Do I have everything on the list to start an off grid set up?

[WrangledRanch]

Panels- Hoping to buy at least 10x 400 watt (depends on what I can get in Canada)
PV disconnect- n 600V 30A, Square D HU361
Controller- MPPT 100 600
fuse to batteries- 125 amp fuse in this panel
Batteries- (3x) Renogy 48v 50 aH
Fuse to inverter - 250 amp in the PDP
Inverter- 48v 4000w
Battery monitor
System control panel

Planning to do 2 series strings with the panels and probably buy more in the future
Besides wires what else am I missing?

 

[MichaelK]

Your batteries are small for the size of this system. With 4000W of panels, you should be looking at a battery bank 3X larger than what you've got planned. What controller and what inverter are you planning on getting?

How are you planning on racking your panels? That's going to add to the cost. Roof or ground mount?

 

[WrangledRanch]

Your batteries are small for the size of this system. With 4000W of panels, you should be looking at a battery bank 3X larger than what you've got planned. What controller and what inverter are you planning on getting?

How are you planning on racking your panels? That's going to add to the cost. Roof or ground mount?

I think I am going to order 1 more battery and just get 5-6 panels for now. I am realizing I don't need that much wattage coming in. Space is not an issue outside so I just went big in my head.

The inverter and controller panel are : https://solar.schneider-electric.com/product/hybrid-solar-inverter/ and https://solar.schneider-electric.com/product/conext-mppt-charge-controller/ or I might just get this https://solar.schneider-electric.com/product/conext-mppt-60-150/ if I buy a smaller array

Going to rack on the ground. I Already have quite a bit of steel conduit that I can use

 

[MisterSandals]

I think I am going to order 1 more battery and just get 5 panels for now.

An even number of panels is a lot more flexible. With that hefty SCC, it won't matter now but it may if/when you expand, especially if the identical panels are no longer available.

Just out of curiosity, why did you choose those batteries? There are a LOT of ways to get to 48v, its more common (i'm not saying better, just common) to do it with bigger 12v or 24v batteries in series.

 

[HOU_Castle]

Panels- Hoping to buy at least 10x 400 watt (depends on what I can get in Canada)
PV disconnect- n 600V 30A, Square D HU361
Controller- MPPT 100 600
fuse to batteries- 125 amp fuse in this panel
Batteries- (3x) Renogy 48v 50 aH
Fuse to inverter - 250 amp in the PDP
Inverter- 48v 4000w
Battery monitor
System control panel

Planning to do 2 series strings with the panels and probably buy more in the future
Besides wires what else am I missing?

I think you need the combiner before disconnect switch. Your fuse between battery and 4000W inverter is too big. Wondering your cable size between battery and inverter.

 

[Wibla]

Have you done an energy audit? You're going directly to 48V, so I assume you've done some research.

At first glance, 4kW of solar is mismatched to that battery bank, but considering you're in the north, it might not be a bad idea to be overpowered on solar.

Where in Canada are you located? Don't have to be GPS coordinate specific, but general area would help to do some math on the solar you need to keep a battery bank happy during the winter.

 

[WrangledRanch]

An even number of panels is a lot more flexible. With that hefty SCC, it won't matter now but it may if/when you expand, especially if the identical panels are no longer available.

Just out of curiosity, why did you choose those batteries? There are a LOT of ways to get to 48v, its more common (i'm not saying better, just common) to do it with bigger 12v or 24v batteries in series.

Thanks for the reply! I know 6 panels makes more sense for sure. I choose those batteries because they were 1500 $ (cad) all in and free shipping for each battery. Also with batteries heaters in each one.(I really want heaters) That seemed like one of my best choices for Canada right now. I am to overwhelmed with stuff to do to be learning to make my own batteries right now. I am trying to move into my off grid property quickly so I can sell my suburban home at the top of this real-estate boom. I am sure I will be modifying my set up in the future.

 

[WrangledRanch]

Have you done an energy audit? You're going directly to 48V, so I assume you've done some research.

At first glance, 4kW of solar is mismatched to that battery bank, but considering you're in the north, it might not be a bad idea to be overpowered on solar.

Where in Canada are you located? Don't have to be GPS coordinate specific, but general area would help to do some math on the solar you need to keep a battery bank happy during the winter.

I live in the interior kootenays with great sun exposure living on a mountain. I would not mind being over powered just so I am safe for the winter

 

[OffGridInTheCity]

How do you plan to consume the power coming from the inverter? / do you have grid available?
You might want to add an ATS to your list and wire grid to the shore side and the inverter to the generator side - and then downstream to circuit(s) that will consume the power. Or alternately - buy an off-grid MPP Solar (PIP) style box (there are a couple of brands to choose from) that has controller + inverter + ATS all-in-one.

 

[WrangledRanch]

How do you plan to consume the power coming from the inverter? / do you have grid available?
You might want to add an ATS to your list and wire grid to the shore side and the inverter to the generator side - and then downstream to circuit(s) that will consume the power. Or alternately - buy an off-grid MPP Solar (PIP) style box (there are a couple of brands to choose from) that has controller + inverter + ATS all-in-one.

There is no grid. I will just be sending the power to an AC panel and then wiring in a couple outlets.

 

[OffGridInTheCity]

There is no grid. I will just be sending the power to an AC panel and then wiring in a couple outlets.

Cool. Then let me go the other way and suggest a generator+charger - so you can charge the battery in case PV goes too low due to stormy weather etc.

 

[WrangledRanch]

Cool. Then let me go the other way and suggest a generator+charger - so you can charge the battery in case PV goes too low due to stormy weather etc.

Yah I already have a generator and someone was suggesting a gen bypass breaker so I can run directly off generator if something is wrong with the inverter or panels.

 

[Wibla]

I live in the interior kootenays with great sun exposure living on a mountain. I would not mind being over powered just so I am safe for the winter

One of the tools I use indicate that you can get away with 4 kW of solar and 7.5 kWh of battery if you use 1.5 kWh per day, and then there's still days in December you might need a generator.

Do an energy audit, figure out how much you'll probably use. I suspect you'll want a bigger battery, and then we're into 280 Ah DIY Lifepo4 territory if you want bang for the buck, or you'll be running that generator a fair bit during the winter months.

You'll need a generator + charger no matter what.

If you're willing to get a decently sized generator (4000W or more), combined with a good 48V charger (or buying an all in one hybrid inverter), I'd just get comfortable with having to run that for a couple of hours every day during December/January, unless you reduce your power usage a lot during the darkest period.

 

[WrangledRanch]

One of the tools I use indicate that you can get away with 4 kW of solar and 7.5 kWh of battery if you use 1.5 kWh per day, and then there's still days in December you might need a generator.

Do an energy audit, figure out how much you'll probably use. I suspect you'll want a bigger battery, and then we're into 280 Ah DIY Lifepo4 territory if you want bang for the buck, or you'll be running that generator a fair bit during the winter months.

You'll need a generator + charger no matter what.

If you're willing to get a decently sized generator (4000W or more), combined with a good 48V charger (or buying an all in one hybrid inverter), I'd just get comfortable with having to run that for a couple of hours every day during December/January, unless you reduce your power usage a lot during the darkest p

I do have a 6500 watt generator and the inverter will be hybrid. I am a little confused about winter hours though. So from your calculator I would only be pulling in 1.5k per day from a 4k array?

 

[OffGridInTheCity]

I am a little confused about winter hours though. So from your calculator I would only be pulling in 1.5k per day from a 4k array?

I use the PV Watts website - https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/pvwatts.php to get estimate kwhs by array size and efficiency. It's world-wide and incorporates weather trends. Its been 10% +/- accurate for me over the last 3 years.

In my case, I get 25% low/winter compared to what I get high/summer - in Southern Oregon USA.

 

[Wibla]

I do have a 6500 watt generator and the inverter will be hybrid. I am a little confused about winter hours though. So from your calculator I would only be pulling in 1.5k per day from a 4k array?

Oh doh, I can't read - of course it's hybrid, you're all set then.

And yeah, you're probably reading that right, winter at higher latitudes is brutal for solar.

Here's an example from your (very rough) area:

You don't really need to look too hard at the numbers, the graph is the key here, it tells you a lot about how much production you lose in the winter.

 

[WrangledRanch]

Oh doh, I can't read - of course it's hybrid, you're all set then.

And yeah, you're probably reading that right, winter at higher latitudes is brutal for solar.

Yah dam thats brutal. I kinda knew that going into this though. Might go a bigger array and then just burn extra power in summer by using an ac unit.

 

[Wibla]

Might go a bigger array and then just burn extra power in summer by using an ac unit.

That controller lets you run up to 8 kW of solar across two strings, so you have ample room to run a bigger array, I would certainly look into doing that.

As an example, and this is napkin math based on your rough location: you would need about 8 kWp of solar to supply 2 kWh per day of power usage with a 7.5 kWh battery in December/January without having to run a generator much, if at all.

 

[WrangledRanch]

That controller lets you run up to 8 kW of solar across two strings, so you have ample room to run a bigger array, I would certainly look into doing that.

As an example, and this is napkin math based on your rough location: you would need about 8 kWp of solar to supply 2 kWh per day of power usage with a 7.5 kWh battery in December/January without having to run a generator much, if at all.

I think I am going to buy 16 of these and then I will be laughing...Maybe? https://prairiesunsolar.com/product...lar-panel-bihiku-cs3w-440-bifacial-mono-perc/

 

[Wibla]

If you have the room, you can save some money by going with cheaper panels (but more of them). I like the thought of 7 kWp though!