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An inverter on the panel only makes sense if the battery is also there.

Besides this SolPad, I'm not aware of any that do it that way. Fans of microinverters will point out a few good reasons to use them. For example that shading, or failure, or reduced performance, of a single panel doesn't bring down the whole array. Each panel is free to perform at its optimum and smarts (MPPT) per panel. However batteries on the roof or in the attic doesn't sound like a good idea. Perhaps in a polar region like frigid climate? But surely not in any place fit for man or beast!

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Sam

Besides this SolPad, I'm not aware of any that do it that way. Fans of microinverters will point out a few good reasons to use them. For example that shading, or failure, or reduced performance, of a single panel doesn't bring down the whole array. Each panel is free to perform at its optimum and smarts (MPPT) per panel. However batteries on the roof or in the attic doesn't sound like a good idea. Perhaps in a polar region like frigid climate? But surely not in any place fit for man or beast!

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Sam[/quote]

That's great if you're just making AC to feed back into the grid when the sun shines; but if you want to store the energy to use at night the battery has to be (wired) between the solar panel and the inverter.

It would be silly to run DC from the panel down to a battery located in a safe place then back up to a micro-inverter mounted on the roof and then run AC back down to the AP system. You would run DC down to the batteries and have the inverter right next to them... and run AC to the AP system.

From what I've seen, microinverters are not what you would want for an "off-grid" AP system.

Yes, I think that is very true. Presently all the microinverters require a grid-tie and are sync'd to the grid signal. I think I've read of some hacks out there over the past few years (which of course void the 25 year warranty) that folks have used to effectively reproduce the grid's signal simulating a minigrid, but for off-grid micro-inverters are not really an option.

Costa Rica has a pilot program for allowing grid-tie systems that still hasn't capped out due to limited participation. I'm still trying to get my ducks in a row to get my application in before that happens, but it has been ongoing for a few years now and the government is not even close to closing the program due to all the slots being full. Last time I checked there were only a handful of grid-tied systems in my province.

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Sam

They also risk electrocuting anyone working on downed power lines unless they are completley disconnected form the grid- the anti-islanding found in all certified grid-tie inverters is designed to prevent this.

Do-it-yourself Solar Power for Bugging Out When the SHTF
Posted by Old Sailor D-16 on October 6, 2016 at 19:59 in Do It Yourself
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From the Thursday Night Chat of Oct 6, 2016



http://texaspreparednessgroup.ning.com/ ... _forum_cat


What we're talking about here tonight is something that will get you a few lights, power a radio, recharge your AA batteries and provide a minimum system that you can actually carry along with you if you have to bug out.

The basics of a solar power system is solar panel(s), a solar power controller and batteries. You can actually build a "beginner" system and add to it as you can and end up with a fairly respectable system.

The most common solar panels you see on people's houses is the 2 foot by 4 foot units. These are great but if you have to bug out they get a little bulky to carry and it's obvious what you have to any thieves that might be around.

For our purposes, I recommend getting two 50 watt panels which are available from Home Depot for around $80 each. If you have the ability to carry them, you can add more 50 watt panels. You can also get basically the same thing from Renogy on Amazon for around the same price.

Next, you'll need a solar controller. This is a device that stabilizes the current from the panels into something your battery can handle. You can get a "XCSOURCE® Intelligent 30A PWM Solar Panel Charge Controller" on Amazon for $14.99.

Next, you'll need two "Sigmas TeK SP12" 18 amp hour maintenance free batteries. The reason I recommend these is that you can carry them in a backpack if you need to. Two of these batteries weigh about 25 pounds. You can buy them from "Battery Sharks" on the internet for about $25 each. Just search for them and you can have them shipped to your door.

You will need to wire the batteries in parallel. That means connect a wire from the positive terminal on one battery to the positive terminal on the other battery. Connect the negative terminal on one battery to the other battery's negative terminal.

You'll need a few feet of ten guage wire. I suggest you get about twenty feet each of red and black so there's no mistakes when wiring them up. Connect the Panels in parallel, that means connect the positive wire on both panels with one end of the red wire and connect both of the negative wires from the panels to one end of the black wire.

Next, following the markings on the controller connect the red (positive) and black (negative) wires to the appropriate connectors on the controller. The controller will have instructions of how to wire it. The controller will have output connectors marked + and - so connect the red and black wires to the controller and the other end to the appropriate positive and negative terminals on the batteries.

Fifty watts divided by 14 volts, which is about what the controller will put out with the panels sitting in the full sun will produce about three and one half amps each. So, what this means is you are going to be storing about 7 amps per hour into the batteries. The controller won't let them overcharge so you will end up with about 18 amp hours of power when your batteries are fully charged.

If you buy yourself a "Tenergy" TN160 AA and AAA battery charger from Amazon for about $29.50 on Amazon you can charge up to 12 AA or AAA batteries at a time. This charger will run on 12 volts DC or 120 volts AC when it's available.

You can get a few "Marine Grade Cigarette Lighter" outlets for $3.50 each from Amazon so that you can plug in any 12v device to run on your batteries.

As you go along, you can buy a few more panels and a few more batteries and increase the size of your system step by step.

You can enhance your system by buying or making something to carry it in like a garden cart or a three wheel bicycle. Just use your imagination and go for the sky.