In this instructable, https://www.instructables.com/id/Apa...-Solar-System/ when the guy says plugin point, do you think he is referring to the switch box/extension box? I'm wondering if the last part I need in the sequence before the appliance is a switch box.
Question about mystery part in solar setup
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If someone writes an instructable and cannot explain themselves, I'm not bothering to watch it for you. I's say pass on it. i don't have the bandwidth (I get 12gb /month) to watch all the lame you fool and such.Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
|| Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
|| VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A
solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister -
I looked at the page,
No one should be making that system,
There is one circuit breaker between the panel and controller deemed to be for lightning strike on the panel to prevent the battery exploding!!!!!!
No other fuses or breakers in the AC or DCComment
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That page is misleading by making people believe they can build a "safe" solar power generation system. It is not safe and any use of a battery will rarely pay for itself compared to just purchasing power from your electric utility.Comment
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Can anyone tell me what components I would need to research and source, at the minimum, to build my own off-grid 3.5 kw solar system? Or any guides that would have complete setup instructions?
Bala, I just read the comments on that guide, and someone was saying you need a fuse or a breaker between each component. Is this accurate?
SunEagle, so are you saying it's hard to nearly impossible to DIY your own home solar system? Would you recommend some time spent researching on this forum as one of the steps in order to do that?
Would the guide I linked to work if I connected a fuse/breaker between the solar panels, circuit breakers, charge controller, batteries, inverter, and plug point? Or should I just leave out the circuit breakers altogether?Last edited by bonzo78; 11-25-2019, 02:06 PM.Comment
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If you just want some off grid power, get a generator. A solar system capable of delivering
3.5KW is expensive, and that cost will multiply horribly as the required operating time (before
batteries die) increases to a day or more. Bruce RoeComment
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Can anyone tell me what components I would need to research and source, at the minimum, to build my own off-grid 3.5 kw solar system? Or any guides that would have complete setup instructions?
Bala, I just read the comments on that guide, and someone was saying you need a fuse or a breaker between each component. Is this accurate?
SunEagle, so are you saying it's hard to nearly impossible to DIY your own home solar system? Would you recommend some time spent researching on this forum as one of the steps in order to do that?
Would the guide I linked to work if I connected a fuse/breaker between the solar panels, circuit breakers, charge controller, batteries, inverter, and plug point? Or should I just leave out the circuit breakers altogether?
Building a system that is safe and that will do the job required is not easy.
You have stated you want a 3.5 kw system. For off grid you need to talk in terms of Kwh, so battery storage.
Have a read of all the info in the stickies in the off grid section of this forum.
FYI, 3 Kwh a day off grid system done properly is not a small system so not cheap to build.
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To answer your question. The bigger the system the more complicated it can get concerning the wiring, over-current protection, battery charging, and DC to AC inverting.Comment
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The tutorial would be funny if it wasn't so dangerous. These are some actual safety tips from that page:
Safety: While soldering do not touch the tip of the soldering iron.
Wear Dark Glasses while installing the Solar Panel.
Do not look Directly at the Sun.
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I am located in Ontario. I think the regulations are that you can install your own solar system if it is rated under 10 kw.
Okay, that makes sense.Comment
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Building an off grid system includes batteries and unless your cost of electricity is > $0.50/kWh US a battery ends up not saving you any money. The best way to have a solar system pay for itself is to install a grid tie system. They can be DIY if allowed but they still need to meet local safety codes.Comment
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SunEagle, I think you're probably right. I might as well pay the cost to get them to install electricity, seeing as with a small cabin, I wouldn't really be using very much electricity anyways. So the upfront cost for the solar system would probably be more in the long run. I'll probably leave the solar setup to when I build a bigger house and want a grid-tied system. Thanks for your input.Comment
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SunEagle, I think you're probably right. I might as well pay the cost to get them to install electricity, seeing as with a small cabin, I wouldn't really be using very much electricity anyways. So the upfront cost for the solar system would probably be more in the long run. I'll probably leave the solar setup to when I build a bigger house and want a grid-tied system. Thanks for your input.Comment
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