1.2 kW PV, 832 Ah Battery Bank, 2000 W SW Inverter

With summer under full swing now, we just added to all the components of our off grid system:
- 2 more 208 amp hour 6 v golf cart batteries == 832 Ah @ 12 V
- 4 more 100 W panels == 1.2 kW arranged in 3 groups of 4 panels
- replaced 1500 W modified sine wave inverter with 2000 W pure sine wave inverter
- replaced 62 amp breaker between controller positive output and battery bank with 100 A switch
- replaced 6 AWG positive lead from controller to battery with 4 AWG

PV: 800 to 1.2kW
The system is working well. The AC power is very nice, properly grounded and can run small electronics with out any problems, hissing or issues. The system was 2 runs of 4 panels, combined on the roof in a combiner box and then put into a 16 A breaker before entering the controller. The 4 new panels are a third series and run straight to the board and into a 8 amp breaker before joining a combining bus and entering the controller. The current controller can handle just a little more at peak sun, so due to the current sale on 100 W panels, looks like I may be adding 1 more panel to each series for a total of 1.5 kW and according to MidNite, needing 1.1 classics -- just under the 1.2 recommendation of adding a second controller.

Battery Bank: 624 to 832 Ah
Added two more 6 volt golf cart batteries giving me the equivalent of four 12 V batteries in parallel. This gives us good reserve capacity and the ability to use most of our capacity during the day w/o any problems.

Inverter: 1500 modified to 2000 W pure sine wave
The output from this inverter is very nice. We've had no components complain, or fail as we did with the modified output. We will stay at 12 for now and possible add a second inverter if we need more power - mainly due to the large cost increase of purchasing a 24 V sine wave inverter. Checking the output with a standard plug checker shows that everything is properly grounded and the neutral is correct.

Still to do:
Add a transfer switch in the house so it's easier to have access to this energy.

How are we using it:
Things currently running are deep freezer, fan in green house, 2nd refrigerator/freezer, air cleaner, large DE-humidifier, radio ... with additional items as needed: including the crook pot, small oven, electric grill...

I think the max power was just over 1100 W yesterday - but it's not been clear sky all day so we're seeing about 6.1 kW for the day.

Spring Sun.... 800 Watt's of PV - 4.5 kW for the day

Today is the second day of full Sun and it's Great to get the batteries fully charged and to be able to use the Sun's energy. Yesterday and today we used/captured 4.5 kW each day. Some stored into the 4  battery bank and some used by the garage freezer, greenhouse fan, blender, box fan, backup refrigerator and the washing machine.

Our current system has 4, 6v batteries giving us 2 x 12v in parallel. We're just about ready to add 2 more batteries and increase our overnight and reserve capacity. We have 8 panels: 2x4 in series and parallel. I'd like to add 2 more 100 W panels to bring my capacity up to 1 kW and raise my Spring capture over 5 kW on a sunny day.

It's very satisfying to use energy from the solar system.

132 AMPs 12V DC cooking pizza

It's a nice February day with lots of sun. On days like today, I like to 'USE' the solar energy that is available: today that means running the garage freezer, backup fridge/freezer and my son is cooking pizza outside in the electric oven. We have a 800 Watt PV input stored in a 12 V battery bank (4x 6V 205 Ah golf cart batteries) with a 2300 Watt inverter.

During the Winter we're getting about 3 KW's on a normal day. My panels are set for Summer sun, so that would increase if/when I move the panels. None the less - it's nice to cook out side on a beautiful day like today!


Photos:
- Lunch! Cooked outside with solar power to our small elec oven.
- 132.2 Amps being used by the inverter
- 612 Watts PV to 51 Amps to the battery / inverter, about 85 Amps coming from the battery to make up the difference.

If only I had more panels, batteries, ... it's a never ending adventure!