The Boy Who Harnessed the Sun

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(Edited)

I finally installed the solar power system I talked about a few days ago. I have been frustrated too many times over our electricity problems, and so I took the courage to find a sustainable solution for myself and my family. I have now completed the installation, and although it took me longer than expected, I sure have been able to save a lot of money and learn a few things.

I have since been observing the behaviour of the solar power system. I can't tell how it performs yet, as the weather conditions these days are not the best for it. It's been cloudy and rainy a lot, and so there isn't that much sunlight to charge the battery enough.

I saw the sun a lot today, though, and I never thought I could be so happy to see it. Soon enough, anyway, I will share about the solar system I built in detail.

The reason I was able to build it on my own is because I do have sufficient knowledge from my electrical and electronics classes in school and from my experience in the automation academy I spent six months at in 2021. I had learned enough to enable me to think through what I needed and develop a viable solution.

That brings me to the idea that, really, school isn't a "scam." Many say things like, "There is no real use case for the things I learned in school, like the Pythagoras theorem," but the reality is that those things have helped build our cognitive capacity to understand the world a little better and enable us to process even more complex phenomena.

In my second year at the university, I didn't understand the concepts of live, neutral, and earthing in electrical systems. Single-phase and three-phase systems, the operations of a transformer, the working principles of a generator, and the like were even more complex at that time.

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Although they may seem unimportant to people who are not in such fields, understanding them all through my years in school has allowed me to think independently and even develop problem-solving skills.

The first thing that took a while when installing the solar power system was understanding how our house was wired. I had to figure that out first before tethering it with another power supply to ensure I did the right thing and not cause short circuit problems. The house's wiring wasn't documented, so I was on my own. It took a while, but with my digital meter with me, I figured it all out.

The next thing I did was design the new circuitry for the solar power system. I did all that in my head because I didn't want to have to look for paper and a pen. It was pretty simple anyway.

Eventually, I was done with the internal part of everything. That took me the most of the day, so I installed the solar panels the following day.

Connecting up the solar panels wasn't as straight-forward as I thought. I had to make a few calculations on the type of connection to make—series or parallel—based on the other components. The real challenge, however, was mounting it on the roof.

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As self-reliant as I choose to be sometimes, I just knew that I had to outsource mounting the solar panels on the roof. I had zero experience being on the roof, and there were no safety measures I could take even if I was going to do it myself. By the way, I am not a fan of heights.

The panels aren't lightweight, interestingly. And so moving them up to the roof and installing them was another challenge on its own. I was certain of the connections, so I wasn't worried about having to go back up to make adjustments of any kind.

Now everything works just fine. I am still observing its performance, though, but I'll share my experience and all soon enough.

What the experience of taking on this challenge has taught me is to be more encouraged to try new things and take bold steps. And now I have new ideas and feel more confident about exploring other things.

I am already on a new adventure anyway. More on that soon...


All images are mine



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22 comments
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I think congratulations are in order and a round of applause as well. Not just for the result but for the effort inputed into completing the task you began.

This is the beginning of greater things Jay, I hope you are eagerly anticipating. Your adventures and bold experiments may well be your breakthrough....keep at it👍

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I am eagerly anticipating 🤓

Thank you, Becky. We'll see more in the future, hopefully.

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Finally, I am happy to know that you have installed a solar system for yourself since the electricity condition at your end is something else.

The most interesting part of the post is you getting to do the job yourself, although it has to do with your field but it's still quite impressive.

Well done bro, I hope you share an update so I can be your first client 😊. Happy weekend to you.

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Something else indeed o... And very frustrating.

I appreciate the constant support, ser. I felt glad doing it myself

I'll share update soon sir. E ma fo 😁
Next thing, on my way to your house...

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(Edited)

Wow, @Olujay you are a genius, this is very heartwarming, kudos to you!! Remain make you get your own solar company, abeg employ me o🤣

The whole of Nigeria is proud of you, even our Balabulu😁

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😂

Use help me and be doing advert when the company launches. I know you have plenty legs 🤣

Thank you for the encouragement jare

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Congratulations and kudos on working through the process. Being independent with our power, water, and food sources is a good practice. Thankfully solar panels and small wind turbines for home use have come down in price in recent years. Still an investment to obtain, setup, and maintain, but well worth it for cost savings and self-reliance.

We have a neighbor who has a rain water collection system that allows them to be self-sustaining even during times of drought when shallow water wells run dry.

I look forward to future updates.

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Thank you, Jennifer!

Solar panels and components have indeed come down in recent years, but it is sadly going up instead over here. Would have paid half the price 2 years ago. It's relatively less costly regardless.

We have a neighbor who has a rain water collection system

Quite an industrious neighbour. I'm curious about how you cope in the drought.

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I've also been looking into atmospheric water generators for drinking water. It's something I didn't even know existed until recently.

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I guess that makes two of us.

I became fascinated by just reading about it. Would be nice to implement a working AWG system for yourself.

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Well-done, Engineer Jay. I was literally grinning at how you were talking about all your techie stuff. I hear a lot of the terminologies you used from my Dad and while I have no acute interest in these things myself, the installation process is always such a wonder to see.

I hope to hear more about your adventures with your newly harnessed power, Sir. Toodles.😄

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🤓😁

I now wonder the kind of conversations I could have your dad and mostly the look on your face.

We'll surely hear more about my adventures, thanks to certain support...

Meanwhile, when are you going to patronise me for your own solar power system? 🙃

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I'll have my own solar system when I have my own house and I'm sure the person I'm living with in that house will want us to patronise you.😄🌹

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(Edited)

Kind sir, I want my own Solar. Can you come to Kaduna state and buy for me? Then help me and fix it

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Uh, why not? Would also be a privilege to stand face to face with the legendary Dera...

And you better delete those intrusive thoughts right now, because I know what you're thinking...

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Its not small thing Oooo

Congratulations and hope e no shock you ooo😁

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Me that I kiss transformers every morning

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(Edited)

Truth be told, I stopped by at your post because of the title.
I remember watching a South African movie where a boy harness the wind using his dad's precious rickety bicycle to source water for the croppers,using the elementary sciences knowledge he stumbled in a textbook.

I'm glad you've been able to secure a good electricity supply for your family.
Las las Education no be scam @olujay

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I stopped by at your point because of the title

I won't say that wasn't intended. 🤓

I know the film you described, and that was what inspired the title.

Las las Education no be scam

Indeed, fren. Las las...

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