solar_trees
New Member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2022
- Messages
- 40
Hi, I am interested in installing an off-grid solar system on my shed, so I put together a draft plan to help myself learn about solar panels and system components. I would appreciate feedback and tips on my design so I can help make the system better and help myself learn more. Also, I am a complete beginner, so please don't try to use these plans for your own system, contact a professional instead.
High Level Overview:
800 watts of solar panels feeding a 48-volt 100 amp battery with a 3000 Watt Victron Multiplus II inverter that is used to power critical loads and falls back to grid power when the battery level gets low.
My goals for this system are (in this order):
1) Have fun.
2) Be code compliant.
3) Provide battery backup for critical loads year round.
4) High Efficiency (Maximize the A/C watts I get from my limited space).
5) Power my office with solar for part of the year.
My shed has two roof faces, each 54 x 98 in. at a 20 degree angle, facing southeast, and northwest. My property is not the best for solar, I have very tall trees on the east and west side of the property that cast a lot of shade in the morning and evening. However, I do have a mostly clear view of the southern sky. The shed gets about 5 hours of unshaded sun in the summer months, but this trails off to 1-2 hours by December. It also spends a few hours each day in partial shade (tree branches or other parts of the house). In the summer here, almost every day is sunny and cloud free and in the winter it's cloudy almost every day.
My office uses 100 KWh per month and according to PVWatts, this system should be able to power it for 3 months out of the year (June, July, and August). For the rest of the year, I plan to maintain around 80% charge in the battery to use for critical loads in case of a power outage.
Below is the parts lists and some system/wiring diagrams. I had the most trouble picking out the racking parts. I tried to read through the manuals to figure out which parts I needed, but I would have preferred just getting a kit with everything already included. Some questions I had while working on this:
High Level Overview:
800 watts of solar panels feeding a 48-volt 100 amp battery with a 3000 Watt Victron Multiplus II inverter that is used to power critical loads and falls back to grid power when the battery level gets low.
My goals for this system are (in this order):
1) Have fun.
2) Be code compliant.
3) Provide battery backup for critical loads year round.
4) High Efficiency (Maximize the A/C watts I get from my limited space).
5) Power my office with solar for part of the year.
My shed has two roof faces, each 54 x 98 in. at a 20 degree angle, facing southeast, and northwest. My property is not the best for solar, I have very tall trees on the east and west side of the property that cast a lot of shade in the morning and evening. However, I do have a mostly clear view of the southern sky. The shed gets about 5 hours of unshaded sun in the summer months, but this trails off to 1-2 hours by December. It also spends a few hours each day in partial shade (tree branches or other parts of the house). In the summer here, almost every day is sunny and cloud free and in the winter it's cloudy almost every day.
My office uses 100 KWh per month and according to PVWatts, this system should be able to power it for 3 months out of the year (June, July, and August). For the rest of the year, I plan to maintain around 80% charge in the battery to use for critical loads in case of a power outage.
Below is the parts lists and some system/wiring diagrams. I had the most trouble picking out the racking parts. I tried to read through the manuals to figure out which parts I needed, but I would have preferred just getting a kit with everything already included. Some questions I had while working on this:
- Should I go with two charge controllers, one for each side of the roof?
- Do I need climate control in my shed (temperature range is 20 F to 100 F where I live)?
- Will I be able to use the existing AC line near the shed for grid fallback?
- Can I make the system cheaper by changing the design? I would like to stick with Victron components, though.
- Is the Multiplus II overdoing it for this small system? My office only needs 300 W inverter with 1500 watt surge (for the printer). The reason I went with the Multiplus was for battery charging, grid fallback, and to supply enough watts to the kitchen and other critical circuits when the grid goes down.
Charge Controller | Victron MPPT 100 | 20 | $157.25 | 1 | $157.25 | Victron | SmartSolar MPPT | VE.Direct – Current Connected
www.currentconnected.com
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Inverter | Victron MultiPlus-II 48/3000/35-50 120V | $1,388.05 | 1 | $1,388.05 | 
Victron MultiPlus-II 48/3000/35-50 120VThe MultiPlus-II combines the functions of the MultiPlus and the MultiGrid. It has all the features of the MultiPlus, plus an external current transformer option to implement PowerControl and PowerAssist and to optimize self-consumption with external current sensing (max. 32A). It also has all...
battlebornbatteries.com
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Battery | SOK Battery | 100Ah 48v | $1,789.99 | 1 | $1,789.99 | 
SOK 48V 100Ah PRO Server Rack Battery - User Serviceable | Current ConnectedSOK 48V Server Rack Battery: 4000+ cycle life, UL1973 & UL9540A certified, UL9540 pending, Built-In Smart BMS, 10 year warranty & support!
www.currentconnected.com
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Panels | Renogy 100 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel (Compact Design) | $99.99 | 8 | $799.92 | 
100 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel (Compact Design)Renogy 100 watt monocrystalline solar panel, rv solar panel, off-grid solar panel for sale. Limited time sale, 10% off: Renogy10off
www.renogy.com
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Victron Parts | Victron | LYNX Shunt VE.Can | $374.00 | 1 | $374.00 | Victron | LYNX Shunt VE.Can | Power Distribution System – Current Connected
www.currentconnected.com
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Victron Parts | Victron | LYNX Distributor | $222.70 | 1 | $222.70 | Victron | LYNX Distributor | Power Distribution System – Current Connected
www.currentconnected.com
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Victron Parts | Victron | Cerbo GX | $401.00 | 1 | $401.00 | Victron | Cerbo GX | System Controller – Current Connected
www.currentconnected.com
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Transfer Switch | 30 Amp 250-Volt 7500-Watt Non-Fuse 6-Circuit Transfer Switch Kit | $336.00 | 1 | $336.00 | 
Reliance Controls 30 Amp 250-Volt 7500-Watt Non-Fuse 6-Circuit Transfer Switch Kit 3006HDK - The Home DepotThe Reliance Controls 30 Amp 250-Volt 7,500-Watt Non-Fuse 6-Circuit Transfer Switch Kit includes the necessities to make a professional transfer switch installation in a home, office or small business.
www.homedepot.com
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Rack | IronRidge XR-10-102A Aluminum Solar Mounting Rail | 73.86 | 4 | $295.44 | 
IronRidge XR-10-102A Aluminum Solar Mounting Rail 8.5ftNOTE: Please give us a call if you're interested in ordering the IronRidge XR-10 aluminum rails.
www.solar-electric.com
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Mounts | IronRidge FlashVue Solar Flashing Attachment in Mill finish | $9.71 | 12 | $116.52 | 
IronRidge FlashVue Solar Flashing Attachment in Mill finishIronRidge FV-01-M1 FlashVue Solar Flashing Attachment in Mill finish that is fully waterproof, fast and easy to install
www.solar-electric.com
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Mount Parts | IronRidge XR10 End Cap ((20 count) | $17.39 | 4 | $69.56 | 
IronRidge XR10 End CapIronRidge XR-10-CAP Bag of 10 Sets of Black UV Protected Rail Caps
www.solar-electric.com
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Mount Parts | IronRidge XR-LUG-03-A1 Grounding Lug | $6.13 | 4 | $24.52 | 
IronRidge XR-LUG-03-A1 Grounding LugIronRidge XR-LUG-03-A1 Low Profile Grounding Lug used to connect an entire row of PV modules to the grounding conductor.
www.solar-electric.com
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Mount Parts | IronRidge UFO Stopper Sleeve Clear Finish 35MM | $0.56 | 8 | $4.48 | 
IronRidge UFO Stopper Sleeve Clear Finish 35MMIronRidge UFO-STP-35MM-M1 Stopper Sleeve, 35MM, Clear Mill Finish
www.solar-electric.com
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Mount Parts | IronRidge UFO-CL-01-A1 Universal Fastening Object Module Clamp with Clear Finish | $3.14 | 18 | $56.52 | 
IronRidge UFO-CL-01-A1 Universal Fastening Object Module Clamp with Clear FinishIronRidge UFO-CL-01-A1 Universal Fastening Object Module Clamp Clear Finish
www.solar-electric.com
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Wire | 10/3 x 125 ft. Solid CU MC (Metal Clad) Armorlite Cable | $269.00 | 1 | $269.00 | 
Southwire 10/3 x 125 ft. Solid CU MC (Metal Clad) Armorlite Cable 68584205 - The Home DepotSouthwire Armorlite Type MC Cable is constructed with soft-drawn copper, Type THHN/THWN conductors rated 90°C dry available in sizes 14 AWG through 2 AWG, and a green insulated grounding conductor. The
www.homedepot.com
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Miscelanous | | $500.00 | 1 | $500.00 | |
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| | | | $6,804.95 | + Taxes and Shipping |
