Solar Grid-Tie Battery Backup System

[theoriginalswendaddy]

@Oppland29 I sell the cables with MC4 or H4 ends in various lengths (NEC Code compliant). 6ft=$20, 15ft=@26, 30ft=$38, 50ft=$44, 100ft=$75. (5/11/11) Basically, one end has a male, the opposite end has a female. Buy the length twice your distance, then cut in half. One end screws into a breaker or bus, then the opposite end interlocks with the corresponding male or female end. 507 227 2923 -Mike

[theoriginalswendaddy]

@Oppland29 A 10AWG (maybe 12) is fine for bringing the panel or series of panel to the combiner. The wires from the combiner down to your controller (actually to a breaker 1st) is sized determined by the DC voltage & the distance to the breaker/controller. An MPPT system may be sending 130V down the line requiring a smaller gauge than a PWM system sending only 12V to the controller, requiring a big 'ol 2AWG. If I were to blindly give you a gauge for rooftop to basement, I'd say 6AWG.

[theoriginalswendaddy]

2. Charge Controller Space, Buy an MPPT charge controller- It allows you to maximize solar harvest and feed a higher voltage to a lower voltage battery bank, and easlisy deviate away from 12V PV panels. The MidNite 150 Controller will let you feed 150V at 750W of Solar PV to a 12V battery bank, or feed 175V at 1500W of Solar PV to a 24V batt. bank, or feed 200V at 3000W to a 48V batt. bank. In other words.. have 3 $850 controllers at 12V, or 1 controller for 48V.

[theoriginalswendaddy]

@ Apaulanarius: The inverter(s) system (& distribution panel) ran about $8K, and another $2500 in batteries & cabling.

It's better to use 24 or 48V is for a couple of reasons.

(skip 36V, even for your golf cart, it's an industry oddball)

1. Battery Bank, you should only make 4 parallel connection before using a busbar for equalized charging & discharging. Larger voltages allow more series connections. Four 12V in one series = 48V (you can still make 4 parallel connections)

[apaulanarius]

What is the cost of this system that you built for Hans? Just a ballpark please. This set up is so nice and clean. I currently have 12 volt solar and wind. What is the advantage for 24 or 36 volt systems?

[theoriginalswendaddy]

3. Features- From overall output (more watts), abundant surge capabiltiy, remote monitoring, an ac charger, grid- sellback, and quality are far more common features on inverters that have DC voltages at 24 or 48VDC.

Long story short, Spend a little more upfront & you'll have a longer lasting system that will do more of what you want, expand easier, and cost less over time.

[bykashka75]

@theoriginalswendaddy how much this system cost? whats the output usually AC power

[theoriginalswendaddy]

@bykashka75 This system would run around $10K for the inverter & distribution panel, around $1000-4000 for the batteries. Solar PV cost will depend on your budget, but would max out at 6kW or $36K worth of panels, racking, etc..

[theoriginalswendaddy]

@bykashka75 @bykashka75 -Keep in mind there are some lower cost solutions (Xantrex XW about $9400 with inverter & 8 batteries @ Backup Power Source Inc. and the US Federal tax incentive will reduce 30% of the cost. If you're overseas, the payback could be even faster when compared to utility rate.

[cjhouts]

Could you please contact me as i have a few questions about my project. You can email me @ alter-ecoenergies@charter.net

[Viking9280]

So do you sell this sysytem if so where can i contact you

Please reply