My Off grid Growatt 6000 ES Plus build.

[rd400f]

Hi
I very close to finishing my Off grid build.
Here is what I have...
Growatt 6000 ES Plus Inverter.
6 x 2.5 KW Growatt Ark Batteries.
6KW Generator.
All to go with my 6560 Watt PV array.

Laying out where Solar Array is to go.


Wooden post pile driven in.


Unistrut used to build Array framing.




Attaching Solar Panels


Extra strap to help hold down panels


Solar Array finished.


Next installment will be Solar Panel wiring.
Thanks
Richard

 

[rd400f]

Part 2
Solar Panels wired up and run in to conduit.


Conduit trenched in up to entry in to Solar shed.


Solar PV cable run thru wall in to conduit in Solar shed.
Generator wiring is in smaller conduit.


Plywood covered with Fiber cement board fitted to wall to house Inverter and wiring.


Solar PV in conduit routed up to Inverter wall.


Solar PV wired in to Inverter.


Battery's next.
Thanks
Richard

 

[rd400f]

Hi
Next is wiring in 6 x 2.5 KW Growatt Ark Batteries.

Batteries anchored to wall and wired together.


My first "deliberate" error


Batteries and PV with fuses and disconnection switches wired in to Inverter

Generator next.
thanks
Richard

 

[rd400f]

Hi
I have fitted a 6KW Generator in to my Off grid system

As well as the Inverter starting the generator via it's two wire start system,when batteries get too low, I have
set it up so I can switch over and isolate the Inverter from the house and just have the generator run the entire
house.
It took some figuring out.

Outside socket where Generator is connected to system.


The power from Generator comes in to this Change over switch and then goes to Inverter or DIN rail...depended on switch position.



Then ,if I have switched the first Change over switch to House, I then switch the DIN rail Change over switch from Inverter to house.
This way I can never have the Inverter try and feed the house when the Generator is connected.


Last bit is wiring from Solar shed to house.
Thanks
Richard

 

[rd400f]

Hi
Now I have connected the AC output from the Inverter to the small DIN rail distribution board.


Last bit of is running my 16mm mains cable and 6mm earth from DIN rail distribution board out of
Solar shed and under ground to the house.


Mains in conduit out of solar shed.


Mains in trench to front deck of house.


Mains heading under deck.


Mains going up from under deck thru wall bottom plate...bit hard too see.


Finally mains cable is in to house ...directly below houses main distribution board.


That 16mm mains cable sure is a beast to try and thread thru 32mm conduit and in and around all the obstacles in it's way.
But it is done.

Just need to get my electrician to sign off all my wiring and then get the Lines company to come and disconnect me from their power lines.
Then we shall see what real off grid living is like.
Thanks
Richard

 

[1201]

Very nice!

 

[shvm]

Hi
I very close to finishing my Off grid build.
Here is what I have...
Growatt 6000 ES Plus Inverter.
6 x 2.5 KW Growatt Ark Batteries.
6KW Generator.
All to go with my 6560 Watt PV array.

Laying out where Solar Array is to go.
View attachment 202542

Wooden post pile driven in.
View attachment 202543

Unistrut used to build Array framing.
View attachment 202544

View attachment 202545

Attaching Solar Panels
View attachment 202546

Extra strap to help hold down panels
View attachment 202547

Solar Array finished.
View attachment 202548

Next installment will be Solar Panel wiring.
Thanks
Richard

Congrats
This is Awesome and very thoroughly documented steps as well!!
I am sure it will be extremely useful for people wanting to learn more.
I wish you decades of worry-free operation from your setup.

 

[AshleyL]

Hmm? Did you fully charged each of your 6 x 2.5 KWh Growatt Ark before combining all into one?

 

[rd400f]

Hmm? Did you fully charged each of your 6 x 2.5 KWh Growatt Ark before combining all into one?

Hi
I just connected them up straight out of the box.
Inverter showed the combined pack to be at 98%.
I let the Inverter charge them up and keep them topped up over the last 2 months of doing the rest of the work.
Thanks
Richard

 

[AshleyL]

Hi
I just connected them up straight out of the box.
Inverter showed the combined pack to be at 98%.
I let the Inverter charge them up and keep them topped up over the last 2 months of doing the rest of the work.
Thanks
Richard

Hmmm.........The Growatt BMS has problem keeping the cell topped up. Once a while, you will encounter sudden shutoff due to SOC % suddenly dropped to 0% (cell undervoltage) from high SOC% around 10 - 20%.
Reason = each cell has internal self-discharge rate and the BMS control board also used some battery power, but Growatt doesn't account for such "consumption". If you utilize the battery for long time, eventually you will encounter the sudden shutoff. Granted that the battery will be fully charged and the SOC % will be re-calibrated once such situation happenned, but it is still.......annoying when it happens.

 

[rd400f]

Officially Off Grid as of Midday.

First pic is of Transformer on pole with wires cut.


Second pic is of power lines cut and coiled at bottom of pole.


Last pic is of Inverter running my house completely off grid for the first time.


House is only using about 450 watts and solar panels are bringing in about 135 watts each....not bad considering it is raining.

Lets see if everything runs this nicely for the next 24 hrs...fingers crossed.

Thanks
Richard

 

[Sadiqatiku8]

Hello. Your documentation was awesome. Can you give us an update after going off for more than a month?