Quote History Quoted:......and that's what I was afraid of. As for someone else doing it, fuck that. My plan was to have someone teach me how go do it. I'm car-stupid and electricity-stupid. Just now found out how to change my own oil.
Even still, all babies crawl before they walk. The battery bank I heard isn't the exp00nsiv part. It's the freaking panels. Or am I wrong? Getting confused.
I wanted to buy everything nix the panels to save money and just buy the panels individually if that makes sense. About to start wearing my shoes on my head lol.
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Good batteries are fucking expensive. There's no way around that.
What are you trying to accomplish? Take your whole house off-grid? Battery backup for critical systems? Solar charging for critical systems backup?
How big are your loads, and how frequently do they run? Does utilization of those loads change by season?
Our system in a nutshell:
Grid interactive with battery backup for critical systems.
Critical systems: kitchen, bathroom, hand-full of other lights (all LED) & fans; refrigeration; on-demand water heater; RO & softener; data network; wood stove fan; propane space heater for top floor; gas range and hood; clothes washing machine; my WFH desk. several strategically placed outlets in living areas for whatever. Probably a few other things too.
48V@820A battery bank (Surrette 6V batteries)
14 barn-mounted Sharp 250w panels (3500W).
Portable 7kw generator with outside plug used exclusively for charging batteries
6kw Xantrex XW inverter / charger running in interactive mode (charge batteries, power current loads, sell the excess back).
80A/600V Xantrex charge controller (so I could use 10ga wire to get all of that power from panels back to house)
Adding the extra panel and battery capacity to be able to support the geothermal heat/AC, air compressor, welder, clothes dryer, extraneous lights that the kids never turn off, entertainment center, etc was just an impractical setup.
You can build a system with plans to grow, but they need to be well thought out plans. If you just buy a bunch of shit with the attitude that you can buy more shit later, save your money and go buy a new diesel truck or some hunting property.