Solar-powered shed-turned-office supporting air-conditioner

[azdave]

Even if it were cheaper to go with a stand-alone system I still would not do it. I have better things to do with my spare time than to manage charging/diminishing capacity/lifespan issues with the batteries or worry if I can run the A/C tomorrow after a week of heavy cloud cover. If cost is really an issue, find someone local who you can barter services with. I trade out my skills with other people in our community and both parties usually come out ahead.

[SunEagle]

Even when you factor the cost of the electricity itself vs continuously replacing batteries?

Well what is your cost of electricity? If it is very high then IMO you will still be ahead connecting to the grid. But as always I say do the math which may bring more enlightenment to you then from hearing it from others.

If you look at the cost of 4 of those batteries you are probably looking in excess of $1600 and surprisingly I did not see the "guaranteed" value of cycles or discharge depth. Only with that data can you come up with the cost per kWh they can provide you before they need to be replaced.

[yi2020]

I guess the price can be steep depending on where you live. Remember if you add up the cost of that solar, inverter and battery system it may be less then that $5000 but it will cost you more in the long run.

Even when you factor the cost of the electricity itself vs continuously replacing batteries?

[yi2020]

Welcome to the forum of few(er) illusions. But before you abandon the project, I'd suggest you learn more about the solar process, including its capabilities but mostly about its limitations. Otherwise, unless this is a learning project, I'd just run power from the house ? Cheaper, faster, easier.

I'd love for it to be a learning project - same reason why I'm doing the wiring, insulation, dry wall, etc. I guess I need to make sure the project will be successful, and I won't be throwing away thousands of dollars for something that will fail and I'll still need to pay $5000 to hook it up to the house

[SunEagle]

So I just got the quotes:
$5000 to add a 40A breaker to main house, run cable and conduit up to shed, install two circuits in shed, wire mini split. Geez! Still think solar is expensive?

I guess the price can be steep depending on where you live. Remember if you add up the cost of that solar, inverter and battery system it may be less then that $5000 but it will cost you more in the long run.

[yi2020]

So I just got the quotes:
$5000 to add a 40A breaker to main house, run cable and conduit up to shed, install two circuits in shed, wire mini split. Geez! Still think solar is expensive?

[J.P.M.]

Well, the reason I came here is to learn from experienced people
Based on the responses to this thread, there's a high chance I'll abort the solar project and just hook up to the house. So for me, at least, it's been very helpful

Welcome to the forum of few(er) illusions. But before you abandon the project, I'd suggest you learn more about the solar process, including its capabilities but mostly about its limitations. Otherwise, unless this is a learning project, I'd just run power from the house ? Cheaper, faster, easier.

[SunEagle]

Well, the reason I came here is to learn from experienced people
Based on the responses to this thread, there's a high chance I'll abort the solar project and just hook up to the house. So for me, at least, it's been very helpful

Look while I support solar I also support not wasting a person's money or installing something that is unsafe. I understand your desire to use solar but when it comes to AC loads I really don't think a battery is going to cut the mustard.

Now if you only had small loads then maybe a solar/battery system makes sense, especially if you don't spend more then it should cost and if the system is portable like the one I built for use at RC plane fields.

[bcroe]

So Bruce what you're suggesting is to basically send the solar power back to the grid just like my main solar panels do, and not deal with storing it / battery within the shed, correct? Did I understand correctly?

Yes, my opinion. If you are digging that trench in 95F like I did a couple years
ago, an old furnace blower like the brown one here can make it a lot more
tolerable. That El Cheapo trencher had no propulsion, but the boat winch I
attached worked even better. Just needed to find anchors (trees) for the chain.
Bruce Roe

Trn4Jly.JPG

[yi2020]

I would agree that a grid tie system can pay for itself but a soar / battery system will not provide you enough power when you need it and will cost much more then a grid connected system. Just my thoughts but again you can spend your money anyway you want.

Well, the reason I came here is to learn from experienced people
Based on the responses to this thread, there's a high chance I'll abort the solar project and just hook up to the house. So for me, at least, it's been very helpful

[SunEagle]

I want to l live where you live
Where I live, it'll be easily $2000 - and I'm the one doing the trenching.

Even if it costs you that $2000 it will still be cheaper in the long run then what you proposed in your first post.

I would agree that a grid tie system can pay for itself but a soar / battery system will not provide you enough power when you need it and will cost much more then a grid connected system. Just my thoughts but again you can spend your money anyway you want.

[azdave]

I would connect the shed to the house and then if you are able, add grid-tie capacity to compensate for the extra load. I would never consider a stand-alone PV system for the shed unless there were no other options. The POCO is the cheapest bank bank you'll ever use and maintenance-free too.

[yi2020]

Maybe or maybe not when you add in the cost and maintenance of a battery system

I just ran a 100amp U/G service about 100 ft to a subpanel and spent a lot less then $500.

I want to l live where you live
Where I live, it'll be easily $2000 - and I'm the one doing the trenching.

[SunEagle]

The shed is in my backyard, about 100-150 ft away from the meter. It may be cheaper to have the shed connected to the house (am getting a quote in parallel). But, then I'm not using the shed's roof space to generate electricity, and instead am paying for it from the power company. (the house has its own solar setup too, but it breaks even on an annual basis on net metering)

From a cost perspective, the solar option will likely be better in the long term.

Maybe or maybe not when you add in the cost and maintenance of a battery system

I just ran a 100amp U/G service about 100 ft to a subpanel and spent a lot less then $500.

[yi2020]

So we live in an area that goes up to 90's, even low 100's degree F in the summer. It goes down to 30's, high 20's in the winter (frost etc). So there would be more need for cooling A/C vs heating.

So Bruce what you're suggesting is to basically send the solar power back to the grid just like my main solar panels do, and not deal with storing it / battery within the shed, correct? Did I understand correctly?