Basic minimal needs: 1.5 Kw per day (150 watts approximately), (modem/router/8 camera security system, monitor) at minimum.
I inherited eight 100 watts renogy solar panels, a renogy mppt charger/controller 20/40 amps and a 300 watts pure sine inverter. I wouldn't mind getting a larger inverter down the road to expand and connect a small refrigerator and a microwave for occasional use but its not necessary now as long as I meet my minimum requirements.
I need to save money, I'm not looking for long run savings, I'm looking for a present sufficient system with the maximum budget savings. I'm split between 12 or 6 volts, If I need 4 12V batteries, I don't mind going to 4 6v golf cart batteries, I find locally 8V batteries 165 ah (25 hr rating), 6V 215 ah (20 hr rating), and 12V 145ah for about the same price around 100 also, trojan t875 8v 295ah I can get for about the same (I think in that case 3 batteries will solve my 2 day reserve power having max amps.
Average sunshine, 4.5 hrs. Need to have at least 2 days capacity possibly 4 before sunshine but not necessary.
I am thinking 24V system since my run from panels to controller/breaker box around 50-60' feet max.
Running double #12 multi-srand wire (adding up to around 9 -10 gauge total each leg encapsulated in a 1/2" gray pipe (is the wire size sufficient??)
#4 gauge wire I have for batteries terminal interconnection
and ?? gauge wire for my ground from the panels to earth? (does it have to be bare solid or can I get away by adding multistanded 12 Gauge (double or tripple?). My aim is to make a functional inexpensive system that is perfectly safe from all aspects.
If you have an idea of breaker size for main runs, I will welcome your inputs. So far I think of putting a 200amp breaker to positive battery pole, and breakers on the positive of the panels (size?) and I will make a breaker bank (car type fuses for all my LED lights) each line protected not sure on this yet or if I should get proper breaker boxes they sell).
8 12V x 100W solar panels in 2 groups series/parallel configuration
4 6V 215 ah deep cycle golf cart batteries (or 4 12V 145ah?). I think I know the answer (still try to comprehend it from one of Sunking's posts the answer is 6 V remember, trying to save money now, not 2 years from now thanks for all your help guys!! Looking forward to your inputs. Let me know a minimal configuration to get the minimal job done, or, future expansion , possibility please recommend the ideal max size of inverter I can use (even if I have to add a couple of panels in the future, inverter will be used more during day / sunny hours than night. the night usage is my minimal 150wh max)
Trojan 8V 295 ah specifications:
System Voltage
8V 24V 48V Bulk Charge below
9.88 29.64 59.28 Float Charge #'s below
9.00 27.00 54.00 Equalize Charge below
10.80 32.40 64.80
charge Controller specifications:
Negative grounded
Nominal System Voltage: 12V/24V Auto recognition
Max. PV Input Power: 500W (12V), 1000W (24V)
Rated Charge Current: 40A
Rated Discharge Current: 20A
Max. Solar Input Voltage: 100VDC
Self-consumption: <10mA (24V)
Maximum Battery Voltage: 32V
Charge Circuit Voltage Drop: ≤0.26V
Discharge Circuit Voltage Drop: ?0.15V
Communication: TTL232 / 8 pin RJ45
Solar panel specifications:
I inherited eight 100 watts renogy solar panels, a renogy mppt charger/controller 20/40 amps and a 300 watts pure sine inverter. I wouldn't mind getting a larger inverter down the road to expand and connect a small refrigerator and a microwave for occasional use but its not necessary now as long as I meet my minimum requirements.
I need to save money, I'm not looking for long run savings, I'm looking for a present sufficient system with the maximum budget savings. I'm split between 12 or 6 volts, If I need 4 12V batteries, I don't mind going to 4 6v golf cart batteries, I find locally 8V batteries 165 ah (25 hr rating), 6V 215 ah (20 hr rating), and 12V 145ah for about the same price around 100 also, trojan t875 8v 295ah I can get for about the same (I think in that case 3 batteries will solve my 2 day reserve power having max amps.
Average sunshine, 4.5 hrs. Need to have at least 2 days capacity possibly 4 before sunshine but not necessary.
I am thinking 24V system since my run from panels to controller/breaker box around 50-60' feet max.
Running double #12 multi-srand wire (adding up to around 9 -10 gauge total each leg encapsulated in a 1/2" gray pipe (is the wire size sufficient??)
#4 gauge wire I have for batteries terminal interconnection
and ?? gauge wire for my ground from the panels to earth? (does it have to be bare solid or can I get away by adding multistanded 12 Gauge (double or tripple?). My aim is to make a functional inexpensive system that is perfectly safe from all aspects.
If you have an idea of breaker size for main runs, I will welcome your inputs. So far I think of putting a 200amp breaker to positive battery pole, and breakers on the positive of the panels (size?) and I will make a breaker bank (car type fuses for all my LED lights) each line protected not sure on this yet or if I should get proper breaker boxes they sell).
8 12V x 100W solar panels in 2 groups series/parallel configuration
4 6V 215 ah deep cycle golf cart batteries (or 4 12V 145ah?). I think I know the answer (still try to comprehend it from one of Sunking's posts the answer is 6 V remember, trying to save money now, not 2 years from now thanks for all your help guys!! Looking forward to your inputs. Let me know a minimal configuration to get the minimal job done, or, future expansion , possibility please recommend the ideal max size of inverter I can use (even if I have to add a couple of panels in the future, inverter will be used more during day / sunny hours than night. the night usage is my minimal 150wh max)
Trojan 8V 295 ah specifications:
System Voltage
8V 24V 48V Bulk Charge below
9.88 29.64 59.28 Float Charge #'s below
9.00 27.00 54.00 Equalize Charge below
10.80 32.40 64.80
charge Controller specifications:
Negative grounded
Nominal System Voltage: 12V/24V Auto recognition
Max. PV Input Power: 500W (12V), 1000W (24V)
Rated Charge Current: 40A
Rated Discharge Current: 20A
Max. Solar Input Voltage: 100VDC
Self-consumption: <10mA (24V)
Maximum Battery Voltage: 32V
Charge Circuit Voltage Drop: ≤0.26V
Discharge Circuit Voltage Drop: ?0.15V
Communication: TTL232 / 8 pin RJ45
Solar panel specifications:
Maximum Power: 100W | Maximum System Voltage: 600V DC (UL) |
Optimum Operating Voltage (Vmp): 18.9V | Open-Circuit Voltage (Voc): 22.5V |
Optimum Operating Current (Imp): 5.29A | Short-Circuit Current (Isc): 5.75A |
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