Author Topic: 4KW Solar Array at BOL Up and Running (Read 2865 times)

cmxterra · « **on:** September 26, 2012, 09:36:12 AM »

Spent a week down in Texas starting to build up my power supplies.

Leveling out the space

First footings going in

Little helper

Getting the mounts level

Rails up

Getting the rails to the right angle for the panels

Then there were two

Second string going in with the first string in the background

The tractor

Second set of panels going on

Both racks full with early morning light

Some points to add. I know there are still several trees that I am going to have to trim back as they cast shadows on them on the early morning. Not too big of a deal.

I did not have time to run the wire and get the charge controllers, inverters and battery bank fixed up. I am planning to mount another separate array on the roof after we get the metal roof installed. Fun fun fun.

DrJohn · « **Reply #1 on:** September 26, 2012, 09:41:29 AM »

cidermonkey · « **Reply #2 on:** September 26, 2012, 05:01:12 PM »

Beautiful, looking forward to seeing more the project come to fruition.

Alan Georges · « **Reply #3 on:** September 26, 2012, 06:50:20 PM »

Very nice! Thanks for posting, and keep us up to date on your project.

Cedar · « **Reply #4 on:** September 26, 2012, 07:28:11 PM »

That looks sweet cmx. What size are they and what can you do with that many?

Cedar

cmxterra · « **Reply #5 on:** September 26, 2012, 08:10:02 PM »

Quote from: Cedar on September 26, 2012, 07:28:11 PM

That looks sweet cmx. What size are they and what can you do with that many?

Cedar

They are 215w each and with that many you can do quite a bit. These (coupled with the batteries) should take care of any and all lighting as well as things such as microwave oven and Fridge (maybe a freezer too, I need to research current draw on them first)

Once I get the second set in and the inverters coupled to make 220v I can run the big things like water pumps from the wells and other 220v items.

Grannywhiskers · « **Reply #6 on:** September 26, 2012, 08:57:07 PM »

Looking GOOD cmx. You must live close to me in Texas..."cept you have bigger trees. I have been finishing my cabin this past two weeks. I have to hire most of it done...but it is getting done. Makes me feel so much better. Since I am doing this alone (with daughters help...no men

I will not have the solar panels that you do. But do have various solar operated items and chargers. Keep up the great work.

Vulcan · « **Reply #7 on:** September 27, 2012, 04:33:11 AM »

Looks awesome!

cmxterra · « **Reply #8 on:** September 27, 2012, 02:39:21 PM »

And a night time photo

cmxterra · « **Reply #9 on:** October 07, 2012, 05:27:18 PM »

Charge controller. Outback Flexmax 80

sovereign liberty · « **Reply #10 on:** October 10, 2012, 05:01:36 PM »

Very nice! Keep us posted.

Texas Sawduster · « **Reply #11 on:** October 11, 2012, 11:45:47 AM »

Very nice.
I'm at the edge of east texas/59 corridor so lots of pine trees to interrupt the daylight gaterning.
Planning on it anyway.

Keep us updated.

cmxterra · « **Reply #12 on:** November 25, 2012, 02:51:45 PM »

Whew..

Got busy this past Thanksgiving week

The "pile"

Plate mounted with inverters

Hub communications (this will be important when I tie the two inverters to make 240v to run the well pump)

Combining the solar panels to send the power to the house

Running the wires to the combiner from the one set of panels to the other

Big ass batteries

Charge controllers mounted to the batteries. Getting closer.

Power

We are going to mount an identical array on the roof and we have a crap load of trees that I identified that are going to go away. Right now we are powering all the kitchen lighting and appliances (fridge, gas stove and microwave) Going to get some load testing on some other stuff and add it to this leg of the array. I figure when we are done we should be able to run everything but the AC. Woot.

cmxterra · « **Reply #13 on:** November 27, 2012, 04:07:52 PM »

Next step is to mount the other 10 panels on the roof and to cut down a few trees.

I can say that having been toying with a smaller system that scaling up has been easier than just jumping in with cold feet.

mxitman · « **Reply #14 on:** November 27, 2012, 04:56:24 PM »

That's Great, looking good. Do you have much access to any water? I helped set up a friends house in SO.CA with a solar pump setup that runs just enough water through a coil in his Air Handler and then unto the roof where it saturates and he only needs to run the A/C when it's above 105 deg F. The first stage is the coil which runs around 60+/- Deg F most of the year, 2nd stage opens a valve which dumps water across the roof, runoff is collected in ponds around the house which also help cool it.

But he also has grandfathered access to a river that runs close to his house.

cmxterra · « **Reply #15 on:** November 27, 2012, 05:03:36 PM »

Quote from: mxitman on November 27, 2012, 04:56:24 PM

That's Great, looking good. Do you have much access to any water? I helped set up a friends house in SO.CA with a solar pump setup that runs just enough water through a coil in his Air Handler and then unto the roof where it saturates and he only needs to run the A/C when it's above 105 deg F. The first stage is the coil which runs around 60+/- Deg F most of the year, 2nd stage opens a valve which dumps water across the roof, runoff is collected in ponds around the house which also help cool it.

But he also has grandfathered access to a river that runs close to his house.

We have two wells. So we have access to lots o water.

ttubravesrock · « **Reply #16 on:** November 27, 2012, 05:17:19 PM »

Can you provide a rough estimate of the approximate time and cost it took you for the entire solar set-up? If you'd rather not, I understand.

Also, does the output amperage scale linearly? By that I mean that if your setup provides 4.2kwh and my house would require 2.1kwh, could I do your setup with half the panels and half the batteries?

bdhutier · « **Reply #17 on:** November 27, 2012, 07:41:10 PM »

Quote from: cmxterra on November 27, 2012, 05:03:36 PM

We have two wells. So we have access to lots o water.

Yeah, maybe setting up a cooling tower type system in place of A/C would work. Wouldn't cut the humidity (depending on where you are in TX), but cool humid air beats hot humid air any day!!

cmxterra · « **Reply #18 on:** November 27, 2012, 08:51:14 PM »

Quote from: ttubravesrock on November 27, 2012, 05:17:19 PM

Can you provide a rough estimate of the approximate time and cost it took you for the entire solar set-up? If you'd rather not, I understand.

Also, does the output amperage scale linearly? By that I mean that if your setup provides 4.2kwh and my house would require 2.1kwh, could I do your setup with half the panels and half the batteries?

From my understanding it should work that way for power. You have to take into account that if you are needing 2.1 on a daily basis then you are going to need more than 2.1 in capacity as you do not want to run your batteries into the ground like that.

Time for building the ground mount was about 4 days with a little help from others. Running the wires and mounting the stuff inside was another 3 (this included a couple trips into town to get stuff I needed)

As for the cost of the equipment, 28 panels, wiring, fuses and breakers I would guestimate maybe 18k?

This will allow us to fully power the house and well pump (well almost fully as I am not going to run AC with it)

cmxterra · « **Reply #19 on:** November 27, 2012, 08:53:50 PM »

Quote from: bdhutier on November 27, 2012, 07:41:10 PM

Yeah, maybe setting up a cooling tower type system in place of A/C would work. Wouldn't cut the humidity (depending on where you are in TX), but cool humid air beats hot humid air any day!!

Part of the plan is to have a huge holding tank for fresh water to make the most of sunny days. So a cooling tower might be in the cards.

TexDaddy · « **Reply #20 on:** November 28, 2012, 09:12:30 AM »

Quote from: cmxterra on November 27, 2012, 08:51:14 PM

...(well almost fully as I am not going to run AC with it)

You will want to come up with something.

There is no part of Texas that does not have days on end of over 100 degrees. The record in the DFW area is 43 days in a row over 100. Last summer we had 41 days in a row, a day of 97, then a couple of weeks over 100.

gundog · « **Reply #21 on:** November 28, 2012, 09:30:41 AM »

I like it.....a lot.

Makes me want to do something like that.....real bad.

cmxterra · « **Reply #22 on:** November 28, 2012, 09:50:09 AM »

Quote from: TexDaddy on November 28, 2012, 09:12:30 AM

You will want to come up with something.

There is no part of Texas that does not have days on end of over 100 degrees. The record in the DFW area is 43 days in a row over 100. Last summer we had 41 days in a row, a day of 97, then a couple of weeks over 100.

Oh I know Texas summers. Lived there for 30 years. We did just put a white metal roof and did the foam insulation so it will be interesting to see how it does this next summer.

ttubravesrock · « **Reply #23 on:** November 28, 2012, 12:11:34 PM »

Quote from: TexDaddy on November 28, 2012, 09:12:30 AM

You will want to come up with something.

There is no part of Texas that does not have days on end of over 100 degrees. The record in the DFW area is 43 days in a row over 100. Last summer we had 41 days in a row, a day of 97, then a couple of weeks over 100.

I survived in Lubbock for three years without AC in my house or vehicle.

ncjeeper · « **Reply #24 on:** November 28, 2012, 12:27:24 PM »

Nice work.

TexDaddy · « **Reply #25 on:** November 29, 2012, 01:19:16 AM »

Quote from: cmxterra on November 28, 2012, 09:50:09 AM

Oh I know Texas summers. Lived there for 30 years. We did just put a white metal roof and did the foam insulation so it will be interesting to see how it does this next summer.

Good to hear. Often, people acclimatized to your part of the country find the heat here oppressive. I hope the steps you have taken are effective.

Quote from: ttubravesrock on November 28, 2012, 12:11:34 PM

I survived in Lubbock for three years without AC in my house or vehicle.

Well, I see by the trees, this place is no where near Lubbock. I know Lubbock very well. It's where I was born and I grew up within 30 miles of Lubbock. It is very arid there. If you need to cool off a bit, getting wet will help a lot, due to rapid evaporation. This is not so true in the more humid areas. But people even survived around Houston way before there was A/C, so it can be done.

fasteddie · « **Reply #26 on:** December 26, 2012, 11:18:01 PM »

OMG, cmx i havent been on here in a long time and i am realy excited about your system, it looks fantastic. when are you going to be living there ? or are you allready? fast eddie ps this is the first time i seen this thread and i am pumped for you!!!!