Charles Solar & Water Projects is an engineering company based in South Africa that specializes in renewable energy and water solutions. They offer a range of solar photovoltaic systems, including off-grid, grid-tied, and battery-based options. They also provide solar water heating systems in both active and passive designs. The company aims to help clients reduce their dependence on the electric grid and lower energy costs through the installation of solar and water power solutions.

1. Your Savings Is Our Pride
Solar, Electrical & Water Power
Company Profile
January, 2015

2. 16 Solar Geysers being installed at Sizanani Village Hospital - Bronkhospruit
1500watts Solar Photovoltaic System being installed at 93 Somerset Gardens, Fourways
CHARLES SOLAR
& WATER PROJECTS
SEMCO Building, Unit 28, Corner of 8th Avenue & 3rd Street, Edenvale 1609, Johannesburg, South Africa
Telephones; Office line: +27 (011) 021 3577 Mobile: +27 (083) 314 5636
Email 1: charlessolar.water@mail.com / Email 2: charles.safrelecglory@gmail.com
Website: www.charlessolar.co.za
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3. Contents
Item No. Description Page No.
1.0 Introduction to Charles Solar & Water Projects 1
1.1 History of Solar Power 1
2.0 How Can We Help You? 2
3.0 Our Products and Services 3
3.1 Solar Photovoltaic Power Plants 3
3.1.1 Solar Photovoltaic PV Panel types 3
3.1.1.1 Monocrystalline PV panels 3
3.1.1.2 Polycrystalline PV panels 4
3.1.2 Other products important to make a solar system 4
3.1.2.1 Inverters/UPS 4
3.1.2.2 Batteries DC 5
3.1.2.3 Solar Controller/Charger 5
3.1.3 Types of Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant Systems 6
3.1.3.1 PV-Direct Systems 6
3.1.3.2 Off Grid Systems 6
3.1.3.3 Grid Tied Systems With Battery Backup 7
3.1.3.4 Battery-less Grid Tied Systems 7
3.1.3.5 Other Solar PV Products 8
3.2 Solar Water Heaters 8
3.2.1 Active or Split pumped systems 8
3.2.2 Passive or Thermosysphon Systems 9
3.2.3 Solar Swimming pool heating 9
3.2.4 Solar Heat Pumps 10
3.3 Other Renewable Energy Products and Services 10
3.3.1 Fuel Generator Sets & Wiring 10
3.3.2 Power Wind Turbines 11
3.3.3 Gas Geysers, Stoves & Heaters 11
3.4 Electrical Wiring Designs & Works 12
3.4.1 Full House electrical designs and wiring 12
3.4.2 Timers, Motion & Day-Night Switches 12
3.4.3 Energy saving equipment 13
3.4.3.1 LED Lights 13
3.4.3.2 Electric Showers 13
3.4.4 Starters and Electric Motors 14
3.5 Water Products 14
3.5.1 General House/Building plumbing 14
3.5.2 Pumps and pumping 15
3.5.3 Irrigation Systems 15
3.5.4 Rain Water Harvesting 16
3.5.5 Water features 17
4.0 Testimonials 17
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4. 1.0 Introduction
Charles Solar & Water Projects is a private company or a team of qualified Electrical and Water
Engineers based in the Republic of South Africa with a target market of serving the South African End
users and thereafter extending its products and services to the neighboring Countries such as Zimbabwe,
Zambia, Congo DR, Tanzania, Malawi, Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho etc.
This team of Electrical & Water Engineers is lead by the Founder President Mr. Charles J. Somanje
who is a qualified Agricultural Engineer from the University of Zambia. In his 15years of work
experience and engineering research, he has specialized in Renewable energies, electrical power and
water transportation by pumps and pumping.
Charles Solar & Water Projects covers a wide range of primarily energy & power saving products and
services but with a basic touch of using God given natural energy such as Sun power (Solar), Wind
power, Water power, Gas power etc. So with the freely given mentioned power, we create very effective
and efficient electricity power, heat power, motion power (toque) etc which the running cost is very
minimal or near to zero.
1.1 History of Solar Power
A brief history of how solar power came to be;
The history of photovoltaic energy (aka. solar cells) started way back in 1876. William Grylls
Adams along with a student of his, Richard Day, discovered that when selenium was exposed
to light, it produced electricity. An electricity expert, Werner von Siemens, stated that the
discovery was "scientifically of the most far-reaching importance." The selenium cells were not
efficient, but it was proved that light, without heat or moving parts, could be converted into
electricity.
In 1953, Calvin Fuller, Gerald Pearson, and Daryl Chapin, discovered the silicon solar cell. This
cell actually produced enough electricity and was efficient enough to run small electrical
devices. The New York Times stated that this discovery was "the beginning of a new era,
leading eventually to the realization of harnessing the almost limitless energy of the sun for the
uses of civilization."
In the year 1956, the first solar cells were made available commercially. The cost however was
far from the reach of everyday people. At $300 for a 1 watt solar cell, the expense was far
beyond anyone's means. 1956 started showing us the first solar cells used in toys and radios.
These novelty items were the first item to have solar cells available to consumers.
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5. In the late 1950's and early 1960's satellites in the USA's and Soviet's space program were
powered by solar cells and in the late 1960's solar power was basically the standard for
powering space bound satellites.
In the early 1970's a way to lower the cost of solar cells was discovered. This brought the price
down from $100 per watt to around $20 per watt. This research was spearheaded by Exxon.
Most off-shore oil rigs used the solar cells to power the warning lights on the top of the rigs.
The period from the 1970's to the 1990's saw quite a change in the usage of solar cells. They
began showing up on railroad crossings, in remote places to power homes, Australia used solar
cells in their microwave towers to expand their telecommunication capabilities. Even desert
regions saw solar power bring water to the soil where line fed power was not an option!
Today we see solar cells in a wide variety of places. You may see solar powered cars. There is
even a solar powered aircraft that has flown higher than any other aircraft with the exception of
the Blackbird. With the cost of solar cells well within everyone's budget, solar power has never
looked so tempting.
Recently new technology has given us screen printed solar cells, and a solar fabric that can be
used to side a house, even solar shingles that install on our roofs. International markets have
opened up and solar panel manufacturers are now playing a key role in the solar power
industry.
2.0 How can we help you?
With the recent rise in energy costs many people have been looking to alternative sources of energy. One
of the greatest energy sources (the sun) is readily available for the taking. We just need to be able to
harness it's power. For this reason Charles Solar & Water Projects has a great focus of helping its
Clientele base by tapping into these natural sources of power for electricity and heat production for their
residential and commercial buildings. This will help our clientele to reduce the dependence on
Municipality Grid power hence reduce the power consumption on the grid lines but most important
increase your monetary savings as you will be able to produce enough power for yourselves and
sometimes sale it off back into the municipality grid lines.
The effect of global warming has also negatively affected power production for many countries, whom
they are failing to meet the demand of power from its citizens hence resorting to cutting off power (Load
shedding) at certain times of the day, week or month which has left a lot of bad effects on the growth of
the lives of families and economies of such countries. With Charles Solar and Water Projects' products
and services, one can smile again to live a life free of stress, for power is guaranteed 24/7.
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6. We have also tried to concentrate on products and services that will help create an eco friendly
environment by supplying and installing systems that will be of good health to our clients and
environment. Systems that will be very clean when producing power and not those that will easily pollute
our environment e.g. Photovoltaic units/Inverters as compared to certain types of fuel generators.
3.0 Our Products & Services
We at Charles Solar and Water Projects are specialized in Site Data Collection, Project Design,
Installation works, Project monitoring, Project management, Project Research, Import and Export. We
always strive to give especially the end user the best quality of our products and services in terms of
project installation, supply on time, after sales service and ensure long durability of the products.
3.1 Solar Photovoltaic Power Plants
These are power stations that produce electricity for homes or commercial buildings using the light rays
from the sun. At Charles Solar & Water Projects, we are in the field of Solar Photovoltaic Systems,
supplying and installing different types of PV Systems with optimal current controls. We are regularly
introducing new and innovative products to sustain our market leadership. In our Solar Photovoltaic
Systems, Solar PV panels absorb the sun's rays, even diffused radiations on cloudy days, converting them
to electricity. This electricity is stored in batteries. The electric circuits in the system, control all the
functions and provide all protections to the system. The electricity from batteries can be used for various
applications as DC or AC supply with the help of inverter and accessories which can be provided as per
customer requirements. These systems are most useful for the places where there is a power problem or
scarcity of conventional source of energy and fuel.
3.1.1 Solar Photovoltaic PV Panel types
There a basically two types of PV panels supplied and installed by Charles Solar & Water Projects;
3.1.1.1 Monocrystalline PV panels
These are cheaper, more efficient, smaller or simply better looking.
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7. 3.1.1.2 Polycrystalline PV panels
A polycrystalline solar cell is cut from multifaceted silicon crystal. Polycrystalline solar panels produce
the same power as a monocrystalline solar panel, however the cells of a polycrystalline solar panel tend to
have a unique appearance, similar to that of shattered glass. and it is More cost efficient, Built to deliver
the most efficient performance, high modules conversion through superior manufacturing technology and
extreme environment durability, low power degradation under high temperature.
3.1.2 Other products important to make a solar electric system
To use the energy from the array, you may also need other components, such as inverters, charge
controllers and batteries, which make up a solar-electric system. The components required are dependent
on the system type designed.
3.1.2.1 Inverters/UPS
These important units change DC (Direct Current) to AC (Alternating Current). PV cells will always
produce DC but most of the household or office equipment use AC hence the reason of an inverter/UPS.
A UPS is also used for standby power that is for emergency power cuts or load shedding.
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8. 3.1.2.2 Batteries DC
These are used as the banks (storage) of energy that is produced by the PV cells especially for the power
required to be used during the night or at the time when the PV cells are not producing power due to the
sunset or extremely cloud times. We supply Deep Cycle Lead Acid and Calcium Solar Batteries.
3.1.2.3 Solar Controller/Charger
Solar Photovoltaic systems, are controlled by a central charge controller that regulates overall energy
flow. Therefore, the solar charge controller is a critical component that should be selected with care. The
solar charge controller is about 3 to 5% of the whole solar system cost. But investing in a quality
controller ensures good battery management which extends battery life and reduces associated costs. This
solar charge controller performs crucial system functions such as low voltage disconnection (LVD) to
protect the battery from deep discharge, and high voltage disconnection (HVD) to protect the battery from
overcharging.
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9. 3.1.3 Types of Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant Systems
There are different types of systems, but we will bring to you the most three important types that are
supplied and installed by Charles Solar & Water Projects.
3.1.3.1 PV-Direct Systems
These are the simplest of solar-electric systems, with the fewest components (basically the PV array and
the load). Because they don’t have batteries and are not hooked up to the utility, they only power the load
when the sun is shining. This means that they are only appropriate for a few select applications, notably
water pumping and ventilation—when the sun shines, the fan or pump runs.
3.1.3.2 Off Grid Systems
Although they are most common in remote locations without utility service, off-grid solar-electric
systems can work anywhere. These systems operate independently from the grid to provide all of a
household’s electricity. These systems require a battery bank to store the solar electricity for use during
night time or cloudy weather, a charge controller to protect the battery bank from overcharge, an inverter
to convert the DC PV array power to AC for use with AC household appliances, and all the required
connections, monitors, and associated electrical safety gear.
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10. 3.1.3.3 Grid Tied Systems With Battery Backup
During grid outages PV Inverter production cannot occur, so a home with a PV inverter system installed
will not have power during an outage. However for homes that have a PV Inverter system installed and
already have some battery back, the batteries will supplement power when the grid is down and when the
PV is out of time to produce power i.e. load shedding during the night.
3.1.3.4 Battery-less Grid Tied Systems
These most common PV systems are also known as on-grid, grid-tied, utility-interactive, grid-intertied, or
grid-direct. They generate solar electricity and route it to the loads and to the electric utility grid,
offsetting a home’s or business’s electricity usage. System components are simply comprised of the PV
array, inverter(s), and required electrical safety gear (i.e., fuses/breakers/disconnects/monitoring). Living
with a grid-connected solar-electric system is no different than living with utility electricity, except that
some or all of the electricity you use comes from the sun. (The drawback of these batteryless systems is
that they provide no outage protection—when the utility grid fails, these systems cannot operate.)
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11. 3.1.3.5 Other Solar PV Products
 Solar Hand Held Lantern/Emergency Lights
 Solar Portable Battery Charger
 Solar Home/Indoor Lighting Systems
 Solar LED Lights
 Solar Street Lighting Systems
 Solar Stand Alone Security/Street Light
 Solar Garden Lights
 Solar Submersible & Centrifugal Pumps
3.2 Solar Water Heaters
Solar water heaters can be a cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home or commercial use.
They can be used in any climate, and the fuel they use is sunshine which is free. Solar water heating
systems include storage tanks and solar collectors. There are two types of solar water heating systems:
Active (pumped), which have circulating pumps & controls, and Passive (Thermosyphon), no pumps.
3.2.1 Active or Split pumped systems
There are two types of active solar water heating systems:
 Direct circulation systems
Pumps circulate household water through the collectors and into the home. They work well in climates
where it rarely freezes.
 Indirect circulation systems
Pumps circulate a non-freezing heat-transfer fluid through the collectors and a heat exchanger. This
heats the water which then flows into the home. They are popular in climates prone to freezing
temperatures.
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12. 3.2.2 Passive or Thermosysphon Systems
Passive solar water heating systems are typically less expensive than active systems, but they're usually
not as efficient. However, passive systems can be more reliable and may last longer. There are two basic
types of passive systems:
 Integral collector-storage or close coupled passive systems
These work best in areas where temperatures rarely fall below freezing. They also work well in
households with significant daytime and evening hot-water needs.
 Split Thermosyphon systems
Water flows through the system when warm water rises as cooler water sinks. The collector must be
installed below the storage tank so that warm water will rise into the tank. These systems are reliable,
but contractors must pay careful attention to the roof design because of the heavy storage tank. They
are usually more expensive than integral collector-storage passive systems.
3.2.3 Solar Swimming pool heating
Swimming pools are expensive investments for your home. They contribute to your homes landscape and
value. But most importantly, they provide a relaxed environment for recreation and fitness.
A Charles solar pool heating system can help you get the most from your swimming pool investment. In
addition to providing more time for you and your family to enjoy the pool, it will save you money! These
systems will generally pay for themselves in two to five years when replacing gas or electric pool heating
systems.
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13. 3.2.4 Solar Heat Pumps
Solar Heat Pumps combines energy from ambient air temperatures with electrical energy without
requiring the sun to shine into to produce hot water for geysers or swimming pools. Solar Heat Pumps can
be located anywhere as long as they are outside. As with a Solar Geyser a Solar Heat Pump can save you
up to 70% of your domestic water heating bill.
3.3 Other Renewable Energy Products and Services
Other renewable Energy Products supplied and installed by Charles Solar & Water Projects are as
follows;
3.3.1 Fuel Generator Sets & Wiring
These are fuel powered, either by petrol or diesel in order to generate electrical power required. The only
disadvantage is that they may cause pollution to the environment from the fumes produced. They may be
noise sometimes which may be a nuisance to the public.
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14. 3.3.2 Power Wind turbines
A wind turbine, which is installed on top of a tall tower or house roof, collects kinetic energy from the
wind and converts it to electricity that is compatible with a home's electrical system.
3.3.3 Gas Geysers, Stoves & Heaters
With the rising costs of electricity and conventional methods of heating, a gas geyser can save you money
month on month. With a gas water heater, you are not paying for your geyser to be kept hot all the time,
as this gas geyser system works with a pulse igniter that ignites the moment you open your hot water tap.
Similarly the second you close the hot water tap your gas water heater stops. With the Gas Stove you are
using the same principle though you ought to ignite it with an electric spark or fire.
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15. 3.4 Electrical Wiring Designs & Works
As stated in the preamble, we have a team of qualified electricians who will follow the rules and laws of
electrical engineering. Below stated are some of the most prominent works we do under this category of
electrical engineering.
3.4.1 Full House electrical designs and wiring
We do full house/buildings electrical designs and wiring, starting with Wiring diagrams to installation of
circuits both for new buildings and old extension structures. We install power plug points, light points,
switches, distribution boxes, conduiting & wires etc. We also do faulty finding and repairs for old
buildings.
3.4.2 Timers, Motion & Day-Night Switches
Timer, Motion & Day-Night Switches are simple devices which control the time that your geyser or load
comes on and switches off. With the geyser permanently on, every time the water temperature in the
geyser falls below the set temp, it will switch on to return the temperature back to where it needs to be.
This can account for unnecessary consumption of power, which can be avoided by using these switches.
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16. 3.4.3 Energy saving equipment
We supply and install different energy saving products such as;
3.4.3.1 LED Lights
We supply and install LED down lights, strip lights, security lights, flood lights all in cool white, warm
white and/or color changing etc.
3.4.3.2 Electric Showers
Electric showers only need a cold water mains supplies to them, they heat the water as it passes through
the unit. Advantages are you don’t have to wait for hot water to draw through as heating is instant.
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17. 3.4.4 Starters and Electric Motors
We handle a wide range of electric motors for different applications like driving factory machinery, water
pumps, gate motors etc. We also build their controllers like Direct Online Starters, Star-Delta Starter,
Control Chip boards and Remote controllers;
3.5 Water Products & Services
Under the water department, we have tailor made products and services to suit the client's daily needs of
clean water supply and health sanitation. We professionally provide the following services in our water
department.
3.5.1 General House/Building plumbing
We do full house and building plumbing both for new and renovated buildings. We install any house
equipment and water pipe lines that require water for them to operate, such as, Geysers, Jacuzzi, Dish &
Washing machine points, Water filtration filters, bath tabs & showers, Kitchen sinks and basins etc.
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18. 3.5.2 Pumps and Pumping
We design the duty and install water pumps for different applications such as Swimming pool pumps,
Domestic pumps on Auto vessels, Irrigation pumps, Fountain pumps, Drain pumps, Borehole submersible
pumps etc. Below are a variety of pumps for different applications.
3.5.3 Irrigation Systems
Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of
agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and re-vegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during
periods of inadequate rainfall. Here at Charles Solar & Water Projects, we design and install different
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19. types of irrigation systems that will suit your need. The systems range from Popup sprinkler systems for
beautiful landscapes, Overhead Sprinkler irrigation, Drip Irrigation and on large scale production, Center
Pivots for farming purposes. Our systems are either manually or automatically operated.
3.5.4 Rain Water Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is the practice of collecting and re-using rainwater from hard surfaces such as roofs.
It is an age-old technology that is growing in popularity as people look for ways to use water resources
more wisely, rather than allowing it to run off. Communities or homes may use the harvested rain water
for; watering/irrigating the garden, for livestock, cleaning & sanitation, domestic and drinking if well
treated. Using Charles Solar & Water Projects systems, the water collected is just redirected to a deep
Poly Tank, stored then used at the time required;
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20. 3.5.5 Water features
We build and construct water features to beautify the appearance of your landscape and your gardens.
In landscape architecture and garden design, a water feature is one or more items from a range
of fountains, pools, ponds, cascades, waterfalls, and streams. Modern water features are typically self-
contained, meaning that they do not require water to be plumbed in; rather water is recycled from either a
pond or a hidden reservoir, also known as a sump.
4.0 Testimonials
These are our very happy recent customers we as Charles Solar & Water Projects have attended to and
hear what they have to say;
 Mikrosolar SA (+27 11 918 2633/ +27 11 918 1809)
Charles Solar & Water Projects are the only approved engineering designing and installation team for
all Mikrosolar SA. The team is reliable and honest for they have installed more than 300 Solar Geysers
on our behalf in the past 2012, 2013, 2014 and date. The relationship is still going on strong.
 Sizanani Village Hospital in Bronkhorstspruit SA (+27 83 227 7000/ +27 82 607 7486)
Charles Solar & Water Projects installed 16 Solar Geysers in 4working days. This was lightening speed
but professionally done. We are now experiencing major drop in our electricity bills by almost 40%. It
was their professionalism that caused us to award them another tender to re-plumb all our buildings with
copper pipes.
 Mr. Paulo De Santos (+27 83 298 6396)
Charles Solar & Water Projects helped me reduce my electricity bill from the average R1450.00 per
month to R300.00 per month. These guys are amazing with their products and services. They install a
solar geyser, 1500watts Solar PV System and my Swimming pool heating.
 Ms Wendy Williams (+27 83 267 1011 / +27 11 452 1323)
These guys are everything. They are my electricians, plumbers and they installed my solar geyser and
renovated my swimming pool. Call me today and I will tell you about them.
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