Solar Panel GRID Connection Help

[cat man do]

Hi, need some help getting my head around my solar panel requirements.

Due to some of the solar panel schemes for houses, we are getting some good deals on panels with inverters designed for houses at some of the auction places.

Solar Power Clearance - 1.9 kW Sanyo Solar Panels & SMA Sunny Boy Inverter Kit* + FREE Solar System Installation.
Incl. 8 x 230W Sanyo Solar Panels & 1 x 1.85kW SMA Sunny Boy Inverter
1.9 kW Sanyo Solar Panels & SMA Sunny Boy Inverter Kit* Auction (0022-5001836) | GraysOnline Australia

I am wondering, why cant I have these on a boat, with the power going to the batteries via a decent charger or by some other method?

[callmecrazy]

well, technically, you can.

The only problem is finding the space to fit them all

You'd be lucky to get 2 of those 230watt panels on a boat less than 50 feet, let alone 8!

Maybe buy them for the house, and use 1 or 2 on the boat? all you need is a decent charge controller to put the energy into your batteries.

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by callmecrazy

well, technically, you can.

The only problem is finding the space to fit them all

No problems with the space
I have the flybridge to shade with a roof area of approx 6m x 4m (19ft x 13ft)

[speakeasy]

Not necessarily. I have 40' LOD and added 2 -210 watt panels to my hardtop. Have to think of spaces available and how you can still work around them. Love my 420 watts. Sipping sundowners and admiring the volt meter in c/p. Here's a pic that shows the mount, sort-of.



Nevermind the guy hoofing it side-to-side, he gets fidgety when his boat/home gets moved around. Another view shows I have only 11.5' beam. I really wanted 'em, and the added freedom from shore they give.

[Whimsical]

Originally Posted by cat man do

I am wondering, why cant I have these on a boat, with the power going to the batteries via a decent charger or by some other method?

I was wondering the same so did a little research, but not exhaustive, on the grid connect inverters. Seems they need the presence of the grid to sync to and if not present they shut down. Back to the outback 80 option.

Mike

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by Whimsical

Seems they need the presence of the grid to sync to and if not present they shut down.

Bummer

Back to the outback 80 option.

Is that one of these?
OutBack FM80-150VDC, MPPT Charge Controller, 80A, 12/24/32/36/48/54/60 VDC

Can they handle a large amount of panels?
As you can see I am pretty clueless about electricals, last boat had a single 50watt panel hooked directly into a truck battery, wheeeeee, lights and radio.

[s/v Jedi]

Yes those 60A and 80A Outback controllers are the real deal. They can take up to 150V so nice for series connected arrays too.

ciao!
Nick.

[bill good]

I think you will find that cost is based on your connection to the grid with a current account for the address. You might be able to get it installed by one of the suppliers (who are hard up at this point?) but your cost will be doubled because of the loss of the STCs/RECs.

Homework for whimical On that question of the need for 240AC needed for sync. How would an inverter go on pulsing in the standby mode go towards making such an installation work?

It would be worth a call to Grays to see what price without the included installation. Note the 15% commissions.

You might be able to re sell the inverter on ebay & still get the panels at the right price.
Regards Bill

[Whimsical]

Cat
The outback 80 is rated at 1KW input so suits me perfectly as i am using 960W. Be a bit small for u if u are going to put up the whole 1600W. Would have to use 2 of them.
What batts are u going to use for house bank ? PM me if your interested in a group buy of LiFePo's

Mike

[Whimsical]

Bill
I had thought of that before but i don't have an inverter to try it. Would want to be a fairly good sinewave though.

Mike

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by bill good

I think you will find that cost is based on your connection to the grid with a current account for the address.

From a phone conversation yesterday it seemed to be the:
Buy price
+ Surcharge and Delivery
+ 15% buyers premium
+ 10% GST
which brought it all to around $2600 to my door
And no obligation to do an actual install.

Sounded to good to be true, so I am waiting for a email back confirming those details.

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by Whimsical

Cat
The outback 80 is rated at 1KW input so suits me perfectly as i am using 960W. Be a bit small for u if u are going to put up the whole 1600W. Would have to use 2 of them.

Thats what I thought, thanks

What batts are u going to use for house bank ?
PM me if your interested in a group buy of LiFePo's

Hadn't got there yet and don't need them yet, like I don't need the panels yet, but as things come up cheap I am grabbing them

My concern would be freight with you being 4400klm away from me and having them sitting in storage for a year or more unused