Off-grid system for the Honduran island Guanaja

Franz_Guanaja
Franz_Guanaja Registered Users Posts: 1 ✭
in Solar Beginners Corner #1

Hi,

I am living on Guanaja, a Honduran Island, and I am planning to install an off-grid solar system (or hybrid system) for my hous and neighbour houses. The main components are:

- 18 solar panels: 300WP each
- 1 LiFePO4 Battery: 12-15kWh
- Battery inverter
- Solar inverter

The details are explained in the attachment. I would appreciate it very much if anybody could help me planning the off-grid system. Hoping to get many answers!

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Comments

  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    First the diagram should be corrected, as the DC volts go from the PV's to the Charge Controller, then to the battery, then to the Inverter to produce 120V/240V AC which would go to the loads... If you will maintain the Generator in the setup, or will use the grid to boost the batteries after use,  you would normally use an all-in-one Inverter/Charger. More later, domestic duties call..
     
    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
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  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #3
    What make are solar and battery inverters? 
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Why chose the Li battery instead of affordable LFA
    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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  • MrM1
    MrM1 Registered Users Posts: 487 ✭✭✭✭
    edited August 2018 #5
    > @mike95490 said:
    > Why chose the Li battery instead of affordable LFA

    Because maybe the OP read the ever-popular "are lithium batteries the way to go" thread.
    REC TwinPeak 2 285W 3S-3P 2.6kW-STC / 1.9kW-NMOT Array / MN Solar Classic 150 / 2017 Conext SW 4024 Inverter latest firmware / OB PSX-240 Autotransfomer for load balancing / Trojan L16H-AC 435Ah bank 4S connected to Inverter with 7' of 4/0 cable / 24 volt system / Grid-Assist or Backup Solar Generator System Powering 3200Whs Daily / System went Online Oct 2017 / System, Pics and Discussion
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  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #6
    Not sure of the rationale for 2 pv strings. 270v is too high for a typical 150v off-grid controller, and low for a 600v one. Why not 1 string at ~540v?
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
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  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #7
    BTW "off-grid" means there is no grid. In this case, there appears to be a grid connection.

    It may help to know what conditions or restrictions are applicable for connection to the local grid.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
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  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #8
    Estragon said:
    Not sure of the rationale for 2 pv strings. 270v is too high for a typical 150v off-grid controller, and low for a 600v one. Why not 1 string at ~540v?
    SMA  makes dual input MPPT inverters with up tp~500V inputs.
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
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  • MrM1
    MrM1 Registered Users Posts: 487 ✭✭✭✭
    edited August 2018 #9
    It would seem 12-15kWh for 4 houses will be pretty small (somewhere around 3kWh of storage per house),  especially since you will have no control over how much power  each neighbor would use daily.   Seems like a lot of unknowns. 
    • Any idea what the TOTAL power needs from all house will be in Watt Hours per day?  
    • How often will the grid be down and for how long?  Having lived in Honduras in La Ceiba I know it went down regularly there but not for long periods of time unless there was a natural disaster.  
    • How many days do you plan for the system to operate without grid and sun (in the event of bad weather)?
    REC TwinPeak 2 285W 3S-3P 2.6kW-STC / 1.9kW-NMOT Array / MN Solar Classic 150 / 2017 Conext SW 4024 Inverter latest firmware / OB PSX-240 Autotransfomer for load balancing / Trojan L16H-AC 435Ah bank 4S connected to Inverter with 7' of 4/0 cable / 24 volt system / Grid-Assist or Backup Solar Generator System Powering 3200Whs Daily / System went Online Oct 2017 / System, Pics and Discussion
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  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #10
    MrM1 said:
    It would seem 12-15kWh for 4 houses will be pretty small (somewhere around 3kWh of storage per house),  especially since you will have no control over how much power  each neighbor would use daily.   Seems like a lot of unknowns. 
    • Any idea what the TOTAL power needs from all house will be in Watt Hours per day?  
    • How often will the grid be down and for how long?  Having lived in Honduras in La Ceiba I know it went down regularly there but not for long periods of time unless there was a natural disaster.  
    • How many days do you plan for the system to operate without grid and sun (in the event of bad weather)?
    The Bay islands, at least Utila rely on generator " grid " supply, often shutting down at midnight, I remember that well, waking up sweating when the fan quit :#
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
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  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #11
    > @mcgivor said:
    > Estragon said:
    >
    >
    > Not sure of the rationale for 2 pv strings. 270v is too high for a typical 150v off-grid controller, and low for a 600v one. Why not 1 string at ~540v?
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > SMA  makes dual input MPPT inverters with up tp~500V inputs.

    That makes sense, though if O.P. already has specific gear in mind, it would be helpful to know.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
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  • MrM1
    MrM1 Registered Users Posts: 487 ✭✭✭✭
    #12
    mcgivor said:
    The Bay islands, at least Utila rely on generator " grid " supply, often shutting down at midnight, I remember that well, waking up sweating when the fan quit :#
    I really liked the times I got to visit there in Utila.  I stayed at the Jade Seahorse once.  Cool ... odd place.  Seems like you have lived all over @mcgivor
    REC TwinPeak 2 285W 3S-3P 2.6kW-STC / 1.9kW-NMOT Array / MN Solar Classic 150 / 2017 Conext SW 4024 Inverter latest firmware / OB PSX-240 Autotransfomer for load balancing / Trojan L16H-AC 435Ah bank 4S connected to Inverter with 7' of 4/0 cable / 24 volt system / Grid-Assist or Backup Solar Generator System Powering 3200Whs Daily / System went Online Oct 2017 / System, Pics and Discussion
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  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #13
    MrM1 said:
    mcgivor said:
    The Bay islands, at least Utila rely on generator " grid " supply, often shutting down at midnight, I remember that well, waking up sweating when the fan quit :#
    I really liked the times I got to visit there in Utila.  I stayed at the Jade Seahorse once.  Cool ... odd place.  Seems like you have lived all over @mcgivor
    Spent 8 years worth of winter months in Central America, Canada was my home base, but the winter was not for me, until I found employment with a future, the rest is history, but oh the memories, they were good times.
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
    · Share on Twitter

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