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-   -   DIY solar array 12.5 kw (https://ecorenovator.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3053)

NeilBlanchard 01-21-19 03:41 PM

We had our best monthly total in July. The peak output is different than the peak monthly total. We hit 9.3kW (or maybe 9.4?) on a day in May, if I remember correctly. Cooler temps help the panel efficiency, and having full sun with a minimum of shadows is going to vary for any given location.

It is very hard to hit the rated output; for very long, if at all.

pinballlooking 02-06-19 09:28 PM

12.5 kW array we generated 823 kWh December 2018
We had so much rain in December.

December 2018= 823 kWh.
December 2017= 997 kWh
December 2016= 924 kWh
December 2015= 911 kWh
December 2014= 996 kWh
Highest one day December 2018 = 60.3 kWhs

We have used all our banked power for this year. :(

12.5 kW array we generated 1,153 kWh January 2018

January 2018= 1,153 kWh.
January 2017= 1,128 kWh
January 2016= 1,292 kWh
January 2015= 1,202 kWh
January 2014= 1,356 kWh
Highest one day January 2018 = 61.3 kWhs

Other solar producers show us your numbers for Dec and Jan when you have them.

stevehull 02-08-19 06:25 AM

Data from my 12.5kW Enphase system


Week Peak Power Energy Produced
01/01/2019 - 01/07/2019 9.42 kW 185 kWh
01/08/2019 - 01/14/2019 9.37 kW 167 kWh
01/15/2019 - 01/21/2019 10.5 kW 256 kWh
01/22/2019 - 01/28/2019 10.5 kW 286 kWh
01/29/2019 - 01/31/2019 10.2 kW 135 kWh

January 2019 Total: 1.03 MWh


Previous Month Total: 1.01 MWh
Year to Date: 1.03 MWh





Steve

where2 02-08-19 11:21 AM

My 4.4kW system December data:
2018: 397 kWh
2017: 442 kWh
2016: 377 kWh
2015: 322 kWh
2014: 422 kWh
2013: 359 kWh

2018 Annual output= 5,860kWh
2017 Annual output= 5,960kWh
2016 Annual output= 5,801kWh
2015 Annual output= 5,856kWh
2014 Annual output= 6,388kWh

January data:
2019: 410 kWh
2018: 393 kWh
2017: 438 kWh
2016: 343 kWh
2015: 426 kWh
2014: 384 kWh

and I had a lifelong friend call me last week to ask about Solar for his house. The main challenge is that he doesn't expect to be living in this house in 10 years...

pinballlooking 02-08-19 11:30 AM

If it is a DIY install, I bet he would make out just fine.
But have him talk to a realtor in that area and see how much more a house with solar will sell for.

Have him keep records before solar bills and after solar bills to prove the performance and savings.
A lot of areas it really helps the house to sell for more money. As long as it is not leased solar array.

where2 02-08-19 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinballlooking (Post 60579)
If it is a DIY install, I bet he would make out just fine. Have him keep records before solar bills and after solar bills to prove the performance and savings.

It'll be DIY, totally!! Growing up with him, and learning from his dad is part of the reason I'm so handy with tools. :thumbup: His house was carpentry 101, engine mechanics 101, auto body 101, and landscaping 101. My house was electronics 101, electrical 101, dock building 101, and boating 101.

We already discussed where his electrical panel is in comparison to the proposed array location (great location). He didn't sound too phased, and commented he'd already thought of that when I suggested moving the two attic vents that are on the south face of the roof he'll be using. (I love google street view).

I'll set him up with one of my TED 1000 devices, and gift him a Kill-A-Watt to get him started on where the current electricity goes... :)

pinballlooking 04-18-19 07:05 AM

2 Attachment(s)
I now have some backup power.

Yesterday I picked up a used 15K PTO generator. It was a harbor freight generator that had 1 hour on it.
https://www.harborfreight.com/16000-...tor-65309.html
I have been looking at these for a long time but they are always too expensive. I made a offer on this on Feb 2.
They said no and I message back let me know if you change your mind. They sent me a message yesterday and we agreed on $700 not the $600 I wanted but a decent price for only one-hour usage.

My tractor will not run it a full power but that is ok I really don’t need full power. I will use the 50 amp plug that is 12.5 KW. My tractor is 19 hp at the PTO that puts me at about 9.5 KW they say 2 HP per 1 KW.
My Geo thermal on the second stage heat is 2.8KW that gives me lots of power for other stuff and the Geo runs mostly on the first stage 1.8Kw for heat and less for cooling.

My tractor is a 3 cylinder diesel water cooled and it should run a long time on a tank of diesel.
I have a older 5Kw gas gen that I will tune up and sell.
This should be able to run my welder. It will be nice to be able to weld anywhere on my property.

I don't like to have extra gasoline sitting around but I don't mind having some extra diesel onhand. It last long time and is not as flammable as gasoline. One less motor to maintain will be good also.

https://ecorenovator.org/forum/attac...1&d=1555589095

https://ecorenovator.org/forum/attac...1&d=1555589095

pinballlooking 07-24-19 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinballlooking (Post 59872)
I had been having trouble with my disconnect switch. At peek times it would make one leg have low voltage.
I exercise the switch it would work good for a while. As you look at this picture it was the top right below the red that was the issue.
Below that is a knife switch that has pressure to make a good connection.
I ordered a new disconnect switch off eBay knowing I had a new coming I took off the red cover and bent the pressure switch. (This was on Aug 26)
This allows it to have more pressure on the knife switch. It has worked flawless since then. I still might swap it out over the winter but not one hiccup with it so far.
I did learn that this switch has an override to allow you open the box without exercising the switch. If I would have known that from the beginning I would have found the issue much sooner.

https://ecorenovator.org/forum/attac...1&d=1538673166

This type of switch is required by my power company.


Will it worked almost a year (after bending the tab for more pressure) the but it started having one leg low again.
I had bought the exact same switch. This worked out great.
I was able to leave the steel box and the switch and just replace all the components inside the box.

pinballlooking 07-25-19 08:18 PM

It looks like the new solar disconnect switch guts fixed the one leg going low issue.
We have a nice clean solar production day. Good to have it back running the way it should again.
The switch started to have issues when I was staying at the lake so this month’s solar will take a small hit.
This month is usually a great month so it is to bad it will be lower. We have 1,360 Kwh banked so far for the winter.
I like to go into the winter with 3,000 Kwh banked but we will see if I can bank that much.

I bought a spare disconnect switch just like the other one. I got it for $37 shipped. I will just put it on the shelf hopefully I will not need it. if I do need it i will have it on hand to swap out the internals. It does not take to many sunny days to loose money if system is not working.

pinballlooking 05-06-20 09:21 PM

1 Attachment(s)
We made 1,817 KWH
No more hiccups since the disconnect switch issue. Here is my last power bill.
700 KWH carried forward to be used next winter. Not a bad start.

We are not driving our Volt less with this crazy virus but that just means more power carried froward.

https://ecorenovator.org/forum/attac...1&d=1588818051

Robaroni 05-07-20 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinballlooking (Post 62446)
No more hiccups since the disconnect switch issue. Here is my last power bill.
700 KWH carried forward to be used next winter. Not a bad start.

We are not driving our Volt less with this crazy virus but that just means more power carried froward.

https://ecorenovator.org/forum/attac...1&d=1588818051

Good to hear.
I just found out that when my contract runs out with my rural electric coop that my payback will be at the rate they now pay for electricity. This means I will go from getting 10.5 cents a kWh to 2.38 cents. This is Koch Industries and ALEC's influence attempting to crush renewables.
I have to decide what we will do in the next year because I don't want such a low return. The good news is that I will own my PV array so I may turn off the grid or add more PV and wind to balance out our return.

pinballlooking 05-07-20 11:00 AM

2 Attachment(s)
TED The Energy Detective is out and Emporia VUE will be in soon.

This product was pointed out here.
https://ecorenovator.org/forum/showthread.php?t=7231

The main CT's are bi-directional the other 8 CT's are directional.

The 8 CT's will go to
Shop
Geothermal
Car Charging
Mini splits 2
Dryer
Stove
Microwave



https://ecorenovator.org/forum/attac...1&d=1588867216

https://ecorenovator.org/forum/attac...1&d=1588867216

pinballlooking 08-04-20 08:56 AM

1 Attachment(s)
It is sad to say last month the first time since we got solar, we use some of our banked solar in July or the summer.

I do know why my new side business is CNC plasma cutting. We weld bend then sand blast our parts. When ready we run an oven to powder coat them.

This business is using lots of power. Good news it is making money. 23K in sales over the summer. It is just an after hours business.

I still need to setup the power monitoring so the business can start paying for the power being used.
I have it sitting here but I have been to busy filling orders to install it.

https://ecorenovator.org/forum/attac...1&d=1596549534

We have made some power lift time production 133.66 MWh

Our banked power now is 998 KWH

gasstingy 08-04-20 09:12 AM

Great Job!
 
Great job with the new sideline business taking off! A lot of people daydream of starting a business doing something they love. Not so many take the plunge.

I agree with monitoring the usage so the business pays its share. Monitoring is very helpful for your tax keeping records, and you'll want every legal deduction you can verify to offset your taxable income.

pinballlooking 08-04-20 09:29 AM

Thanks. My other business that pays the bills is computer programming consulting.
I have been doing it many years.

But my side business I make something I designed and you can hold it in your hands.
I get some satisfaction out making something that is useful and you can actually see the product.

I do a fair amount of interface work and it works well and is very useful but you cannot touch it.

I know it sound strange but someday in the future when I retire I will not still program but I may still may make products with steel at least for myself and maybe do some custom stuff. That is a long ways off.

jjackstone 08-04-20 10:04 PM

How will you bill the business? Charge your own rates or use the the rates set by the utility company?
JJ

pinballlooking 08-04-20 10:38 PM

I will use the power company rates. That is what the business would pay if I did not have solar.

Robaroni 08-05-20 06:21 AM

2 Attachment(s)
Quote:

Originally Posted by pinballlooking (Post 62946)
Thanks. My other business that pays the bills is computer programming consulting.
I have been doing it many years.

But my side business I make something I designed and you can hold it in your hands.
I get some satisfaction out making something that is useful and you can actually see the product.

I do a fair amount of interface work and it works well and is very useful but you cannot touch it.

I know it sound strange but someday in the future when I retire I will not still program but I may still may make products with steel at least for myself and maybe do some custom stuff. That is a long ways off.

PB,
Nice with the Plasma CNC. I thought about building one for my Plasma but wound up building jigs to cut straight lines and arcs because I didn't plan on going commercial and I was in them middle of a project.

I see we have a lot of commonality in our work. I'm doing mostly embedded uC's in C and assembly language along with electronic circuit design.
I do run metal lathes and mills and have a small bench top CNC lathe that does mostly aluminum but will do steels if I take smaller cuts. (I run Mach3 CAM)
I did this part in CNC (1/4" thick 1018) but it took about an hour and a half because I had to use an 1/8" endmill to make sure I could do the contour justice. (It's for a tower clock in a local village). Plasma would have knocked it off in 10 minutes, I'm retired so I have time for these long cuts!

pinballlooking 08-05-20 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robaroni (Post 62951)
PB,
Nice with the Plasma CNC. I thought about building one for my Plasma but wound up building jigs to cut straight lines and arcs because I didn't plan on going commercial and I was in them middle of a project.

I see we have a lot of commonality in our work. I'm doing mostly embedded uC's in C and assembly language along with electronic circuit design.
I do run metal lathes and mills and have a small bench top CNC lathe that does mostly aluminum but will do steels if I take smaller cuts. (I run Mach3 CAM)
I did this part in CNC (1/4" thick 1018) but it took about an hour and a half because I had to use an 1/8" endmill to make sure I could do the contour justice. (It's for a tower clock in a local village). Plasma would have knocked it off in 10 minutes, I'm retired so I have time for these long cuts!

I love that clock project so much.
I have a 3D printer and CNC plasma is not really that different.
Except I have to use my tractor to load the steel on to the table.

where2 08-11-20 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinballlooking (Post 62946)
But my side business I make something I designed and you can hold it in your hands. I get some satisfaction out making something that is useful and you can actually see the product.

Your comment isn't as odd as it may seem on the surface. I spend my weeks sitting behind a PC pushing a mouse creating digital design projects, but I find doing tangible hands-on projects on the weekend much more fulfilling. My most recent weekend accomplishments have been a collection of 2-cycle engines. Whether it's fixing the 20" chainsaw I picked up for $10, or the 2-cycle string trimmer my neighbor tossed on the swale for the trash collectors... Rebuilding a mini-carburetor and replacing a few fuel lines to get a small engine running is a skill that some will never master. Meanwhile, I have two running string trimmers and two chainsaws for every property we own... Then there were the two generators my neighbors tossed out for the scrap guys. One had a blown generator head. I took the Robin (Subaru) engine from one, and installed the 5KW generator head from the other. Then, I dialed in the frequency to 60Hz using my Kill-A-Watt... I also managed to resurrect the Briggs & Stratton engine from the donor generator, which I will likely gift to a friend to repair his mom's generator.

Next weekend project will be pulling the hydraulic leveling jacks off the RV frame to have the seals replaced.

pinballlooking 08-12-20 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by where2 (Post 62968)
Your comment isn't as odd as it may seem on the surface. I spend my weeks sitting behind a PC pushing a mouse creating digital design projects, but I find doing tangible hands-on projects on the weekend much more fulfilling. My most recent weekend accomplishments have been a collection of 2-cycle engines. Whether it's fixing the 20" chainsaw I picked up for $10, or the 2-cycle string trimmer my neighbor tossed on the swale for the trash collectors... Rebuilding a mini-carburetor and replacing a few fuel lines to get a small engine running is a skill that some will never master. Meanwhile, I have two running string trimmers and two chainsaws for every property we own... Then there were the two generators my neighbors tossed out for the scrap guys. One had a blown generator head. I took the Robin (Subaru) engine from one, and installed the 5KW generator head from the other. Then, I dialed in the frequency to 60Hz using my Kill-A-Watt... I also managed to resurrect the Briggs & Stratton engine from the donor generator, which I will likely gift to a friend to repair his mom's generator.

Next weekend project will be pulling the hydraulic leveling jacks off the RV frame to have the seals replaced.

Cool projects. I love saving stuff from the scrap yard. Those Subaru motors are good motors.
You could probably sell the copper from the bad head.

My son is starting collage and the tractor accessory's are slowing a little and my other work is really picking up. I guess it is all working out.

mk1st 10-26-20 04:25 PM

Very nice!

pinballlooking 01-29-21 11:21 AM

1 Attachment(s)
Here is what it looks like when you have a bad microinverter. This is why I like microinverters. The rest of the array keeps making power. Enphase has made it so you do not have even call in.

I highlighted the top left where you click to fill a claim. I did this and they approved sending me a new one.
I keep a spare on hand so once they have shipped my new one I will just swap it out.


https://ecorenovator.org/forum/attac...1&d=1611940814

2/1/2021 I just got a tracking number from enphase they shipped out my replacement microinverter.

mab 05-13-21 05:34 PM

Hi,
Does anyone know if there is a path for battery backup when using Enphase M215 micro inverters?
thanks,
Mike

jeff5may 05-19-21 12:47 AM

Mike,

Enphase makes a whole microgrid setup. The batteries come in 3.4 kwh (encharge 3) and 10 kwh (encharge 10) capacities. The hub that connects the grid, the panels, the batteries and the home is called the "enpower smart switch".

Read all about it here:
https://enphase.com/en-us/ensemble-t...ase-installers

mab 05-19-21 01:05 AM

Thanks Jeff. I'll check it out.


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