All things Solar (merged threads)

[Pepscobra]

So we finally had our Solar system installed last week; a 3KW system with 12/265W Canadian Solar panels + Fronius Primo inverter.
Just in time to take advantage of some very sunny (and hot) weather in Perth over the next few weeks.
Output so far is great; over 21kwh/day since installation.

I didn't realise at the time of installation, but the inverter sits in full direct sun from about 2PM onwards. How bad is this?
The unit does get very hot to touch.
Does this affect warranty and power output?
I'm thinking of building a little canopy over the unit to block the direct sun... Is it worthwhile?
Cheers.

[zeuss000]

Just hose it down a couple of times a day?
Sorry..
Been out in the sun too long myself..

[davenl5l]

Mine recieves full afternoon sun 120 metres from the ocean 3 1/2 years now. so far all good .i did ask when it was installed and they said that they are designed for it plus my warrantee is for 15 years on the inverter and by then i hope to be off grid with new inverters anyway

[Mooka]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

So we finally had our Solar system installed last week; a 3KW system with 12/265W Canadian Solar panels + Fronius Primo inverter.
Just in time to take advantage of some very sunny (and hot) weather in Perth over the next few weeks.
Output so far is great; over 21kwh/day since installation.

I didn't realise at the time of installation, but the inverter sits in full direct sun from about 2PM onwards. How bad is this?
The unit does get very hot to touch.
Does this affect warranty and power output?
I'm thinking of building a little canopy over the unit to block the direct sun... Is it worthwhile?
Cheers.

Mate ideally move it into garage out of direct heat. Not ideal or professional to install on western wall.

[Mooka]

Originally Posted by deesun

Anyone in QLD have one of these powerwall thingy's. Can you add one without it affecting refunds etc? How will it affect usage and KW hour used?

Most people are unaware you may need more panels to ensure your batteries are charged prior to sun down.

Batteries are only cost efficient if you have small feed in tariffs or your wanting to have an emergency power supply due to frequent black outs.

[ebxr8240]

Or have solar to go pretty much off grid ?

[roKWiz]

Have been living offgrid solar/wind for around 25 years but most of my stuff is smaller RAPS ie motorhome, yacht, cabin.

I've been using shade tolerate (amorphous) unisolar panels by Canon most of that time with back up windpower by an air403 generator afloat and 913 Rutlands ashore.
Good reliable gear.

[buggerlugs]

Looking at going off grid at our bush block. Wondering how much for a 3 or 5kw system would cost these days. I know you need panels, invertor, regulator and batteries (how many). Got Quoted $140k to put power on ............

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by buggerlugs

Looking at going off grid at our bush block. Wondering how much for a 3 or 5kw system would cost these days. I know you need panels, invertor, regulator and batteries (how many). Got Quoted $140k to put power on ............

With a quote like that I'm sure solar is going to look very attractive.
.

[Mooka]

Buggerlugs, go round check all appliances for wattage and write down, then think of what combos will be used at the same time.
Options for batteries are lead acid with 50% Depth of Discharge tend to last a couple of years and fade out or go with Litium Ion with 80% DOD no maintenance and should last 15 years approx.
Do you want auto electric start generator incorporated to provide back up to battery charge in bad weather ?

Pricing is all dependent on multiple options and needs.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Mooka

Options for batteries are lead acid with 50% Depth of Discharge tend to last a couple of years and fade out or go with Litium Ion with 80% DOD no maintenance and should last 15 years approx.

I use banks of Century 200amp/h "Truck and Farm" lead acids though heavy, I've had 10 years out of one bank of batteries, and 9 out of the second bank in another system.
They are not referred as "deep cycle" but have the exact same wide 11 plate construction.

If you look after them they'll serve you well.

[buggerlugs]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

I use banks of Century 200amp/h "Truck and Farm" lead acids though heavy, I've had 10 years out of one bank of batteries, and 9 out of the second bank in another system.
They are not referred as "deep cycle" but have the exact same wide 11 plate construction.

If you look after them they'll serve you well.

How many do you use for your system ? What size ? Where do you reside ( roughly) Do you have/need back up generator ?

[hackney]

I am about to go Solar again("2nd" system.) 4.16kw,16x260w "Rene"Solar high efficiency modules.1x4kw "Solar Max 4000p inverter @ cost of $5890.Should be generating roughly a bit over 20kw per day.(Our average daily use is around the 9kw mark.) Cost has come down a reasonable amount since we last installed in 2011.That system was roughly the same price but a lot lower spec (2.30kw Solar system, 10xSP 230 Panels &JFY 3000 Inverter.(Chinese inverter.)Solar max is a Swiss Manufacturer,but now owned by a German company,apparently very good inverter's.Cheer's

[1TUFFUTE]

Just recently installed a 6.2ish kW system (bad memory)plus a new power box(extra 1k) for just under 7k all up. Did a fair bit of research on the panel types,warranties and the converter type and quality and it's all very good gear. (I can expand if anyone wants more details. I'll be checking my daily kW usage and so on tomoro and update)
The guys were great too. Repaired a few leaks in the roof, adjusted the toilet vent pipe,moved the custom in roof antenna pole, rescrewed down part of the roof and installed an extra external double waterproof PowerPoint for my water tank pump.....for FREE, no extra charge!Didnt even haggle, he just said nah it's all good mate. Thought I was screwed when my Ridgeback jumped up an "warning" bit the young fella on the forearm he had there. Oops

We will need to change the inverter if we go batteries later tho, but we have two separate panel banks on different sides so that may make it easier utilising half and half at first!
half on the grid,half off the grid
Oh...in the Brisbane area too!

[1TUFFUTE]

Update^^^^^^


$5.8k
6.5kw system.
25x260w Trina Honey panels (10yr warrant You+80%efficiency after 25yrs performance warranty)
Power one Aurora 5000 inverter (5yr full warranty, 20 year design warranty)
Atm it's getting 22.1kw daily
Atm it's getting 5038w peak
It also says daily energy savings.....11euro or 17$ (Not sure how that's calculated)
We use 14kw daily (but we're home every day)

Just in case anyone's interested....the average usages are...

2people.....13kw winter. 14.2kw summer
4people.....18.4kwwinter. 20.3kw summer

[MDS69]

Originally Posted by 1TUFFUTE

Update^^^^^^


$5.8k
6.5kw system.
25x260w Trina Honey panels (10yr warrant You+80%efficiency after 25yrs performance warranty)
Power one Aurora 5000 inverter (5yr full warranty, 20 year design warranty)
Atm it's getting 22.1kw daily
Atm it's getting 5038w peak
It also says daily energy savings.....11euro or 17$ (Not sure how that's calculated)
We use 14kw daily (but we're home every day)

Just in case anyone's interested....the average usages are...

2people.....13kw winter. 14.2kw summer
4people.....18.4kwwinter. 20.3kw summer

What type of roofing material do you have ie tile or colourbond etc. Also single or two storey. Does that price include supply authority fees for a new retail meter. Thanks.

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by MDS69

What type of roofing material do you have ie tile or colourbond etc. Also single or two storey. Does that price include supply authority fees for a new retail meter. Thanks.

Qld Brisbane

Colour-bond
Single story (but house on stumps...ground lvl one side to 1.5m raised on low side)
5.8 covered everything bar the new power box. 1k for that. Was the same price quoted by my sparky buddy so I just got the same guys to do it while they were here!

[My32Doors]

Happened to see an episode of the ABC Catalyst program entirely on solar battery storage. Excellent info/ overview.
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4398364.htm or
http://www.offgridsolarkits.com.au/o...attery-storage

[Mowdit]

Question
Our air conditioning died a few years ago, a 12kw 3 phase system.
Is it possible to run a 3 phase system off batteries/stand alone system.
Or am I best to replace it with a single phase system.
cheers in advance

[buggerlugs]

Pappa, your back !!!! Bout bloody time !! Have you been looking into the "off grid" set ups yet ?

[poppa smurf]

thanks mate, some ways I'm glad to be back, other ways, well I'd rather be watching those Kimberley sunsets and snatching the big fish.......never mind, reality beckons.

Battery storage is still a can of worms here, I've looked into quite a few but as yet the price is still too high for a very small system, $6,000 for a 2 KW pack is a bit rich.

there are some systems coming on line in the near future that look to be very interesting but they are still a fair way down the tube.

I had high hopes for the graphite mine around by lincoln to supply a new local industry but they are in strife last I heard.

Govco couldn't give a rats and general consensus is against renewable, state gov have blinders on for wind.

But as soon as I find a decent size system that is reliable and capable I will be on it.

I looked at old forklift batteries as well as standard truck/dozer batteries but in reality they are almost a waste, I know of folks who are doing it but gee! they do it tough.

[1TUFFUTE]

^^^^^whats with the truck batteries?, someone else I think mentioned them earlier as a great/cheaper option!

[hackney]

Originally Posted by My32Doors

Happened to see an episode of the ABC Catalyst program entirely on solar battery storage. Excellent info/ overview.
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4398364.htm or
http://www.offgridsolarkits.com.au/o...attery-storage

Found this episode(Catalyst.) very interesting & fascinating.Did not really understand the technology that well,& just having installed a Solar array(2nd time.) this has got me very interested.Thx for this!

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by 1TUFFUTE

^^^^^whats with the truck batteries?, someone else I think mentioned them earlier as a great/cheaper option!

truck/forklift batteries do work, but for my purposes, can be unwieldy, dangerous, unreliable.

the amount of power I need makes the storage (using lead acid) a huge affair.

I have helped a lot of folks place these systems in and they are working well but many still need the grid for welding, air-con, workshop needs.

when I get off the grid I will be fully self sustaining off, solar, self storage as well as maybe a small generator.

I will be doing mine as soon as a decent AGM or similar battery setup is available for a reasonable cost and the size is not dinosaur like.

won't be long before a decent size storage system comes down to a reasonable physical size and price.

every year the storage capacity is increasing, physical size is diminishing......price is the next factor.

[LG17]

The bloke over the road from me is totally off the grid but I don't particularly like his set up. He has 8 panels, batteries and a bloody big generator. The generator runs almost every day and certainly every night! It was a demo system he bought and it cost him $30000.
I haven't been game to ask how much diesel he goes through a week but he is able to skite that he's 'off the grid!'

[poppa smurf]

council bylaws here do not permit me to run a generator after a certain time, can't remember what it was, 6 PM jumps to mind but that may not be correct, too many arguments with them over different things, use of grey water, use of rainwater, storage of rainwater, wind turbine, height of caravan carport, position of carport......the list goes on.

I have "setup" quite a few "off grid" shacks/ small houses but really none that I wold be happy with at home, I like my air-con and my 200 amp welder too much......I still mess about with other folks motorhomes and vans.....use of power tools is a must.

battery gases can be a problem, draw down on batteries, weight and physical size of storage, life of batteries, maintenance of lead acid batteries, corrosion of terminals.

I know all of these things can be circumvented but at my age I don't want to be pulling a bank apart to find a faulty cell.

the catalyst program was a very good one but it still relied on being connected to the grid, I want to get right away from the bloodsuckers forever without problems.

however the future tantalises us with glimpses of what is out there.

[buggerlugs]

Originally Posted by LG17

The bloke over the road from me is totally off the grid but I don't particularly like his set up. He has 8 panels, batteries and a bloody big generator. The generator runs almost every day and certainly every night! It was a demo system he bought and it cost him $30000.
I haven't been game to ask how much diesel he goes through a week but he is able to skite that he's 'off the grid!'

Sort of expensive way to be off the grid. I bet Diesel out your way is not $1.00 a litre either. Wondering what the most economical diesel generator would be for back up ? 8 Panels doesn't seem much ?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by 1TUFFUTE

^^^^^whats with the truck batteries?, someone else I think mentioned them earlier as a great/cheaper option!

Normal lead acid starting automotive battery that a truck has isn't a good battery to use in this type of situation, they're not made for it they're made for a massive hit turning over an engine, then being charged while running.

Deep cycle lead acid or AGM or Gel would be the go to for a solar setup using normal battery technology, but if you want them to last you have to be careful about how far down you let them go before they are charged up, 50% depth of discharge is best for long battery life for a deep cycle, you can go lower but then it won't last as long.

Lithium has its own challenges but you can discharge them down further and bring them back up quicker without negative effects, but they are dangerous if not looked after correctly.

[nstg8a]

I love this thread, I'm slowly drawing up plans for my shed, which I'm planning on being totally solar/battery powered.
It will have aircon but given it won't be used all the time, or even the shed used every day I'm hoping il get away with a lower amount of battery storage for the time being.

[LG17]

Originally Posted by buggerlugs

Sort of expensive way to be off the grid. I bet Diesel out your way is not $1.00 a litre either. Wondering what the most economical diesel generator would be for back up ? 8 Panels doesn't seem much ?

Haha - I probably pay less for diesel that you do.
If I have to go to Caboolture, Brisbane or Toowoomba I always fill up either in Blackbutt or Colinton, it's usually about 6c (at least) cheaper than those places.

I think it's an expensive way to be off the grid as well. I certainly wouldn't be following suit. At least I have 20 panels and a compatible inverter for starters.