We should need more than a 2000w inverter right
You
shouldn’t need more than 2000W (to start the minisplit if 1000W is startup).
However, I personally would go 2500- or 3000W inverter.
I started out with 1200W, run a 2000W right now, and plan to 3000W at some point this fall or maybe over winter. 1200W is enough, but 2000W it seldom works hard. 3000W is 25A will run a few 120V tools without working too hard.
Victron has a 3000W 12V multiplus if you feel spendy. If you don’t feel spendy a QZRELB (Reliable brand) 3000W is < $400
everything aside from the mini split will be 12v so I think 12v is probably our best bet.
I agree - in your situation. It works for me.
I’m at this point.
1500w+ rigid panels on roof
Victron SCC
Victron Inverter charger
Four 400ah EG4 Solar rack batteries 20.5kw
That sounds robust enough. Victron is security. I’d still allocate ~$450 for a cheap QZRELB inverter and maybe a powrMR SCC in case of a need for backups if you have an (unlikely) warranty claim or a lightning strike or something else stupid.
should we add another 5kw battery? Thankfully we have til next spring before I install the solar. So plenty of time to plan
I either forget or am not seeing your locale; I’m uncertain another battery is
necessary but 1500 watts of panels… I’d want a floor of 3000W or prefer 5000W of panels minimum depending on your region.
In my situation we get endless cloudy days repeatedly November to January, Feb through March ain’t great either, and this year has been terrible for sun through to today. If you are similar cloudiness 5000 could be marginal. I don’t have A/C here in Vermont and my past typical 800W of panels did better than I’m getting with ~1300W currently. Next week or so I’ll be swapping to six 315W panels, and I when I get my office trailer here at the new property I’ll be onlining ~1200W more, and if I build a ground mount I can add 1300W to that. Because if I’m getting 10% production over a short, dark, cloudy day 500Wh/hr = 2-2.5kWh and that is way more usable than 150 watts a day.
I said all that to influence your thinking. Make what you can get for solar work for you. Your mention of ~3days reserve at ~20kWh batteries means about 6500Wh per day needed; 1500W of panels will barely do that per day with no additional battery replenishment. See what I’m saying?
any other hardware brand suggestions? Maybe similar quality to victron at a better price point
Victron for what it is is likely your most economically feasible solution at that tier/quality.
My MPPSolar AIO has been fantastic but the don’t have a robust 12V offering. 1000W inverter and is gangable to 9000W, but idle draw is ~26W so it is ~55W with a second unit. Works very very well though. Over 15mos the only issue besides the small inverter was it forgot to start charging the batteries in the AM twice. Power off, back on, it was fine. I recommend this budget brand AIO.
QZRELB and Giandel inverters have not failed on me.
I did have to swap H & N on the Reliable 2000W because it was plugged in wrong internally at the factory- a common issue for them.
With either of those two the open N-G is something to address. Giandel let’s you do it externally, Reliable I haven’t tested yet to see if it smokes out.
I am currently running the MPPSolar for ~800W of panels, one cheap powrMR mppt SCC with 200W, and another powrMR with a 315W panel. I also have a couple windyNation P30L pwm units for backup, as well as several Epever mppt SCC’s if I want to or need to use them.
If you opt for cheapo (powrMR) or even midshelf Epever just buy an extra of each; that’s the beauty of powrMR cheapos: redundancy is $100 not $700 or $400
The Victrons will work great for you. I’ve been saying it nearly five years: if my cheap stuff keeps on going I may never get around to a Victron.
You have such a large battery bank - I would wait on the 5th battery until you see if you need it - I doubt you will.
Totally agree.
As far as the 3000W multiplus… I wish MPPSolar made a 12V 3000W AIO unit. The 1012LV-MK has been an awesome machine, just hogtied at 1000W.