/DZ3RZHU/DZ.LUFKKRII¶VLaw
‘ Wattage and Watt hour
‘ Daily Energy Demand and Peak load

Basics of Electricity 2

Voltage

Voltage is the degree of strengths of electricity.

AC mains use 220V and SHS uses 12V.
The symbol is V. The unit is V (volt).
Series connection sums voltage, Parallel connection averages voltage.

Sum

Average
1V
2V
2V

1V 1V 1V 1V

Series Parallel
Connection Connection
 Basics of Electricity 3

Current

Current is the quantity of electricity flowing inside wires.

The symbol is I. The unit is A (ampere)

4A 1A

Basics of Electricity 4

Resistance
Resistance is the degree of difficulty of current flow in a wire.
The symbol is R. The unit is ȍ (ohm).
Series connection sums resistance, Parallel connection reduces resistance
Sum
1ȍ 5ȍ
1ȍ
4ȍ
Series
Connection

4ȍ
0.5 ȍ

1ȍ
Parallel Reduce
Connection
1ȍ
 Basics of Electricity 5

2KP¶V/DZ

V (V)
2.0 A x 0.1 ȍ = 0.2 V
V=IxR 20.0 A x 0.1 ȍ = 2.0 V
I (A) R (ȍ)

V (V)
I=V/R 12.0 V / 2.0 ȍ = 6.0 A
I (A) R (ȍ)

V (V)
R=V/I 12.0 V / 1.0 A = 12.0 ȍ
I (A) R (ȍ)

Basics of Electricity 6

Resistance

Calculate total resistance RTotal and current ITotal

R1 R3

1ȍ 2ȍ
3V
R2

2ȍ
 Difference between
³Memorized´DQG³Understood´
Can you calculate the total resistance Rtotal ?

2KP¶V/DZVoltage (V) = Current (A) x Resistance (ȍ)

How this formula

is obtained?

V0 R1 R2 1 1 ‡All electrical engineers

1 know this formula to
3V calculate total resistance.
1ȍ 3ȍ RTotal R1 R2 ‡Many electrical engineers
do not understand the
meaning of this formula.

2KP·V/DZLVWKHSULQFLSDORIHOHFWULFLW\
9 If you just MEMORIZED 2KP·V/DZWKLVFDOFXODWLRQLVGLIILFXOW
9 If you really UNDERSTOOD 2KP·V/DZWKLVFDOFXODWLRQLVYHU\HDV\.

Basics of Electricity 8

Power

Power was derived from voltage multiplied by current.

The symbol is P. The unit is W (watt).

4A
2A

2V

1V

P=VxI 1V x4A4A
x 1V = 4W
= 4W 2A x 2V = 4W
2V x 2A = 4W
 Basics of Electricity 9

AC and DC

+
1 second
Frequency
= 3 cycles / second
= 3 Hz
1 cycle 1 cycle 1 cycle
Alternative Current
Polarity changes
Voltage
Time
(No Polarity)

+
1 second

Direct Current
Fixed Polarity
Voltage

Time

Basics of Electricity 10

Power Law

P (W)
P=IxV 5.0 A x 12.0 V = 60.0 W
I (A) V (V)

P (W) 240.0 W / 12.0 V = 20.0 A

I=P/V 240.0 W / 120.0 V = 2.0 A
I (A) V (V)

P (W)
V=P/I 110.0 W / 0.5 A = 220.0 V
I (A) V (V)
 Basics of Electricity 11

.LUFKKRII¶V/DZ &XUUHQW/DZ

‘ The algebraic sum of all the currents i0

meeting at a point is zero.
A
i0 ± ( i1 + i2 ) =0 Point A R1 R2
incoming outgoing
i1 i2
( i1 + i2 ) ± ( i3 + i4 + i5 ) = 0 Point B
V0
incoming outgoing
B

In other words, i3
i4 i5
The sum of incoming currents
is equal to
the sum of outgoing currents. R3 R4 R5

i0 = i1 + i2 = i3 + i4 + i5

Basics of Electricity 12

.LUFKKRII¶V/DZ 9ROWDJH/DZ

‘ The algebraic sum of voltage drops in any closed path in a circuit and
the electromotive force in that path is equal to zero.

( V0) ± ( V1 + V2 ) = 0 R1 R2
Source Voltage drops
V1
In other words,
The sum of voltage drops V0

is equal to
the voltage source
V2
V0 = V1 + V2
R3 R4 R5
 Basics of Electricity 13

8VHRI.LUFKKRII¶V/DZ
Equations:
A i1 + i2 = i3 + i4 + i5 (Current Law)
V1 + V2 = V0 (Voltage Law)
R1 R2
i0 Known parameters:
i1 i2 V1
R1,R«R5 = 1 ȍ , V0 = 10 V
V0 i1R1 = i2R2 = V1 Æ i1 = i2
B
i3R3 = i4R4 = i5R5 = V2 Æ i3 = i4 = i5
i3
i4 i5 i1 +Calculate
i1 = i3 + i3 + i3 Æ i3 = 2/3 i1
V2 V ,V , i ~i
V1 + 1V2 =2 i1R1,1 + i53R3 = i1R1 + 2/3i1R1 = 10V
R3 R4 R5
5/3i1 = 10A, i1 = 30/5 = 6A
C i1, i2 = 6A, i3, i4, i5 = 4A
V1 = 6V, V2 = 4V

Basics of Electricity 14

Power and Energy

‘ W (Watt) is a power that indicates ability (strength) of energy.
‘ Wh (Watt hour) is the consumed power in one hour (energy consumption).
‘ When a 1 kW appliance is used for one hour,
Small letter : k , h
the energy used is 1 kWh.
Capital letter : W, A
‘ W and Wh DUHGLIIHUHQWXQLW'RQ¶WPL[WKHLUXVDJH Do NOT mix.
‘ In DC (battery) system, Ah is used. Kw, wH, WH, wh, AH Æ Wrong!

1 kW power 1 kW power x 1 hour usage 2 kW power x 0.5 hour usage

(Without time factor)
= 1 kWh power consumption = 1 kWh power consumption

1 kWh

2kW
1 kWh

1kW 1kW 1kW

0 Time 0 1 hour 0 0.5 hour

 Basics of Electricity 15

Peak load and Daily Energy Demand

‘ Peak load is a maximum load power (W)

‘ Daily Energy Demand is a total energy that is consumed in a day (Wh)
‘ System design must consider both
Peak load (W) and Daily Energy Demand (Wh)
‘ Capacity of Generator must be greater than Peak load (Micro hydro/Genset)
‘ Capacity of DC/AC Inverter must be greater than Peak load (Battery based system)
16.0 16.0

14.0
Daily Energy Demand = 79 kWh 14.0

12.0 12.0
Peak load = 10 kW
10.0 10.0
Load (kW)

8.0 8.0

6.0 6.0

4.0 4.0

2.0 2.0

0.0 0.0
00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 00:00
Time

Basics of Electricity 16

Voltage Drop

‘ Voltage Drop = Current x Cable Resistance

‘ Voltage Drop is a power loss in cable
Current=10A, Vdrop=1V ---- 10W loss
Current=20A, Vdrop=2V ---- 40W loss P(W) = I(A) x E(V) = I2(A) x R(ȍ )
‘ Cable Resistance is determined by Size and Length
‘ Current is determined by system voltage
1 kW PV array at 12V = about 64A
1 kW PV array at 48V = about 16A
‘ To reduce voltage drop
± Use of thicker cable
± Minimize the cable length
± Use higher system voltage to reduce current
‘ Voltage Drop is critical in low voltage system, especially at 12V system
 Basics of Electricity 17

Voltage Drop depends on Current

Voltage drop at this part
will increase when both
a TV and a light ON at the same time.
V0
SW1:OFF, SW2:OFF
Vc = V1 = V2 Ic = 0
Current of a light
Current of a light
V2 SW1:ON, SW2:OFF
I1 I2
Vc > V0 > V1 Ic = I1
Vc Current
Vc > V0 = V2
C/C of a TV
Don't forget to
include this distance SW1:OFF, SW2:ON
Vc > V0 = V1 Ic = I2
Ic Vc > V0 > V2

SW1:ON, SW2:ON
SW2 Vc >> V0 > V1 Ic = I1+I2
Vc >> V0 > V2
Battery
V1 SW1

Basics of Electricity 18

Calculation of Voltage Drop

Resistance of 1mm2 wire : 0.02 ȍ / m Current consumption : 0.5 A / light

Voltage drop of L1

20 m, 1mm2

13.0V
L1
?V
0.5A
12.6V

Voltage drop of L1 = I (A) x R (ȍ )

= 0.5 A x ( 20 m x 0.02 )
= 0.2 V per wire
= 0.2 V x 2
= 0.4 V
 Basics of Electricity 19

Calculation of Voltage Drop

Resistance of 1mm2 wire : 0.02 ȍ / m Current consumption : 0.5 A / light

Vdrop1 Vdrop2

10 m, 1mm2 10 m, 1mm2

13.0V L1

1.0 A 0.5 A ?V 12.4V

( 0.5 A + 0.5 A)
Vdrop3
20 m, 1mm2
L2

0.5 A ?V 12.2V

Vdrop1 = 1.0 A x ( 10 m x 0.02 ȍ ) x 2 = 0.4 V Voltage drop at L1 = Vdrop1 + Vdrop2

= 0.4 V + 0.2 V
Vdrop2 = 0.5 A x ( 10 m x 0.02 ȍ ) x 2 = 0.2 V = 0.6 V
Vdrop3 = 0.5 A x ( 20 m x 0.02 ȍ ) x 2 = 0.4 V
Voltage drop at L2 = Vdrop1 + Vdrop3
= 0.4 V + 0.4 V
= 0.8 V

Basics of Electricity 20

Specifications of Voltage Drop

‘ Voltage Drop between Battery and C/C is critical

‘ Limitation value should be stated by V instead of % for SHS
5% is 0.56V at 11.1V, 0.60V at 12V, 0.72V at 14.4V
Æ These are critical for 12V system

Max Voltage drops at each system voltage

Section Remarks
12V 24V 48V 120V
Larger voltage drop may cause insufficient PV
PV ± C/C 0.5 1.0 2.0 5.0
output voltage to charge battery

Battery ± C/C 0.1 0.2 0.4 1.0 C/C controls battery voltage precisely

To ensure appliances work till LVD

Load ± C/C 0.5 - 1 1-2 2-4 5 - 10
Ex: LVD=11.5V, Vdrop=1V, Load=10.5V at LVD