The Power crisis : A green opportunity

In India 260 million people are living below poverty and more than 390 million people are
illiterate, the largest pool of illiterate people of the world. Because of illiteracy most of these
390 million people are living in extreme poor condition. Some can manage a square mill a day
but very few can light up their homes during night. Electricity is a luxury to these poor people.
Their kids too are devoid of the light of literacy. But the sheer fact is that if a society cannot
give support to it’s many poors it can not protect it’s riches either.

This extreme dark situation can be altered if we take up this challenge face to face and look up
the sun for solution. India being in the ‘tropic of Cancer’ we get good amount of sunlight
everyday. The average sun time (sun with full intensity) in the entire country varies from 4.5
hours to 5.5 hours. Only during monsoon period 60 to 100 days remain partially or completely
clouded.

However, during this 300 to 250 days their homes can be lit up with light with little
investment towards solar power. Of course the state or the benevolent organizations have to
come forward to take up the challenge.

With the improvement of the inverter technology and the reduction of the solar photovoltaic
prices the project here is going to be described is tested ,feasible and lucrative.

In a typical house of a middle class family there happens to be 3 to 4 tube lights, 3 to 4 CFLs ,
3 to 4 ceiling fans and 1 or 2 table or pedestal fans.

Among these the tube lights and the CFLs are run a minimum 5 to 7 hours a day.

The project shown below is being used to light up 3 nos T5 tube lights and 2 nos 5 watt CFLs
for 5 to 6 hours a day without any interruption.

Well here is the heart of the project: Solar Panels.

110 watt: From left to right 10 watt , 50 watt and 50 watt (Poly crystalline type. Life:15 years)
Maximum output is at 17 volt Cost RS:160/watt Cost=RS: 18000
 The panels are fitted on the parapet wall of my flat. For fittings simple folded galvanized
channels (available in any hardware store) is used. They are painted by red oxide and then
black paint thus giving them a complete protection from the corrosive weather of Mumbai.

This type of double coatings will be just enough for any other locations in India. It’s better if
some scare-crow sort of things can be fitted on top of it so as to avoid droppings of birds.

A thorough top surface washing once a week is recommended in the urban area to wash off
the dust , dirt and birds droppings if any. However, in the rustic area this can be done once in a
month. We have to keep in mind that any blockage, cover of the sunlight will severely impede
the output of the panels.

Since India is in the tropic of cancer part of the globe, the fixed type simple solar panels will
invariably be inclined towards north. But the exact angle will be known from the latitude of
that area.

It is always essential to use same type of panels whose output voltages are same.

All the output of the panels are to be wired together to a common terminal wherefrom it will
be brought down inside the room . The wiring to be used is of 14 or 15 SWG copper wire (red
and black ). Normally single stranded 14 SWG copper wire costs RS:20 / meter. A 25 AMP
fuse socket is to be fitted at the end on the positive terminal.

- + - + - +

2 way switch with

25 AMP Fuse a middle stop

Skotchy Diode assembly 100 AH

Tubular
Battery

Simple Switch
230 volt ,250 watt Inverter output
Transformer less Inverter
Load: 3 nos T5 and 2 CFL (5 watt) for 7 hours
daily
The cost detail:
The 110 watt solar panel @ RS:60/watt
= 110 *160 = 17600.00
One no 100 AH tubular battery =4000.00
14 SWG copper wire red & black:10 mtr each:400.00
25 AMP fuse with base: 100.00
Transformer less 250 watt inverter : 1800.00
Installation and fitting:400.00
Cost of 3 way switch = 50.00
Skotchy Diodes = RS:50.00 each
Cost of Solar panel & Inverter = 24400.00
-------------------------------------------
The cost of 3no T5 rod = 400.00 * 3 = 1200.00
5 watt CFL 2 nos = 150.00
Grand Total = 25750.00

250 watt transformer less Inverter:

The transformer less inverters are available in Mumbai local markets. These are very small
and uses no balky transformer. It simply converts DC to 250 Voltage DC by DC-DC converter
after that they made the 250 voltage DC to 230 volt AC. The loss is very less and can be
directly connected to the solar panel. However on the negative path there remains a trace of
230 volt AC which is not good the long life of the solar panel . That’s why I use a 3 way
switch in between the inverter and the negative supply. At any point of time only one path will
be used. The battery cut off voltage is 10.5 volt and the alarm is at 11 volt.

Solar Panel output:

For a 10 meter lead wires (red & black) and the battery voltage not below 11 volt only one
Skotchy diode with heat sink will be just sufficient . However if the battery voltage is allowed
to go down upto 10.5 volt than at least 2 skotchy diodes are to be put in series. The skotchy
diodes are used as a valve so that during night hours the battery voltage will not rush to the
panel and to increase the line impedance so that the panel output becomes more or less 17
volt. The panel gives maximum output at 17 volt. If the voltage is other than 17 the output
from the solar panel goes down. If the lead wire is reduced to 5 mtr then two diodes are to be
put in series. Little field trial with a digital voltmeter will ascertain the no of diodes to be put.

Lighting:
The T5 tube light takes 30 watt with choke and it’s illumination is 1.5 times the normal T12
tube light. CFL is not recommended for reading because of it’s intense glow. However CFLs
can be used in the passage and the toilets.

Field Usage:
The above setup works fine for 3 nos T5 tubes and 2 nos 5 watt CFLs for 6 to 7 hours daily.
On a normal sunny day here in Powai it works for 7 hours and on an otherwise dull day it
works for 5 hours. On a cloudy day it works for 2 to 3 hours.
Continuous Operation:
The system is in operation for more than 14 months as of today. The polycrystalline solar
panels are absolutely intact and healthy. Only it needs to be cleaned once in a week by water.

Conclusion:
The total cost of the solar panel and the inverter comes about RS :24400.00 and the T5 tubes
and the CFLs comes about RS:1350.00. The total cost of the entire setup is RS:25750.00.
There may be little expenditure towards the wiring etc. The installation is simple and
effective. If the state or the voluntary organizations make an effort for it’s mass production the
cost will be further reduced.

Imagine all the 260 million homes are no more dark during night . The small hamlets
light up in the dark. The children in these homes spend the evening in front of books and
become busy in doing home works. Let it goes for 10 years and I believe this 260 million
Indians will create another class of people who will be more healthy and close to nature yet
wise and sophisticated. Their children will belong to another powerful burgeoning class of
India.

Jai hind

S. Bera
Powai / Mumbai