longcreekridge
New Member
I've run multiple searches and haven't found any threads addressing this exact idea, which may suggest it is entirely unfeasible, but it could also suggest my situation is unique. Appreciate any and all input offered.
I look after a remote ancestral homestead owned by an extended family. No one lives there full time, but people visit at various times. It is grid tied, but no one likes paying for an extra power bill and there is a big imbalance in who uses it when, so I am trying to get it to a place where it is self sustaining, especially during any extended outages. Power bills are currently low (we shut off everything but the fridge between uses), so I understand pay-off calculations won't necessarily make sense in the short term. The long-term goal is more conceptual self-sufficiency than saving money in the short term, if that makes sense. That being said, I've spent a good chunk already and want to use that system as efficiently as possible.
The first phase of the project was to get a workshop powered that will serve as homebase for a long term renovation of the house. This phase is more or less complete, with 4000w of panels feeding a 6000xp and a powerpro battery. So far, this provides all the power I need and then some. When I am not there, the battery drops to 90% overnight from inverter draw, then tops off by noon every day. I need the overhead for when I am there and using all my tools and lights, etc. all day, but I really want to make use of the power I am generating when not there and the house is the place where power is needed, especially in an emergency when the shop can be shuttered.
In short, I would like to use one array to feed two different buildings, each with their own setup, depending on the need and who is there. While I'm there, the array would feed the workshop setup. While I am not, or when someone else is there, it would feed the house. I understand this could be achieved using 2 DC breakers as a switch for the array, but as someone fairly new to solar I am curious what pitfalls or problems this might introduce. For clarity, the buildings are far enough apart (approximately 100 feet) and have enough individual power needs that it doesn't make sense to use one inverter/battery setup to power both.
Does anyone else do anything like this?
Are there reasons why this makes no sense?
Thank you.
I look after a remote ancestral homestead owned by an extended family. No one lives there full time, but people visit at various times. It is grid tied, but no one likes paying for an extra power bill and there is a big imbalance in who uses it when, so I am trying to get it to a place where it is self sustaining, especially during any extended outages. Power bills are currently low (we shut off everything but the fridge between uses), so I understand pay-off calculations won't necessarily make sense in the short term. The long-term goal is more conceptual self-sufficiency than saving money in the short term, if that makes sense. That being said, I've spent a good chunk already and want to use that system as efficiently as possible.
The first phase of the project was to get a workshop powered that will serve as homebase for a long term renovation of the house. This phase is more or less complete, with 4000w of panels feeding a 6000xp and a powerpro battery. So far, this provides all the power I need and then some. When I am not there, the battery drops to 90% overnight from inverter draw, then tops off by noon every day. I need the overhead for when I am there and using all my tools and lights, etc. all day, but I really want to make use of the power I am generating when not there and the house is the place where power is needed, especially in an emergency when the shop can be shuttered.
In short, I would like to use one array to feed two different buildings, each with their own setup, depending on the need and who is there. While I'm there, the array would feed the workshop setup. While I am not, or when someone else is there, it would feed the house. I understand this could be achieved using 2 DC breakers as a switch for the array, but as someone fairly new to solar I am curious what pitfalls or problems this might introduce. For clarity, the buildings are far enough apart (approximately 100 feet) and have enough individual power needs that it doesn't make sense to use one inverter/battery setup to power both.
Does anyone else do anything like this?
Are there reasons why this makes no sense?
Thank you.
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