Hello all,
I'm trying to develop a game plan to install a solar/battery backup system at our house. Below is an outline of my current thinking. Do you have any advice to help me along?
I want to create an expandable system that I can add on to as my budget allows. I don't want the system to be grid-tied and don't have interest in net-metering. The rules that our rural electric co-op have make a grid-tied system unappealing because of extra monthly fees and they limit the size of grid-tied systems.
In phase 1, I'd like to do is create a battery backup system for the critical loads in my house, but use the grid to charge the batteries (no solar panels in this phase) We occasionally have power outages that usually on last a few minutes to a few hours. The loads that I'd like to be able to run when the grid is down include our well water pump (1.5 hp, 280 ft below the surface), refrigerator, computer networking equipment, one room of lights and outlets (to keep cell phones and laptops charged) and the garage door opener.
Later in phase 2, I would like to be able to add additional backup battery capacity and solar panels to charge the batteries and run loads when the sun is shining.
In phase 3, I'd like to have the ability to charge an electric car (which I do not have yet).
Currently, I'm thinking using something like an EG4 6000 split phase low frequency inverter (to be able to start the well pump) and a couple of EG4 rack-mount batteries would help me accomplish the goals of phase 1.
A few questions: Do I have to make a critical loads subpanel or would something like the Lumin Smart Panel make sense? Why does Will's 48v solar system blueprint recommend a separate transfer switch? Don't the all-in-inverters such as the EG4 6000 include a transfer switch that will automatically kick in if the grid goes down?
Thank you for reading and offering any helpful advice.
I'm trying to develop a game plan to install a solar/battery backup system at our house. Below is an outline of my current thinking. Do you have any advice to help me along?
I want to create an expandable system that I can add on to as my budget allows. I don't want the system to be grid-tied and don't have interest in net-metering. The rules that our rural electric co-op have make a grid-tied system unappealing because of extra monthly fees and they limit the size of grid-tied systems.
In phase 1, I'd like to do is create a battery backup system for the critical loads in my house, but use the grid to charge the batteries (no solar panels in this phase) We occasionally have power outages that usually on last a few minutes to a few hours. The loads that I'd like to be able to run when the grid is down include our well water pump (1.5 hp, 280 ft below the surface), refrigerator, computer networking equipment, one room of lights and outlets (to keep cell phones and laptops charged) and the garage door opener.
Later in phase 2, I would like to be able to add additional backup battery capacity and solar panels to charge the batteries and run loads when the sun is shining.
In phase 3, I'd like to have the ability to charge an electric car (which I do not have yet).
Currently, I'm thinking using something like an EG4 6000 split phase low frequency inverter (to be able to start the well pump) and a couple of EG4 rack-mount batteries would help me accomplish the goals of phase 1.
A few questions: Do I have to make a critical loads subpanel or would something like the Lumin Smart Panel make sense? Why does Will's 48v solar system blueprint recommend a separate transfer switch? Don't the all-in-inverters such as the EG4 6000 include a transfer switch that will automatically kick in if the grid goes down?
Thank you for reading and offering any helpful advice.