Newbie To Solar Needs Help

System
System Posts: 2,511 admin
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
Hi guys,

Thanks for the forum. I just registered and spent some time looking around here, looks like a great place for anyone of all skill levels to get acclimated with it.

I do not own my home, so I am looking to setup a semi-system so to speak where I can just help my own cause out and draw in solar power and just use different batteries to power up certain electronics in my home.

I am hoping everyone can help and give suggestions and point me in the right direction if they can and are willing.

Here is what I am and have been planning so far, I do not know if this is all I need or if these parts are what I need to accomplish what I am trying to do, so please feel free to correct and suggest what else I need or am missing.

I am looking to purchase the following solar panel system/kit:

-Sunforce 39305 650-Watt High-Efficiency Polycrystalline Solar Power Kit-

http://www.amazon.com/Sunforce-39305-650-Watt-High-Efficiency-Polycrystalline/dp/B002BE2FE2/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3LFJ693YR2ELT&colid=3P71HTH82S768

Basically comes with 5 130 watt solar panels. Also, says it comes with a 50-Amp Pro-Series charge controller - From the what I have learned so far, I think I should get one with MPPT???

I was looking into this product, but do not know if it is something I need or better or even a different kind of product than the 50amp pro series controller -

Blue Sky SB3024iL MPPT Solar Charge Controller, 40A/12V - 30A/24V
http://store.solar-electric.com/blskysbchco3.html

Then, from what I have learned, you need the inverter.

-Sunforce 11264 4500 Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter-

http://www.amazon.com/Sunforce-11264-4500-Watt-Inverter/dp/B001D5L7SA/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=ILYZ7WMUYM4K3&colid=3P71HTH82S768

I do not know if this is too? big of a inverter system for my 650 watt solar panel system or not??

Next, I believe I need some sort of battery, and from what I have learned so far is that deep cycle batteries, specifically AMG (Absorbed Glass Mats) are the best way to go as of right now?

Something like this http://store.solar-electric.com/6cs-21ps.html

Like I said before, I do not know all that much.

So basically wondering or asking can I get electricity from this method.

Having solar panels to inverter, inverter to battery, battery inside to power up surge protector full of small appliances??

Thanks all!
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Comments

  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,439 admin
    #2
    Re: Newbie To Solar Needs Help

    Sort of depends on what you want to do... 135 Watt panels are reasonably portable--but 200+ watt panels tend to be less expensive ($$$/Watt pricing).

    Also, shipping large "glass windows" is expensive--the site you listed includes shipping, other places do not--so you have to look at the price delivered to your door.

    The 50 amp controller does not list much in the way of specifications--The higher end MPPT controllers are usually switchable between multiple bank voltages, as well as supporting higher array voltages (less voltage drop in array to charge controller wiring).

    A 4,500 watt 12 volt inverter is, in my humble opinion, is darn near unusable at rated capacity... The inverter draws around 450 amps @ 4,500 watts and 900+ amps at 9,000 watt surge. That is very difficult to wire and have adequate voltage drop margins (0.5-1.0 maximum voltage drop for a 12 volt battery bank to inverter).

    You need to either figure out your loads and how much solar to support them based on where you live (somewhere around Indianapolis, Indiana?).

    Once you figure out your loads, then you look at sizing the battery bank and inverter to support your loads.

    AGM batteries are very nice--But something like 2x as expensive as flooded cell batteries, and easy to kill if overcharged. Many folks by a set of inexpensive "training batteries" to both learn how to run their system, and to help size it too (get a new set of batteries a few years later that better support your loads after you get some experience living off-grid).

    A 600 watt solar panel, assuming a very sunny 5 hours a day of "full noontime sun" and ~50% end to end efficiency/losses (from solar panel to 120 VAC power) of ~1,500 watt*hour per day in summertime.

    That would run a 100 watt load (TV, radio, small fan?) for about 15 hours a day...

    It would run a 4,500 watt inverter (at full load) for about 20 minutes.

    Solar "off grid / battery backed power" is expensive (about 10x the cost of utility power for most places in the US).

    Planning your needs and system design before you spend the first dollar--is usually a good idea.

    There are lots of things to spend your money one--but it can be a huge waste of money to get the stuff without some sort of system design in your mind.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: Newbie To Solar Needs Help

    welcome,
    i am not very familiar with sunforce products, but if you want to chance it on the inverter that would be up to you as there are other inverters more reputable even though they may cost a bit more. wade through here and look these over.
    http://store.solar-electric.com/inverters.html
    as to the pvs i see double talk as in the product description it states 3-130w pvs and even if you did get 5 of them that price is way out of line. look these over.
    http://store.solar-electric.com/hiposopa.html
    mppt controllers are a great way to go and bluesky is somewhat old technology for the price. there are some other good mppt controllers in there to chose from and you can expect to roughly pay between about $430-$530 depending on which you might choose.
    http://store.solar-electric.com/chco.html
    mounts and batteries (agms if you would like, but many start out with cheap golf cart batteries to make mistakes on) are also available from the host of this forum and i think you'd do better here than where you chose.
    as some here may tell you, do not make the mistake of ready, fire, aim and you asking our thoughts was a smart move. you may need to tell us more in detail as to what you wish powered and the watts needed for how long in watt hours. if you aren't sure then a kill-a-watt meter can be obtained for under $30 to actually measure it. they also will tell you to keep reading to educate yourself more along with conservation efforts. after all of this i almost forgot as to why you are doing it with solar as what is the purposes in mind? ie, long term or short term power outages? backup?
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