Partial off-grid system design questions....

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Comments

  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,036 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I think I would pose the question this way. If there was a fire and it originated at the installation in question, would it be covered? If yes, I would get that in writing.

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    ASk the agent for it IN WRITING!
     
    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
  • acidburn02zts
    acidburn02zts Registered Users Posts: 20 ✭✭
    Easy enough.
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    House heating link:
    Tom:
    http://www.microcogen.info/index.php?topic=3537.msg38969#msg38969  uses engine block hot water into
    hydronic loop in slab. charges batteries, heats house

     Other heating ideas (mostly wood burners)
    http://www.microcogen.info/index.php?topic=3502.0

    Them's my toes!



    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 ,

  • acidburn02zts
    acidburn02zts Registered Users Posts: 20 ✭✭
    edited February 2017 #36
    mike95490 said:
    House heating link:
    Tom:
    http://www.microcogen.info/index.php?topic=3537.msg38969#msg38969  uses engine block hot water into
    hydronic loop in slab. charges batteries, heats house

     Other heating ideas (mostly wood burners)
    http://www.microcogen.info/index.php?topic=3502.0

    Them's my toes!



    Gotta love wood heat...
     


    And I built one of these over the summer...    does pretty decent when the sun is out.


    I just like tinkering...    a lot.  Lol...    this is one of my other projects...    all done by hand (shovel/pickaxe).  Hoping to finish this spring.  14' round...   7' deep.  Will make a nice storm shelter/root cellar when finished.


    I'll do some more digging on the cogeneration system...    Gotta keep busy when I'm off work or I go stir crazy...  such as right now.  I hate the winter months when I cant be working outside (or don't want to be I should say).




  • Horsefly
    Horsefly Registered Users Posts: 470 ✭✭✭✭
    If I had a place to put it, I would love to build a rocket mass heater. Google it. Amazing how efficient they are and how well they heat living space.
    Off-grid cabin: 6 x Canadian Solar CSK-280M PV panels, Schneider XW-MPPT60-150 Charge Controller, Schneider CSW4024 Inverter/Charger, Schneider SCP, 8S (25.6V), 230Ah Eve LiFePO4 battery in a custom insulated and heated case.
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Horsefly said:
    If I had a place to put it, I would love to build a rocket mass heater. Google it. Amazing how efficient they are and how well they heat living space.
    As long as you have a way to swap out the oil drum they use at the radiant burn chamber,   For long life, the masonry heater is the way to go.
    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 ,

  • acidburn02zts
    acidburn02zts Registered Users Posts: 20 ✭✭
    Another question...

    At some point in the future, I'd like to upgrade to a nice MPPT controller...  but for the time being, I plan to use my xantrex C35.  It is rated for both 12 and 24v.  It states in the manual that it's maximum charge rate is 35a listed under both 12v and 24v.

    Does that mean it can handle double the amount of panels when wired at 24v compared to 12v?

    Planning on going to 24v off the bat...   but the inverter is gonna hurt.  Don't want to buy a pricey charge controller right now if I dont need to.


  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Yep--You are correct. P=I*V ... You double V, you get 2x more power.

    Note, some of the other controllers do have other limitations (working voltage input and output; and overall power)--So always refer to the manual for operational limitations.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset