I am investigating installing solar panels at the house on the family farm in Louisiana, unfortunately this would likely not be the run of the mill roof top installation due to roof shading, and unusual electrical hookup.
The existing setup has a single CT style pole mounted meter that distributes power from one transformer to 2 structures each with their own service entrance heads, one building with 2 service entrance heads. The main house, the building with the water well, and swimming pool. The house and building with the water well are also connected to a backup generator (33KW) through 2 manual transfer switches (one with solid neutral one with switched neutral for ground loop concerns, one service entrance is not backed up and only powers non essential loads).
Also there is little roof top space that would be appropriate for solar panel mounting on the house due to shade trees, existing solar pool heater, etc. So instead the panels would need to mounted on some type of rack located probably 125-200 feet away from the main house disconnect / transfer switch (which is also pole mounted, house is fed by underground 500 MCM in conduit from the disconnect / transfer switch to the indoor main breaker box about 85 feet away, this would be an L shaped wiring layout or maybe more like a Y with on short leg if you include the pump building)
It is an all electric house so power consumption is highly variable, ranging from an idle load of 3-4 KW on a nice spring day, to typical summer daytime average runs 14-23KW in the daytime with air conditioners ( 2 of 3 central air units) running, in some fringe cases draw can exceed the capacity of the 33KW generator (which has a KW meter on it) more so during winter conditions than summer, the 33 KW generator will allow for life as normal in summer, but in winter will only power 2 out of 3 electric furnaces plus usual hot water, cooking, laundry, etc.
The area also suffers from relatively frequent power outages, although most are brief, lasting less than an hour, many just lasting a few minutes so hybrid system with limited battery capacity would be preferred. Ideally this would allow for a continuity of power and provide carry over power for many of these short outages without the requirement to start and run the generator, say ability to handle around a 35KW load for 15 -20 minutes.
Ideally I would like to build this as a DIY install, I just need some help on the design given the complexity both geographically and electrically). I do have some experience with solar electric, but it is all small off grid DC stuff (50-150 watt, boats, remote equipment battery charging, remotely mounted wifi relays, remote security cameras, etc)
Any suggestions on rough layout and equipment type needed would be most welcome, I am sure there are many ways to do this, I just don't know the trade offs, particularly with voltage loss concerns with the panels needed to be mounted so far away.
Thanks Ike
The existing setup has a single CT style pole mounted meter that distributes power from one transformer to 2 structures each with their own service entrance heads, one building with 2 service entrance heads. The main house, the building with the water well, and swimming pool. The house and building with the water well are also connected to a backup generator (33KW) through 2 manual transfer switches (one with solid neutral one with switched neutral for ground loop concerns, one service entrance is not backed up and only powers non essential loads).
Also there is little roof top space that would be appropriate for solar panel mounting on the house due to shade trees, existing solar pool heater, etc. So instead the panels would need to mounted on some type of rack located probably 125-200 feet away from the main house disconnect / transfer switch (which is also pole mounted, house is fed by underground 500 MCM in conduit from the disconnect / transfer switch to the indoor main breaker box about 85 feet away, this would be an L shaped wiring layout or maybe more like a Y with on short leg if you include the pump building)
It is an all electric house so power consumption is highly variable, ranging from an idle load of 3-4 KW on a nice spring day, to typical summer daytime average runs 14-23KW in the daytime with air conditioners ( 2 of 3 central air units) running, in some fringe cases draw can exceed the capacity of the 33KW generator (which has a KW meter on it) more so during winter conditions than summer, the 33 KW generator will allow for life as normal in summer, but in winter will only power 2 out of 3 electric furnaces plus usual hot water, cooking, laundry, etc.
The area also suffers from relatively frequent power outages, although most are brief, lasting less than an hour, many just lasting a few minutes so hybrid system with limited battery capacity would be preferred. Ideally this would allow for a continuity of power and provide carry over power for many of these short outages without the requirement to start and run the generator, say ability to handle around a 35KW load for 15 -20 minutes.
Ideally I would like to build this as a DIY install, I just need some help on the design given the complexity both geographically and electrically). I do have some experience with solar electric, but it is all small off grid DC stuff (50-150 watt, boats, remote equipment battery charging, remotely mounted wifi relays, remote security cameras, etc)
Any suggestions on rough layout and equipment type needed would be most welcome, I am sure there are many ways to do this, I just don't know the trade offs, particularly with voltage loss concerns with the panels needed to be mounted so far away.
Thanks Ike
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