Hi everyone, First post here and I'll start by saying thanks for this forum, what an awesome source of knowledge and experience. I've been devouring sticky posts whenever I get near the internet. But I'm still not 100% on a few things and I've just run out of time to understand everything. So I need to make some purchases and I hope someone can look over my plan and advise accordingly.
Location is rural Australia where everything costs a living fortune. but sunlight abounds.. Situation is offgrid remote cabin. Utterly minimal budget with no hope of improvement any time soon. I've saved and scrounged what I can and hope to achieve enough power to comfortably enjoy lights, run a cpap machine overnight, recharge a phone and power a laptop for as many hours per day as possible.. say 4-5hrs would be ample.
I have scrounged some second hand panels for a good price, they were first installed in 2016, so should have some good life left to give me.
P_20190217_154832.jpg
I have 11 good panels to work with.
Based on my budgetary limitations, I'm looking at a 24v system consisting of a pair of 12v 135AH AGM batteries. I would like to be getting some nice 6v Titans, but it's not an option.
And I'm looking at an all in one MPPT charge controller/inverter from EPever which seems to be one of the more highly regarded products coming out of China.
Based on the reading I've already done here, I know this system leaves much to be desired. But I just need to take the next step up from the little 12v system I'm struggling to get by with right now. The things I'm stuck on are:
The EPever Upower UP3000-M3322 and UP3000-M6322 are basically the same inverter and the same AC charger, but the 2nd one has a bigger capacity MPPT PV controller.
The 33 has Max.PV open circuit voltage 100V①(at min. operating environment temperature)92V②(25℃).Max.PV input Power 780W and Max.PV charging current or 30A
The 63 has Max.PV open circuit voltage 150V①(at min. operating environment temperature)138V②(25℃).Max.PV input Power 1500 and Max.PV charging current or 60A for about $200AUD more than the 33.
So as I understand it, with my battery's having a max charging amperage of 33.75A, I will never be able to use the 60A charging of the bigger unit. However, am I correct in thinking that there is value in being able to have more panels hooked up to the system for those cloudy days/weeks and winter months? And should I be concerned about overcharging? {I really don't think so, but my mind is so full of info, I'm starting to 2nd guess what I think I know}
I believe my options are 4 panels, 2Px2S on the UP3000-M3322 or 6 panels 3Px2S on the UP3000-M6322
And since I'm here asking noobie questions, is there any scope for me to save up and add another pair of batteries in parallel soon after... Say a month after initial install. (knowing that matching batteries would be more ideal.) I think I read something on here about never putting 12v AGM batts in parallel.. But I'm not sure why.
Anyway folks.. I would appreciate any thoughts on this matter... I fear if I just keep reading, my brain will explode before I can navigate all the options and considerations lol.
Cheers,
Bryce AKA Fireside.
Location is rural Australia where everything costs a living fortune. but sunlight abounds.. Situation is offgrid remote cabin. Utterly minimal budget with no hope of improvement any time soon. I've saved and scrounged what I can and hope to achieve enough power to comfortably enjoy lights, run a cpap machine overnight, recharge a phone and power a laptop for as many hours per day as possible.. say 4-5hrs would be ample.
I have scrounged some second hand panels for a good price, they were first installed in 2016, so should have some good life left to give me.
P_20190217_154832.jpg
I have 11 good panels to work with.
Based on my budgetary limitations, I'm looking at a 24v system consisting of a pair of 12v 135AH AGM batteries. I would like to be getting some nice 6v Titans, but it's not an option.
And I'm looking at an all in one MPPT charge controller/inverter from EPever which seems to be one of the more highly regarded products coming out of China.
Based on the reading I've already done here, I know this system leaves much to be desired. But I just need to take the next step up from the little 12v system I'm struggling to get by with right now. The things I'm stuck on are:
The EPever Upower UP3000-M3322 and UP3000-M6322 are basically the same inverter and the same AC charger, but the 2nd one has a bigger capacity MPPT PV controller.
The 33 has Max.PV open circuit voltage 100V①(at min. operating environment temperature)92V②(25℃).Max.PV input Power 780W and Max.PV charging current or 30A
The 63 has Max.PV open circuit voltage 150V①(at min. operating environment temperature)138V②(25℃).Max.PV input Power 1500 and Max.PV charging current or 60A for about $200AUD more than the 33.
So as I understand it, with my battery's having a max charging amperage of 33.75A, I will never be able to use the 60A charging of the bigger unit. However, am I correct in thinking that there is value in being able to have more panels hooked up to the system for those cloudy days/weeks and winter months? And should I be concerned about overcharging? {I really don't think so, but my mind is so full of info, I'm starting to 2nd guess what I think I know}
I believe my options are 4 panels, 2Px2S on the UP3000-M3322 or 6 panels 3Px2S on the UP3000-M6322
And since I'm here asking noobie questions, is there any scope for me to save up and add another pair of batteries in parallel soon after... Say a month after initial install. (knowing that matching batteries would be more ideal.) I think I read something on here about never putting 12v AGM batts in parallel.. But I'm not sure why.
Anyway folks.. I would appreciate any thoughts on this matter... I fear if I just keep reading, my brain will explode before I can navigate all the options and considerations lol.
Cheers,
Bryce AKA Fireside.
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