New to solar, setting up first off grid system and have some questions

[Radduski]

Hi all, as stated in the title I'm new to solar and I'm in the middle of setting up a system on my off grid property and have some questions. I'm very mechanically inclined but unfortunately when it comes to electrical stuff I've never been particularly capable. I'm trying to finish up the install on my property so I can move my 40' RV out onto my land and start living year round and I just don't really know what kind of components I'll need to finish the build.

Current main components:
Sinclair Designs Season Adjustable Ground Mount
30x Hyperion 395W Bifacial Solar Panels - Up to 495W with Bifacial Gain
1x EG4 18kPV Hybrid Inverter
2x EG4 Wallmount Indoor Batteries - 48V 280Ah
1x DuroStar DS13000MX Dual Fuel Generator
1x RV 50/30/20a Electrical Outlet Panel

I've already built the ground mount and mounted all the panels on the frame. I have a shed that I'm planning to install the inverter and batteries in, and I plan the mount the RV electrical panel on the outside of the shed. The distance between the shed and my solar array is about 120' and I plan to trench out the ground and bury the cables, but I'm not really sure where to go from here.

I contacted Signature Solar asking for advice based on my situation and here's what they suggested:

Regarding the solar panel configuration, given the VOC of the panels being 36.98v and the maximum voltage input to the 18kPV PV terminals being 500v, I would recommend that you run 10s (10 panels in series) to PV inputs 1, 3, and 4 on the inverter. Running the panels in this configuration would ensure that the strings are within the operating range of the MPPT boards and all panels will be utilized. With a 120ft run from the panels to the inverter, I would recommend using 8-10 AWG (8 AWG to be on the safer side) PV wire. If you get actual PV wire, it will be rated for outdoor use and you will not need conduit. You could leave the wires out in the elements or like you stated bury them.


Regarding any AC wiring, I would highly recommend reaching out to a local electrician. With the EG4 18kPV, you need hard-wired connections to a panel box for any AC Input or AC Output connections. We do NOT recommend wiring plugs directly to the AC Input or AC Output because there is not a proper route back to Earth Ground and that can cause serious issues such as ground faults.


The generator should have two hot legs, a neutral, and a ground on the output. The two hot legs from the generator output will connect directly to the GEN terminals on the EG4 18kPV and then the Neutral will connect to the N bus and the Ground will connect to the PE bus.

For the solar panel wiring, will I need a combiner box on the ground mount, then run a set of larger gauge wires to the inverter, or would I need to just run three sets of wiring to the inverter? One other thing I'm concerned about with the distance between my solar array and my shed is the fact that I'm located in Eastern Montana and we occasionally experience temperatures down to about -30f so I know I'll have to allow for voltage rise as temperatures drop.

Regarding grounding, I'm sure I'll need one or two grounding rods for the shed, but will I need any additional grounds for the solar array?

I also plan to wire in the generator to provide backup power for those cloudy days and longer nights through winter. I know in the message from signature solar they recommended how to wire directly to the inverter, but is there some sort of plug system I can hook up on the outside of my shed to allow me to connect/disconnect the generator as needed? I'd like to still be able to use it as a portable generator sometimes. Also, I plan to exclusively run the generator on propane so it'll have a running wattage of 9,975w and 83amps at 120V.

Any help is definitely appreciated! As I said before, I'm really just not super knowledgeable about electrical systems and this is all mostly uncharted territory for me. I've done some minor automotive electrical stuff and basic homeowner stuff like swapping light switches and fixtures but this is a whole new situation for me and I want to make sure I do it right, and most importantly, so it safely.

Here's a photo of my solar array. Honestly I'm really happy that I've even made it this far!

 

[blrmaker]

That is a real nice looking ground mount!

 

[aliarifat794]

Hi all, as stated in the title I'm new to solar and I'm in the middle of setting up a system on my off grid property and have some questions. I'm very mechanically inclined but unfortunately when it comes to electrical stuff I've never been particularly capable. I'm trying to finish up the install on my property so I can move my 40' RV out onto my land and start living year round and I just don't really know what kind of components I'll need to finish the build.

Current main components:
Sinclair Designs Season Adjustable Ground Mount
30x Hyperion 395W Bifacial Solar Panels - Up to 495W with Bifacial Gain
1x EG4 18kPV Hybrid Inverter
2x EG4 Wallmount Indoor Batteries - 48V 280Ah
1x DuroStar DS13000MX Dual Fuel Generator
1x RV 50/30/20a Electrical Outlet Panel

I've already built the ground mount and mounted all the panels on the frame. I have a shed that I'm planning to install the inverter and batteries in, and I plan the mount the RV electrical panel on the outside of the shed. The distance between the shed and my solar array is about 120' and I plan to trench out the ground and bury the cables, but I'm not really sure where to go from here.

I contacted Signature Solar asking for advice based on my situation and here's what they suggested:



For the solar panel wiring, will I need a combiner box on the ground mount, then run a set of larger gauge wires to the inverter, or would I need to just run three sets of wiring to the inverter? One other thing I'm concerned about with the distance between my solar array and my shed is the fact that I'm located in Eastern Montana and we occasionally experience temperatures down to about -30f so I know I'll have to allow for voltage rise as temperatures drop.

Regarding grounding, I'm sure I'll need one or two grounding rods for the shed, but will I need any additional grounds for the solar array?

I also plan to wire in the generator to provide backup power for those cloudy days and longer nights through winter. I know in the message from signature solar they recommended how to wire directly to the inverter, but is there some sort of plug system I can hook up on the outside of my shed to allow me to connect/disconnect the generator as needed? I'd like to still be able to use it as a portable generator sometimes. Also, I plan to exclusively run the generator on propane so it'll have a running wattage of 9,975w and 83amps at 120V.

Any help is definitely appreciated! As I said before, I'm really just not super knowledgeable about electrical systems and this is all mostly uncharted territory for me. I've done some minor automotive electrical stuff and basic homeowner stuff like swapping light switches and fixtures but this is a whole new situation for me and I want to make sure I do it right, and most importantly, so it safely.

Here's a photo of my solar array. Honestly I'm really happy that I've even made it this far!

View attachment 248896

You should install grounding rods for the shed where your inverter and batteries will be housed. Depending on local code requirements, you might need one or two rods. Grounding the solar array is also recommended. You can install a grounding rod close to the solar array. The EG4 18kPV requires hard-wired connections for AC input/output. A common solution is to install a transfer switch or a generator interlock kit. This allows you to safely switch between grid and generator power while preventing backfeed. In case you need some info about the wattage calculation for solar panels, you can see this article: https://www.theengineeringprojects....-wattage-of-solar-panel-i-need-to-choose.html

 

[Mattb4]

...

I contacted Signature Solar asking for advice based on my situation and here's what they suggested:



For the solar panel wiring, will I need a combiner box on the ground mount, then run a set of larger gauge wires to the inverter, or would I need to just run three sets of wiring to the inverter? One other thing I'm concerned about with the distance between my solar array and my shed is the fact that I'm located in Eastern Montana and we occasionally experience temperatures down to about -30f so I know I'll have to allow for voltage rise as temperatures drop.

...

Since they recommended 10 in series and the use of 3 of the 4 SCC MPPT inputs there will need to be 3 sets of wires for each of these arrays plus a ground wire. Not sure why they suggest 1,3,4 as the inputs skipping #2. The Voc of 10S of ~370V should give a safe margin for the AIO's 500Voc maximum.

 

[rodrick]

All of your grounds need to go to the sheds 2 ground rods

 

[DIYrich]

You may want something like this for your generator socket:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Sportsman-50-Amp-Generator-Power-Inlet-Box/5015115395

120v 10,000 watt generator? Not 240v at 42a?

Might want to consider adding white rocks on the ground under the panels to reflect light to the backside.

 

[MPPT Mike]

I have nothing to add but I wanted to say your array looks fantastic, nice work and thanks for sharing