how to set up my own small solar energy system

[gizmoramos]

correct me with some details.
I live in the Philippines, lets say our location get at least 6-7hrs of sunlight(probably exaggerating, but lets put it that way to have some figures), disregarding of weather conditions, since we are a tropical country.

I'm planning to be 100% dependent on solar energy the following:

Lighting: working for 7hrs
4 light bulbs (20W each)

Computer Set: working for 15hrs
1 LCD monitor (12V 5A) - 60W
1 CPU power supply (220V 3A) - and it says there 500W

1 TV (180W) 5hrs
2 Electric Fan (50W) 15hrs

so if i am correct, a total of 920WH. to make it simple, lets put it to 1000W if that would be easier for me to digest.

now after identifying these details, what's next? battery size, charge controller, inverter, solar panel size. how do i know which is best?

sorry for a redundant topic. but I would like to know the "ins and outs" of this system
in my own simple example.

[gizmoramos]

oh I think it should be 11360WH instead. correct?

Im quite confused

[Mike90250]

Next is your check book. it's not what you need, its how much can you afford to pay ?

For each appliance, total it's watts x hours = watt hours


Just these 2:

1 TV (180W) 5hrs
2 Electric Fan (50W) 15hrs

180 x 5 = 900wh
100 x 15 = 1500wh total 2400wh Are you sick yet ?

[Sunking]

180 x 5 = 900wh
100 x 15 = 1500wh total 2400wh Are you sick yet ?

He will be once he learns it cost around $3000/Kwh, so right now he is staring at 2.4 x 3000 = $7200 USD.

[gizmoramos]

oooh.

so lights = 560Wh
computer set = 8400Wh
TV+fan = 2400WH

total of 11,360Wh or 11.36kWh
correct?

i'd like to know what sizes of battery, chargers, inverters, and PV modules i have to prepare for this set up..

disregarding the cost of materials.

[Sunking]

oooh.

so lights = 560Wh
computer set = 8400Wh
TV+fan = 2400WH

total of 11,360Wh or 11.36kWh
correct?

i'd like to know what sizes of battery, chargers, inverters, and PV modules i have to prepare for this set up.. .

I will assume 3 Sun Hours in winter, using a MPPT controllers.

• Panel wattage = 5680 watts or about $11,360
• You will have to run a 48 volts for this monster so at 48 volts you will need 1200 Amp Hours, Weight = 3500 pounds and cost around $9000. Plus you will need spill containment and a very expensive permit from the and yearly inspections from the local fire department.
• You will need two MPPT charge controllers rated at 60 amps, cost around $1000 for both units. You will have to divide your 5680 watt panels into 2 systems of 2840 watts for each of the 2 controller 1 good quality 1500 watt True Sine Wave Inverter cost $750
• Wiring, cabinets, distribution, disconnects, GFD ect. another $5000.

It is no small solar system, it is a monster sized off-grid system.

[gizmoramos]

I reside in the Philippines. and we get about 6-7hrs of sunlight as indicated in the first post. since we are a tropical country, even in winter (rainy season), we get an ample amount of sunlight a day. lets say about 5-6hrs max in winter, 7hrs max in summer. here in our location.

how did you come up with that size of panels? Cant I just get a 2kw PV array to set up. and probably thinking of 12V 100ah deep cycle batteries (6pcs) and a charge controller plus an inverter ahaha

[Mike90250]

Even if we call your winter sunshine at 5 hours, it's still going to be a heck of a system. you actually use more power than I do in my house in the states, on the grid !

Conserve !

Every $1 you spend on conservation, is about $5 you dont have to spend on generating power.

If you skimp on PV, your batteries die in 2 years. If you skimp on batteries, you have to run genset a lot. You CAN find a bit of middle ground, if you have a generator, and can commit to running it for 90 minutes every morning, to put the beginnings of a charge into the batteries, and let a smaller solar array top it off the rest of the day.

You can use a 75W laptop for the bulk of your computer usage, and only use the desktop for the large jobs. $500 spent on a laptop, conserves $2000 of solar array.

[gizmoramos]

ok.. i'll try to minimize my power consumption. As i have been researching on how to determine my specifications for solar.

i came up with this specs for my system.
2200W solar array
1.5kW Inverter
36pcs on 100ah deepcycle batteries
and charge controllers. (don't know yet the specs for this one, but i will allot a budget for this gizmo)

and it will only cost me about $20k+ which is fair enough i guess. thinking that it would last for 10-25yrs as they say it was, its a good return on my investment if calculated for long-term.
about P1M here in the Philippines will be a good budget to set up a system like the said specs above.

[axis11]

Hi Kabayan,

I hope this will help.Try to see how many Kwh you have used in the previous months using your electric bills. Often times power ratings on the devices are not accurate. I think you actually consume less than what you have calculated. Have a check and let us know.

[gizmoramos]

hello

the thing is. I dont know the real consumption that I am really using on these materials. since Meralco is billing us on what and how much they supply us. I want these loads to be 100% solar dependent.

so i just looked at their ratings instead of actually knowing how much wattage they consume per day.

do you yourself have a solar installation?. thanks kabayan

[axis11]

Yes I have a 900 watt off-grid system,not yet fully completed though.On your meralco bill,look at the previous and present reading and next to it is the kwh used. You cant use the amount since cost per kwh depends on which bracket it falls.Meaning if you use less, you will be charged lower price per kwh than if you use higher kwh. I mentioned you are using less than what u calculated ex. 500w for a computer.Maybe your looking at the voltage regulators max ratings.

[gizmoramos]

may i know what loads do you have running on that 900W solar system? and how many hours?

i really need to know how to set up a solar energy system, ahaha. since you are a fellow Filipino, we can relate to our situation ahahah

I think i am looking at max ratings of the regulators, its just an assumption anyways.

[russ]

I really need to know how to set up a solar energy system, ahaha. since you are a fellow Filipino, we can relate to our situation ahahah

John P knows your local situation as well - different problems for different places.

Russ

[axis11]

Im running evething in the house.Small household though. 1100 watt flat iron,800 watt rice cooker,CRT TV,washing machine, 1/2hp waterpump, electric fans,hot,and cold water dispenser,800watt electric stove,lights.Refrigerator is broken, so i have not tried. And even if the wattage of the appliances are high, I run them simultaneously,not at the same time,and only for the time I really need to use them. I use most of them during the day after I have fully charged the battery and the sun is still high up. Im actually using more today than when I was using the grid.