It sounds like you're starting from scratch so let me throw in my blurbs to get you pointed in the right direction:
Well, I'll start the default answer to these questions and we can work from there. Here's you To-Do list:
1: Power audit! This will give you some important information on how big your inverter needs to be as well as how much battery capacity you'll need. There is a link in the FAQ section (I think, or someone here will post it shortly) so fill in the blanks and see what it comes up with. You'll probably need some sort of Kill-A-Watt to get accurate measurements. Are you going to be running a 12v system? 24v system? 48v system? What are the specs on your solar panels? VoC? Vmp? Being as this is a new build, throw together a wish list of what you want and estimate on the high side.
1a: Where do you live? Speccing out a system for Scotland is a LOT different numbers than Arizona due to the amount of light you actually get. Someone here can post the link to the PVwatts.com or JCR Solar Uber-Sun-Hours calculator sites to help figure out how much you'll have to work with. That will be a box in the Power Audit form.
2: Parts list: You don't need a make & model list, just a parts list to start from for reference. You'll need an inverter, a MPPT charge controller, fuses, shunt, buck converter, batteries, wire, etc. Once you have a basic list it can be fine tuned to make & models after that. If you're looking at the All-In-Ones check for correct voltage outputs (120v or 240v Split Phase for North America, 220v Single Phase for European type areas) and make sure it has enough capacity for a little bit of growth and fudge factor.
3: Budget!: Steak is great but doesn't mean anything if your wallet says hamburger.
Figure out what you're able to spend now vs what you'll have to cheap out on now and upgrade later.
4: Tape measure! Figure out where you're going to stick all the stuff you'll need. A dozen 3000AH batteries sounds great until you're sleeping on the floor because there's no room left for a bed. Is there a compartment that can house all this stuff? Will the server rack batteries fit? Are you going to have to make space? Physics can be pretty unforgiving.
5: Pencil out what you think you need and throw it at us so we can tell you what you've missed (because we ALL miss stuff the first go-round
) and help figure out which parts and pieces you're going to want to get.
Stop spending money until you figure out what YOUR system will look like. Sadly there is no standard answer to the age old question of "How much do I need?" because everyone's system is different.
Start out by grabbing the PowerAudit form from the Resources section. You're going to run through this form at LEAST 3 times before you know what your system is going to look like. The first pass is where you throw in ALL the things you might want. Dual air conditioning? Sure. Electric cooktop? Why not. MargaritaMaster-9000? Go for it!
The next pass you're going to do the exact opposite and only put in what you ABSOLUTELY NEED this time. Do you really NEED that many light bulbs? Do you really NEED that 40ft chest freezer? Do you ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO HAVE that MargaritaMaster-9000 or can you cut it down to the 3000 model? That's going to give you the absolute minimum that your system is going to need to provide.
The next pass is going to be the more realistic audit now that you've had a chance to get a feel for how it all works. This is where you put in how many light bulbs and air conditioners and MargaritaMasters you
Realistically think you're going to use on a daily basis.
Now that you have a goal in mind for what your system
Should do, this is where the tape measure comes in. You mention this is all in a new build so the next question is "Where do I stick it?" since a dozen rack mount batteries sounds great until you're sleeping in the kitchen. The other big factor is you only have so much roof space to mount panels so plan on where you're going to be able to mount them. If your Audit comes up with, let's say for example numbers, 3000w of panels, can you physically FIT that much panel up there? Are you going to have to supplement with deployable ground mount panels? Do you have anything sticking up out the top, like a chimney or vent, that is going to prevent panels from fitting tightly? Physics is pretty unforgiving on this one.
Now that you've spent hours (yup, hours) figuring out what you need, where to stick the parts, and what you can afford there will be an overlap of those 3 that make YOUR system perfect for you. Is it the right system for me? Or for 12vInstalls? Or Eggo_Sunshine? Probably not, but it's the PERFECT system for YOU and that's the end goal of any system.
Also make notes about what kind of sun you're likely to get. Head over to
PVWatts and the
JRC Solar Calculator site and start plugging in numbers to see what your panels can realistically get out of them.
Don't panic, you're not the first to deal with this, and you won't be the last. We're here to help.
