Design and Construction of Dual Input Mobile Solar Generator for Reliable Off-Grid Power

• Zaharaddeen MUSA

  Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria

  Author

• Aliyu BELLO

  Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria

  Author

• Haris A. DANLADI

  Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology Wudil, Kano State, Nigeria

  Author

Irregular electricity supply remains a persistent challenge in many developing communities, including Dutsin-Ma in Katsina State, Nigeria. Frequent outages, poor voltage quality, and heavy reliance on expensive fuel-powered generators hinder household comfort, business operations, and overall socio-economic development. Although renewable energy offers a viable alternative, conventional solar generators exhibit performance limitations during periods of low solar irradiance, resulting in unreliable backup power. This study presents the design and performance evaluation of a Dual Input Mobile Solar Generator with hybrid charging capability, supporting both DC solar charging and AC grid charging. The dual-input configuration enhances system flexibility, minimizes charging downtime, and significantly improves energy accessibility compared to solar-exclusive systems. The generator is fully portable, enabling easy deployment across households, business premises, construction sites, outdoor events, and emergency response locations. Field relevance in Dutsin-Ma demonstrates its practicality, where solar charging supports daytime energy demands while intermittent grid availability enables supplementary AC charging to maintain battery continuity. The proposed hybrid system reduces dependence on petrol generators, improves power reliability, and provides clean, cost-effective energy for households, schools, and small enterprises. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of hybrid solar technologies to strengthen energy resilience in weak-grid regions and contribute to sustainable development.

• FJET_12_92_85

Copyright (c) 2025 FUDMA Journal of Engineering and Technology

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.