A STUDY COMPARISON OF SMALL SOLAR POWER GENERATION SYSTEM FOR REDUCING ELECTRICITY COSTS WITHIN THE HOUSEHOLD

Abstract

            This research aimed to (1) study and develop a small-scale solar power generation system to reduce household electricity costs, and (2) analyze and compare the electricity output of two small-scale inverters over different time periods. The two inverters included the DXM 300-watt microinverter and the Hoymiles MI-300 microinverter, each connected to a 325-watt solar panel. All components were housed in a control box measuring 44 cm in width, 61 cm in length, and 23 cm in depth. The system was designed for Plug & Play grid connection and included electrical control components such as a fuse, circuit breaker, DC surge protector, two cooling fans, and a power meter. Electricity generation was tested between 08:00 and 17:00 hours, with measurements taken 6 times per hour over a three-day period. The highest average power outputs were recorded at 13:00 hours, with values of 189.01 watts and 273.86 watts for the DXM 300 and MI-300 inverters, respectively. The total daily energy outputs were 1.27 kWh and 1.42 kWh, or 1.27 and 1.42 units per day. The results indicate that the Hoymiles MI-300 microinverter outperformed the DXM 300 model by 30.98% in peak power output and generated 10.56% more accumulated daily energy.