Need advice for new system

[Anemist]

Hello guys,
So here's what I wanna do, I want to install a solar system for my shed and maybe upgrade to hybrid in the future when the funds will allow it!

I've estimated my power consumption at 10.4 kWh/day, now, I know I might me wrong or missing a few things, so I've been thinking about getting 4x100w mono panels, a hybrid mppt charge controler, a 3000w inverter and batteries(which I know nothing about) of course I'm not mentioning cables, switches, circuit board etc...

Anybody has some advice for this novice who wants to build his own stuff?
Thanks!

[Naptown]

10.4 KWH a day is so far over what your proposed system will produce it is a recipe for darkness.
Do the load calculations and insulation factors in the stickies in my sig line
Happy solar

[lkruper]

Hello guys,
So here's what I wanna do, I want to install a solar system for my shed and maybe upgrade to hybrid in the future when the funds will allow it!

I've estimated my power consumption at 10.4 kWh/day, now, I know I might me wrong or missing a few things, so I've been thinking about getting 4x100w mono panels, a hybrid mppt charge controler, a 3000w inverter and batteries(which I know nothing about) of course I'm not mentioning cables, switches, circuit board etc...

Anybody has some advice for this novice who wants to build his own stuff?
Thanks!

Your panels will only provide a small fraction of your total consumption. Is that consumption just from your shed? Also, do you have utility power on site?

[Manjula]

Hello guys,
So here's what I wanna do, I want to install a solar system for my shed and maybe upgrade to hybrid in the future when the funds will allow it!

I've estimated my power consumption at 10.4 kWh/day, now, I know I might me wrong or missing a few things, so I've been thinking about getting 4x100w mono panels, a hybrid mppt charge controler, a 3000w inverter and batteries(which I know nothing about) of course I'm not mentioning cables, switches, circuit board etc...

Anybody has some advice for this novice who wants to build his own stuff?
Thanks!

These panels are not even close to what you need. Are you doing this for educational purpose or just for fun.

[Anemist]

Hi thanks guys,

Well, first no I don't have utility power on site that why I want to do this, also 10.4kwh is my rough estimate, and yes this consumption will only be for my shed.

To give you guys an idea, in that she'd I'll have a fridge, microwave, 39"led tv, laptop and a radio, oh yeah and I'll be using led lights for when it's dark.
Now the only thing that'll be running 24/7 is of course the fridge... Everything else will vary on whether or not I'll be there!
So I probably won't be using 10.4kwh every day.

I'm doing this because I need power, so I can say it's for educational purposes, also I'd like to set this system to be able to expand in the future.
Let's say I start with 4x100w panels, but all my other devices will have room for expansion if more panels are needed...

What do you guys think?

[emartin00]

Since we have no idea where you are, and the rood orientation of the shed, start by going to PVWatts to see how much output you will get out of 400W of panels.

[Naptown]

And because this is a battery system change the system losses to 20% instead of the default 14%

[Anemist]

Ok so I went on PVWatts and here are my results in the uploaded pictures

image.jpgimage.jpg

Also to give you guys an idea of my location I'm in Albany NY, my shed is in the middle of a farm field and the panels will be facing south.

[emartin00]

Ok so I went on PVWatts and here are my results in the uploaded pictures

[ATTACH]7184[/ATTACH][ATTACH]7185[/ATTACH]

Also to give you guys an idea of my location I'm in Albany NY, my shed is in the middle of a farm field and the panels will be facing south.

So basically you can expect about .6kWh per day during the winter, and up to 1.75kWh per day during the summer. If you are looking at a full size residential fridge, then you won't even have enough to power that.

[lkruper]

Hi thanks guys,

Well, first no I don't have utility power on site that why I want to do this, also 10.4kwh is my rough estimate, and yes this consumption will only be for my shed.

To give you guys an idea, in that she'd I'll have a fridge, microwave, 39"led tv, laptop and a radio, oh yeah and I'll be using led lights for when it's dark.
Now the only thing that'll be running 24/7 is of course the fridge... Everything else will vary on whether or not I'll be there!
So I probably won't be using 10.4kwh every day.

I'm doing this because I need power, so I can say it's for educational purposes, also I'd like to set this system to be able to expand in the future.
Let's say I start with 4x100w panels, but all my other devices will have room for expansion if more panels are needed...

What do you guys think?

Here is an example of what you are up against with just 400w of panels. Lets say you get 5 hours of sun in the summer time. That is 2kW. Lets assume your TV is 100w. If you leave it on for 12 hours per day that is over half of your energy output. You don't say how big your fridge is and what the power requirements are. Let's say you get a new energy efficient model that runs 8 amps per hour. Running at 50% cycle would be another 1200 ah. You have now exceeded your panel output. You do, however, need batteries. Two Trojan 6V batteries will provide 225 ah of storage and cost about $300. You need 10X this much just for one day's storage. So $3000 in batteries for just one day. However this is for best case and gives no lee-way for rain or clouds. Some say you need 5 days autonomy. So lets multiply this by 5. You need $15000 in batteries. Expect to replace them, best case, every 3-5 years.

However, can you charge those batteries with your panels? Your 2250 ah battery bank needs input from your panels on of 225 amps X 12 = 2700 watts. So you need more panels just for those two appliances. You could cut down on your TV watching, but you still need to operate the rest of your household.

This is a very basic (read CRUDE) analysis that ignores your real usage and conservation efforts. You also would not run this system at 12v, etc, but the re-configuration does not reduce your power requirements. You will also need a generator to keep your batteries healthy.

Everybody thinks they can make an investment in solar, and then the rest is free. I used to think this a few months ago. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

[Naptown]

Run the battery link in my sig line
Use the worst month things will be used
If this is year round use you probably get less than 2 sun hours December and January
The Gaisma link will tell you the monthly insolation

[paulcheung]

Here is an example of what you are up against with just 400w of panels. Lets say you get 5 hours of sun in the summer time. That is 2kW. Lets assume your TV is 100w. If you leave it on for 12 hours per day that is over half of your energy output. You don't say how big your fridge is and what the power requirements are. Let's say you get a new energy efficient model that runs 8 amps per hour. Running at 50% cycle would be another 1200 ah. You have now exceeded your panel output. You do, however, need batteries. Two Trojan 6V batteries will provide 225 ah of storage and cost about $300. You need 10X this much just for one day's storage. So $3000 in batteries for just one day. However this is for best case and gives no lee-way for rain or clouds. Some say you need 5 days autonomy. So lets multiply this by 5. You need $15000 in batteries. Expect to replace them, best case, every 3-5 years.

.

Wow slow down big man. Can you tell me how you arrive these numbers? for just run a fridge and a TV?

[lkruper]

Wow slow down big man. Can you tell me how you arrive these numbers? for just run a fridge and a TV?

I showed my calculations. Granted, I did not have the true values of how much power the OPs fridge consumes or what his TV habits are, but then he did not give them. I do not believe my calculations are inaccurate. The fact is, that, what you and I consider to be relatively modest appliances when connected to the grid and especially powered at grid rates, add up very quickly off grid.

### Edit ###
Hmm, I see what you mean. I forgot to multiply the amps @ 12v by 12 to get watts. I was high by a factor of 12 My apologies!
###

[Anemist]

So I haven't got time to do the battery calculations and go throught the whole link you got there, I'll do that this weekend while I'm not working!

But to feed you guys with something I'll give you the power consumption for my appliances.

Fridge: 180w - used 24/7.
Tv: 70w - used max 2h, 3/4 days a week, sometimes less.
Laptop: 80w charging, 50w full battery - same use as tv.
The lights only take a couple watts each but only one is lighten at a time. - used less than 30min/day.
And I have no idea how much the radio takes (it's a single slot pioneer car radio) - used max an hour/day.

I'll get back to you guys as soon as I can get back to that battery link!

Thanks again guys!

[Naptown]

Ok
Put all of that stuff in a room plug it all into a power strip plugged into a kill a watt meter and use for a week like it would be used off grid
Divide total by 7 for daily consumption