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Easy-to-use solar panels are coming, but utilities are trying to delay them (www.npr.org)
submitted 5 months ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] 26 points 5 months ago (2 children)

That's what I have. Basically a small-ish parallel electrical system that runs critical loads like a mini split, refrigerator, water heater, etc. And a small UPS for modem/server.

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  • [–] 8 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    Out of curiosity, how do you have that setup (at a high level)?

    I've got a bluetti system for emergency power (12kWh, 6kW AC output) but I need to plug things directly into it. It'd be nice to feed it directly to my house wiring but ... selectively. That is, I wouldn't want to power the HVAC but it would be nice to not have to shuffle the fridge/freezer plugs from the wall to the inverter.

    Dedicated circuit(s) with a manual switch from mains to inverter, I'm guessing? But then we get into all the extras required to do that safely and avoid back feeding the grid.

    Granted, they have systems/setups specifically for whole house power but I don't want to feed the whole house, just the important circuits/appliances.

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  • [–] 16 points 5 months ago* (3 children)

    Basically made a really sturdy pergola and then mounted solar panels to it. Ran that wiring to the MPPT, batteries and inverter in the garage. Put in a new small breaker box right next to the existing one, which made it real easy to just grab the wires for the critical loads and run them over to the new panel.

    No need to worry about backfeeding, as I said they're parallel electrical systems, so it's not possible.

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  • [+] 1 point 5 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)
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  • [–] 7 points 5 months ago

    I mean the 2 systems are not connected in any way. They're completely independent.

    If it stays cloudy for a few days, or I am anticipating a potential outage, I can plug in a battery charger to the grid.

    My batts are 48V EG4 units. But I would go the "DIY" route if I were to do it again, they are considerably less expensive.

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  • [–] 1 point 5 months ago*

    You could plug the bluetti into wall power and while there is wall power it runs off that like a UPS.

    That setup I believe would also use solar while it was producing, but the moment solar was gone it'd switch to the house power.

    If the overall load is more than house power can give via an outlet (you could add a beefier outlet if the bluetti supports higher inputs) it'd start draining the battery.

    I dont know if bluettis software says use solar / battery only until battery is 10% kinda thing so this might not be optimized to use solar properly.

    Edit: just realized someone else was the one who mentioned bluetti, and not OP, but this is doable with other systems too.

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  • [–] 1 point 5 months ago (1 child)

    Kent?

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  • [–] 8 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    These can output 1800W, 1100Wh, Starts at CAD$700 then you just pay more for more storage for bigger systems.

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  • [–] 6 points 5 months ago

    That's a very small system that won't power much at all. Additionally I don't recommend these "all in one" systems, as they're typically more expensive, not as good, nor are they modular or repairable. Those are really if you need a "mobile" system.

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