Instruction Manual

PowerOptimal Elon® 100 Installation Manual
Version date: 2022/05/23
Page 22 of 37
Version number: 2.20
© PowerOptimal (Pty) Ltd 2022. The content of this document is confidential and all rights to the intellectual
property and/or information contained herein remain vested in PowerOptimal, except if otherwise agreed in
writing.
Appendix C. Deciding on Size of Solar Array
Terminology used
Solar power is generated by solar cells, which are arranged in framed modules, typically of 60 or 72
cells each. The total set of solar PV modules installed is referred to as a solar PV array
4
.
The table below provides a basic guide to selecting the size of the solar PV array based on number of
people in the household and/or hot water use. Minimum recommended size is 1 kW
p
. Read on for a
more detailed guide.
Solar PV array size
(kW
p
)
Showers per
day*
50%+ of daily hot
water use provided
for how many people?
How many
people off-grid
for hot water?
Typical number
of solar PV
modules
1 – 1.2
2 - 3 modules
1.2 – 1.6
3 - 4 modules
1.5 – 2
4 - 5 modules
2.4 – 3.2
(two parallel PV strings)
6 - 8 modules
3 – 4
(two parallel PV strings)
8 - 10 modules
* 6-minute showers at 40 °C with 8 litre/min (low-flow) showerheads
4
Image source:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/AEX-652-11.