PowerSwitch

Andy Hunt · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 4:28 pm Post subject: Mini PV system

Well, I finally managed to get my 330Wp of solar PV mounted on my back wall:

Still waiting for the cables to arrive, though. Am going to hook it up to an off-grid inverter/battery charger and a set of deep cycle batteries, to run one of the two ring-mains in my house. With any luck, I will end up with only my kitchen being grid-connected!!

Will let you know how it works out!
_________________
Andy Hunt
http://greencottage.burysolarclub.net
"The sooner you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up"

Pippa · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 5:41 pm Post subject:

Andy Hunt · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 9:43 pm Post subject:

Cool, huh? Cool

It'll be even better if it works!

Wink

_________________
Andy Hunt
http://greencottage.burysolarclub.net
"The sooner you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up"

Pete_M · Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 112 Location: Dorset

Hi Andy - Those panels look great. Im going to try the same trick myself.

Im attempting to get some photos on the web - here is my
control and battery box :

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5252/4039/1600/FirstSolarControlllerAndBattery.jpg

The box is a plastic garden tool bot which I tested with a hose pipe - way cheaper than an IP65 rated enclosure.

I have two input circuits designed to take a pair of 175W pannels each. Two output circuits fused at 15 Amps. Also, not in the picture is a battery monitor fed into the house. Its only used for emergency lighting and battery recharging at the mo. Its a prototype of a bigger system Im hoping to build.

I have two panels propped up against the fence. The systems been up for about 6 months.

Pete M.

Andy Hunt · Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:39 am Post subject:

Hi Pete,

Sounds very interesing! Got this error though, when I tried your link:

caspian · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 280 Location: Carmarthenshire

Looks good Andy. Are you doing this all yourself? I assume you're not applying for a grant under the Govt's Low carbon buildings Programme?

Andy Hunt · Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 5:29 pm Post subject:

Yep, doing it all myself . . . enought to drive a man to tears. Discovered that the solar panel installer has put one of them in the wrong way up, and the cable to connect the panel to a Y-connector is about a foot short. Going to have to get some connectors and make up a cable from whatever I have left over, then borrow some tall ladders and get up there again . . .

Spent most of the afternoon running cables under floorboards, what a nightmare. Nearly done now though. Then I will have to do the mains wiring, and I am waiting to hear back from my inverter supplier on using one of the built-in relays as a switch to use the mains as a back-up for the batteries (reverse UPS, enables me to maximise the use of the PV without risking power failure in the house - it's an off-grid inverter).

Because I bought all the bits myself, and I am doing the installation myself, I am not entitled to a LCBP grant - good, eh? I've spent about ?5K so far on this little system, and not finished yet!! That's the trouble with working on the cutting edge - you sometimes pay for the privilege!!
_________________
Andy Hunt
http://greencottage.burysolarclub.net
"The sooner you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up"

Tess · Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 5:32 pm Post subject:

Make sure you publish a how-to when you're done Smile

Andy Hunt · Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 5:37 pm Post subject:

Pete_M · Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 112 Location: Dorset

Hi Andy,
I added the image to a page on blogspot - maybeyou can see it here.
http://lower-power.blogspot.com/

I have 4 x 175 Mono panels. Im setting them up in pairs to keep the peak currents down and to try different locations.

I have split the output circuits again to keep the currents down and to allow me to use some of the output to try things out this winter in the greenhouse.

We currently run a small invertor for radios and low power lighting etc of
one of the output circuits. The other isnt used at the mo.

The batteries are 105 AH sealed delphi marine units. They are a massive weight. I built the frame to take 4 battaeries but I think a welded structure is needed.

I like this kind of experimentation - its way more fun than writing software.

Pete M

Andy Hunt · Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 8:06 pm Post subject:

Sounds great Pete, and more than twice as powerful as my set-up. I have 8x90Ah deep cycle batteries, which are behind the sofa in my lounge . . . a bit unorthodox but there you go! They can 'breathe' and I don't really have anywhere else handy to put them. They are sealed gel batteries, so (hopefully) they should be OK!

Just switched my inverter on for the first time a few minutes ago - it made some strange noises and then told me that my batteries are fully charged. Must have been supplied that way - I have heard that batteries store better when charged.

It would explain why they neatly melted a metal bolt which I accidentally dropped across two contacts when I was wiring them all together - be warned, it made quite a 'crack'!

Anyway, the inverter didn't blow up, so my wiring must be OK so far. I've only wired up one of the two panels due to this missing lead. I have some spare left over from my installation, so I'll just buy 2 connectors and make one myself to bridge the gap.

Then the mains wiring . . . luckily my OH's dad is an electrician (retired), so can help me out with the heavy duty stuff. Should be quite straightforward. And as he says, the worst than can happen is that it goes 'bang' . . . (not much comfort when you have paid ?000's for all the kit, mind!).

I want to get it sorted quickly in case of power cuts this winter, then it will come into its own. A perverse part of me actually wants there to be at least one, so that I can test it out . . . ! Rolling Eyes

_________________
Andy Hunt
http://greencottage.burysolarclub.net
"The sooner you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up"

Ballard · Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 781 Location: Surrey

Wow Andy,

Are you going to get all this certified, or are you not worried about building insurance etc?

I'm slowly building my solar kit, but I'm going to put it on a purpose built shed. That way I'm not contravening the building regulations.

I will then use a changeover switch to connect to the house, (that way I can use a generator as well if necessary)

I'll flick the switch between mains and solar as necessary, I hope to run during the day on solar, and switch to mains during the evening or at times of peak requirement.

Must post some photos?

Andy Hunt · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 12:52 am Post subject:

You might have a point!!
_________________
Andy Hunt
http://greencottage.burysolarclub.net
"The sooner you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up"

kenneal · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 1:21 am Post subject:

Strictly speaking, any electrical work beyond changing a ceiling rose or replacing a socket outlet now requires Building Regulations approval and certification by a Registered, not an ordinary, electrician.

Putting it on a shed will be Ok as long as you only power the shed. As soon as you connect it to the house you need Building Regs approval.

If you're going to do it don't talk about it 'cos Big Brother is watching! Make it easily removable in case you want to move and get it out before any surveys are done.

Andy Hunt · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 7:56 am Post subject:

I don't mind getting it certified. Is there anything in particular I should know about battery location/anything else?
_________________
Andy Hunt
http://greencottage.burysolarclub.net
"The sooner you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up"