Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
How does solar panel convert sunshine to electricity?
Solar modules are made of Photovoltaic (PV) cells which converts sunlight to direct current (DC) electricity.
The solar panels are connected to a battery bank through a charge controller which is responsible for regulating the amount of charge going in the batteries to avoid over/under charging of the batteries.
The inverter converts DC electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity needed to run your appliances as assembled in your electrical panel otherwise called Mains Distribution Board (MDB or DB).
The DB sends power to lights and your other appliances.
A meter (if needed) can be connected to measure the energy you draw and shows the status of available usable power.
How does solar panel convert sunshine to electricity?
Besides the obvious benefits, from maintaining a cleaner environment to reduction in your electric bills, going solar provides energy reliability and security.
Is solar energy a better alternative to other power sources?
Solar energy otherwise called Photovoltaic could literally be translated as light-electricity. That is energy from the sun converted into electricity. It is renewable in nature and to a greater magnitude, the most powerful energy source on earth. It is readily available and will never run out.
How does solar panel work?
Compared to Solar Water Heaters, solar panels only utilize the lights (sun rays) emitted from the sun but not the heat, which seems to be a common misconception. Solar panels actually do not need the heat from the sun like the Solar Water Heaters. Hence the hotter a solar panel gets, the less efficient it becomes. During the day the photovoltaic cells (solar cells) absorb light from the sun and convert it to DC electricity. This electricity is then fed to the Inverter via the battery bank is converted to AC electricity, which is then usable by your home and businesses.
Is there running cost(s) associated with solar energy?
There is none. Once installation is completed and your system starts running, electricity production is completely free.
How much maintenance is needed?
It requires very minimal maintenance since there are no moving parts. Therefore, there is nothing that will break down. Though the solar panels may require cleaning every few months (depending on location) to remove any dust on them, however to ensure optimal performance, regular scheduled inspection is advised. Proper care and maintenance will ensure your solar system’s longevity and optimal performance. We offer a number of service options and are happy to look after your system whether we installed it or not. Call in to know more about HIANS Energy’s service and maintenance packages.
How affordable is solar energy system?
Solar power system is very affordable. Recent price drops and innovations in solar technology have made it significantly cheaper than other sources of electricity generation. The return on investment is within 1 – 2years for most home users depending on the capacity of your system. So an average family will recover its cost within this period. But it is worthy of note that the more energy you consume, the shorter your payback period.
Also, going Solar would lead to significant cost saving over petrol and diesel generators, as Solar costs are fixed and are not affected by changes in oil or any other input prices.
How long does the solar panels last?
Solar panels last for over 45 years. They usually come with a full 25-year manufacturer’s warranty. With guaranteed performance efficiency of 90% after 10 years and 80% after 25 years.
How long does the batteries last?
Our high-quality deep cycle batteries come with a minimum useful life of 5 years.
How long does the inverter last?
Average life of an inverter is within 5 – 10 years, and comes with a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty.
What solar power system capacity do I need?
It all depends on your daily electricity consumption. The more you consume, the bigger the system capacity you will need to power your home or business.
How do I know my electricity consumption rate?
You need to work out how much electricity you use each day. This can be done based on the number of appliances you use, their power rating in Watt (W) multiplied by how long you use them for per day in hours. The result you get will be in Watt-Hour (WH), which actually is the amount of electricity you require per day
How much power can solar panels produce per day?
A 1Kw system will produce between 4KWh – 6kWh of electricity per day. The amount of energy generated by the solar panels is based on the amount of ‘Peak Sun-rays hours’ received, and depends on location. In Nigeria, the range of peak sun-rays hours is between 4 and 6 in the South, to as high as 8 in the North. The higher the peak sun-rays hours, the fewer solar panels required to generate the same amount of energy.
Nigeria is one of the countries blessed with higher amount of solar radiation each year and is most suitable for using solar energy in tackling her electric power challenges.
What is the average electricity usage per household in Nigeria?
In our experience, the average electricity consumption of a typical household in Nigeria is between 7.2kWh – 9.6KWh per day within 24 hours supply of electricity. In reality majority of homes do not get 24 hours electricity. In fact, they get as low as 1.5kWh only consumed in a 24 hours period. In solar power system, a 2kW system would produce between 8kW and 11kW of electricity per day, sufficient to power an average Nigerian household for 24 hours/day.
About Our Services
About Us
- The best European and American inverters, solar panels, and charge controllers
- we are phasing out Lead-acid batteries and will be using Lithium Ion Batteries exclusively. They are the batteries of the present, with up to 10 times the cycle life of lead-acid batteries.
- Inverters that properly charge and protect your batteries.
- Batteries that get charged up to 50% faster than the competition on cloudy days and 30% on sunny days.
- Systems that are installed to meet the United States or European electrical Standards.
- Fuels savings of up to 80% vs running a generator alone, Savings of up to 30% on PHCN bills (prepaid units) Industry-leading warranty of 2 years.
- Annual Service/maintenance agreements that ensure that your equipment is in tip-top shape.
Why should I choose Martecsolarplug Solar Energy
Martecsolarplug Solar Energy premium solar products combined with installation designs (solutions) engineered 100% to your individual need. Our track records speak in our favor – quality equipment, very knowledgeable in our chosen field, have the capacity to execute all manner of solar power projects, and we also offer very competitive pricing for all our products and services.
Are solar panels covered with a warranty?
Solar panels with high efficiency come with a 10 – 12year manufacturer’s warranty and a 25year performance guarantee – which guarantees that your solar panels will perform at least at 80% efficiency in 25years, still providing power for the smooth operation of your business or home.
How long does it take to install a solar power system?
The installation process for a residential apartment, depending on the size of the house and the capacity of the system, could take less than a day or 2-3 days at the very most.
Where can the solar panels be installed?
They can be installed on the roof so as to be exposed to maximum sunlight reception. They can also be mounted on the ground on an independent structure if there is insufficient space on the roof. The latter is most applicable to individual or businesses with large premises that require huge electricity generation.
