A lot has changed in the past year. I got the cracked 310W panels up and running. I used a MorningStar Tri-Star MPPT-45 charge controller dumping into a pair of used Group 8 12V 200Ah batteries just to get working.
Now for the real update...I had (31) brand new 295w Canadian Solar panels, I'm down to 29 right now, A guy bought 2 ($150 each) today and is coming back in two weeks to get one or two more. I replaced the (4) cracked 310W panels for (4) new blim 300W panels I picked up for $75 each on my fixed Array.
I also have (12) 6V 390Ah AGM batteries now. They are less than a year old and seem to be holding a charge. I'm in the middle of redoing the entire wiring to make it more permanent. I'm adding PVC electrical box with a disconnect outside coming off the Array with a fuse panel inside. I'm going to fuse the (+) leads from the panels, then parallel two panels, then series the two pair, I'll feed that inside to the 45 MPPT Tri-Star. The output from the Tri-Star I'll run to the two 12V group 8 batteries for now.
When I get time, I'll build a rack for the AGM batteries. I'm going to wire them in (3) banks of (4) for 24V each, that'll give me 1170Ah battery bank with just those. Then I'll wire this to the 1200W Array and use the two Group 8's for another little solar project or alternate between battery banks for charging them for now.
I also have two Tri-Star MPPT-60's that showed up...I'm at some point, if I get more of the 300W panels or I may end up using 10 of the 295W panels, build another Array and run the two 60A Tri-Stars off them and put them onto the 1170 AGM bank. I want to build a tracker with this Array. The most amps I'm suppose to put to the AGM batteries is around 90A I think.
I'm looking around now for some breakers to use. I'm pretty good at scrounging up used/new parts at a deal. My G/F calls me a "picker."
I may be getting a source for new Lithium Ion batteries at the cost of new AGM batteries if a buddy can come through for me. I may have to buy a whole container to get them at that price though. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that one.
In the near future I'm going to install the 24vdc 150w LED flood lights, I've got (10) of them, in my shop to replace the (14) tandem T-8 fixtures I have.
I've got to do some math on the battery bank to figure out just how many amps I can pull and for how long to see what I can run without drawing the batteries too low. I've got to come up with a means for LVD (Low Voltage Disconnect) to shed my load or switch a back up battery bank.
My biggest loads, and they do not run for long stretches are my 25 CFM 240V air compressor and my Miller 252 MIG welder. The compressor has a 7.5 hp motor, FLA 31.30 is what the motor data tag says. I wonder how much inverter it'd take to start and run that? The Welder is on a 50A circuit, but I'm pretty sure it never gets near the max rating. I'm thinking a pure sine wave would work best for the compressor and welder.
I'm in need of a battery charger for the battery bank. Right now all I have are a conventional 35/70/265A big charger and two 12V HF that have a max output of 15A, but they do have a setting for AGM batteries.
I'm keeping my eyes out for one if not two Automatic Transfer Switches. I'd like to go off grid and use utility power as my back up if all else fails. The reason for two switches, I have a 30Kw Onan generator I'm working on. I'm in the process of switching it from 3Ph to 1Ph which will derate it to a 20Kw. That's way more than I need, but it's that or the little 3500W/4000W Champion 120/240 I have for now. I'd like to use the solar for my main source. If I have to, or if it fails, it'd switch to generator power or if the loads are too much, such as the compressor or welder, I could use it. I have a lead on a 60Kw Diesel Onan. If someone comes along and wants the 20Kw/30Kw Onan, I'll sell it and go get the 60Kw.
I think I need at least two Relay Drivers for the Tri-Stars, one for use with the pair I'll put the two 60A controllers on with the 10 panels and one to use with the 45A I have. I think with that I can gain a way to have a LVD.
I've got so much going on right now I don't have time to think between work and helping keep the crap here at the shop farm running.
I may be quitting the new job I have. I'm finding it hard to work 40-40+ hours a week and have time for myself and projects. It's almost midnight and I need to out in the shop and get a mower fixed for use in the morning and I'd like to get the Onan switched over. I have it where it'll run on gasoline right now, but I want to set it up where if it runs out of gas, it'll switch over to LPG without having to switch/change anything.
I gave away the 4 cracked panels to the guy that bought two of the 295's from me this morning.
I think I have around $2K in solar parts right now with the batteries.
Any suggestions would be helpful