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    Failure rate, degridation, upkeep on a large system over a long time?

    So if i build a pretty big system that mostly runs my whole house, how much love and attention will it need over the long haul? I'm 63, retired but very busy. My plan is to dramatically reduce my energy cost over the next couple years. Then i'd like to not worry about it for the next decade...
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    Clueless newbie wants to build 80kwh system with utility only as a backup

    Awesome. thanks. Now we talk about cost. $Can it be done for $25K if i do all the work? Thinking i'd go with a lot of salvaged panel to make up for my lack of southern exposure- i'm at 225 deg and 135 deg Apprently that costs about 15% of rated capacity.
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    Clueless newbie wants to build 80kwh system with utility only as a backup

    I've read a lot, watched a lot of videos and done a lot of math and this is where i put it all together and you tell me the fatal flaws, or you tell me I'm an idiot. It;s OK, i can handle it. My current average daily load is 60kwh, I just got one EV (bolt) and i plan to get another...
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    Air gap on van roof for commercial panel ?

    I have one 370 watt commercial panel for my sprinter. Obviously it was not made for this so i'm trying to find the balance between airflow to remove heat and not turning it into a wing. I'd kinda' like to set it flat against the roof and maybe drill some holes in it. So what happens if...
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    cheap/simple device to measure actual power used by HVAC- building solar just to run AC

    So it's the conventional blower that's pulling all that power. No way around that for a ducted system. might be a while before my wife will tolerate minisplits on the walls. (we loved them in our last house but the aesthetics are different)
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    cheap/simple device to measure actual power used by HVAC- building solar just to run AC

    Where i live wind is not the problem. We've never seen more than a Cat 2. It's the huge number of trees taking out a huge number of power lines that has the lights out for days. Also flooding keeps the roads closed.
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    cheap/simple device to measure actual power used by HVAC- building solar just to run AC

    i may do something like that. I could start with the one mini-split we have in our bedroom. But however I get there. My strategy is to power specific systems one at a time on 100% solar. Maybe one minisplit, or the pool pump. or the washer and dryer.
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    cheap/simple device to measure actual power used by HVAC- building solar just to run AC

    But days without sun require a lot less AC. Which segues to another question, how mush does output diminish under various cloud conditions?
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    cheap/simple device to measure actual power used by HVAC- building solar just to run AC

    Yes, that is exactly the question. I am conversant in ohms law but solar mathi is a little less tangible and the information is fuzzy. It says my location has 4.5 hours of sun. Does that mean daily average? Does it mean i'll only get the rated wattage for 4.5 hours on a sunny day in...
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    cheap/simple device to measure actual power used by HVAC- building solar just to run AC

    I'm going to rephrase my question, Ya'll know what I'm trying to accomplish, I figure if it works in August it will work the rest of the year. So, let's say we have a 3 ton mini split, 23 SEER that pulls 7 amps so it needs 1800 watts 16 hours a day and the sun is out for 14 of those hours...
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    cheap/simple device to measure actual power used by HVAC- building solar just to run AC

    Yes, but if you add the cost of an emergency generator to the equation it might make sense. I could DIY a whole house generator for aout $2K plus some propane work and It would sit there and rust between hurricanes. So if i spend $10K to make the HVAC stand alone it solves the blackout...
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    cheap/simple device to measure actual power used by HVAC- building solar just to run AC

    Surge is pretty much eliminated with inverter heat pumps. You're right, building it for the HVAC is pretty much building it for the whole house but I am determined to NOT have a relationship with the power company. So, we start with the HVAC, and once that is off grid maybe we add other...
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    My post goes up without approval then my reply to a comment is "pending approval"

    Just trying to understand the culture of the group. I posted a question about monitoring my HVAC load over time. I got a very thoughtful reply, to which i replied and that comment is "awaiting moderator approval" That seems strange Edit: i may have figured it out, in my comment i mention a...
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    cheap/simple device to measure actual power used by HVAC- building solar just to run AC

    All of that is good but I want to completely sever the grid-tie for the HVAC. And i want to start by figuring out how much power needs to be replaced. Part of my rationale is that i want this to keep me cool for a week without power in august. And the other part is that as this stuff gets...
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    cheap/simple device to measure actual power used by HVAC- building solar just to run AC

    I'm recently retired and thinking about solar for my home. I don't want to partner with Dominion power. I just want to run my heat pump. This solves two problems. In North Carolina we tend to have bad hurricanes in August. Isabel in 2003 we lost power for 8 fairly hot days. We were lucky...
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    Testing and hacking the BLuetti AC200P

    Cool, that's the number i was looking for.
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    Testing and hacking the BLuetti AC200P

    i don't have one (it's on the list) but the load indicated is consistent with the heaters label- 700, 950, & 1500. I'm just trying to figure the inverter loss and what's normal. Internally the Bluetti is a 48V system.
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    Testing and hacking the BLuetti AC200P

    Ok, but the figure i used was what the Bluetti said it was pulling, not what the heater says on the label. I just want to make sure this $1100 box works as advertised. Trying to figure out what the conversion loss should be.
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    Testing and hacking the BLuetti AC200P

    I just got a Bluetti AC200P - this is 1700 watts, not expandable. I was going to build a 2000 watt system for my van but this was $1150 refurbished so i took a chance. Testing: theoretically, an 800 watt heater should run for about 2 hours on a full charge, right? Leaving about 7% to spare...
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    Cheap Buetti on ebay- charging with an inverter ?

    Good points. THis is a sprinter. stock alt for a delivery van is 90amp. Mine has the aux battery option and 150 amp alt, so i think I'm in good shape.
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    Cheap Buetti on ebay- charging with an inverter ?

    Thanks. This van conversion is the road trip family car, drive a few hours, camp, explore, repeat. We are not boondocking on BLM land for days at a time. Buetti says it will pull 400 watts on AC so that's 80% on the inverter and if it fails i can buy another one anywhere (and if i did I...
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    Cheap Buetti on ebay- charging with an inverter ?

    First, ebay has AC200P for under $1100 - these are ebay refurbs so when i saw it for less than i could build a 2000 watt system, i jumped on it. But, my system would have included a DC to DC charger so I could charge while driving. The Bluetti can charge at 400 watts on AC so I'm...
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    Check my facts and my math- 48V system in a van for under $3K ?

    Yeah, I'm coming around to that. At 12V I have the option of a 40 amp DC-DC charger. Thanks for confirming my hunch on the Midea.
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    Check my facts and my math- 48V system in a van for under $3K ?

    You might be right. 24V might be better. I was really attracted to the Trophy server rack battery and Will Prowse gushing over it. Alternator charging is critical to this plan. In my mind a 48V charger at 8 amps is better than a 12V charger at 32 amps. But 24V at 16 amps might be a...
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    Check my facts and my math- 48V system in a van for under $3K ?

    Probably not- 8000 btu AC pulling 800 watts, i can't imagine the startup load to be more than 12 amps- it's plugs into a 15 amp outlet. The battery and a 2000 watt inverter should be able to handle it.
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    Check my facts and my math- 48V system in a van for under $3K ?

    The load is a Midea U-shaped window unit that will be mounted on the rear door. It draws 800 watts running at full power. The van will be well insulated and we'll only need AC for sleeping and when we leave the dog. So i'm thinking on a hot night it will run at full power for a couple...
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    Check my facts and my math- 48V system in a van for under $3K ?

    I'm doing a Sprinter conversion and I live in the South- I must have air conditioning. I looked at a lot of options including generators but i think i have arrived a the right plan. Will Prowse endorses a 48V 100amp rack battery from Trophy for around $1900 delivered. A decent 2000...
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