kscessnadriver
New Member
New to the solar game, just started doing research within the last few weeks. I live in rural NE Indiana, on acreage, so I'm looking into a ground mount array, probably feeding into a string inverter (most likely multiple Growatt of some size). The local PoCo is a co-op, which publishes their agreements for solar on their website. Currently they bill grid tie systems a flat $57.50 monthly fixed charge, and charge $0.0764 per kWh, or pay the same back per kWh. Household average kWh/month for the last year is around 1750 kWh, as everything in the house is electric. Obviously winter usage is way, way higher than summer, but the single largest month is in the neighborhood of 2500 kWh.
I'm thinking about using used panels of some sort, and building a ground mount in the 12-15 kW range, which would be roughly 250 ft away from the house at the closest. Current electrical service is on a 200A Siemens panel, 40 slot, that unfortunately is full. Obviously I'm going to have to either upgrade the panel, which brings up options. I'm leaning towards making my current panel (which is the service panel) a sub panel, and installing a smaller panel next to it to become the service panel. Something like a 12 slot 225A main panel, which then would feed the current 40 slot panel, and I'd probably move my barn feed onto the new panel. Obviously putting in a 225A panel, with a 175A main breaker, gives me 76A to backfeed. Does this sound like a decent idea, or would I be better off just replacing the whole main panel?
In terms of ground mounts, I'm looking to DIY something, so I'm considering either ReadyRack or Sinclair, both are fairly close to me, so I'd be able to presumably go get them from the manufacture. Or are there better suggestions I'm not seeing. I've seen IronRidge, I'm just not convinced they're cheaper than either of the previously mentioned.
Used panels, any reason to avoid frameless panels? Any reason to get frameless panels?
Just trying to hear myself out almost, any ideas I'm missing?
I'm thinking about using used panels of some sort, and building a ground mount in the 12-15 kW range, which would be roughly 250 ft away from the house at the closest. Current electrical service is on a 200A Siemens panel, 40 slot, that unfortunately is full. Obviously I'm going to have to either upgrade the panel, which brings up options. I'm leaning towards making my current panel (which is the service panel) a sub panel, and installing a smaller panel next to it to become the service panel. Something like a 12 slot 225A main panel, which then would feed the current 40 slot panel, and I'd probably move my barn feed onto the new panel. Obviously putting in a 225A panel, with a 175A main breaker, gives me 76A to backfeed. Does this sound like a decent idea, or would I be better off just replacing the whole main panel?
In terms of ground mounts, I'm looking to DIY something, so I'm considering either ReadyRack or Sinclair, both are fairly close to me, so I'd be able to presumably go get them from the manufacture. Or are there better suggestions I'm not seeing. I've seen IronRidge, I'm just not convinced they're cheaper than either of the previously mentioned.
Used panels, any reason to avoid frameless panels? Any reason to get frameless panels?
Just trying to hear myself out almost, any ideas I'm missing?