Solar 6 at Hope Training Centre, Prey Veng

On 6 April 2010, we went to Hope Training Centre, Prey Veng, to restore the solar lighting and also conduct solar maintenance at the training centre. The condition of the wiring and lamps needed restoration because during the construction of the building, some were damaged.

 

We dug a new trench to provide electrical cabling from the factory to the 6 houses. This will provide the solar battery power located at the factory to the houses.

We also rewire the electrical cables and lamps at the factory

The lamps, charge controller and batteries were located at the factory. There are 2 zones, houses for zone 1 and factory is zone 2. A total of 17 lamps or 85Watts of power is consumed by the security lighting nightly. The security guard will switch on the lights when it gets dark, about 6.30pm and turn off the lights at 6 am the next morning. A total of 6 solar panels totaling 660Watts is capable of providing 12 hours nightly of security lighting. It has a standby charge of 2 days in case of bad weather with no or little charging from the sun. It has the capacity to increase to 22 lamps without compromising its performance.

A picture of the factory during the day time and night time. It provide sufficient lighting at night to improve the security in the training centre.

The daily charging of the batteries starts at 6 am in the morning and reaches full charge at noon. The charging goes into trickle charge after that. At 6.30pm, the lights are turn on for 12 hours where we can see the batteries are being discharge.The cycle continues again the next day.

A block diagram of the system is shown below.

Light The Way Training

We have formed a team to provide lighting to the remote churches who do not have access to grid electricity. The team is undergoing training such as electrical installation, how the photovoltaic system generate electricity for rural lighting.

Industrial Skill Training

On 18 March 2010, I went with a group of friends to PKH, Kg Speu, Cambodia, to assist in the training of industrial skills to the Cambodian youths. We taught them basic technical drawing, electricity and english.

Below are the 2 Cambodian instructors for the industrial skill training.

The workshop is currently being build, the contractor is putting the thermal insulation on the roof.

Thailand, Sai Ngam's Church

At Chiang Mai, we manage to find a local solar supplier of SHARP Solar Modules (130W). We bought 2 solar modules and a GEL Deep Cycle Battery 12Vdc at 200 A-H.

We arrive on Sai Ngam's church in the afternoon of 17 January 2010. We quickly prepared the mounting for the solar modules. We used a mixture of aluminum C channel rods and tree trunks to mount the solar modules. The solar modules are securely seated on the tree trunk.

Next we mount the charge controller, inverters, battery and the distribution box.

We started installing the lamps, altogether 7 CFL Lamps, 11 Watts each.

We also provide earthing protection for the system.

Final completed system with the lights turn on and picture taking. We completed the whole project in one and a half days.

Specifications
Compact Flourescent Lamps, 11W - 7pcs

Daily Usage - 6 hours nightly

Solar Modules, Sharp 130W - 2 pieces

Battery, 3K Lead Acid Deep Cycle, GEL, 12V 200A-H - 1 pcs

Charge Controller, Morningstar, Pro Star 30 - 1 pcs

Pure Sine Inverter, COTEK 300W, 12V - 1 pcs

Battery Reserve - 1 Day Storage

Also we have a good lunch, everyone chip in to cook and eat.

Thailand, Doi Philu 02

I have gone back to Doi Philu on 17 January 2010 to repair the Solar Lighting. I have replace the charge controller from Phocos to Morningstar, Prostar 30. This charge controller is able to provide the solar charging current, the battery voltage and the load current. It is easier to troubleshoot with the meter readings.

At night the village chief tested the system for 4 hours, it work well without problem.

Specifications

LED Lamps, 5W - 19pcs
Daily Usage - 6 hours nightly
Solar Modules, Mitsubishi 125W - 2 pieces

Direct 24Vdc Operation
Battery, 3K Lead Acid Deep Cycle, 12V 125A-H - 2 pcs
Charge Controller, Morningstar, Pro Star 30 - 1 pcs
Battery Reserve - 1 Day Storage

Doi Philu, Thailand

On 11 Dec 2009, Friday, I went to Chiang Mai, stayed at Tawan Court for a night. Collected the solar panels, deep cycle battery and bought tools, wires and C channel aluminum rods for the solar project.

Next day, I went to Pai Village, two and half hour drive north of Chiang Mai. It has 762 curves on the road to Pai. I stayed at Charlie's House at Pai for 3 days. The place looks like Margeret River, Perth, Western Australia. The weather is cool, 12 degrees Celcius in the morning.
Every day, the driver will pick me and drive me to Doi Philu which is one and half hour drive to the mountian top. We install the solar panels, charge controller, batteries and 20 LED lamps.

Unfortunately, the system can turn on for only 30 minutes and it will trip because it detected low voltage. The battery when fully charge is 26 volts and when the lights are on it immediately drop to 24 volts.

Will visit the place again next April 2010 to see what is the problem.

I suspect the charge controller might be giving the problem.