We installed grid tie/battery backup solar just over a decade ago and the basic 48V configuration is:
- 18 panels
- 1 6048 (6,000W) Xantrex (220V) inverter
-1 Outback Charger
- and some lead
Well that lead is now dead (gotta give it credit for lasting a decade). Based on the way our system is wired, without the batteries, the solar panels are now offline and idling. I had to hit the bypass switch due to some crazy power fluctuations from the dead batteries. I need to get the system back online at minimal cost while switching over to LiFPo. Questions:
1) Can I get by with a single 48V EG4 or similar for now, just to get the system back online? I know it won't last long in an outage, but that's not my primary concern at the moment, I just want to get my system up and running again. I can expand later as budget allows. About half of our 2000sq/f home is on the solar/battery. So, there'll be a decent continual draw (that'll be continually re-charged via grid and/or solar panels 99.99% of the time - we haven't had a power outage in years). The question is, will that continual draw on a single server battery system be too much? (not unheard of to hit close to the 6KW capability of the inverter).
2) Can I re-configure the Outback charger to work with LiFPo pack, even though it predates that? I've read it's easy, but I want to make sure. Or should I look for a rack that includes a charger?
3) I noticed my outback, and the Xantrex and these server batteries all have CAN bus-like connectivity, can I get them all talking to each other?
4) What kind of software is around for me to monitor the above, we didn't get the Xantrex or Outback monitoring hardware back in the day, as they were expensive and limited.
Many thanks ahead of time.
- 18 panels
- 1 6048 (6,000W) Xantrex (220V) inverter
-1 Outback Charger
- and some lead
Well that lead is now dead (gotta give it credit for lasting a decade). Based on the way our system is wired, without the batteries, the solar panels are now offline and idling. I had to hit the bypass switch due to some crazy power fluctuations from the dead batteries. I need to get the system back online at minimal cost while switching over to LiFPo. Questions:
1) Can I get by with a single 48V EG4 or similar for now, just to get the system back online? I know it won't last long in an outage, but that's not my primary concern at the moment, I just want to get my system up and running again. I can expand later as budget allows. About half of our 2000sq/f home is on the solar/battery. So, there'll be a decent continual draw (that'll be continually re-charged via grid and/or solar panels 99.99% of the time - we haven't had a power outage in years). The question is, will that continual draw on a single server battery system be too much? (not unheard of to hit close to the 6KW capability of the inverter).
2) Can I re-configure the Outback charger to work with LiFPo pack, even though it predates that? I've read it's easy, but I want to make sure. Or should I look for a rack that includes a charger?
3) I noticed my outback, and the Xantrex and these server batteries all have CAN bus-like connectivity, can I get them all talking to each other?
4) What kind of software is around for me to monitor the above, we didn't get the Xantrex or Outback monitoring hardware back in the day, as they were expensive and limited.
Many thanks ahead of time.