Hey Guys, I am new to this group and am a beginner on the solar energy platform. So just a little background. I have a small off grid cabin where I have used a generator for years for my electric energy needs. I have been wanting to go solar for awhile but just never got around to it. So... within the year I ended up having to totally rebuild my site including tearing down the old structure and building a small cabin (14' X 30'). At the moment the walls and ceiling are still open framing with insulation (no drywall yet) So I figure now is the time to set up a solar system. I don`t have any hands on solar experience so for the last couple of months I have been reading and watching a ton of information on the topic. Now, I do have experience with construction. I own a general contracting business that does renovations in the commercial and residential field and with that said I have done quite a bit of work in just about every trade. I am NOT an electrician but have done a fair share electrical work on the smaller scale. I am planning on doing all of the electrical work in my new cabin and running all circuits into a service panel box that I may power from my generator for the time being (I figure it may take awhile to get setup with the solar) and also figure that larger electrical items are going to need the generator to power them at least until I feel out the solar and get more comfortable with it. So my ultimate goal would be to run solar on things at night during quiet time (lights, TV, laptop, etc.) During the day I don`t mind running the generator for things like microwave, A/C, etc. My main question for you folks that have the experience that I don`t have is can I incorporate my generator with my solar system, that way if my batteries run down due to bad days with sunlight ( I am surrounded by trees in the woods) I would like to be able to charge the batteries with the generator. I have seen some inverters that can connect to shore power. I don`t believe the one I have at the moment will do that but Hey you guys would know better than me so let me know. What I have gathered together at the moment for the solar equipment is the following:
* Six 100 watt solar panels
* Victron MPPT 150 volt / 45 amp controller
* GIANDEL 3000W Pure Sine Wave Power Inverter 24 volt
* Four 100ah lithium batteries
I have yet to purchase all the other stuff (fuses, circuit breakers, wire, connectors, etc.) but will be getting around to that soon.
Any knowledge you guys can give me with the setup would be greatly appreciated including critiquing my selection of equipment if you feel it should be different. I don`t think I have a terrible amount of electrical demands in the cabin and possibly may be able to power more that just the light and TV on the solar system but not trying to reach too far. The electrical components that I have in the cabin are as follows: Interior LED recessed lights, some LED string lights on the exterior, TV, Laptop, Microwave oven, Stereo, Small in-line AC water pump, Small propane tankless water heater, Two ceiling fans and a window inverter air conditioner. As I said before I am not looking to expect to power all of this stuff on only the solar, maybe as time goes on and as I build on to the solar system but for the moment I would like to still use my generator, I have a 8500 watt inverter generator that pretty quiet but that`s relative depending on who is hearing it.
I am open to any and all advice from you guys. Sorry for going long with this post and Thanks again for letting me be apart of this forum I am sure I am going to learn a lot.
* Six 100 watt solar panels
* Victron MPPT 150 volt / 45 amp controller
* GIANDEL 3000W Pure Sine Wave Power Inverter 24 volt
* Four 100ah lithium batteries
I have yet to purchase all the other stuff (fuses, circuit breakers, wire, connectors, etc.) but will be getting around to that soon.
Any knowledge you guys can give me with the setup would be greatly appreciated including critiquing my selection of equipment if you feel it should be different. I don`t think I have a terrible amount of electrical demands in the cabin and possibly may be able to power more that just the light and TV on the solar system but not trying to reach too far. The electrical components that I have in the cabin are as follows: Interior LED recessed lights, some LED string lights on the exterior, TV, Laptop, Microwave oven, Stereo, Small in-line AC water pump, Small propane tankless water heater, Two ceiling fans and a window inverter air conditioner. As I said before I am not looking to expect to power all of this stuff on only the solar, maybe as time goes on and as I build on to the solar system but for the moment I would like to still use my generator, I have a 8500 watt inverter generator that pretty quiet but that`s relative depending on who is hearing it.
I am open to any and all advice from you guys. Sorry for going long with this post and Thanks again for letting me be apart of this forum I am sure I am going to learn a lot.