With that as the backdrop, I decided to try my hand at designing a small off-grid PV system. Obviously when I started I had visions of being able to run the whole basement off battery power. As we all know, visions generally have to be scaled back when cost and time are factored into the equation. The project ultimately became a simple 2 panel replacement for the 2 panels that were destroyed but set up permanently and wired in such a way as to allow for expansion without a total redesign. What I ended up with after MANY, MANY design changes was 2 125 watt Mitsubishi panels feeding a Xantrex C35 charge controller. The panel selection was based
So, what do we do with these batteries? One of the batteries we use in the kitchen to primarily run a drinking fountain for the cats, but it is also used for the small kitchen appliances such as the food processor and blender. This battery lasts 3-4 days before it needs a recharge. The other battery is in the bedroom and is used to power the TV and DVD player and occasionally a table lamp when the TV is not in use. This battery also lasts 3-4 days and that includes watching at least 1 movie and maybe a couple hours a TV per night.
I am very happy with how the small PV system turned out and right now (in the summer) we are producing so much power that I don’t always have a battery that needs charging. That will change in the winter, but we also have the charging bike to help supplement in the winter.
So, what are the next steps in this little experiment? I am thinking of adding a couple additional batteries that could be used to power our computers in our home office. This may totally wipe out my generation capacity since these computers will need to run for at least 8 hours a day on the days when we are working in our office. That means adding one, maybe two more panels which fortunately the current design should be able to handle. Before I do that though, I need to make sure of what this system will do over the short low-sun days of winter. I’ll blog again in the dead of winter on this topic to let everyone know.
This system was extremely fun to design and build, and I would encourage anyone out there with interest in PV to not be afraid to experiment and see what you can do because there is lots of information out there, and lots of people willing to help. Then again, this is just life according To Troy.
No comments:
Post a Comment