| Solar Electricity: Photovoltaic Systems |
Do You
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Many stand-alone or
battery systems also include a generator for backup power, to keep
batteries highly charged, and battery maintenance. In addition to power
supplementation, the generator prevents deep discharging of batteries and
therefore boosts the useful lifespan of the batteries. It is less
expensive than increasing the size of the system. Generators produce
alternating current and that current must be converted to the direct
current that batteries can receive before you use it with a stand-alone
solar system. Maintaining the
batteries properly, which includes keeping the batteries charged as per
directions, extends the life of the batteries and saves money. Many don't want a
fossil-fuel generator with a renewable energy system but be aware that in
a stand alone system you don't use them often. Also, some argue that the generator is not as harmful to the
planet as the batteries. That is a decision you must make. If you have the
space, the correct location, and the wind velocity, a wind generator can
be used in tandem with a battery-operated solar system. At this time, a
rural location and/or large properties are usually more suitable for wind
generation of electricity than the normal city lot.
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