meawls wrote:Interesting .... we’ve had an off grid system for nearly 14 years. 8 X 165W (they were considered “big” back then!!) panels, 3.5kw inverter, 24 X 2V 830 amp batteries. We were blown away by the efficiency of the system - the house is massive two storey (5 family members) and is filled with all normal appliances including stock standard large fridge/freezer. After a few months we even shouted ourselves a dishwasher - something we were led to believe couldn’t work in our application, such was the potential of the system. All you need to do is run it at a time of high solar input.
The only concessions you’ll need to make are a gas stove/oven (we prefer these anyway), solar HWS of course, and being prepared to run the genny if you need to boost the water ... unless you opt for gas boosting.
Pricing is less now than then, and you’d get much higher capacity panels as well. We’re still on the same batteries, but they will need replacing in the next few months.
It’s a huge thumbs up from us - we only joined the grid 8 years ago so we could put 81 panels on our roof (yep - you read right!!) and export the power at 54c per kw. But other than that we would have very happily remained off grid forever. Just make sure you assess your likely energy needs very thoroughly and size the system accordingly .... this is where many folks come to grief.
TassieTiger wrote:Wish you blokes lived closer, I occasionally get very, very large banks of batteries that are sometimes only 4-5 years old and have hardly ever been depleted...gave away a 2 x banks of 1320ah couple weeks ago and I’ve got 14 x 12v 212ah bats coming mid month...
The best regulators I’ve found for the money are Rnergy...not cheap, but ex value, and allow for proper gauge cabling.
I’ve also recently picked up a digital 12v thermostat for $7 on ebY - brilliant little device, turns on a 12v cooling fan of temps exceed 45 in battery box. (NVR is running 24/7 creating a lot of heat as does the 2000w inverter).
It’s good fun playing with off grid elecs - just ask Q’s.
bladeracer wrote:We've considered it, and I discussed it last week with a guy who is off-grid, but I can't see it being a 100% solution, we'd still need generators to run some stuff. Which makes the initial, and ongoing costs less attractive. Batteries are hugely expensive and require replacing. I'm still leaning more toward a big diesel generator rather than solar and batteries. I saw a rabbit farm that runs off a Scania truck engine that turns a big alternator. Use solar to store enough power to fire up the generator on demand.
A neighbour is building a new place that is off-grid so we want to discuss his setup with him.
TassieTiger wrote:meawls wrote:Interesting .... we’ve had an off grid system for nearly 14 years. 8 X 165W (they were considered “big” back then!!) panels, 3.5kw inverter, 24 X 2V 830 amp batteries. We were blown away by the efficiency of the system - the house is massive two storey (5 family members) and is filled with all normal appliances including stock standard large fridge/freezer. After a few months we even shouted ourselves a dishwasher - something we were led to believe couldn’t work in our application, such was the potential of the system. All you need to do is run it at a time of high solar input.
The only concessions you’ll need to make are a gas stove/oven (we prefer these anyway), solar HWS of course, and being prepared to run the genny if you need to boost the water ... unless you opt for gas boosting.
Pricing is less now than then, and you’d get much higher capacity panels as well. We’re still on the same batteries, but they will need replacing in the next few months.
It’s a huge thumbs up from us - we only joined the grid 8 years ago so we could put 81 panels on our roof (yep - you read right!!) and export the power at 54c per kw. But other than that we would have very happily remained off grid forever. Just make sure you assess your likely energy needs very thoroughly and size the system accordingly .... this is where many folks come to grief.
Your reselling at 54c per kWh?? Wtf?? Where the heck are you and what is retail costs per kWh? If that was the case here(54c), our only electricity provider in the state would be broke...everyone would go solar and make $$$
We are selling at only 6c per kw and buying back at night at 29c....it’s a rort down here.
In Tas, we can only bank on 2-3 kWh per day on average so many systems kick it up with a wind turbine....these are getting much better and efficient at cold stop, to start up...biggest issue with the wind turbines is over/excess charging / internal brake failures(if they have them) in high winds with gusts...if you tune them to spin hard at 5klm winds, they literally take off in 65kmh gusts...
Ecobogan wrote:TassieTiger wrote:Wish you blokes lived closer, I occasionally get very, very large banks of batteries that are sometimes only 4-5 years old and have hardly ever been depleted...gave away a 2 x banks of 1320ah couple weeks ago and I’ve got 14 x 12v 212ah bats coming mid month...
The best regulators I’ve found for the money are Rnergy...not cheap, but ex value, and allow for proper gauge cabling.
I’ve also recently picked up a digital 12v thermostat for $7 on ebY - brilliant little device, turns on a 12v cooling fan of temps exceed 45 in battery box. (NVR is running 24/7 creating a lot of heat as does the 2000w inverter).
It’s good fun playing with off grid elecs - just ask Q’s.
WHAAAT!! Gave away 2 1320ah battery banks!? I don't live that far away! I'm putting together a pretty big solar set up for the workshop would be interested in what you could get hold of.
I bought an elec converted '81 Datsun Ute with a 19kwh nissan leaf battery (300hp motor will go in the buggy and car sold as a roller) that'll power the workshop but am considering running the lighting off a separate system.
Def keep me in the loop if that's ok
Oldbloke wrote:Think caravans. Heaps run off grid.
LPG & 12v solar. Between the 2 you can do it. The hard ones are;
Fridges...go gas
Washing machine....hand washing. Lol
Cooling.....12v fan or generator
Easy ones;
Lighting. TV, radio, hot water, wood heater
Bill wrote:Nailed it, with council restrictions on sub 100 acre blocks up here, only sheds can be erected and living in a Caravan gets you into a bit of comfort.
With low interest rates seeming to be a permanent thing I'm now looking for a block not too far from a fishable dam (3-3.hr from Sydney)
TassieTiger wrote:Ecobogan wrote:TassieTiger wrote:Wish you blokes lived closer, I occasionally get very, very large banks of batteries that are sometimes only 4-5 years old and have hardly ever been depleted...gave away a 2 x banks of 1320ah couple weeks ago and I’ve got 14 x 12v 212ah bats coming mid month...
The best regulators I’ve found for the money are Rnergy...not cheap, but ex value, and allow for proper gauge cabling.
I’ve also recently picked up a digital 12v thermostat for $7 on ebY - brilliant little device, turns on a 12v cooling fan of temps exceed 45 in battery box. (NVR is running 24/7 creating a lot of heat as does the 2000w inverter).
It’s good fun playing with off grid elecs - just ask Q’s.
WHAAAT!! Gave away 2 1320ah battery banks!? I don't live that far away! I'm putting together a pretty big solar set up for the workshop would be interested in what you could get hold of.
I bought an elec converted '81 Datsun Ute with a 19kwh nissan leaf battery (300hp motor will go in the buggy and car sold as a roller) that'll power the workshop but am considering running the lighting off a separate system.
Def keep me in the loop if that's ok
Not a problem at all - but those 1320ah banks were 3 x 4v cells and each cell weighed approx 120kg...I get 6 x 2v cells with each 2v cell being 220ah but again, each 2v battery is 50kgs!!! So 300kgs for the 12v system is crazy...
If you have a way of getting the batts from A Hobart depot to your place - pm me and I’ll sort you out with something... The Concorde 12v 212ah are in use everywhere in my industry and the larger businesses(petroleum, comms, etc) have to change our the banks well inside 50% maintenance windows...these are guaranteed 20+ years and some are coming out at 5 years...when they are in banks of 8 or 10, if one batt falls out of spec for xxx reason, they’ll often change out the entire bank - won’t risk a potential revisit. They won’t do load tests, - it’s crazy.
If your running lighting, id consider staying with 12v lighting rather than inverting to 240 as losses are a pain...but then cabling has to be a consideration depending on size.