Visit Chiang Mai 2023

 Visited Chiang Mai from 18 May to 1 June 2023 to install solar panels in churches in Pai and Omkoi.

In Pai, there are 3 Anglican Churches, Sai Ngam (lowest point), Doi Philu (Middle) and Nam Phlamong (Highest).

Picture Below from Left to Right: Nam Phlamong Church, Aerial View of Doi Philu Church.

In Pai, we installed solar power for Doi Philu Church and repaired the solar system (inverter) and Nam Phlamong. Also conducted solar training and gave each church a Digital Multimeter for them to use to measure and maintain the solar power.

Training on solar maintenance and testing at Doi Philu.

Replace a new inverter (red colour) for the Nam Phlamong Church.

In Omkoi, there are 3 Anglican Churches, Thung Loi (lowest point), Phaphudong (Middle) and Mae Ramit (Highest).

Picture Below from Left to Right: Thung Loi Church, Phaphudong Church and Mae Ramit Church.

In Omkoi, we installed solar power for Mae Ramit Church.

Redesign and Install Grid Tied 5KW Inverter for PKH Aoral

In January 2019, we removed all the stand alone photovoltaic systems in Aoral (1kW & 600W) and Trang ( 450W & 450W) and rewire and relocate them in PKH Aoral to make a Grid Tied 5KW Inverter system since Aoral has government electricity.

The Grid Tied 5KW Inverter system has 10 solar panels connected in series (180Vdc) and 4 batteries connected in series (48Vdc).

In operations, the sun charges the battery and the government supply electricity to PKH Aoral Training Centre when it is cloudy.

 When is sun is shinning brightly, the solar provides electricity to the PKH Centre and also feed back electricity to the grid.

When the government electricity supply is cut-off, the centre uses the solar power.

When the sun is shinning brightly, electricity from the solar charges the battery and also supply electricity back to the grid.

Solar Power for Church at Mae Salit, Thailand

In May 2018, received news that they have built a new church to replace the old church. They have also upgraded their photo-voltaic system with more solar panels.

In July 2015, I went to Mae Salit, Thailand, to install solar power at St. James Church, the Vicarage and Retreat House cum Nursery.

The specifications of the Photo-voltaic System are:

1. Solar Panel ND-130T1J - 3 pieces
2. Prostar 30M, Morningstar - 1 piece
3. Deep Cycle Battery 12V, 200AH - 2 pieces
4. True Sinewave Inverter TS-1000, Meanwell
5. Vicarage Lighting; 6 pieces of 7 Watts Philip LED Lamps & 2 pieces of 10 Watts Philip LED Lamps
6. Church; 6 pieces of 7 Watts Philip LED Lamps & 1 piece of 10 Watts Philip LED Lamp
7. Nursery, Kitchen & Toilet; 2 pieces of 7 Watts Philip LED Lamps, 2 pieces of 9 Watts Philip LED Lamps & 1 piece of 10 Watts Philip LED Lamp
8. Retreat House; 4 pieces of 7 Watts Philip LED Lamps

Preparing the mounting for the solar panels and electrical connections.

The control panel is mounted on the wall inside the Vicarage.

All the rooms with the pictures taken.

In the Vicarage:

In the Church:

In the Nursery & Kitchen:

Retreat House Rooms:

We had lunch and met new friends.

Solar Electricity for a Farm

In May 2018, I visited a farm overseas and installed a Photovoltaic System (900W) on the farm. They have no grid electricity supply.

Photovoltaic System for the Farm

The system proposed is a 900 Watts Photovoltaic System that can provide up to 2 KW of electricity to the farm. The daily usage has to be budgeted to ensure that the batteries storage is not fully discharged by excessive electricity usage.

System Specifications:

900 Watts Photovoltaic System (6 pieces of 150W Solar Panels)

Power Inverter, 24Vdc to 230Vac, 2,500 Watts

Lead Acid Batteries 12Vdc 200 AH – 4 pieces (Operating at 24 Vdc)

Budgeted Daily Energy Usage: approx 2,600 Watt-Hour per Day

Standby Battery Storage: 3 days

 

The Schematics for the Photovoltaic System is shown below.

The estimated energy usage for the farm based on their daily operations using the following electrical equipment and appliances:

1. Water Pump (500 watts) uses 3 hours daily
2. LED Lamps (10W x 5 pieces) uses 6 hours at night
3. Fan (40W x 2 pieces) uses 10 hours at night
4. Spot Light (10W) operate 12 hours at night for security

If the farm restricts the energy usage to the above duration, the photovoltaic system will be able to provide their daily energy needs.

The ampere meter shows the solar charging current of 18.7 Amps into the lead acid batteries.

A change-over switch between generator and solar allows easy switching between the two systems.

Donation of the Photovoltaic System.

• Photovoltaic System Cost – SGD 4,500
• Tools (Hammer Drill & Battery Operated Hand Drill) – SGD 160

In July 2018, the inverter had died. It was brought back to Singapore and send back to the shop to repair. It was found that all the fuses and MOSFET were burned. Still trying to understand what caused the inverter to die.

In October 2018, I bought a new inverter online, 2500W pure sine wave solar power inverter DC 12V 24V 48V to AC 110V 220V digital display. It cost me SGD$213.73.

Manage to get someone to bring over and install the inverter. The system is working again.