First RE System is Planned

Posted by Mike Casper on July 17, 2008, 04:00:42 PM

Re: First RE System is Planned (Reply #10)
First about that wire run.  I would look into doing what a power company would do - step up the voltage.  Since it is 3 phase AC you would need 3 transformers (at the base of the pole in a box) to "step up" the voltage to something like 200-300 volts (AC).  Then use 3 more transformers at your power shack to step down the voltage.  You might save a lot of money on copper wire.  There might be a single 3 phase transformer that you could get if you check the web.

Next, the charge controllers. When I got my H40 it came with a control box (to handle 3 phase AC to DC convert) and diversion load.  You may want to order a matching set (power handling) for yours.  I did use a C35 for my panels (even though there were terminals to add solar to the genny box).  I set my wind control box to "divert" power above what the C35 had for shutoff voltage so as not to divert the solar panels before the batteries were actually charged.  The wind controller had a much better voltage selector for diversion then the C35.  The C series of charge controllers are very good charge controllers as they will accept various DC inputs and divert if needed.  You can get panel meters for them which will keep track of amp hours from your array.

The solar panels.  When I built (in design phase) my system I realized that I might have to maintain the system by myself.  So in keeping with the thought of moving panels about - I decided on panels that were not too big (feel bulky to handle) and used 80 watt panels.  At about 2 by 4 foot I could get my hands on both sides and the weight was aournd 17 pounds each.  Also the cost per watt was around 3 (dollars - $3 per Watt) which is much better then the smaller panels ($10 per Watt).  The bigger panels are for grid tie applications to reduce the amount of wiring.   The bigger panels do have lower cost per Watt but not by much.  So I would still go with 80 to 120 (123 Watt panel on sale) panels that you can get your hands around.
 

Posted by Mike Casper on July 17, 2008, 04:24:48 PM

Re: First RE System is Planned (Reply #11)
Oh, forgot to add that you may not be able to use the same charge controller for wind and solar.  You will need to fuse (or breaker) them each to the power they can put out.  My H40 required a 100 amp fuse and I had only 30-40 amps from solar panels so the breaker size used is 60 amp.

I did not comment on the rest of my system.  I use a Zantrex breaker box (DC250) for all breakers (try getting 200 amp fuse at night on Sunday), and a Prosine 2 inverter for 15 amp service.  The inverter will accept line power (in your case a genn set) and has built in transfer switch.  Two inverters will stack for 240 AC.  This is my setup, if you find those step transformers you could go for 24 volts but something tells me your gonna use a 48 volt inverter.




 

Posted by David A on July 17, 2008, 06:07:10 PM

Re: First RE System is Planned (Reply #12)
eric

 i was thinking about your system today and i believe i may have muddied the waters with the three phase comment. it should be made clear that a three phase run is in no way immune to ohms law and the closed loop calculations for wire resistance still stands. i have since downloaded the manual and it does indeed say to use an awg#8 wire run for your distance! i think we can all agree that that recommendation is ridiculous. i think they are just covering themselves for safety (amps). i like mikes transformer idea. the new whisper 200hv model is using that method.

 if your unit does not have the whisper controller included consider using the c40. you will have to buy/build a bridge rectifier and a resistance dump load of some kind.

 for that nice 1kw of solar you have planed i would start looking at the apollo or the outback mppt controllers. both of these are true open format controllers and will handle most any array you decide on going with. and yes everything should be fed into the one battery bank.
 sorry for the confusion, all the best, dave
 
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