For nearly three hours my house was running off solar. Still more work to do and a ton of add-on batteries to buy, but the system works. Eventually I want to replace the manual transfer switch with an automatic switch that I can run from anywhere. I designed the system and picked the components but hired an electrician to do the permitted installation. Passed inspection yesterday. And today, of course, cloud cover! Come on, man! I want my photons!
I designed the system and picked the components but hired an electrician to do the permitted installation.
Can you go into this a bit more? I’d like rooftop solar but don’t like how opaque most of the companies are about the costs.
Several reasons I didn’t go with rooftop solar. First, my roof is really way up there. I didn’t want to be up and down ladders to work on the panels or wiring. Ground mounts for the win. Another reason you mentioned, opaque pricing from solar companies. Still another is rooftop solar becomes less and less of a good deal over time as utilities find new ways to screw customers, many of whom will be paying for panels for over a decade. And, finally, rapidly falling battery costs. The biggest reason…with this system I can add to it a little at a time without financing. Found panels I can buy two at a time that includes shipping. The add-on batteries are something I can add as I can afford it. Eventually I’ll add an automatic transfer switch I can run remotely, after the whole house system is built out. The electrician built in the future automatic switch expansion to the wiring and conduit they put in for this project.
Ground solar really seems like a great way to go. I wish I had room for it!
I wouldn’t put one of those in my house
Oof 😬 Think I’ll stick with Victron for the foreseeable future.
Victron is the best but also really expensive. There’s good value to be had from some of these Chinese brands but they’re also a bit of a “grab bag” sometimes as they change designs constantly without any sort of notification.
I’ll go with well designed Chinese lifepo4 batteries without worries but so far, the victron expense has seemed worth it for everything else (except their old shitty DC-DC converters and the Cerbo touchscreen that I was able to use a cheapo HDMI screen for instead)
The reliability is worth the price when living off grid on the ocean but for most people that can switch over to grid power it might not feel that way.
Any of the whitelabel SRNE stuff is a good bet.
Eventually I want to replace the manual transfer switch with an automatic switch that I can run from anywhere.
Forgive my ignorance, but what kind of switch are we talking about here? Is it one of those that commutate between solar and utility corp? Are you looking for a remotely activated switch?
The phase 1 switch pictured is a Reliance A510C 120/240-Volt 50-Amp 10-Circuit Pro/Tran 2 Indoor Transfer Switch. It’s completely manual, is UL certified, and uses separate wiring and breakers so there’s no chance of back feeding to the grid. That’s why I hired a licensed electrician and got a permit for the installation. Even maxed out it only runs two 240 circuits (one 30 amp, one 20 amp) and six 120 20 amp circuits. That’s about two-thirds of the house. I put this system together specifically so I could add to it over time without going into debt. Next I’ll add solar panels and add-on batteries until I get up to whole house capability. Eventually I’ll swap out the old manual switch for a whole house automatic switch that I can operate remotely and program. The electrician who installed the manual switch in the photo left room for that future expansion with the wiring and conduit they installed for this phase of the project. The eventual goal is to run solar primary with grid backup. Not the most efficient way to get there but I also don’t have to lay out $50K all in one go.
How much did your system cost and how large is it?
