The Alternative Energy Thread - Generators, Solar, UPS, Wind

[AkbarGr8]

A hybrid inverter overall as a concept does appeal to me more than an on-grid one, but I did deep research and found out that hybrid inverters have a reduced life / potential to go wrong compared to their on-grid counterparts. I may potentially shift to a hybrid inverter later in the future when the pricing of lithium ion batteries has reduced / can be used to power the house at night.

In case of a power failure, I do have a gas powered generator to provide backup (yes, gas as we know it is close to ending) so a grid-tied solution seemed the best option (avoiding traditional batteries altogether). If things get worse than they are, I may get a hybrid inverter to support the system (switch panels over manually to hybrid inverter to power) and my overall household doesn't get affected if the hybrid inverter goes bad. Future plans for now!

No discount for purchasing the entire pallet - giving you the details o f the direct dealer that my installer purchased from, see below:

http://www.mesol.com.pk/products/

[mrdeejay]

How did you verify the panels were genuine?

[AkbarGr8]

Big vendor and picked up direct from warehouse. There's also a sheet provided with individual panel numbers. I will spot check a few in the trinasolar app (haven't done so yet).

edit: spot checked on the trinasolar website, screenshot below:

[horticulturalist]

AoA all,
I have a question. What maximum AH of battery can be installed to an inverter?
For e.g. For aerox 1.2kw, can I install two 1800 (185AH) or two 1400 (135AH) in parallel to it? Or an 185AH and 135AH in parallel will work somehow?

[horticulturalist]

And one more question about this inverter. The macimum solar voltage mentioned is 102VDC. What if it goes upto 115VDC?

[capsat]

What maximum AH of battery can be installed to an inverter

batteries shall be of identical amperage. high amp batteries will take long to top up to provide back up,
different amp value batteries are not recommended. If one goes FULL other will remain at 75% or vice versa. Either Battery life will deteriorate faster

1. Trick is to calculate the load . Add 30% to it. calculate number of panels required to manage the load.
   during day light. Inverter shall be of high load capacity as well.

2. the 30% excess generation during sunlight hours will top up the batteries, while inverter manage the load from solar panels, without any loss.

3. connect the batteries in parallel to charge during day from Sunlight via inverter MPPT. However if the load exceeds the calculated value, the inverter will either trip (if under capacity) or start to share the current from batteries after peak generation time, rendering short back up after sunset.

in this inverter there is selection of MAX PV voltage / current.
Your installer can manage / feed the optimum values after PVs are installed. All the settings are required to be done during 8.30 am to 3.45 pm during June day time

[AkbarGr8]

Introducing the alternate (water?) source project. Residing in Karachi with practically no line water, I decide to harvest AC water from the regular running AC's in my house (3 total) to cater to car washing needs and future solar panel cleaning (I set this system up 8 months back).

I would call it a huge success so far, I'm harvesting close to 400L of pure water in 6 days (I'm feeling this is down to 5 days now due to the increase in heat).

With a solar system on the way, I have secured a free and adequate supply of water required to wash solar panels on a semi monthly basis. Pics attached, enjoy!

[mgalaxy3]

I don’t think there’s any limit to AH.

Btw, how’s your Aerox doing? Working fine on solar n batterie?

Any issues you’ve encountered that you can share or things you wished it had.

[mgalaxy3]

Great use of ac condensation.

No issues for you in an apocalypse if one ever happens lol.

[horticulturalist]

Its working fine. No issues yet, but I wish it had more options, for e.g. it should have an SUB option (to run the output from the source as Solar-Utility-Battery), should have a dust filter, and should have more solar panels voltage capacity

[horticulturalist]

In this inverter, there is no option for MAX PV voltage. It has charging current selecting though.

[mgalaxy3]

What should be the charging current
For battery bank 2x12v (24v) 200AH?

If I want it charged in 6 hours, solar panel wattage required should be 4800/6 = 800 watts?

Or am I calculating it wrong. Need batteries to maintain their life so ideally won’t discharge them below 50% (2400wh).

[capsat]

if you are looking for solar panel to only charge batteries. you need

1 x 540 watt panel
1 x MPPT charger

MPPT charger will control to cut off the charging voltage & current after batteries are at optimum during sunlight.

[mgalaxy3]

No I’m trying to figure out how much extra wattage I need on top of the load the solar panels will power.

E.g 1100 watt will be for running load.

So, would I need 600 extra watts form solar to charge 24v 200AH battery setup within 6 hours.

[mgalaxy3]

@saqibhassan95

I checked aerox, veyron and Yukon , none of these have SUB mode. It only has SBU mode. So solar, battery and then utility. @horticulturalist also confirmed about aerox.

Which reasonable cost hybrid or off grid inverter has SUB mode so it doesn’t use battery unnecessarily.

[horticulturalist]

How much KW do you need? I suggest you download manuals of different inverters and see their options.

[capsat]

@mgalaxy3 for 1100 watts of running load during day add 30% and calculate no of panels required to top up batteries during sunlight hours.

[saqibhassan95]

Which reasonable cost hybrid or off grid inverter has SUB mode so it doesn’t use battery unnecessarily

Your max load? Let us know KWs so that we can suggest inverter accordingly
under 5-6kw, inverex nitrox,veyron, solar max orion, all have sub mode

[mgalaxy3]

Your max load? Let us know KWs so that we can suggest inverter accordinglyunder 5-6kw, inverex nitrox,veyron, solar max orion, all have sub mode

Thanks @saqibhassan95

Around 2kw to 2.5kw load.

I checked Veyron 2.2kw manual and it doesn’t have SUB mode, only SBU mode. Check page 17 here: http://www.aptinverex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/APT%20VEYRON%201.2KW-2.5KW_manual%2020210224.pdf

BUT, Veyron 3.2kw manual does list the SUB mode: http://www.aptinverex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/APT-VEYRON-IV%203.2KW-manual-20210310.pdf

Nitrox 3.6kw looks good but is quite expensive… touching 130,000 rupees.

[mgalaxy3]

Max 2.5 kw.