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  • Suggestions please - New to off-grid

    I currently have a small off-grid system in south Louisiana set up at a cabin I use a couple weekends a month year round and moreso during hunting seasons.
    I'm new to the solar world and in the very early learning stages so let me apologize now for my ignorance.
    What I'm hoping to accomplish with my system is to provide enough energy to power a mini-fridge/freezer, TV/DirecTv reciever, fan, phone charger, 1 or 2 lights. The fridge would obviously need power daily of course.
    My current setup is:

    2 x Kyocera KD140SX-UFBS Panels
    2 x Vmaxslr155 AGM Deep Cycle batteries (155ah each) connected in a 24v bank
    I made the mistake of buying a Charge controller/Inverter box from out of the country and want to get a better quality charge controller and inverter.

    Here are a couple of questions I have, but please feel free to offer any advice or suggestions you see fit as I'm not knowledgeable enough to know what all to ask, haha
    1. Should I install more panels/batteries to accommodate my needs?
    2. Should I have 1 inverter just big enough to power the fridge that can be left on 24/7 and a separate inverter to turn on as needed for TV and other items.
    3. Recommendations on inverters
    4. Recommendations on charge controller
    5. I would like to leave a battery charger connected to my battery bank so when we have the generator running the bank will be charged if needed, but don't want to risk damaging the batteries...recommendations on battery chargers
    6. Any other equipment I should consider...I do not currently have any breakers or master fuse installed.

    Thanks in advance for your time and any guidance or advice you may have!

  • #2
    Have you read this? It answers all of your questions, and questions you have not even thought about.
    MSEE, PE

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    • #3
      The first thing to figure out is your actual loads. Buy a kill-a-watt meter and write down how much power each thing you want to power consumes in Watts then multiply by the amount of time you expect to run each.

      You'll likely find that the dorm style fridge is very inefficient. If you don't require the freezer option, look into converting a chest freezer to act as a fridge, this is at least twice more efficient than the most efficient upright fridge.
      1150W, Midnite Classic 200, Cotek PSW, 8 T-605s

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      • #4
        OP: Suggest you consider doing the stickies then do the kill-a-Watt, then do the math. My guess is you'll learn a lot more, a lot faster.

        Comment


        • #5
          Charge Controller

          I'm thinking of getting 2 more of the existing panels and will need a better charge controller. Would either of these be a good option?

          http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A31H76PZNDKUUJ

          http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012DNFT2/...I25M6QW17FLODR

          Or would you recommend a different one all together?

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by TAshley View Post
            I'm thinking of getting 2 more of the existing panels and will need a better charge controller. Would either of these be a good option?

            http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A31H76PZNDKUUJ

            http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012DNFT2/...I25M6QW17FLODR

            Or would you recommend a different one all together?
            You got good advice to read the link with the sticky. It is not possible to make recommendation until you have these calculations which include:

            1) The power requirements of all your devices and how many hours per day they will operate.
            2) The location of your cabin to get numbers for insolation as well as the orientation of the panels.

            It is only then that you can select panels that meet those power requirements and batteries that store what you need.

            I can share measurements I have taken for my cabin. A directv HD receiver (not DVR) including the power to the dish is about 20 watts. The TV you use will vary considerably and take up much capacity. I have seen some TVs that are AC/DC in 32 inch and below use 28-60 watts. Anything you can do to conserve and reduce power consumption BEFORE you design your system will save you big bucks.

            I am also looking at a portable fridge/freezer that is AC/DC like the pricey Engel. However from what I have read, depending on usage, it might run on only 1-2 amps @12DC per hour. You can run these fridges on DC as well and skip the inverter.

            Don't buy anything else until you have done the analysis.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by TAshley View Post
              I'm thinking of getting 2 more of the existing panels and will need a better charge controller. Would either of these be a good option?

              http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A31H76PZNDKUUJ

              http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012DNFT2/...I25M6QW17FLODR

              Or would you recommend a different one all together?
              560 watts total it should be worth it use an MPPT controller.

              WWW

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by lkruper View Post
                You got good advice to read the link with the sticky. It is not possible to make recommendation until you have these calculations which include:

                1) The power requirements of all your devices and how many hours per day they will operate.
                2) The location of your cabin to get numbers for insolation as well as the orientation of the panels.

                It is only then that you can select panels that meet those power requirements and batteries that store what you need.
                1) currently according to the kill-a-watt meter I'm pulling about 97W when I have everything on. Of course, this does not include the fridge since I have not purchased that yet. The one I was leaning towards so far has an EnergyStar rating for 297KWh/year
                2) My cabin is located at +30° 8' 5.24", -91° 31' 12.97"
                With regards to selecting panels I currently have the 2 panels listed above so I'm trying to expand on that system to be able to cover running the fridge 24/7
                I have read the sticky and there is lots of good info there! Some of it is a little over my head and I guess I just don't know enough to apply the info to my questions.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Wy_White_Wolf View Post
                  560 watts total it should be worth it use an MPPT controller.

                  WWW
                  Would you recommend Morningstar or another brand?
                  what about this guy? http://www.amazon.com/Morningstar-TS...FEGBK1DK3BHJ81

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    I understand the learning curve. As much as it hurts, there is no substitute for you understanding the calculations yourself. Look at the post after the sticky and you will find a spreadsheet that basically automates those calculations. Also, while it is useful to know the top wattage with everything on at one time, you will need to get better resolution. For example, how much will you be watching TV per day? Will you turn off the satellite in between sessions? You won't have lights on 24X7 correct?

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