I investigated Solar Power to supply up to about 95% of my average home needs served from the grid. Came to the conclusion this is not economically justified at all. (I am thinking this info may be of value to the forum readers!)
Now I am committed to the following narrower objective of solar capacity just to power the critical needs, all the time, also using a Li-Ion (LFP) storage battery, backed up by the grid power. Note the direction of the backup. In an absolute emergency, I will power down as needed further, relying just on Solar and the storage battery to keep the house going hopefully 22-25 hrs. Thankfully gas runs the central heater and stove; just needs to run the central fan in the winter. (Plan to add a 1-ph split ac for the bedroom to handle the threat of grid loss in the summer.)
My concerns are: 1) the effect of another snowstorm in central Texas. So, I will have about 3 times the PV panels to address this. Btw, the panels will be ground mounted to keep it clean. (3 to 4.4kw, 9 to 12x 60 cell Panasonic or REC or LG for it's superior aspects of panel efficiency, temperature coefficient and annual degradation.)
2) The sub panel required for the critical needs MUST operate as a true UPS. For this I am leaning towards SolArk-5KW (5 mS switching) all-in-one inverter with at least 5kwhr storage. I am considering a 6kwhr LFP from BigBattery; may double it. (This is in place of 2xBluetti EP500 Pro.)
3) I plan to engage a regular electrician (may not have any prior experience in solar work) to do all this as I find the regular Solar installers only interested in their own packages, for whom the UPS aspect is not a key factor. (They set up to sell the excess to the grid.)
Pls critique my plan. Thanks much in advance.
I have watched many of Will’s Utube clips. Simply amazed by his passion, honesty, and depth of knowledge! Thank You!
Now I am committed to the following narrower objective of solar capacity just to power the critical needs, all the time, also using a Li-Ion (LFP) storage battery, backed up by the grid power. Note the direction of the backup. In an absolute emergency, I will power down as needed further, relying just on Solar and the storage battery to keep the house going hopefully 22-25 hrs. Thankfully gas runs the central heater and stove; just needs to run the central fan in the winter. (Plan to add a 1-ph split ac for the bedroom to handle the threat of grid loss in the summer.)
My concerns are: 1) the effect of another snowstorm in central Texas. So, I will have about 3 times the PV panels to address this. Btw, the panels will be ground mounted to keep it clean. (3 to 4.4kw, 9 to 12x 60 cell Panasonic or REC or LG for it's superior aspects of panel efficiency, temperature coefficient and annual degradation.)
2) The sub panel required for the critical needs MUST operate as a true UPS. For this I am leaning towards SolArk-5KW (5 mS switching) all-in-one inverter with at least 5kwhr storage. I am considering a 6kwhr LFP from BigBattery; may double it. (This is in place of 2xBluetti EP500 Pro.)
3) I plan to engage a regular electrician (may not have any prior experience in solar work) to do all this as I find the regular Solar installers only interested in their own packages, for whom the UPS aspect is not a key factor. (They set up to sell the excess to the grid.)
Pls critique my plan. Thanks much in advance.
I have watched many of Will’s Utube clips. Simply amazed by his passion, honesty, and depth of knowledge! Thank You!
