Help planning off-grid build

shorawitz

Here's my sitch!  I'm off-grid.  I have just bought 38kWh of batteries.  I am waffling between XW Pro 6848 and ?? CC (Alt-E is having a great sale) or an all-in-one MPP Solar (LV5048) setup.  I'm not really wed to any panels (I have a reseller for used panels locally that can supply me with something at >$.50 watt - stock rotates weekly so I'm not sure what I'll be using for panels yet.)  I can put the array ~20-30 feet from equipment, so Voc doesn't seem like it will be an issue for cable sizing.  I'm struggling with: do I pay more for 5 years of warranty and a name brand or go the $$ route and look to MPP?  Consider I'm trying to beat the 12/31/19 deadline to get the 30% tax credit and I want expandability which I think both will give me - 15kW - 19kW.  I'm also considering interopperability software-wise so I can monitor/configure remotely as I travel for work and don't want to leave the wife high-n-dry if something happens or needs to be changed.  Think non-Windows.  I Linux!

mike95490

used gear does not qualify for the tax credit, from what I understand

shorawitz

mike95490 said:

used gear does not qualify for the tax credit, from what I understand

Can you quote a statute or reg that says that?  I haven't been able to find anything that says that.  Even if that's the case, that's minimal to what I'm outlaying for total expense.

shorawitz

I should add I'm planning to implement my (somewhat) new Generac XC8000E into the mix if/when I run out of sun (yeah right in So AZ.)  As far as I can tell, both solutions will support a 120V/240V single phase input.  This genie has a 35A 120V output and a 30A 120/240V output.  I was hoping to use the 120/240V 30A output as my backup/helper to the solar/battery.

mike95490

I have the older XW and would strongly endorse it over some no-name mpp whatever it is.  If/when your inverter dies, you will be living off your generator till the replacement gets shipped in.   I know the XW works hand in hand with almost any size generator if you program it properly.

mcgivor

FWIW there is someone I know who has a Mpp Solar 5048, it's  been operating for a little over 3 years and he is very happy with it. For the price he paid, ~$600 its worth looking into, when pricing Schneider you'll need to include a charge controller, a SCP or Combox it adds up. Downside of the Mpp Solar is being that its an all in one unit, if anything fails it's everything.

The CSW 2524 I have has been excellent other than both the fans failing within the first year, one at 6 months, due to poor design of the fans, my opinion, the $2 replacements have way exceeded the lifespan original ones many times over, in a hot tropical environment. Support from Schneider is not what it should be, in fact it's poor considering the price, if I have to replace I would not use Schneider again because of this, the warranty and '"support" are included in the price only they fall to deliver on the support, others milage may vary.

There is a lot to be said for using components which communicate with one another especially for larger systems which is applicable to Schneider equipment, one would assume an integrated unit would also fall under this description.

Not sure of the programmability of the Mpp Solar for LiFePo4 use, which would be a consideration if applicable, definitely something I would need.

Photowhit

I would guide you to look and read. I did many years back and found 'new' required as well. Keeps me from buying and selling to my brother one year and ack to me the next...

So rules on the 30% credit were changed, but I would look into it. They had to be installed and in use for your residence the year the tax credit was taken. I think the rules changed for commercial installs, so they could my plans.