So I'm getting new sheds for the garden and storage at home since one of them is cheap plastic and the other is coming down on its own. I need to have lights, a battery tender for the lawnmower, and the occasional thing I might want to plug in (like power tool chargers and speakers and such) so doing a power audit is really, really difficult. The lights in one shed might get used for a half hour every few months, the garden shed less often, and so on.
So, what I HAVE decided on so far is:
1: I'll be going 24v
2: I want ~2Kw+ of inverter capability (hence the 24v)
3: I will have separate circuits for each shed's lights and outlets (because nothing frustrates like trying to install a light fixture and not being able to plug in a lamp! Grrr!)
4: Due to environmental (as in the cold and neglect, not the hippies.
) concerns I'll be using FLA batteries from WalMart. LFP is a no-go.
5: I'm on a budget of about $2000 and still need wire.
6: Used panels on CL are about $3-5/watt (it sucks in my area) and the shipping on used panels from elsewhere is $300+ $n/Panel, and I really don't want cracked/snail-trail/faded/really-beat-up panels if I can avoid them. Used in good condition would be OK but I'm seeing a serious lack of availability.
Common Parts either way I go are:
2x
WalllyWorld 29DC 122Ah FLA batteries $200
Siemens 125a Load Panel $30
2x 15a breakers $12
2x 20a breakers $13
200a DC breaker to inverter $31
150a ANL fuse for the battery $16
4x
Newpowa 210w Solar Panels in 2s2p for 840w $840
OR
4x
Canadian Solar 310w Used Panels $820
Total So Far: ~$1150
Option 1 - The Component Route: $500
EPEver 40a SCC Tracer 4210AN $130
Giandel 2000w 24v Pure Sine Inverter $370
Pro's: Cheaper, easier to replace individual components
Con's: Less expandability on solar panels, lower total capacity for AC power
Option 2 - The AIO Route: $650
MPP 2424 AIO unit $650
Pro's: Simpler to setup, less wiring, higher capacity for panels and load
Con's: Extra $150, higher standby draw, single point of failure
Option 3 - The In The Middle: $560
EPEver Tracer AN 60a SCC $240
WZRELB 2500w 24v Pure Sine Inverter $320
Pro's: More capacity on inverter, more capacity for panels
Con's: Multiple points of failure, not sure about WZRELB seems pretty hit-or-miss
Thoughts? Ideas? Am I missing something?