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  1. #76
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    Apr 2008
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    Lalla, Tasmania
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    Hi guys, as I said I will let you in on the off grid solar power system I am installing to run the house and workshop. My wife and I just installed the solar panel pole mount system on one of our embankments. There are only three required for 24 solar panels to give about 8kw of power. Yes, the mounts can tilt and move left and right to get the best sun and as you can see easy to clean if need. We are going the LG neons in solar panels and hope to have them in in about three weeks time.

    SB
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    Power corrupts, absolute power means we can run a hell of alot of power tools

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  3. #77
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    Feb 2015
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    Strathalbyn South Australia
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    Looks good! What battery system have you gone for?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  4. #78
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    Apr 2008
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    Lalla, Tasmania
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    [QUOTE=Cal;2018556]Looks good! What battery system have you gone for?

    Cal, I'm keeping my options open for now but I think I'm going for 2 LG Chem RESU 10kw units with Schneider electronics with a 6.5kw Honda generator for backup. My installer is talking about gel batteries but I've had my eye on the LG chems for sometime now, I know people who have them are very happy so far but still early days in the technology. The whole set up has been designed for winter conditions to get the best out of it, that's why solar hot water with thermosiphon wood burner and gas cooking and double insulation of the whole house along with two door entry into the main building. Hope it all works out.

    SB
    Power corrupts, absolute power means we can run a hell of alot of power tools

  5. #79
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
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    165

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    As far as batteries go, did you ever look into a flow battery like the Redflow? After the 10 year (or there abouts) design life of the stack, the stack can be easily and relatively cheaply replaced for another go.

    I also just very recently saw and read some stuff on the Sonnen Batteries, i think they use cells made by Sony but taylored to their spec, and have what looks to be a very long design life, something like 10year 100% capacity guarantee and an expected 20 year usable life.

    Then there's brine/saltwater batteries, which seem good but I've not seen a great deal about them.

    Just throwing a few other thoughts out there and curious if you have any feedback on some of them.
    It's Ripping Time!!!

  6. #80
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    Apr 2008
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    Lalla, Tasmania
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mick C. View Post
    As far as batteries go, did you ever look into a flow battery like the Redflow? After the 10 year (or there abouts) design life of the stack, the stack can be easily and relatively cheaply replaced for another go.

    I also just very recently saw and read some stuff on the Sonnen Batteries, i think they use cells made by Sony but taylored to their spec, and have what looks to be a very long design life, something like 10year 100% capacity guarantee and an expected 20 year usable life.

    Then there's brine/saltwater batteries, which seem good but I've not seen a great deal about them.

    Just throwing a few other thoughts out there and curious if you have any feedback on some of them.
    Thanks for the info mick, but I'm in two camps right now as I'm still not 100% set on LG chems. My installer is very knowledgeable with off grid and has a very good reputation in Tassie. For simplicity sake he is pushing me to gel batteries that he knows will go the distance with little trouble. He is an LG supplier in Tassie so is not trying to put me off, he just thinks the hardware to run and manage them in an off grid instal is just not there yet. It's more than just the batteries to this off grid stuff and not all the gear is compatible or without its problems.

    SB
    Power corrupts, absolute power means we can run a hell of alot of power tools

  7. #81
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    Apr 2008
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    Lalla, Tasmania
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    Energy is now on, Yes folks we have off grid power. It's working nicely over the last week and the wife can't be happier. Went with 24, 330watt LG pv and 24 gel BAE 1500 wh batteries all hooked up to Victron hardware of 2 x MPPT chargers, BMS and Inverter. The batteries are fully recharged by 9:30am each morning after overnight use of about 3% drain. This is running fridge, lights, pvr, tv, cooking dinner, and three of cups of tea and crumpets. We are expecting higher use but not much more when we get into the house due to more lights and a larger tv. We are getting the best solar for Northeast Tasmania with the pole mounted panels as we can elevate up to 40 degrees for winter sun and angle left and right to get the best of the sun travel during the day. It cost about $47 000 all up. We are not interested in ROI as we we would have had significant costs to get the grid connected underground from about 150m away and then keep paying and paying and paying etc.

    SB
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    Power corrupts, absolute power means we can run a hell of alot of power tools

  8. #82
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    May 2009
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    Peoples Republic of Bryn
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    Keep everyone up to date with how it pans out, once the batteries are settled and you are in there using more kW.

    the pole mount system is great that you can change the angle to suit the winter sun path.

    It must be getting cold down there at the moment, are you heating with fireplace and a wet back for hot water?

  9. #83
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    Nov 2006
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    Bendigo Victoria
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    What is the life expectancy of the battery bank?

    $47000 is a fair wad of money on which of course you are foregoing a minimum of $1400pa in lost interest, so there is an ongoing cost there.

    Great concept though to be independent of the grid

  10. #84
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    Apr 2008
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    Lalla, Tasmania
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    Quote Originally Posted by bryn23 View Post
    Keep everyone up to date with how it pans out, once the batteries are settled and you are in there using more kW.

    the pole mount system is great that you can change the angle to suit the winter sun path.

    It must be getting cold down there at the moment, are you heating with fireplace and a wet back for hot water?
    yep, getting cold down here alright, the other night it was -3 they say but nice sunny days. The house will be heated by wood burner which will heat the hot water in winter bryn23 as this was planned from the beginning.

    Yes, your right big shed, I'm forgoing interest but I'd then have to pay tax on it, at some point you have to stop talking and put your money down, if I spent it on the grid I'd get nothing back or purchased a car or something. The batteries are rated to last about 20 years just like Sungel are by the CSIRO. If I'd gone LG Chem as I planned to, I'd only be about 5-6 thousand better off and with a very complex BMS and associated electronics. As my installer said keep it simple with proven technology we don't want a 5 cent resistor to bring the lot down. My next door has lithium batteries and he's happy but only 3 years in at this stage, however, in my area we have houses on wet cell that have been at it for the last 20 odd years with no problems, some with a small wind turbine as well.

    SB
    Power corrupts, absolute power means we can run a hell of alot of power tools

  11. #85
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    May 2011
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    Murray Bridge SA
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    Quote Originally Posted by Big Shed View Post
    $47000 is a fair wad of money on which of course you are foregoing a minimum of $1400pa in lost interest, so there is an ongoing cost there.
    The cost of the setting up, would probably equal the cost of connection to the grid. It might be lost interest, but he'd be looking at more than that amount plus each year for being on the grid, plus interruptions, also the rising cost of electricity each year. I'd say that after about 20 years they would be in front.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  12. #86
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    Jan 2008
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    Nth Est Victoria, Australia
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    I may have missed this bit on an earlier post, SB. Are those batteries 2 volts? 48volt system? If so same as mine, there's plenty of juice to run your household and some heavy duty machinery (not 3 phase).
    Just thinking after looking at your battery box,you might want to put some fly wire over the ventilation holes. Otherwise you'll end up with dead bats and mice in there with your batteries and the smell that goes with it.

  13. #87
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    Jun 2005
    Location
    Helensburgh
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    Quote Originally Posted by Superbunny View Post
    Energy is now on, Yes folks we have off grid power. It's working nicely over the last week and the wife can't be happier. Went with 24, 330watt LG pv and 24 gel BAE 1500 wh batteries all hooked up to Victron hardware of 2 x MPPT chargers, BMS and Inverter.
    SB, can you link to the batteries you used if possible, I have done the search but your specs don't seem to line up with what I can find. I am putting in an 8kw system now and holding off putting batteries in at this time. I would prefer to not export to the grid if it is possible, have you got a monitoring system on your set up that holds historical data not just real time data? I have discovered during this saga that the solar industry has got more shonks in it than the automotive industry and that is a very high hurdle to beat.
    CHRIS

  14. #88
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    Jan 2011
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    Far West Wimmera
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    Quote Originally Posted by HUON View Post
    Are those batteries 2 volts? 48volt system? If so same as mine, there's plenty of juice to run your household and some heavy duty machinery (not 3 phase).
    Why not 3 phase?

    Dean

  15. #89
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    Jan 2008
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    Nth Est Victoria, Australia
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    G'day Dean, not enough storage. And I'm happy enough running 2 & 3 hp machinery along with everything else.
    Gee, what did I do to become a golden member?
    Last edited by HUON; 4th July 2017 at 10:20 PM. Reason: surprise

  16. #90
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    Jan 2008
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    Nth Est Victoria, Australia
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    Dean, I'll get in touch with my friends at sunreal and get the technical info on what is required to boost my system to 3 phase.
    Tomorrow I should have a more informed explanation for you.

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