Need some solar advice/help

We really want to set up a small (but with the potential to build further) solar system.

Some dear friends of ours recently gave us 48 of these

http://www.budgetbatteries.co.uk/20896/bc-size-2v-25ah-sealed-lead-acid-cyclon-enersys-battery/?utm_source=shopsubmit

They are BC size 2v 25Ah Sealed Lead Acid Cyclon Enersys Batteries and they are in 8 packs of 6. In addition to these we have one of these...

http://cgi.ebay.com/STACKABLE-POWER-INVERTER-2500-5000-W-12V-DC-120V-AC-/290548281489?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a606f091

STACKABLE POWER INVERTER 2500/5000 W 12V DC TO 120V AC

We were hoping to purchase some panels from Sunelec http://sunelec.com that would work with the components we already have to run a small system.

Is this possible or are we way offmark?

You basically have 8 12 volt batteries, which is a lot. You will need to wire them up so that sets of six are combined to make 12 volt packs.

The inverter looks great, as well, and should do the trick for converting your battery power into 110. Be aware, though, that the inverter actually draws a lot of power to work, so anything that can be run directly off your 12 volt system will be the most efficient.

Panels are the easy part. We have 2 130 watt and 2 135 watt kyocera's. On a sunny day, they are putting in over 14 amps. Not familiar with this brand, but they seem a bit pricey.

You will need a controller. This device will keep your panels from overcharging your batteries.

Other than the hardware to put it all together, you look good to go. Just do it!!

:hi:

So if we take these 8 batteries and combine them into a bank, it is ok to connect them all directly into the inverter? It confused me because the description says that the input voltage for the inverter needs to match those on the batteries. It does for a single battery but i wasn't sure if multi batteries changes this. This is all really a bit beyond me but i am trying to grasp it all.



These are the panels we were hoping to add (we were going to buy 2) but we have no idea if they are compatible.

http://sunelec.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=389

Suntech Solar Panel 270 Watts 35.00 Vmp

Also, would the following charge controller work with the panels and batteries?

digital controller 20A 12/24V

specs

Loading Current Max: 20A

Full Charge Cut:13.7V/27.4V

Low Voltage Cut:10.5~11V/21V~22V

No Load Loss:<30MA

Wire Area Min:4m㎡

The Max Wire Diameter Specification:1mVoltage Drop<240mv

Working Temperature:-25℃-100℃

Rated Voltage:12V/24V

:hi:

:) :hi:

He tells me that our panels are generating 30 amps in full sunlight. The panels you are looking at are really big and the controller says 20A max loading current, which seems small.

I am out of my league at this point, though.

There are a few other members here who know way more about this than I do, so hopefully they will come by.

But it sure looks to me like you are on the right track here. Once set up, these systems are really easy to use and maintain.

Please tell him for me too :) We are moving off grid in a few weeks (that is why we'd like the larger panels and The people who gave us the batteries have assured us that they might be able to supply a few more as they become available to them so battery support for the larger panels wouldn't be a waste)and we were planning to use the generator for a while but we came into a little bit of unexpected money and were thinking we'd save more in the long run to make the move to at least some solar now. Unfortunately, i have not been able to really wrap my head around all the tech. My understanding of it all is very general.

I am going to start looking for more powerful charge controller.

Thank you again for the attention to this.

Firstly, is your inverter rated for 12volt DC input and 110-120 AC output?
If so, connect your batteries to each other in parallel (POS-POS and NEG-NEG) to keep voltage at 12.
If you connect them in series you double the voltage (like the small ones are connected).

Now you can connect the inverter, though, as my wife mentioned, inverters are not very efficient.
It would help if I understood more about your project. Is this for a house, cabin. RV? Also, what appliances are you thinking of running? Wherever possible find 12volt DC appliances. Also, if using laptop you're better off with a DC-DC inverter.
For lights, 12 volt LED's are best.

As it is, we actually use very little power, only a desktop computer, a laptop, lights, a fridge (which we'll be switching to propane fridge and a spring house soon) and a 20 in lcd tv/dvd combo. We do have a larger tv and dvd player which we only use for planned movie nights with the kids. We haven't used any small appliances in well over a year so we're accustomed to the manual alternatives already.

We just want a system that is capable of fairly easy upgrade in the future in case the need arises.

This is the charge controller we ended up buying...

http://www.solarelectricsupply.com/Charge_Controllers/Outback/flexmax-60.html

We were able to find one at a really good price.

Edited to add, there will be a propane heater run on the electric while we're using the trailer but we're heading into summer so it shouldn't be needed very often and we'll be using wood heat in the new house.

Ecofan

http://www.caframo.com/hearth/

Wonder Wash

http://www.laundry-alternative.com/washing.htm

Countertop Spin Dryer

http://www.laundry-alternative.com/catalog/Drying-3-1.html

I love being off the grid.

:toast:

I have looked at them a few times over the last couple of years. I have always wanted to ask someone if they work well. Right now we do the plunger and bucket. I use an antique wringer and for larger items i use a mop wringer and bucket. We have been line drying our clothes and for days when the weather is bad we keep an extra shower curtain bar over the tub which we simply roll into the center to hang clothes from.

My favs list includes a french press coffee maker, a whirley pop popcorn popper and hand cranked flashlights and cell phone chargers :)

My husband just purchased an old f250 diesel and is purchasing a $500 biodiesel conversion kit next month. slowly but surely, we're becoming less dependent and i am t.h.r.i.l.l.e.d. :D

The washer is remarkable. It does fairly good size loads very easily and only uses about 3 gallons of water. You would still need your current set up for bigger items - blankets, towels, heavy bathrobes, coats - but all your day to day things can easily be done in the wonder wash.

The spin dryer is also amazing. I live in a dry, sunny climate, but even on cloudy days, it gets out enough water for the clothes to dry pretty quickly.

I had a french press for awhile, but, alas, glass is a bad idea on a boat. We also have hand cranked flashlights with radios. I haven't tried the popcorn popper, but I am going to look it up.

If you are going to use a wood fire for heat, definitely check out the eco fan. It's an amazing little item and has been worth it's weight in gold to us. No amount of battery power is going to run an electric heater for more than a few minutes.

Congratulations on the biodiesel conversion! We use our engine and generator very little and (hopefully) travel with the wind, so diesel fuel is a minor expense for us.

It's great discussing all of this with you. Since people who live on boats like we do are often transient, I don't always have the opportunity to talk at length with others living off the grid.

Now, if I could just figure out how to put a vegetable garden on board......

:hi:

Being able to just pick up and go into such openness. Very very enviable.

We, of course, would lose our minds because of our toddler and his teen sisters. Our sanity comes from chasing them all outside. ;)

It is nice for me to find a like mind as well. While most people are very kind and supportive, a conversation about living off grid isn't usually a two sided one.

We bought some raw land and are planning to build a straw bale home on it over the next couple of years. We started raising goats, chickens and rabbits since the start of last summer and are really enjoying the whole process. I'll have to post some pictures when i have more time.

If you're interested...

I think that may be the lowest price I've ever seen for a panel over 200 watts. I didn't get the brand or the model #, just thought I'd pass that along thinking you might wish to replace your existing panels with a higher watt version.

Channelling Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor for a minute: "more power!"

PS, it's a good bet that they're made in China, if that makes any difference to you. I was just floored at the price.

Didn't see it at costco.com but found a kit with panels that look like the one.
Spec sheet: http://www.costco.com/images/content/misc/pdf/573362Panel.pdf

That is a good price for panels you can pick up right away.

We've already ordered ours from the company sun electronics. We got two 275 watt panels for $506 each and ground shipping for the two of them was $100. so far we're really happy with the company and will probably order more from then soon.

I used to closely watch solar panel prices but then it hit a plateau for a while so I stopped. Thanks for posting about the sun elec panels. I checked the off-grid system prices and found that a lot more people will be able to afford these than ever before. That is a big deal.

We upgraded our batteries already (ex husband asked for the batteries which were being replaced on a job he was working on.) and it made a world of difference.

Our system uses an Outback MPPT Charge Controller, an off brand stackable 2500W (5000W peak) inverter, 2 (so far as making your own power can be a bit addictive) 275 W panels and 7 (run as 12 V for now) 75Ah 12 V batteries.

I am still no expert and fortunately the ex husband, who has a background in such things, is still a friend and was intrigued enough to help us out by putting it all together.

We're able to run the fridge/freezer most of the day and through the night while also running the computer, lights and a small LED tv. We could not be happier. :)

So many people talk of doing this, but few actually go forward with it.

And you are already talking the lingo!

Huge congratulations!

:toast:

:toast: :hug:


And thank you for the advice early on. It really helped when i was shopping the components. I have a much better grasp of it all now and fortunately, it It all came together in spite of my inexperience.

What is really great is that a lot of people have been closely watching our experience and are now talking of setting up systems around tax time. My husband fields questions about it all the time at work. Making waves...:)