10 kw system - ( INVERTER?) grid connected w/batteries

easytim
easytim Solar Expert Posts: 57 ✭✭✭✭
The system I have now is hooked to an outback inverter that's hooked to 5k of solar panels with battery backup and hooked to the grid.

I'm wanting to expand to a 10k system grid connected with battery backup, I will be needing to expand the battery bank as well..

Would it be best to add another 5 k inverter or start over with an inverter that will handle the whole 10 k . I will be adding 3k of solar and 2k of wind for a total 10k system. Can someone tell me the best way to do this, money is not the object. I more worried about getting a system that works well. I want the system to be balanced. I want to do this the easy way.

I am looking at maybe using an Xantrex inverter, I have been told this is the best inverter.

Some other brands of inverters I have been looking at are Xanterx - Outback - Sunny Boy

What would be the best way to do this? I'm not that familiar with the quality of these products yet.

I just need a little help

Comments

  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Re: 10 kw system - ( INVERTER?) grid connected w/batteries

    Wind, because it's so irregular, needs it's own dedicated inverter.
    The additional solar, I'd install an additional inverter to handle it, gives you a measure of redundancy, not having all your eggs in one basket, and easier to trouble shoot if something goes wrong
    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 ,

  • Solar Guppy
    Solar Guppy Solar Expert Posts: 1,989 ✭✭✭
    Re: 10 kw system - ( INVERTER?) grid connected w/batteries

    First off, 5Kw of solar is way to much for the Outback GT versions ... at best you can get maybe 3kw continuous out of a GTVFX3648, and they will run VERY hot running near there power limit.

    If you want battery based, you only have one choice in this power class, that would be a pair of Xantrex XW-6048's. SMA doesn't have a battery based grid tie inverter and Outbacks are to small unless you want 4 of them.
  • halfcrazy
    halfcrazy Solar Expert Posts: 720 ✭✭✭
    Re: 10 kw system - ( INVERTER?) grid connected w/batteries

    I think you can only stack 2 outbacks in a grid tied scenario? I second the pair of XW's that way you can charge with a generator as well.
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Re: 10 kw system - ( INVERTER?) grid connected w/batteries

    You can keep your existing battery backed up system "as is" and just add simple GT. You won't get full power, but in case of a multi day blackup, you will have some on hand.
    5KW feeding a battery bank is nothing to sneeze at
    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 ,

  • crewzer
    crewzer Registered Users, Solar Expert Posts: 1,832 ✭✭✭✭
    Re: 10 kw system - ( INVERTER?) grid connected w/batteries
    First off, 5Kw of solar is way to much for the Outback GT versions ... at best you can get maybe 3kw continuous out of a GTVFX3648, and they will run VERY hot running near there power limit.
    5kW of solar is indeed too much for a single GVFX3648 connected to the grid via 120 VAC. However, a series stacked pair of GVFX3648's connected to the grid via 120/240 VAC will handle a 5kW array just fine via a pair of FM charge controllers and a single battery bank.

    See: http://www.outbackpower.com/pdf/brochures/Grid_Interactive_Systems_2.pdf

    However, the OutBack grid-interactive inverters are limited to one per hot leg (phase), so a series pair rated at 7,200 W total is the limit for a 120/240 VAC system. If you want a 10 kW grid-interactive system with battery backup, you'll need to look at Xantrex or SMA.

    Also, note that a 5kW STC array will rarely deliver 5 kW for any sustained period of time unless mid-day ambient temperature is well below freezing. ~4kW would be a more common maximum sustained output.

    HTH,
    Jim / crewzer