How far is too far panel to battery?

Life Prepared · Mar 5, 2021

My best spot for panels are 150ft from my house. I plan to do an all in one system as I am a total beginner. Would it be better to put a shed for battery storage somewhere in between? That brings up a second thought, I am in northern Michigan so will a shed be too cold in winter?

Forbisher · Mar 5, 2021

Life Prepared said:
My best spot for panels are 150ft from my house. I plan to do an all in one system as I am a total beginner. Would it be better to put a shed for battery storage somewhere in between? That brings up a second thought, I am in northern Michigan so will a shed be too cold in winter?

150 feet but at what voltage and amps from the panels?
Did you buy 150 feet of cable ?

How many panels of what watts?
Voc
Vmp
Imp
How are your panels wired?
Series and Parallel?
Parallel only?

Life Prepared · Mar 6, 2021

Forbisher said:
150 feet but at what voltage and amps from the panels?
Did you buy 150 feet of cable ?

How many panels of what watts?
Voc
Vmp
Imp
How are your panels wired?
Series and Parallel?
Parallel only?

I haven'tgotten that far yet. Still learning but was told by a salesman it was too far without a lot more expense. I'm not into high pressure sales people and kick him out. He basically wanted to sell me an 8x10 shed for 20k which is just plain stupid. Told me if I build my own it would void the warranty.

45North · Mar 6, 2021

Everyone knows if a salesman says it, it must be true!

Re Charging batteries in winter - depends on the type:

for Lithium batteries conventional wisdom says you shouldn't charge them when they're below freezing point. Sooo you may have to take special measures to insulate and heat them in winter.
for Lead Acid batteries they're fine in winter (they start our cars, don't they!)

You should also think about the electrical losses and the cost of copper wire over your 150ft run. This is what Forbister was getting at with all his questions. Are you planning on running 12v, 24v, 48v? It makes a difference.

Forbisher · Mar 6, 2021

Life Prepared said:
I haven'tgotten that far yet. Still learning but was told by a salesman it was too far without a lot more expense. I'm not into high pressure sales people and kick him out. He basically wanted to sell me an 8x10 shed for 20k which is just plain stupid. Told me if I build my own it would void the warranty.

Lol
To get an answer you need to know what panels and their specs.
Panels connected in Series for higher voltage at lower amps can run 150 feet with low voltage drop.
The only expense is wire and maybe a higher voltage SCC.

Until you figure out how many watts of panels you need for your useage nobody can give you a definite answer.

sheltermonkey · Mar 7, 2021

Maybe put the inverter out by the panels and sent the power to the house as Alternating Current?
I have not sized DC wires but seems that would lower the cost of the wires.

Forbisher · Mar 7, 2021

sheltermonkey said:
Maybe put the inverter out by the panels and sent the power to the house as Alternating Current?
I have not sized DC wires but seems that would lower the cost of the wires.

Putting the inverter by the panels means the batteries are out there in the cold too plus making an enclosure for them.

DC voltage drop can be minimal over 150 feet.
For example four 100 watt panels wired in Series.

18Vmp x 4 is 72Vmp total
6Amps total
150 feet one way of 10 AWG wire is only 2.5% voltage drop.

Voltage Drop Calculator

This free voltage drop calculator estimates the voltage drop of an electrical circuit based on the wire size, distance, and anticipated load current.

www.calculator.net

How far is too far panel to battery?

Life Prepared

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Forbisher

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Life Prepared

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45North

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Forbisher

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Voltage Drop Calculator

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