Solar panel & inverter data

[Curbie]

I'm looking for some web-site(s) that a list of links to Solar panel &
inverter spec sheets.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Curbie

 

[Ulysses]

Northern Arizona wind and sun http://www.windsun.com/

has panel specs and probably some inverter specs. www.outbackpower.com has
OB specs. Personally I've found the OB inverters to be underrated.

 

[Eeyore]

I'm looking for some web-site(s) that a list of links to Solar panel &
inverter spec sheets.

Any ideas?

Google ?

Graham

 

[Curbie]

Hi Ulysses,

Northern Arizona wind and sun http://www.windsun.com/

has panel specs and probably some inverter specs. www.outbackpower.com has
OB specs. Personally I've found the OB inverters to be underrated.

Thanks, I got the Out Back inverter spec-sheet and it was just what I
was looking for, also got the spec-sheet for Trace, do you
use/recommend OB, any other recommendations beside OB or Trace?

Thanks,

Curbie

 

[Eeyore]

Hi Ulysses,

Thanks, I got the Out Back inverter spec-sheet and it was just what I
was looking for, also got the spec-sheet for Trace, do you
use/recommend OB, any other recommendations beside OB or Trace?

If you want to know how much electricity you're likely to make in any given
month, you need insolation data.
http://www.apricus.com/html/solar_collector_insolation.htm

You'll also note that solar is more efficient at making hot water than
electricity. That site is quite informative. Do browse.

Graham

 

[Ulysses]

Hi Ulysses,

Thanks, I got the Out Back inverter spec-sheet and it was just what I
was looking for, also got the spec-sheet for Trace, do you
use/recommend OB, any other recommendations beside OB or Trace?

Thanks,

Curbie

Those are the only two I'm aware of for serious off-grid use. Both seem to
have their advantages and disadvantages. OB has a reputation for much
better customer service but I hate their battery charging system. They have
automatic transfer switches that, as far as I can tell, cannot be
deactivated. Hence when you connect a generator you are charging the
batteries and running everything from the generator. That means you need a
generator that's quite a bit bigger than your loads and charging should
require because the efficiency is only around 70%, if that. OTOH I can run
my well pump (1 1/2 HP) plus some other loads from a single VFX3648 (3600
watts, 48 volts) by using their X240 autotransformer. I have only had one
shutdown due to overload and that was with a 240 V air compressor. I just
don't use it any more. With Trace/Xantrex supposedly you can parallel the
outputs of the generator and inverter which will give you a higher combined
output, but I've never used the Trace. I prefer to use an engine-driven
alternator to charge my batteries directly thus bypassing OB's system but
lately I'm having problems with my charger so I have to use a 5000 watt
generator. The refrigerator sounds funny, the microwave won't heat, and the
garbage disposal sounds like it's going to kill the generator. On the plus
side it will maintain the specified charging voltage when other loads kick
in, something that my alternator-charger can't quite do. When a load kicks
in with the OB charger it "backs off" the charging amps but it doesn't quite
work the way it's supposed to. At the moment that it either backs off or
returns to charging there is a huge surge that can destroy generators. OB's
solution is to use a generator that is twice the capacity of the total of
the inverters. I have two VFX3648s so that would mean a 15,000 watt
generator. While that would seem to be able to charge my batteries very
quickly in reality somewhere around 6000 watts is all that I can utilize due
to the limitations of the OB chargers. Not very efficient, especially when
the batteries are nearly full and the amps are way down there. BUT,
everything is just fine and dandy if I simply use a seperate charger. I run
my whole house from a single OB VFX3648 and the other one is kinda
just-in-case. They can be programmed for either parallel or series (240
volt) operation and you can connect up to ten together in several different
configurations. I would not rule out "Brand X" but you'll have to get more
info from someone who is actually living them them.

Yesterday my daughter did three loads of laundry. By the time she was done
my batteries were fully charged. But my generator sounded like it was
suffering.

 

[Curbie]

Ulysses,

Thanks for all your help and time, assessments from users are at least
as value to me as the spec-sheets. The only other recommendation I've
found so far is from the OtherPower board (Kipoint), but I'm still
searching the boards.

Thanks,

Curbie

 

[[email protected]]

Ulysses,

Thanks for all your help and time, assessments from users are at least
as value to me as the spec-sheets. The only other recommendation I've
found so far is from the OtherPower board (Kipoint), but I'm still
searching the boards.

Thanks,

Curbie

I've used a pair of Trace (now Xantrex) SW4024s for nearly 14 years.
Very happy, particularly since they've stood up to serious use with
heavy loads like welding. They have the same basic issues with
charging as Ulysses mentioned, and I mostly use a DC charging setup
for the same reason. The built-in chargers are nice to have though,
even if it's just for backup to the backup. They're automatic and make
backup charging a more streamlined operation than a DC charger. If I
was buying today I'd be giving preference to the Outback line so long
as I could get some verification that they could stand hard use like
the Trace units.

Wayne

 

[Curbie]

Wayne,

I've used a pair of Trace (now Xantrex) SW4024s for nearly 14 years.
Very happy, particularly since they've stood up to serious use with
heavy loads like welding. They have the same basic issues with
charging as Ulysses mentioned, and I mostly use a DC charging setup
for the same reason. The built-in chargers are nice to have though,
even if it's just for backup to the backup. They're automatic and make
backup charging a more streamlined operation than a DC charger.

The SW4024 seems to be a discontinued unit, if I interpret Trace's
model coding correctly are those 24V 4K units?

If I was buying today I'd be giving preference to the Outback line
so long as I could get some verification that they could stand hard
use like the Trace units.

For what reasons?

Thanks,

Curbie

 

[Ulysses]

n Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:59:12 -0400, Curbie <[email protected]>
wrote:

I've used a pair of Trace (now Xantrex) SW4024s for nearly 14 years.
Very happy, particularly since they've stood up to serious use with
heavy loads like welding. They have the same basic issues with
charging as Ulysses mentioned, and I mostly use a DC charging setup
for the same reason. The built-in chargers are nice to have though,
even if it's just for backup to the backup. They're automatic and make
backup charging a more streamlined operation than a DC charger. > Wayne

Yes, the built-in chargers are great. I could even call them superb. The
user has a vast amount of control of the settings. The Bulk, Float, and
Equalize voltages and charge times are all progammable. Just about anything
you could even want to set or change can be done through the "Mate." Except
there is no way to bypass the built-in transfer switches. Plus if you want
to use a smaller generator (120 volt) you have to change three different
charge settings. I think they could have made that a lot simpler. My
second choice for charging, if my DC charger is kaput, is to use Inverter #2
as a seperate charger (also set for Master but with the Inverter Output
disconnected) so one is supplying my power and the other is only for
charging. This works quite well except for the efficiency losses. But, if
I need to switch it back I have to do a whole lot of button-pushing and
change a lot of settings and open and close circuit breakers just to connect
a 240 volt genny and use both chargers. One thing you DON'T want to do is
to change the Stack settings with the output of both inverters closed
(activated). There are built-in protections but I'd rather not find out if
they work ;-)

I can't speak for the OB inverters as far as welding goes but they seem to
have a tremendous surge capacity, probably quite a bit higher than what they
are rated at. This is what I meant by "underrated." On occasion someone
will turn on a big load while another big load is running (oops) with only
one inverter running everything and so far it has just kept going. Except
for the air compressor I mentioned. But it may have other problems. I have
ran my washing machine which is probably well over 1000 watts when it's
running along with my well pump which is around 2500 watts running at the
same time with a single VFX3648 and the X240 transformer with no problems.
I don't know exactly what the surge is when the washer kicks in to spin
cycle but it is possible that the well pump has come on during the spin
cycle so the combined total surge is likely way beyond the rating of the
inverter.

 

[Curbie]

I'm looking for some web-site(s) that a list of links to Solar panel &

inverter spec sheets.

It figures, I just spent two days putting an inverter data
spread-sheet together and HomePower releases the same thing in this
month's issue.

Have fun. (or try, anyway)

Curbie

 

[You]

You see Curbie is insulted by your good intention. Eeyore, you're not a
total idiot at time, but Curbie thinks he knows better than you. That's
why he ignores your recommendation, he wants to follow other idiots who
taught him about PMA generator/motor.

Just consider the source of the above.... this Yahoo is posting form an
AOL Account..... Nuf said....