what thoughts you may have on this system

[sparkz]

Please look over my thoughts / Plans and feel free to

Comment and point the way showing me any thing I have over looked or misunderstood

My master plan LOL

Is to have Solar & possible wind or Hydro later as funds permit.

I plan to install now a PV panel or two to start the ball rolling

I was looking at the 80 Watt units that might be likely to be

Around when I where to add more in years to come.

All similar in price are

Shell SQ-80, SQ-85 BP

Solar BP-380

Sharp NE-80EJE

I also would like to stay around 48"X24" or so for rack/mount fitment

The panels I have planed to mount on the ground using a uni-strut rack

Or just buy a top pole mount and or a side of pole mount later

So I could knock snow off them and keep them clean.

Buy 1 or 2 Deep Cycle 12 volt batteries from wal-mart

(Think there like 96ahr or so)

Xantrex/Trace C40: 40A, 12/24/48V 3-stage Charge Controller

(Run at 24volt as a charge unit for now and later using it for a wind or hydro dump)

Or what's the thoughts on the

Tri-Star #TS-45 as I understand that it also has the 12, 24, 48volt & Dump capabilities

Is it worth the few more bucks?

Does anyone run these units? And are they Potted making repairs imposable?

Please chime in on this one as this component is really up in the air

And as for an Inverter

Ouch!

Think I can use a few old Computer USP that I have around

And run the system at 12volt for now?

Just until I can scrape the dough up for a

Used, Scratched, Dented or otherwise affordable one?

I do have 4-5 Ups units here ranging from 200va to 1000va and all just need batteries

My AC loads would be my computers & network, perfrials (sp)

Some 10 & 11 meter radios

Possibly some EM lights when the utility feeds down

And 12 volt electric loads

Livestock fence

EM lights when the utility feeds down

Although I might run some of the transmitters 12 volt

     And save the AC part of the system load

Could I run 2X12volt batteries in series at 24Volt

Saving cable size and voltage drop.

And tap one of the batteries at the 12 volt connection to run the few things?

I guess if necessary I could move the taps from time to time to

Balance the labor on the taxed battery

And as I have a wheelbarrow of copper buss LOL

I was going to use that for the battery connections

And mount that buss on the other wheelbarrow

of garolite (G-10) I have in sheets.

Please let me know what thoughts you may have on this system and

What PV Panels / controllers you have and if you would buy them again knowing what you know now i.e. any regrets

Also I sure could use a pointer as to an affordable & friendly vendor

(As always I'm looking for the Everyday Low Crybaby Price LOL)

For these parts if you know of a deal out there on the web please let me know

Of the site or do you have something to retire please contact me by mail

Sparkz Campbell

Hardshell, Kentucky USA

Ret. Industrial Contractor & Master Electrician,

(Active) NFPA member

Mail;

Sparkz_Campbell AT Yahoo.Com

[commanda]

Have a good look at your UPS's. Larger ones usually run higher battery voltage. My 750 VA unit runs 24 volts. I know someone with a 2KVA unit that runs 36 volts. I've also seen 48 volt and 72 volt batteries in UPS's.

Amanda

[ghurd]

The Tri-Star has some servicable parts, like mosfets.

Thats what fails, usually from shorted PV input wiring.

Very reliable company products, but I never used a Tri-Star.

A 12V fencer uses almost nothing.

I would suggest 6V golf cart batteries.

G-

[georgeodjungle]

i think any panel will work.

but 80w @ 12v = 8w @ 120v

i'd go with wind or water first.

never playd with water.

do you have running water year round?

got two places, pa. & ca. with sesonal creeks but freeezeeeee.

ca. still on grid but not for long.

so.

just mount pv high out of the snow. well vented.

the snow slides of like a metal roof, @ winter angle.

more batteries the better, the less you take them down "drain" the longer thay'll last.

walmart works for me $45 for 96ah.

but not the starting ones.

i use a sea-50 for a dump to make hot water.

cupple of pvs i don't think ya have to worry about a dump.

might use controler or a dc to dc converter.

do you have 24v loads?

is some reason you have to run 24v.

12v inverters are cheep.

any way.

usp are inverters but not made for long peek output.

i think should run fine at say half rate.

there's a lot of smart folks out here & thay'll help.

even though some are stuck in old ways.

it all works.

as far as deals, i like.

windgensupperstore, surpluscenter & otherpower

have classifieds or boards.

not so much ebay fan

i love 11 meter lower 27.395 & .635

we should try it some time

my skip is north & south

by next weekend i'll have a romblc pointed at ya.

1214 qrz