Powering a pellet stove
Eskkar
Registered Users Posts: 1
Hi, everyone, this is my first post. I have a Quadra-Fire Pellet stove that I would like to power with an off the grid system. The stove specs say that it draws 115VAC, 60 Hz, Start 4.1 amps, Run 1.1 amps.
I've been getting conflicting information as to what size and number of batteries, and approximate number of panels I would need to operate the stove.
Any help would be appreciated.
eskkar
I've been getting conflicting information as to what size and number of batteries, and approximate number of panels I would need to operate the stove.
Any help would be appreciated.
eskkar
Comments
-
Re: Powering a pellet stove
If you have a Kill-a-Watt meter,http://www.amazon.ca/P3-International-P4400-Kill-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU
plug the stove into it for 24 hrs to get a true (real life) reading of the peak draw and long term average draw. If possible try to see just how long the auger runs, and its load as well as the fan.... , all these numbers in Watts and report back
KID #51B 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
West Chilcotin, BC, Canada -
Re: Powering a pellet stove
Welcome to the forum Eskkar.
Lots of questions (where will the system be installed, is this for backup power or true off grid, will you have a backup generator, anymore loads too, etc.).
But--To just give you an idea of what we are looking at with a nominal design... First I would suggest, if you can, run your loads on a Kill-a-Watt type meter. Basically, actual power/current readings and how many Watt*Hours per day to run your stove/loads.
In general, you would want to find a stove with the lowest amount of power/energy usage--Off Grid power is very expensive, and conservation of your electrical loads is almost always a better investment vs building a larger solar power system.
Let's make some guesses... Say you will run the stove about 12 hours per day:- 1.1 Amps * 115 VAC * 12 hours per day = 1,518 Watt*Hours per day
So, to size a battery bank for such a load (nothing else). 1-3 days of "no sun" and 50% maximum discharge, choose 2 days and 50% as a good nominal system:- 1,518 Watt*Hours * 1/0.85 inverter eff * 2 days of storage * 1/0.50 max discharge * 12 volt battery = 595 AH @ 12 volt battery bank
2x 6 volt @ 220 AH "Golf Cart" batteries in series, with three parallel strings for a 12 volt @ 660 AH battery bank would be "interesting" and about the cheapest bank you can build. I am not in love with 3 parallel strings--But at the same time many (most?) folks kill their first battery bank and should not spend too much money on their first.
Next, sizing the solar array... Two things to check. The charging current from the array, and the amount of sun you get and need the array to supply. First based on charging current (5% to 13% rate of charge is a good place to start--If fully off grid and using batteries daily, 10% or more rate of charge is recommended):- 595 AH * 14.5 volts charging * 1/0.77 panel+controller derating * 0.05 rate of charge = 560 Watt array minimum
- 595 AH * 14.5 volts charging * 1/0.77 panel+controller derating * 0.10 rate of charge = 1,120 Watt array nominal
- 595 AH * 14.5 volts charging * 1/0.77 panel+controller derating * 0.13 rate of charge = 1,457 Watt array "cost effective" maximum
Month Solar Radiation (kWh/m 2/day)
1 5.09
2 6.06
3 6.61
4 7.54
5 7.53
6 7.28
7 7.13
8 7.17
9 7.15
10 6.75
11 5.59
12 4.88
Year 6.57
Looks like a good amount of winter sun--Pick 4 hours per day minimum (larger array means smaller genset/less fuel needs in in winter):- 1,518 Watt*Hours per day * 1/0.52 end to end system eff * 1/4.0 hours per day = 730 Watt array
Depending on your needs and what and amount of solar panels you purchase, you could get away with a PWM controller (~$150) on the smaller array, but for a system this size, a MPPT controller is probably a better choice (~$300-$600).
For this size load, this AC inverter may be a good choice (about the smallest you could get away with on a 12 volt system):
MorningStar 300 Watt 12 volt TSW inverter
Your thoughts?
-BillNear San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
Categories
- All Categories
- 220 Forum & Website
- 128 Solar Forum News and Announcements
- 1.3K Solar News, Reviews, & Product Announcements
- 189 Solar Information links & sources, event announcements
- 886 Solar Product Reviews & Opinions
- 254 Solar Skeptics, Hype, & Scams Corner
- 22.3K Solar Electric Power, Wind Power & Balance of System
- 3.5K General Solar Power Topics
- 6.7K Solar Beginners Corner
- 1K PV Installers Forum - NEC, Wiring, Installation
- 2K Advanced Solar Electric Technical Forum
- 5.5K Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems
- 424 Caravan, Recreational Vehicle, and Marine Power Systems
- 1.1K Grid Tie and Grid Interactive Systems
- 651 Solar Water Pumping
- 815 Wind Power Generation
- 621 Energy Use & Conservation
- 606 Discussion Forums/Café
- 300 In the Weeds--Member's Choice
- 74 Construction
- 124 New Battery Technologies
- 108 Old Battery Tech Discussions
- 3.8K Solar News - Automatic Feed
- 3.8K Solar Energy News RSS Feed