Going Solar..Help

Discussion in 'Off Grid Living' started by beckland farms, Apr 23, 2015.


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  1. oldawg

    oldawg Monkey+++

    And sometimes a frame and axle. Always need another project right?
     
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  2. azrancher

    azrancher Monkey +++

    OK, since nobody has asked Beck the hard questions I will... 3 fills of propane a year, where do you live?
    Are you currently on the GRID, if so that is by far the cheapest power.
    If you are preparing for a GRID down situation you need to be GRID-Tie.
    And there are ways to be GRID-Tie and still be ready when the lights go out. And relying on propane is not one of them.
     
    beckland farms and Dunerunner like this.
  3. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    I didn't want to open that door till he spent 25 bucks on a watt meter. & buying panels in sections is the worst thing to DO !!
    800w system is dreaming . I saw a .65KW or some number that was posted from the OP , Know how to read a grid meter ? Go out at the same time every day & read it. You saved yourself 25 bucks, but it's for the whole house.
     
  4. Altoidfishfins

    Altoidfishfins Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

    Remember when sizing your array that you must be able to generate enough power to both run whatever you're running in your dwelling AND have enough capacity left over to fully charge your batteries well before the sun goes down. If you're not using an MPPT type charge controller (expensive, unless you want to chance one of those Chinese knock-offs on eBay), you may as well de-rate your array by another 20%. In other words, if you have ten - 100 watt solar panels for a 1000 watt array rated, electrically you really have only an 800 watt array. The rest is loss (without MPPT).

    When I think about the fact that a malfunctioning charge controller can destroy batteries in relatively short order, I get shivers at the thought of the Chinese knock-offs. While solar panels have decreased in price, battery prices have more than doubled in the last ten years.

    I paid $70 for a single Trojan 6 volt GC2 golf cart battery in 2004. Now the same battery is over $160. And my very small system uses 4.

    As AZRancher states solar ain't cheap, even when you figure in the lower cost of the panels over the past year or two. Solar is for when no grid power is available.
     
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2015
    kellory, beckland farms and BTPost like this.
  5. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    The Gold Standard for MPPT Charge Controllers is the OutBack Power Systems Units... Yea, they cost a bit more, HOWEVER, They are the most flexible, when starting small, and slowly building a Solar System, over time. Do the Research, and Buy Right, the first time, and you will save money in the Long Run.... Remember, if you chose the Right Hardware, only the Inverter, itself has a fixed Input Voltage. The Solar Panels, Batteries, & Charge Controllers, can be reconfigured each time your System, Expands.....
     
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  7. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    Sorry so out of date :: Gold standard is the guy who built that outback legacy started Midnight,,
    plus a few others came with them from zantrax and two previous solar companys .. this is now 2015 & OB days were 1990 .[​IMG]

    As with solar panes there ARE 3 types,, set for PWM of 12 or 24 volt or MTTP & WITH OR WITHOUT Grid tie , so to make 220Vac a string of 72-96 volt panels (grid -tie , micro inverter ){cheapest out there} WILL NOT work with a PWM 12-24 volt system .
    I hear price bargain basement shopping = set for failure .
    Sorry , But learn from MY screw-ups .

    Buddy , do MIDNIGHT , them are GREAT Folks ..I'm Beta Testing the new PWM CC called the Brat & just finished playing with the kid : [​IMG]
    I run 5 Classics , 2 Kids & now Beta testing the Brat ! [​IMG]
    Watch the links

    Sloth
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2015
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  8. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    Use the cheapest batterys you can find , your in for a rude awakening so don't piss your money away on killing real batterys .

    Better link of box stores solar : Grape Solar 400-Watt Off-Grid Solar Panel Kit-GS-400-KIT - The Home Depot



    Something is not correct on the video & the 400watt system , 18VDC Panels & they show hooking them in series using a PWM CC unit , Ready for the smoke to happen ?? Plus there watts math are from a 12 volt bass to get 100 watt panels , 18 Vdc are more like 60W panels since they never posted the I or amps out of the panels.
    Do the Math , E-I-R-P

    Mine : Canadian Solar - Product

    Read : Canadian Solar - Product
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2015
    techsar likes this.
  9. T. Riley

    T. Riley Monkey+++

    Vmaxtank batteries from Amazon. $599.95 for 2 155ah batteries. Includes shipping, unless you can find a local dealer. This was a recommendation from Grape Solar. Call their support, they are very willing to help or email them.

    BTW, the charge controller you will get will handle another panel like those in the kit. So, for another $130 or so you get 25% more, 500 watts vs 400.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 28, 2015
  10. techsar

    techsar Monkey+++

    A C-35 will not take another panel safely. 400/12=33.3 - and the one I had burned out @ 25 amps (taking 4 batteries with it). And it was not even a year old.

    The Vmaxtank batteries are pretty good, but not a battery to start out with. A few days with wrong charge settings and you killed them (or any other gel battery)
     
  11. T. Riley

    T. Riley Monkey+++

    Techsar is correct 5 could push the limit. Never did on mine, but I only used in for one winter. I just switched to an Outback 80 and, foolish or not, I am not worried about the batteries.
     
  12. Rude awakening?
     
  13. Dunerunner

    Dunerunner Brewery Monkey Moderator

    Repeat after me, "I will not go cheap because I know it will eventually cost me more."

    Say it again beckland, then repeat in low melodic tones, "I will become knowledgeable and make an intelligent decision on Solar."

    Calculate your array output with the least amount of insolation you will get throughout the year, dead of winter. You will no doubt have a fixed azimuth array and will not be tracking the arc of the sun so take into consideration the sun's low point and the few hours of somewhat peak output you will have to figure the number of panels you will need vs. the load you intend to connect to the batteries.

    A set of Quality panels, adequate and reliable charge controller and good (intended for deep cycle solar application) batteries will make your final project much less of a maintenance issue and less expensive in the long run. There are companies that sell matched systems. Solar panel arrays, charge controller and batteries in a complete system designed to your Lattitude and specific load requirements.
     
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  14. sec_monkey

    sec_monkey SM Security Administrator

    [applaud]
     
  15. madmax

    madmax Far right. Bipolar. Veteran. Don't push me.

    I need to write this stuff down...where's that notebook?
     
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  16. techsar

    techsar Monkey+++

    An item not to be overlooked is your wiring. If in doubt, go a larger gauge. Not only will you have lower losses, but you could allow for future upgrades without requiring re-wiring everything. Never go smaller than your estimated "worst case" load ampacity.
     
  17. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    The problem here is that he's done no load calcs or done any real sizing. Sad to say, this experiment is not going to go well.
     
    BTPost likes this.
  18. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    Do your " Due Diligence" BEFORE you chunk down your hard earned Cash.... If you do not understand something, do NOT Ask a "SalesDroid"... Come ask one of our Off-Grid Monkeys, who actually LIVES and uses Solar Off-Grid Power. We have some that have been doing this Lifestyle for Decades.... One of the best is @TnAndy.... And Crusin Sloth isn't a slouch in this field, either. We lost one of our best, a few years back, "Nadja RIP". who practiced what he preached.
     
    Last edited: May 1, 2015
  19. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    I know of Nadja & conversed with him many times(Not on this forum) , So SAD ,both of the other forums miss him greatly as well.
    Andy , Chris ,Ryan are well respected in the off grid aspect.
    I can work a calculator all day , make it smoke & wear my fingers to a bone , and still not get everything 100% .
    One this or that , and now your a detective to figure either YOUR FURBAR or a chemical imbalance of the tides & the moon .
    After many years as a trades person with a few , then the way to deduce the problem will show ME where I mis Judged .
    This is not EZ , Best 25 bucks spent is the LINK I posted !!

    ALL should buy one & learn your POWER !!

    @ BT Sorry for being short on the post ya did way up there , but was just in Arlington with Outback & Midnight , Trace/Xantrex & Schneider Electric .Plant 3 ..


    On a side note they did Amps for music as kids in the 60/70's !! JFYI .
    Went to many a R&R gigs with them working your ears !
     
    Last edited: Apr 29, 2015
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