Hello all,
I am in Northern California and living fully off grid currently. I have 2 dc solar trailers in parallel that keep up fine in the summer. In winter we run the generator quite a bit.
The trailers were always temporary and now it's time to install a big system. I calculated 15kw solar should keep my gene off in the winter if I continue to heat with wood which I have more than I can burn(100acres).
Problem is, I'm in a valley and the best panel location is 900ft from my house. I'm contemplating the best way to wire this?
Option #1 is ac coupled running 240v with inverters near the panels. Probably be 1/0 aluminum in 3" conduit.
Option #2 is dc coupled inverters by the batteries near the house. Using a newer sunny boy I get 100v mppt start voltage and up to 600vdc per string(sma max) at around 10a each using 144c double sided panels. Likely 6 or 8awg copper per string. Still running underground because we have fire danger.
Are there huge benefits or drawbacks? I'll be slightly below the 600v max, but I think thwn-2 is rated for that.
Looking at a mt solar pole mount rack top-32 likely as I have a lot of 6" sch40 pipe. Also like the thought of adjusting for winter production and maybe AC in the summer.
Thanks for your time and help.
I am in Northern California and living fully off grid currently. I have 2 dc solar trailers in parallel that keep up fine in the summer. In winter we run the generator quite a bit.
The trailers were always temporary and now it's time to install a big system. I calculated 15kw solar should keep my gene off in the winter if I continue to heat with wood which I have more than I can burn(100acres).
Problem is, I'm in a valley and the best panel location is 900ft from my house. I'm contemplating the best way to wire this?
Option #1 is ac coupled running 240v with inverters near the panels. Probably be 1/0 aluminum in 3" conduit.
Option #2 is dc coupled inverters by the batteries near the house. Using a newer sunny boy I get 100v mppt start voltage and up to 600vdc per string(sma max) at around 10a each using 144c double sided panels. Likely 6 or 8awg copper per string. Still running underground because we have fire danger.
Are there huge benefits or drawbacks? I'll be slightly below the 600v max, but I think thwn-2 is rated for that.
Looking at a mt solar pole mount rack top-32 likely as I have a lot of 6" sch40 pipe. Also like the thought of adjusting for winter production and maybe AC in the summer.
Thanks for your time and help.
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