Hi everyone, lurker for a while but now it's time to post my thread and glean recommendations and advice from you that are much more experienced and knowledgeable at this than I am.
About Me
I'm a former software & database developer / "ladder climber" of the healthcare Information Technology realm turned avid DIYer within the home renovation biosphere with experience in all areas of residential systems (foundations to furnishings). I live in a grid-connected home in NC and want to offset or negate my energy bill while also building a battery backup system to run my home if needed during a grid outage. I've dreamed of having a solar system for years and the time has come to make that a reality as best I can. I will not be going into debt for or contracting out any of this project to anyone so I feel this is the right forum to take part in.
Project Specific Information
A friend of mine convinced me to "go in together" and purchase a pallet of off-lease commercial solar panels. I have a good start with the 5Kw PVs but know I will eventually need more. I want to build my system with the plans of scalability as best I can while remaining budget friendly.
I want to run as much of my home from PV + batteries as possible with the ability to run critical loads during grid outages.
I will not feed power to the grid.
My System To Date
(20) 250w polycrystalline solar panels
My Home's Energy Usage
45 Kwh per day average (stay-at-home family, homeschoolers, and wife and I run two home based businesses -- so we're always home using the juice). Estimated PV array needed to fully run the home: 15 Kw.
My Starting Question(s)
1. The all-in-one inverter/charger systems are appealing for their simplicity, but are they a good match for my starting setup and eventual goals vs. buying individual components?
2. Can the all-in-one inverter/charger systems simply connect into my home's panel or do I need to break out my home circuits to a panel that does not exceed the inverter/charger's capacities? For example, my home's dryer, well pump, tankless water heater all exceed the capabilities of the inverter/charger. Do I need to separate them to prevent killing the device or are they "smart enough" to just wire into and feed what they can into my home's power?
About Me
I'm a former software & database developer / "ladder climber" of the healthcare Information Technology realm turned avid DIYer within the home renovation biosphere with experience in all areas of residential systems (foundations to furnishings). I live in a grid-connected home in NC and want to offset or negate my energy bill while also building a battery backup system to run my home if needed during a grid outage. I've dreamed of having a solar system for years and the time has come to make that a reality as best I can. I will not be going into debt for or contracting out any of this project to anyone so I feel this is the right forum to take part in.
Project Specific Information
A friend of mine convinced me to "go in together" and purchase a pallet of off-lease commercial solar panels. I have a good start with the 5Kw PVs but know I will eventually need more. I want to build my system with the plans of scalability as best I can while remaining budget friendly.
I want to run as much of my home from PV + batteries as possible with the ability to run critical loads during grid outages.
I will not feed power to the grid.
My System To Date
(20) 250w polycrystalline solar panels
My Home's Energy Usage
45 Kwh per day average (stay-at-home family, homeschoolers, and wife and I run two home based businesses -- so we're always home using the juice). Estimated PV array needed to fully run the home: 15 Kw.
My Starting Question(s)
1. The all-in-one inverter/charger systems are appealing for their simplicity, but are they a good match for my starting setup and eventual goals vs. buying individual components?
2. Can the all-in-one inverter/charger systems simply connect into my home's panel or do I need to break out my home circuits to a panel that does not exceed the inverter/charger's capacities? For example, my home's dryer, well pump, tankless water heater all exceed the capabilities of the inverter/charger. Do I need to separate them to prevent killing the device or are they "smart enough" to just wire into and feed what they can into my home's power?
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