We can use one, or we can use the other, or we can use both but ultimately you need to respect each one for what they are! And whilst there are rules written in electrical codes such as AS/NZS 3000:2018 we also need to understand they are two separate systems of power that need to be treated as such… i.e. Circuit Breakers that are rated and tested for AC do not work effectively on DC Circuits and they certainly cannot share the same Distribution box. When done correctly, the two work so wonderfully together and certainly have their own respective natures. Renewable energies have also given us the requirement to make Edison and Tesla work together! But as I just mentioned, you need to evaluate which one would be better not dictate that it should be one or the other because of your comfort zone or your personal bios.
For example, if we were building or designing a Telemetry system such as a Weather station, do we really need to utilise the AC power grid and would we need to install a PLC? Well, here is some food for thought:
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC’s) are used in both AC (Alternating Current) and DC (Direct Current) circuits but if we could keep the system completely DC, we could utilise a SCADA pack and the Suns power and still run a reliable system over 4G that provides us sufficient autonomy, particularly in times when Australia is throwing everything she’s got at us! We also don’t need to hire in an Electrician every time we have a minor issue with the asset. Personally, for this sort of system give me solar any day of the week! If its designed correctly you will easily get 10 days of Power autonomy.
Or maybe we are building or designing a remote Radio communications repeater; do we really need to utilise the AC power grid, or would it be cheaper, more sustainable, and more reliable to utilise Solar?
Is it possible to use AC as your primary power source and run a -48V battery backup system? This for me, would be the ultimate in reliability, especially if we incorporated a back up power source such as a generator. But how much battery power do we need? And how much money do we spend? So many questions.. what you really need to do is just give us a call 😉
Ultimately The choice between AC or DC often depends on the specific requirements of the application and the characteristics of the equipment being controlled. We need to factor in costs, system reliability, sustainability, and ease of maintenance. All of which we are certainly able to help you with.
Here at WoWW we are focused on the future of renewables, but we also understand where we are at now! So please don’t hesitate to give us a call for any of your industrial monitoring or renewable needs.
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