INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SOLAR PANELS AS AN ALTERNATIVE ELECTRICITY SOURCE FOR POWERED SYSTEMS IN AUTOCAD LABORATORY FOR TEACHING, LEARNING AND TRAINING

Unreliable electricity supply remains a major constraint to practical training in technical education institutions across Nigeria, with the AutoCAD Laboratory a digitally intensive facility being especially vulnerable to power interruptions. This study is on design, installation, and maintenance of a solar panel photovoltaic (PV) system as an alternative electricity source for an AutoCAD Laboratory. An electrical load audit established a total daily demand of approximately 72.2 kWh, against which an 15.44kWp solar array (8 × 580W JA-Solar Panels double side), a 11.7 kVA, 48V/60-battery Leoch Lithium, MPPT charge controllers, and a 5 kVA pure sine wave hybrid inverter were sized, procured, and installed. Postinstallation testing over a two-week period under varied weather conditions showed the system delivering 96.6% of its design output, sufficient to power all computers, lighting, and the projector for a full 8-hour training day without interruption. Cost analysis showed a total installation cost of approximately N6,600,000:00 with a projected payback period of 3-4 years against Ikeja Electricity, Petrol, and diesel-generator alternatives, and an expected system lifespan of 20-25 years. The findings confirmed that solar PV technology is a technically reliable and economically justifiable alternative to grid electricity for powering technical education laboratories in Nigeria. The study recommended wider adoption and use across technical colleges, supported by curriculum integration and structured maintenance practices.