The sun is the source of all the energy we use today. Wind-energy, hydro-energy and even fossil fuels all stem from the sun's energy.

At ecoru we believe the future lies in using the sun's rays to directly generate electricity using photovoltaic panels to create solar energy systems. 

The different components in this system work together to ensure electricity is provided all day and night.

Solar panels.

The solar panels are the items that actually convert the sun’s light into electricity. The panels absorb the sun’s rays and transfer this into a direct current, so the best place for the panels is on the roof of a building where they can absorb the maximum sunlight possible and therefore create the maximum electricity possible. The panels should be faced towards the equator, towards the south for the northern hemisphere and vice versa, and as flat as possible. Maintenance consists solely of removing dust during dry periods and ensuring that the panels are not covered by anything that could block the sun.

System components.

To create a durable and automated solar system more components are necessary. The electricity generated by the panels is stored in batteries so that electricity is available during nighttime, and at ecoru we use special deep cycle batteries that have been specifically designed for these purposes and therefore have a much longer lifetime. Car batteries are cheaper but will need to be replaced far more often, increasing the total price.
Batteries are connected to a charge controller, or regulator, that ensures that the battery is receiving the charge it needs. If the battery is drained too much it will have a shorter lifetime. The regulator monitors this and cuts of the power to appliances if it notices that the battery is running low. It also protects the battery from over-charging. Connecting a solar panel to a battery without a regulator seriously risks damaging the battery, so we never install a system without one.
Inverters are used because the solar panels output a direct current of either 12 or 24 volts which is stored in the battery. Most appliances, however, are designed to be used with 220V of alternating current. The inverter transforms the direct current into the desired alternating current. At ecoru we choose to only use the highest quality inverters that produce power that is identical to that produced by national power stations.