Hello from Maypearl Texas. Newb to Solar.

[hztd0m]

Good afternoon everyone,

I'm a backyard DIY'er and currently Solar and wind has interested me as new project. The intent is not to be off the grid or tied to the grid.

Current Project:

Just set up a 18 x 36 MGPTS Military tent. We rent on 5 acres and I could't justify a structure for a shop, so this was my economical alternative. The plan is to set up a single solar panel for now just to run 4 -6 Utilitech 13.5-Watt (60W) Base Warm White ( 3000K) LED Bulbs (yes, I took that from Lowes website, and if there is a better alternative I am all ears.) For my first panel I found a 295 watt Sharp that I would like to use. If I did the calculation right I believe I can use a 20 amp charge controller. For my battery's I was looking to get 2 x 12v 50aH golf cart batteries. The inverter is going to be a Cen-tech 2000 Watt Continuous/4000 Watt Peak Power Inverter. Looking to see how this works with my LED lights, whether or not I can use some tools in the shop also. For example a small pancake compressor that I use with my bostitch airnailers, and maybe a quick cut with my 12" miter saw.

I realize this is not the ideal super power system, the goal is to get my feet wet and just see how this system evolves.

There is a ton more reading and research for me to do, please rip my Project apart as I am looking to improve upon my first attempt.

Thank you.

This site is amazing.

[Naptown]

Good afternoon everyone,

I'm a backyard DIY'er and currently Solar and wind has interested me as new project. The intent is not to be off the grid or tied to the grid.

Current Project:

Just set up a 18 x 36 MGPTS Military tent. We rent on 5 acres and I could't justify a structure for a shop, so this was my economical alternative. The plan is to set up a single solar panel for now just to run 4 -6 Utilitech 13.5-Watt (60W) Base Warm White ( 3000K) LED Bulbs (yes, I took that from Lowes website, and if there is a better alternative I am all ears.) For my first panel I found a 295 watt Sharp that I would like to use. If I did the calculation right I believe I can use a 20 amp charge controller. For my battery's I was looking to get 2 x 12v 50aH golf cart batteries. The inverter is going to be a Cen-tech 2000 Watt Continuous/4000 Watt Peak Power Inverter. Looking to see how this works with my LED lights, whether or not I can use some tools in the shop also. For example a small pancake compressor that I use with my bostitch airnailers, and maybe a quick cut with my 12" miter saw.

I realize this is not the ideal super power system, the goal is to get my feet wet and just see how this system evolves.

There is a ton more reading and research for me to do, please rip my Project apart as I am looking to improve upon my first attempt.

Thank you.

This site is amazing.

Go here and plug in the loads and how long they will run
Here are links to design calculations insolation etc

http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showth...Battery-Design

http://www.nrel.gov/rredc/pvwatts/grid.html

WWW.gaisma.com

[SunEagle]

Good afternoon everyone,

I'm a backyard DIY'er and currently Solar and wind has interested me as new project. The intent is not to be off the grid or tied to the grid.

Current Project:

Just set up a 18 x 36 MGPTS Military tent. We rent on 5 acres and I could't justify a structure for a shop, so this was my economical alternative. The plan is to set up a single solar panel for now just to run 4 -6 Utilitech 13.5-Watt (60W) Base Warm White ( 3000K) LED Bulbs (yes, I took that from Lowes website, and if there is a better alternative I am all ears.) For my first panel I found a 295 watt Sharp that I would like to use. If I did the calculation right I believe I can use a 20 amp charge controller. For my battery's I was looking to get 2 x 12v 50aH golf cart batteries. The inverter is going to be a Cen-tech 2000 Watt Continuous/4000 Watt Peak Power Inverter. Looking to see how this works with my LED lights, whether or not I can use some tools in the shop also. For example a small pancake compressor that I use with my bostitch airnailers, and maybe a quick cut with my 12" miter saw.

I realize this is not the ideal super power system, the goal is to get my feet wet and just see how this system evolves.

There is a ton more reading and research for me to do, please rip my Project apart as I am looking to improve upon my first attempt.

Thank you.

This site is amazing.

There are companies that already sell items like a Military Tent with flexible solar panels already incorporated into the tent fabric. They were designed for temporary power setup in field operations. I don't remember the kw output but they probably have enough to run lights and small equipment. Of course since the Military was the market these tents may be very expensive.

[hztd0m]

There are companies that already sell items like a Military Tent with flexible solar panels already incorporated into the tent fabric. They were designed for temporary power setup in field operations. I don't remember the kw output but they probably have enough to run lights and small equipment. Of course since the Military was the market these tents may be very expensive.

That would be pretty slick. I already have the tent up (I'm pretty sure 700 bucks is oging to be tough to beat.)

31913_10200498621844703_1164048629_n.jpg

[Sunking]

For my first panel I found a 295 watt Sharp that I would like to use. If I did the calculation right I believe I can use a 20 amp charge controller.

Maybe, maybe not. It will have to be a MPPT charge controller. PWM will not work with your panel. Make sure it is MPPT.

For my battery's I was looking to get 2 x 12v 50aH golf cart batteries.

Wrong choice and 100 AH battery is not enough battery for for a 295 watt panel. You do not want to parallel batteries. Besides I do not believe there is any such thing as a 12 volt 50 AH golf cart battery. Most Golf carts use either 6 volt 225 AH, or 8 volt 195 AH batteries. If you are going to operate at 12 volts with a 295 watt panel be looking for something in the 12 volt 200 to 300 AH battery like a pair of 6 volt 225 AH golf cart batteries.

The inverter is going to be a Cen-tech 2000 Watt Continuous/4000 Watt Peak Power Inverter. Looking to see how this works with my LED lights, whether or not I can use some tools in the shop also. For example a small pancake compressor that I use with my bostitch airnailers, and maybe a quick cut with my 12" miter saw.

Again poor choice of inverters. a 12 volt 200 AH battery cannot operate a 2000 watt inverter at full power, and woul dwaste a lot of undessecary energy operating a small load like LED lights. Rule of thumb is the inverter should not be larger then the panel wattage. A flooded lead acid 12 volt golf cart battery can only realistically handle up to a 100 watt inverter, but agian will likely waste a lot of power at small loads unless you buy a high quality inverter. Get a cheap 1000 watt inverter and say 10 watts of LED's could easily use 50 to 100 watts from the battery

I realize this is not the ideal super power system, the goal is to get my feet wet and just see how this system evolves.

I understand and if you do not design and match parts correctly you will get soaked.

[hztd0m]

Maybe, maybe not. It will have to be a MPPT charge controller. PWM will not work with your panel. Make sure it is MPPT.

This is great!! An MPPT is the charge controller type I was planning to use. Though I am not at a specific brand or Amp yet.

Wrong choice and 100 AH battery is not enough battery for for a 295 watt panel. You do not want to parallel batteries. Besides I do not believe there is any such thing as a 12 volt 50 AH golf cart battery. Most Golf carts use either 6 volt 225 AH, or 8 volt 195 AH batteries. If you are going to operate at 12 volts with a 295 watt panel be looking for something in the 12 volt 200 to 300 AH battery like a pair of 6 volt 225 AH golf cart batteries..

This was the battery I had found. Battery Still trying to wrap my brain around all the different types of batteries. And you are correct its not a golf cart battery.

Again poor choice of inverters. a 12 volt 200 AH battery cannot operate a 2000 watt inverter at full power, and woul dwaste a lot of undessecary energy operating a small load like LED lights. Rule of thumb is the inverter should not be larger then the panel wattage. A flooded lead acid 12 volt golf cart battery can only realistically handle up to a 100 watt inverter, but agian will likely waste a lot of power at small loads unless you buy a high quality inverter. Get a cheap 1000 watt inverter and say 10 watts of LED's could easily use 50 to 100 watts from the battery.

Well thats good as getting the smaller inverter will save me a lot of money. get more batteries then. HA HA! So say I get the system to where it can handle a few power tools. Would I get a second smaller inverter or upgrade to a larger.

[Sunking]

This was the battery I had found. Battery Still trying to wrap my brain around all the different types of batteries. And you are correct its not a golf cart battery.

Yes I am certain, those are wheel chair batteries, not golf cart. Here is UPG golf cart line up

When I get a little more time later today I will help you out on battery confusion. Bu tI can tell you right now be looking at $300 to $400 for batteries.

Latter Gator.

[hztd0m]

Yes those are wheel chair batteries.

When I get a little mor etime later today I will help you out on battery confusion. Bu tI can tell you right now be looking at $300 to $400 for batteries.

Latter Gator.

I really appriciate that. Thank you.

I did a little searching on my own and 2 of these would work into my price range. Trojan T-105 6 Volt, 225 Ah Deep Cycle Battery

[Sunking]

I did a little searching on my own and 2 of these would work into my price range. Trojan T-105 6 Volt, 225 Ah Deep Cycle Battery

You are on th eright track now. I have some other ideas but latter. Need to ask you a couple of questions when I get time, so check back in a couple of hours. Sorry gotta run.

[Naptown]

That panel is a 72 cell panel so if on a 24V system would work with a pwm controller. (I have found that generally once above about 260W the cell count goes to 72)

[SunEagle]

That panel is a 72 cell panel so if on a 24V system would work with a pwm controller. (I have found that generally once above about 260W the cell count goes to 72)

That falls into the 3 to 4 watts per cell which is right on track with most of what is being produced.

[Sunking]

OK I have some time now so I do not have to go into every detail on the 2 basic batteries types being Flooded Lead Acid (FLA) and Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) allow me to ask a few questions about your intended application.

Will the system be stationary or mobile?
Do you intend to operate high power items? If yes, will it be frequent or infrequent?
Will the system be used every day?
Will this system be used year round. If not what time of year?
What is your approx location?
Will the battery be inside or outside?

My initial thought is for you to use a AGM battery, and two inverters. One small inverter to power the lighting on a daily basis, and another larger one to operate the occasional high power items like power tools when needed. If you can answer the above questions I can zero in on a system made to fit your needs.

[Sunking]

That falls into the 3 to 4 watts per cell which is right on track with most of what is being produced.

You are starting to see the relationships. Now think about this. What would you expect the highest wattage panel made for 12 volt battery systems? You have the knowledge to figure it out.

[hztd0m]

Will the system be stationary or mobile? Stationary

Do you intend to operate high power items? If yes, will it be frequent or infrequent? yes, infrequent - Chop saw, air compressor

Will the system be used every day? No, usually a few hours in the evening. during they day on the weekends.

Will this system be used year round. If not what time of year? Yes, less in the winter.

What is your approx location? 32°18′57″N 97°0′25″W Maypearl, Texas 76084

Will the battery be inside or outside? Inside tent.

[Sunking]

OK I am going to assume you are going to use the 290 watt panel and go from there assuming you will add more panel wattage later. Warning here if you go with a 290 watt panel, you have to use the same panel for future expansions. Are we clear on that point? It comes with consequences that I will point out next.

So now let's talk charge controllers. By using a Grid Tied panel forces you to use a MPPT controller if you operate at 12 volt battery. No if and or buts about it. Operating at 290 watts input @ 12 volt battery rquires a minimum 25 AMPS. 20 Amps is not going to work at 12 volt battery with 290 watt input. Sorry. No here is your next challenge. Only one manufacture I trust makes a 25 amp MPPT controller called Blue Sky model 2000, and it comes with a catch, it only operates at 12 volt battery with a maximum panel input of 300 watts. If you were to use it, NO FUTURE EXPANSION, not even 24 volt battery. What this means is things get expensive with respect to MPPT charge controllers. Since you built a trap using 290 watt panels and stay with 12 volts, and want to expand, you are going to need at least a 50 to 60 amp Charge Controller, and you just crossed the $400 to $500 line up. A good MPPT Charge Controller at the 60 amp level is a Morningstart TriStar 60 amp model. Using something like the TriStar allows you to grow your 12 volt system using your panel to 580 watts. It also gives you the ability to move up to either 24 or 48 volt operation. Move up to 24 volts and you can grow up to 1450 watts with your panel.

OK so lets rethink the panel selection. 290 is just a bad choice for a battery system. Best panel wattage for any battery system hands down is 200 watts. This opens up the door to maximum potential of MPPT charge controllers. First door it opens is you can now use a less expensive 20 amp MPPT controller, but will max it out at 12 volt battery. But go look at the chart for the TS-MPPT-45 and 60 amp models. 200 watts fits perfectly at all battery voltages 12, 24, and 48 volt. So if you were to buy the TS-MPPT-45 amp model you can grow up to 600 watts @ 12 volt battery (Three 200 watt panels). Note 200 watts is the common denominator. Pretty slick huh? Only conclusion you can come up with is use a 200 WATT PANEL.

OK lets talk batteries. I will try top be brief. Since you want to operate high wattage devices infrequently, go with AGM. Reason being is they have very low internal resistances which means you can run high charge and more importantly high discharge rates. High discharge rates is what it is going to take to run high wattage inverters. A Flooded battery can only take about C/8 maximum discharge rate. So a 12 volt 200 AH FLA battery can only handle up to about a 400 watt inverter. That is not going to work on a Chop Saw. However some AGM's can handle as much as 1C discharge rate. That same 12 volt 200 AH battery using the RIGHT AGM can handle up to a 2500 watt inverter. That will handle a Chop Saw. Last point about the battery is matching the size of the battery with the panel wattage. As a rule of thumb for you using a 12 volt system Fo revery 1 watt of panel, 1 AH of battery. So 200 watt panel you need a 175 to 225 AH battery with 200 being the sweat spot. Pretty simple. A good candidate using a 200 watt panel is Concorde PVX-2240T AGM battery. They are 6 volt 220 AH so you would need a pair of them to make 12 volts. These monsters can easily handle a 2000 watt 12 volt inverter if you so wish.

Now lets talk about inverters for a moment. Most of your load is lights, and occasionally a tool. I recommend you get two inverters. One of about 300 watts or so to run your lights for everyday use. Can be as large as 500 watts. You just want to keep it small to match your light load. Use a second inverter for the big stuff, and keep it turned off when not in use. Large inverters are inefficient when used at low power levels. Makes no sense to use say a 2000 watt inverter with just 100 watt of load. Doing that can draw as much as 200 watts off the battery or twice what you actually are using. So if your everyday load of lights is say 100 watts, use a 150 watt inverter.

Hope that helps.