When we make our mind to use a solar panel, the usage of the battery inevitably gets related. But has this thought ever crossed your mind that you can actually run your solar panel without connecting it to a battery? Well, it is possible and today’s talk is all about the procedure.
But How to use solar panel directly without battery? The procedure may take a while to understand, but we got your back. Mainly, the battery helps to store the charge of the solar panel for later use. You can still use the solar panel without a battery but you will need an inverter to convert the DC into AC power.
In this article, we have made the whole procedure into a step-by-step one that will help you to run the solar panel with a battery. Let’s get started!
How To Use Solar Panel Directly Without Battery- Step By Step
As we stated above, you can still use your solar panel without a battery. The only difference that it will make is you will not be able to store the energy. In that case, you will need an inverter to convert e DC into AC current.
But a problem that might occur is often the solar panel produces more voltage than the input capacity of your inverter. In such cases, you need to work cautiously. Ordinarily, there are two ways to proceed without a battery.
1. Procedure-1: Usage Of Diodes
A diode is used vividly for decreasing the voltage so that your inverter can handle the power that’s coming from the solar panel directly. If you use a battery, the battery does the conversion of voltage successfully. But as we are not using a battery here, we need to use a diode to keep our solar panel working.
So, here begins our steps with diode:
Step-1: Check the inverter’s input capacity
The solar panel serves power for almost 18-19 volts. And oftentimes, the inverter comes with a capacity of receiving less than 5 volts current. So for instance, suppose your solar panel serves 19-volt current and your inverter can only receive less than 15-volt power. You have to distribute the power accordingly and make the procedure of a voltage drop through diodes.
Step-2: Collect diodes according to the required voltage
As the inverter comes with less input capacity than the solar panel’s output power, you need to reduce the output power so that the inverter becomes able to receive it. That’s where the diodes will help. In this case, you have to get the diodes and set them in series with the solar panel and the inverter.
Now as our example, our inverter can take up to 15 volts. So if we bring 7 diodes of approx 0.6V voltage drop, in total, we will lose (0.6*7)= 4.2 V power. So the inverter will receive on average 14.8V power.
Step-3: Attach the diodes
Now all you have to do is just attach the diodes in the solar panel and inverter. Make sure to maintain the series set-up of the diodes. After setting the whole thing up, you will notice the inverter is showing the green light meaning your work is successful.
The disadvantage of this procedure: the power loss here due to the diode set-up is huge. You can lose almost 8.2W as heat which is more like a bad idea. So if you want to make the best use of your power, move to the next procedure.
Read next: Solar Panel Installation Guide
2. Procedure-2: Buck Converter
This procedure requires no step. All you have to do is buy a buck converter and attach it to the solar panel and inverter. The buck converter does the work of 7 diodes at a time and decreases the power loss. If your solar panel is 18V, the buck converter will convert the power into 14V and serve it to the inverter. So you don’t have to do anything additional to make the inverter compatible.
Is shifting to a no-battery operation of the solar panels a good option?
We personally don’t think it is a wise idea. The battery can save a lot of energy and it is very convenient to use. Besides, the set-up procedure can be done within minutes without much effort. So if you are a busy person, you can stick to batteries.
Also, as batteries successfully store power, during gloomy or stormy weather, you will not be in the lack of power. But if you think that for your small house battery will be an extra hassle to bear, you can follow the above-mentioned procedure.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a solar panel without a battery?
Yes, of course, you can. It will be better if you keep a battery in your home as a backup option. But it’s totally okay if you want to use the solar panel without a battery. Because the battery is not a must.
Can I connect the solar panel directly to the battery?
There’s no doubt that you can connect the solar panel directly to the battery. But doing that won’t be the best idea. A direct connection will invite a huge amount of current flow which won’t be great for the solar panel.
Why won’t my solar panel charge my battery?
If you find your solar panel is not charging your battery then you can be pretty sure that there may be a problem with the battery. It can also be an issue with the wrong connection or wiring. You can also check the solar charge controller settings for finding the reason.
Will a solar panel charge a dead battery?
A solar panel will charge a dead battery but definitely, that will take a longer period. The duration comes depending on the size of your battery. But it will probably take at least 5 to 8 hours.
Can a solar panel be directly connected to an inverter?
You can connect your solar panel directly to the inverter if you convert your regular inverter into a solar hybrid inverter. If you do so then your solar panel will start working with solar energy. Otherwise, it probably won’t give the proper service.
Wrapping up
We are at the end of our solution on How to use solar panels directly without a battery? By now, the whole procedure should be clear to you. So using the solar panel without a battery is not rocket science. A few simple steps and the right tools will help you to get the set-up. But the power you will get later is the main question.
So if you are looking for a constant power supply from your solar panel, the substitution won’t help you as much as a battery. Yet you can try it for yourself as the steps are not tough and costly. However, if you fail to understand the procedure, you can always take expert help. Good luck!