We're building a new home in Maine this year, in the middle of a blueberry field. NOT likely to do net metering because I don't want to deal with the hassle. MAY bring grid power to the house as "added convenience", but just as likely to remain off-grid (still need to chat more with the power company). Either way, if grid present, would primarily be used to recharge batteries instead of firing up generator or offset battery use when cloudy - as a convenience. I've been planning to just call up Dexter at @CurrentConnected and put together a Victron system with batteries from either EG4 or SOK (~ 3 days of storage). But after seeing some reviews of the fairly new EG4 6000XP, and seeing that Dexter sells them, I find myself interested in those (probably two of them). My theory is that while I'm a big fan of Victron, I could buy another 6000XP and just keep it sitting on a shelf as a spare, and still save money. And if I need more solar than two XPs can handle (16KW), couldn't I just add a separate Victron MPPT SCC running through a Smartshunt/busbar, to the batteries? So, given the details below for those interested enough to continue, what does the group here think?
Here are the details:
1600 SF home with R40 walls, R60 ceiling, triple pane windows. In-floor radiant heat (well-insulated slab) fueled by propane combi-boiler with buffer tank during winter (so no electric HW heater). Two mini-splits (likely Mitsubishi hyper heat) for summer and shoulder season heat (while still decent sun and before slab heated up) so minimal inrush current from those. Heat pump dryer and Grundfos SQ for well pump (again, minimal inrush current).
Good sun (for 44 degrees latitude) from ~9 AM - 2 PM even in late December. Likely 14-16KW of panels (bifacial) and we can easily add more if needed (big field). Will use ground mounts and should be able to seasonally adjust tilt (leaning toward Sinclair).
Propane-fired auto-start generator with a Chargeverter, even if we have grid power.
Biggest current hogs will be an induction cooktop and electric oven, which are must-haves for the boss, who doesn't like propane stoves or ovens due to indoor air pollution they produce. But just two of us, so big meals only a few times/year, when entertaining. I can run my MIG welder (used rarely when I break a tractor implement) from a portable generator, so we won't have huge current draws from that to deal with.
Planning on enough batteries to cover ~ 3 days of no sun, and will use data extrapolated from Emporia Vue in current home to plan for that (and figure I can add more later, if needed).
Here are the details:
1600 SF home with R40 walls, R60 ceiling, triple pane windows. In-floor radiant heat (well-insulated slab) fueled by propane combi-boiler with buffer tank during winter (so no electric HW heater). Two mini-splits (likely Mitsubishi hyper heat) for summer and shoulder season heat (while still decent sun and before slab heated up) so minimal inrush current from those. Heat pump dryer and Grundfos SQ for well pump (again, minimal inrush current).
Good sun (for 44 degrees latitude) from ~9 AM - 2 PM even in late December. Likely 14-16KW of panels (bifacial) and we can easily add more if needed (big field). Will use ground mounts and should be able to seasonally adjust tilt (leaning toward Sinclair).
Propane-fired auto-start generator with a Chargeverter, even if we have grid power.
Biggest current hogs will be an induction cooktop and electric oven, which are must-haves for the boss, who doesn't like propane stoves or ovens due to indoor air pollution they produce. But just two of us, so big meals only a few times/year, when entertaining. I can run my MIG welder (used rarely when I break a tractor implement) from a portable generator, so we won't have huge current draws from that to deal with.
Planning on enough batteries to cover ~ 3 days of no sun, and will use data extrapolated from Emporia Vue in current home to plan for that (and figure I can add more later, if needed).
Many thanks to you and 
