Protection from Solar Flares

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deacon
deacon Solar Expert Posts: 33 ✭
in General Solar Power Topics #1
Since the main reason I am building my system is to be self sufficient from the grid I was wondering what the best protection from the predicted large Solar flares that are expected in the next 24 months.
Some of the leading experts are saying it is not a matter of if but rather when the grid will be impacted by these flares.
Since we will have advanced warning there will be time to take action on our Solar power systems.
So far the only things I can think of are to throw all the PV breakers to the SCC's and all the DC and AC breakers to the SCC's and the inverters.
Should the panels also be covered and other action be taken?
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #2
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    Re: Protection from Solar Flares

    Solar flares are not the problem, they produce slow moving "shock waves" which need very long conductors to be affected.

    It's the hordes with pitchforks, drawn like moths, to your lights at night, that you need to be prepared for. Evil witch has light, must kill and take light for self.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,439 admin
    #3
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    Re: Protection from Solar Flares

    As far as we know, as Mike said, solar flares will affect electrical systems on the order of mile or miles in size--should not affect a solar PV off grid system--simply too small of "antenna". Here is a thread that references other threads on the forum regarding flares and EMP events:
    Making a PV system survivable in EMP/CME conditions?

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • nsaspook
    nsaspook Solar Expert Posts: 396 ✭✭✭
    #4
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    Re: Protection from Solar Flares

    The primary effect of a CME on the AC power grid is to induce large DC/VLF currents into the station distribution transformers causing overheating from saturation and harmonic generation but as others have said this only happens on lines that are very long.

    www.futurescience.com/emp/ferc_Meta-R-319.pdf

    My guess is that we would have a massive preemptive disconnect of the system to save the EHV transformers if we were hit by a large flare. So if you have off-grid solar with several days fuel for generator backup you're in fat city, just remember to double tap the zombies. ;)
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  • deacon
    deacon Solar Expert Posts: 33 ✭
    #5
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    Re: Protection from Solar Flares

    Thanks for the replies.
    Sounds good to me.
    I got something for the Zombies when they show up lol. ( Barrett M107A1 .50 Cal )
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  • nsaspook
    nsaspook Solar Expert Posts: 396 ✭✭✭
    #6
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    Re: Protection from Solar Flares

    Something like this is the real threat to solar panels.

    Wow!
    capt.591127a868b1d59cbfc7ebabfa408821.jpeg

    http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//ydownload/20110526/photos_net_web_wl/1306444734/
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  • deacon
    deacon Solar Expert Posts: 33 ✭
    #7
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    Re: Protection from Solar Flares

    Dang!! Now that's a threat to My roof and my head.
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #8
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    Re: Protection from Solar Flares

    Looks more like frozen water balloon than hail
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

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  • waynefromnscanada
    waynefromnscanada Solar Expert Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭✭
    #9
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    Re: Protection from Solar Flares
    mike90045 wrote: »
    Looks more like frozen water balloon than hail

    Agree. You can see the pointy end of the balloon, it's pinkish color, it's not round like hail would be, and it's too transparent for hail. Good try, but not good enough. :p
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