EMMAACHILE:
I saw a DC inverter Ac compressor. How many panels do I need for it and what is the recommender spec?

The specs are
Model: 5KD240ZDA21
Power Supply: DC Inverter
Displacement(CC): 24
Refrigerant: R410A
Power(W): 2460
Cooling Capacity (BTU): 24293
COP(W/W): 2.89

earthrealm:
OK..REMAINING piece of puzzle is..if your system is 24v or 12v..........i suspect its 24v...cos if it was 12v...it should have burnt long ago....cos 500w/12v = 40amps n ur CC is just 20amps. 500w/24v is abt 25amps..........since most panels/installations arent 100% efficient, 25amps will not be getting to ur system except on rare occasions and being that ur batt bank was full again...compounded the problem as the CC was now battling 2 very dangerous problems.

the scenario i painted is scenario A.

SCENARIO B is the cable +ve batt cable pulling free/somehow disconnecting

TSHIRT2:

it is a 12v system,i've using it since 1st of january 2015

earthrealm:


12v!...strange it survived uptill this moment./i guess the placement of ur panels isnt optimal, thus u r not harvesting the full 500w from the panels....or ur panels could be fake alaba panels that are not upto the name plate wattage thus might be 300w n not 500w as stated

i wud recommend u save up and buy a 45amp/40 amp charge controller, that would be cheaper than converting ur system to a 24v n still maintaing a 20/30 amp charge controller

Saipro:
Great job everyone. Been following the thread for a few years now (since latching onto the complementary FTA thread). Been worried about the initial capital (despite minimal annual overhead) but the erratic spate of grid power supply has pushed me to my limits. I'm planning on investing in a 2kVA setup even though 1.5kVA should cater to my initial needs. My problem is I'm a stickler for what works and might be unwilling to expand later. I'm looking at getting 250W or 480W panels.

Could any of the big boys in the house (preferable everyone of you guys) come up with a likely suitable configuration? This would include not just equipment but brands too. I want something reasonable in price yet won't gimme headaches. Please include both AC and DC surge arresters as I absolutely hate regrets.

Thanks for your anticipated favourable contributions. On to you George_D, TotalGreen, BodeJohn et al

Saipro:
No response yet but I've chosen not to PM anyone (yet) as I want others to learn something from my tryouts. I've learnt a lot of things in life from the tryouts of others too. Awaiting suggestions. Thanks

GeorgeD1:
saipro,

you basically are starting off on the wrong foot. your first and most important consideration should be what total load you
plan to run and not on which configuration is better or cheaper. if you really want to avoid disappointments in the future
this is the way to go.

firstly get an idea of your total house load. that will help you get your optimal battery bank sizing which in turn will give you
what number of panels you will need to recharge your bank to your desired soc. after that you can talk of your bos
(balance of system) items viz charge controllers, surge arestors, etc

does any of this make sense to you?

Saipro:


Perfectly so. My apologies. I failed to mention I've had a generic 1.4kVA inverter backed by two 200Ah batteries in parallel. I've a standby charger in case I need a quick "fix" to charge my batteries (the inverter charges a bit slower). This system can be keep me running for 24 hours and up to 36 hours. It's been doing that since 2008 when I returned to Ilorin. Discounting my heavy equipment (which never go on the backup power anyway), my total consumption is maxed out at 1400W in a day, typically about 900W. This is about max 400W during the day on weekends (which is when people are home) and up to 500W at night (if they're watching movies till 2am).

I'd actually done a bit (translated = a lot)) of research on the subject matter and been using inverters since around the year 2000 (irregularly then but stable since 2008) and both savings and reliability is why I want to upgrade to a hybrid system. Don't get me wrong, if I knew it all, I wouldn't be here. My area of interest is power systems so I know enough to tell you the theoretical stuff and the application on the field don't always tally in results. Nor expectations.

That's why I've voiced out my interest here. I've humbly come forward to glean from your extensive collective library of experience. Together we stick; apart we're stuck. I'm a DIY kinda guy and I don't wanna get stuck.

Thanks once more. ALL helpful suggestions are welcome. And thanks GeorgeD1. Your response means a lot to me.

abunafiu:

Honestly, due to d inadequate info in ur first post made me not to comment so as not to mislead u. solar is misleading if u dont kmow what and why u want them. jusy as Chief George wrote.
The good part of it is that we are both in ilorin. I believe we can share a lot if we meet in person. It's going 2 be my pleasure to meet u if you don't mind.

TSHIRT2:
Pls my seniors advice me,pls i need a quick fix 4 my burnt 20a controller.
1:A 60amp pwm charge controler with lcd monitor and was said that can work with 2000w of panal. OR
2:A 40amp mppt charge controller without lcd monitor and said to work with 1000w of panel though not high end controla.
So which one shd i buy as quick fix 4 my 500w 12v system.All a product on Aliexpress.

abunafiu:

Honestly, due to d inadequate info in ur first post made me not to comment so as not to mislead u. solar is misleading if u dont kmow what and why u want them. jusy as Chief George wrote.
The good part of it is that we are both in ilorin. I believe we can share a lot if we meet in person. It's going 2 be my pleasure to meet u if you don't mind.

TSHIRT2:
Pls my seniors advice me,pls i need a quick fix 4 my burnt 20a controller.
1:A 60amp pwm charge controler with lcd monitor and was said that can work with 2000w of panal. OR
2:A 40amp mppt charge controller without lcd monitor and said to work with 1000w of panel though not high end controla.
So which one shd i buy as quick fix 4 my 500w 12v system.All a product on Aliexpress.

pranil:

I have a one month old Monringstar Tristar 60 AMP PWM with battery monitoring/temp cable and display ( TM-2) along with FLAT Serial cable and serial to USB adapter . I am happy to sell you as I will be moving to an MPPT charge controller/Charger/Inverter hybrid of 5 KVA . I am willing to sell NGN 40,000 for charge controller , 20,000 for display - all other stuff comes free if you buy both together ( almost 10,000 NGN value)



wbr

Anil

TSHIRT2:

Pls kindly drop ur phone number here or drop it in my mail:SHETEOLUBABATUNDE@GMAIL.COM,4 discussn.thanks

pranil:

I have a one month old Monringstar Tristar 60 AMP PWM with battery monitoring/temp cable and display ( TM-2) along with FLAT Serial cable and serial to USB adapter . I am happy to sell you as I will be moving to an MPPT charge controller/Charger/Inverter hybrid of 5 KVA . I am willing to sell NGN 40,000 for charge controller , 20,000 for display - all other stuff comes free if you buy both together ( almost 10,000 NGN value)



wbr

Anil

jmaine:
Hello folks, nice work going on here even though I have been a silent student learning from the masters before I take the plunge.

I just decided to contribute my own small quota in putting up the link below for newbies who seek more indepth knowledge of Solar in a very layman language.

http://www.bimblesolar.com/beginnersguide

@Saipro, the following link might just help you out in your quest before you hook up with abunafiu =======>

http://www.bimblesolar.com/solarcalc

Going back to studying mode . . . . . . .

bode4real:
@ all, got home 2day to b told dat my 1.4kva sukam inverter power switch nt functioning for past 2 weeks, tot it was d switch, but after removin d switch cable on d board stil refuse to power off. Every other tin on d inverter is workin well except not powering off. My family managed to power it off and on wit d breaker btw d inverter and bat3. PLS hope powering off and on wit dis breaker is safe? Also wot can b wrong. Wit d inverter. Thx