carleriksen
New Member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2021
- Messages
- 22
I am interested in building a system that is only intended for me to tinker with and to have a source of back up power. I know the better answer is a generator; and I do have a generator. But, you know, you could run out of gas...or it could be smart to extend the gas.
I will not tie it to the grid. I will probably not even attempt to have a transfer switch. So a completely separate system.
I'd like it to function like the generator, to be able to plug a few things in and run them when the sun is up. Generator if there is no sun.
I am not interested in trying to store power. Batteries quickly become expensive and I don't want to maintain them. Cheap, simple system is desired.
My initial question is: Do I need batteries to make it work? What I have come to understand is that I probably do - for startup/smoothing out power. Is that correct?
Can you use a tiny battery if you don't care about storage? Car battery? Starter batteries have great short duration amp draw.
I have 2kw worth of panels; 10 ea 224w nominal 30v. I also got 10 microinverters but they are utility type so no good. Nothing else purchased yet. Panels were a deal that literally showed up at my door.
EDIT:
I live in SoCal - Inland Empire area - sun is plentiful and cloudy days rare.
Loads will be same as I have tested to run with my Pulsar 2300/1800W inverter generator - refrigerator, some lights, one window AC, my sons PS4 (of course!) and if I can a microwave. I don't expect to run all at the same time - in particular microwave, that is right at the edge of the Pulsar's capability. All this is emergency load planning.
Solar would be to get whatever power I can and spare the gas.
Why do all this? I've decided I like the idea of being a resilient citizen - someone who can handle up to several months without government assistance given a major crisis. Insurance in a way. We pay insurance for so many things, I decided I wanted some element of power insurance. Not power at a daily normal level, just power to handle an anomaly.
EDIT 2:
Installation will be on a patio cover in the back of the house, regular residential neighborhood.
I will not tie it to the grid. I will probably not even attempt to have a transfer switch. So a completely separate system.
I'd like it to function like the generator, to be able to plug a few things in and run them when the sun is up. Generator if there is no sun.
I am not interested in trying to store power. Batteries quickly become expensive and I don't want to maintain them. Cheap, simple system is desired.
My initial question is: Do I need batteries to make it work? What I have come to understand is that I probably do - for startup/smoothing out power. Is that correct?
Can you use a tiny battery if you don't care about storage? Car battery? Starter batteries have great short duration amp draw.
I have 2kw worth of panels; 10 ea 224w nominal 30v. I also got 10 microinverters but they are utility type so no good. Nothing else purchased yet. Panels were a deal that literally showed up at my door.
EDIT:
I live in SoCal - Inland Empire area - sun is plentiful and cloudy days rare.
Loads will be same as I have tested to run with my Pulsar 2300/1800W inverter generator - refrigerator, some lights, one window AC, my sons PS4 (of course!) and if I can a microwave. I don't expect to run all at the same time - in particular microwave, that is right at the edge of the Pulsar's capability. All this is emergency load planning.
Solar would be to get whatever power I can and spare the gas.
Why do all this? I've decided I like the idea of being a resilient citizen - someone who can handle up to several months without government assistance given a major crisis. Insurance in a way. We pay insurance for so many things, I decided I wanted some element of power insurance. Not power at a daily normal level, just power to handle an anomaly.
EDIT 2:
Installation will be on a patio cover in the back of the house, regular residential neighborhood.
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