03-22-2022, 08:03 PM
(03-22-2022, 06:00 PM)kalakoa Wrote: Breaker from panels to charge controller rated at least 1.5x the panel Imp. Breaker from charge controller to battery bank...Right. My mistake.
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Need info on small solar setups
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03-22-2022, 08:41 PM
Most people use the Midnite MNEPV breakers:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=mnepv+breaker Which fit a DIN enclosure: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072R5M6WN/ Don't forget a lightning arrestor where the PV breakers meet the charge controller: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SGGWAZ8/ There is an AC version for the AC breaker panel. Be sure to have a reasonable ground. It's all the extra little parts that make for a complicated build. 
03-23-2022, 08:02 AM
Good news is I don't need a water pump.
Love all the great advice! It is all pretty "over my head", which is why I was looking for some solid, honest advice on reasonably-priced systems and install. Electricity scares the holy-livin' out of me, and so, much as I love being a DIYer, things that can *zorch* me are where I draw the line.
03-24-2022, 04:16 AM
I have water utility, not catchment, so I don't have a water pump. I'm just wanting to go off-grid with my electricity, just solar and some propane.
Like I'd mentioned, my biggest power draws will be a fridge and possibly a small chest freezer. I have heard some folks say that their fridge is insulated and efficient enough they can just turn it off overnight and then back on in the morning when there's sun for the panels and never had a problem with things getting out of safe temp range. Otherwise, I just have the other small items I'd mentioned previous.
03-24-2022, 06:50 PM
(03-24-2022, 04:16 AM)punikahakaiferret Wrote: I have water utility, not catchment, so I don't have a water pump. I'm just wanting to go off-grid with my electricity, just solar and some propane.Nice. Water pump is typically one of the largest power users for off grid in Puna. Pointless to turn off fridge at night, IMO. It won't draw much during this period of little use and cooler temperatures. That's why you have batteries, to store power generated during the day.
03-24-2022, 07:56 PM
Thanks, yes, lucky to live where I do that I have water. My concern is it if I have a smaller size system that I don't want to over-drain the batteries and that was my reasoning for turning off the fridge.
I just want to get away from/not have to rely on Helco. I know it's a big learning curve and always new information to ve found. Incidentally, I tried pulling up that Facebook page for that solar setup mentioned earlier and the page won't come up and it locks up my browser, whoa!
03-24-2022, 08:16 PM
Water (if from County) typically implies additional scrutiny, recommend being more careful with everything else, even if all enforcement is "complaint driven".
Water pumps are a huge draw because people typically design around a 3/4-hp or larger pump. There are better ways. Here, fridge consumed around 10% of battery. New (larger) system might perform better but I've always thought it best to eliminate as much load as possible. If leaving the fridge off at night gets me an extra day of runtime in bad weather, it's still a win.
03-25-2022, 05:06 AM
Good info, Kalakoa, thanks for that!
Hope on the whole this thread can be useful to others as well who might be looking to go solar. The technology is changing so rapidly it is hard to get valid current info, even online...there are websites from very recently that are already obsolete when it comes to batteries, panels, etc.
03-25-2022, 03:52 PM
For food safety it's a bad idea to turn off fridge at night. Go ahead, google it.
If you're looking for a 10% power savings during cloudy periods, look elsewhere. Lights don't take much power at all, so reduce other usage, if any. I can count on one hand the times my batteries have failed to reach 14V charge in any given day, over a 30 year time period. |
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