Mike, could you describe your battery blg.?

[BilljustBill]

Mike,

I've seen pictures you've posted showing your battery storage building. I'm wondering how you are connecting the bank's power to your house?

Are you converting power to AC and then to the house? Can you describe how far away is it from the house as well as both your battery connector wire and underground wiring specs?

Thanks,
Bill

[Mike90250]

The battery and generator sheds are mirror images of each other, with a walkway in between.

The inverter is in the shed with the batteries, and will feed an underground conduit, with 2 ga aluminum wire. The run to the house site is about 400' and has to go over a bridge over a creek.

There is also another conduit that runs 800' of 2 ga to a pumphouse, for the pump in the pond, to elevate water 60' to tanks for pressure.

After the long runs, the aluminum wire will transition in a J box, to copper. I'v also evaluated using transformers and running 480VAC, but that gets the building inspector nervous.

[BilljustBill]

Discovered more used panels: I'm up to 1kw of panel watts....

Mike, thanks for the insight and materials used... Are you using LP gas for your standby generator?

As a new development, let me tell you how "Chance" played in finding more solar panels. From an old Surplus business where I bought many things I used in building the workshop before it closed back in the 90's.... by sheer chance, I ran into its original owner.

Here it is, years later, from the chance meeting with the original surplus business's owner at a local Mexican Restaurant, just last Friday night, I brought these home late Sunday afternoon: Five Siemens 12 volt, 75 watt Monocrystillan solar panels; each has 36 solar cells. All totaled, they equal 375 watts on paper, plus I got the large metal framework they were originally to.

Solar panel mounting rack from Highway Dept. lighted sign trailer. First solar panel in place and it will hold six panels as it's designed. Can be expanded for more panels....

All for $250.00.... Hauled home late Sunday afternoon, March 15, 2010. ;>)

The sun has been hiding, today!!! Rain coming tomorrow, too. The fellow sold these with his word that if any aren't working, just bring them back!! 'Just wish I could do a good checkup to see what they actually output. By looking at the Specs, can you tell their mfg. date? Ten years old?

Bill

[Mike90250]

... By looking at the Specs, can you tell their mfg. date? Ten years old?

Bill

Week 18 of '97 is my guess.

Genset is 1930 Lister 650 rpm diesel clone. supposed to be good for 50,000 hrs between overhauls, except for de-cokeing.