Going Partially Off Grid

Discussions about solar power and solar energy projects.
Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Going Partially Off Grid

Post by Solar98632 » Thu May 15, 2014 1:18 pm

We are Going to do something new.
We are renting and the Land Lord has given us the Ok To Put solar units up.
I am going to be getting 4 Harbor freight Solar power KIts

It will be a slow build over the next 4 months.

I have seen and heard that the newer panels do well in low light I know about cooling the panels and have no issues in dong that should the need arise.

But I need to know how many batteries i can put in the first unit safely. whit out creating an over load.
This Monday I will be receiving the first of 4 units. I will be powering TV, Laptop, Blue ray DVD , VCR.
I have a 350 Watt inverter for this round. I pretty much have the wattage figured out, I just want to know if I can go 4 batteries or can I go with 6 or 8? I'll probably be using a typical lead acid battery.
I will be changing the charge controller once I get the second set.

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: Going Partially Off Grid

Post by Solar98632 » Thu May 15, 2014 1:23 pm

Later, I plan to design a system that will operate the washer and dryer, but that..will not be for a while.

Might design a system for :shock: heating and A/C :shock:

Oh I can not connect the furnace to the solar unit, that is off limits.
But I can get a heater that is fan forced.
Oh what is this about PMW VS MPPT? And What are the Fakes to stay away from f there are any?

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: Going Partially Off Grid

Post by Solar98632 » Mon May 26, 2014 11:31 am

Just wondering what you might think of this temporary set up.
Or can I connect the HFpanels in to one unit and still gt 90 watts?
tmp_Combining_HF_Kits_b1062649603.jpg
Back Side
tmp_Combining_HF_Kits_b1062649603.jpg (143.96 KiB) Viewed 20770 times
tmp_Combining_HF_Kits1555151272.jpg
Combining 2 Harbor Freight kits
tmp_Combining_HF_Kits1555151272.jpg (242.38 KiB) Viewed 20770 times

mr bugsier5
Posts: 63
Joined: Sat Jun 15, 2013 12:36 pm
Location: Brielle , west coast of holland(europe)

Re: Going Partially Off Grid

Post by mr bugsier5 » Thu May 29, 2014 7:06 am

a mppt controller is a lot more efficient than a pwm.(you get more charge amps out off your panels when using a mppt controller)
(u can also use a higher solar voltage, making better use of your solar watts in charging forinstance a 12 volt system) ;)

first, you wil have no problems connecting a battery bank to your system, this battery bank is never to big! :mrgreen: the mentioned hf solar panels wil do nice in low light situations, but the dilivered power per square feet is mutch lesser than a polycristaline panel. :geek:

the max amount of panels connected to the hf controller i do not know , but seems to me that the maximum watage is mentioned on the controller, :oops:

iff your solar and battery capacity is big enough you can power almost everything using sinus inverters. ;)

in big instalations its more economical to work with bigger batterybank voltages as the 12 volt systems , for instance, a 100 watt bulb on 12 volt draws aprox 8.33 amps, on 24 volts thats 4,17 amps, you draw less amps, means thinner wires, and les draw from your battery bank, the higher the voltage , the more efficient. :ugeek:

sucses whit your installation!
dont be afraid to ask!, a stupid question does not exist!
forgive me my bad English!, as long as you know what i mean it,s fine for me!
(you thry dutch, wont be easy to! HA HA!)

techman
Site Admin
Posts: 1329
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:49 am

Re: Going Partially Off Grid

Post by techman » Wed Jun 04, 2014 9:03 am

The HF solar charge controller is cheap and low quality. It will only handle four sets of HF solar panels per unit. You can connect any number of batteries to any charge controller as long as the voltage is the same.

But the HF solar charge controller will not work in the long term for you. Get a better, high quality solar charge controller or you will eventually ruin your batteries. As mr bugsier says, an MPPT solar charge controller is the best but they are more expensive.

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: Going Partially Off Grid

Post by Solar98632 » Sun Jun 15, 2014 8:56 am

Thanks and I am looking in to a mmpt. But I do not want to get a fake.

Also update, I have 3 controllers. And on a bright sunny day I can use a crock pot and charge my batteries at the same time. ..which was a surprise.

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: Going Partially Off Grid

Post by Solar98632 » Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:50 am

Found this to be interestin
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher-El ... t/25955556" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
VS
http://www.harborfreight.com/45-watt-so ... -8527.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Exact same thing in charge controllers what gives?

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: Going Partially Off Grid

Post by Solar98632 » Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:54 am

And are silicon panels any good?

techman
Site Admin
Posts: 1329
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:49 am

Re: Going Partially Off Grid

Post by techman » Mon Jun 16, 2014 1:59 pm

Solar98632 wrote:Thanks and I am looking in to a mmpt. But I do not want to get a fake.

Also update, I have 3 controllers. And on a bright sunny day I can use a crock pot and charge my batteries at the same time. ..which was a surprise.
Look for large cooling fins on an MPPT solar charge controller. If it has no visible, large cooling fins and/or does not look much different than a normal cheap charge controller then most likely it is a fake.

techman
Site Admin
Posts: 1329
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:49 am

Re: Going Partially Off Grid

Post by techman » Mon Jun 16, 2014 2:00 pm

Solar98632 wrote:Found this to be interestin
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher-El ... t/25955556" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
VS
http://www.harborfreight.com/45-watt-so ... -8527.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Exact same thing in charge controllers what gives?
Funny to see that. It is the same. Sometimes companies will relabel products for other retailers.

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