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Going with Offgrid Solar

Buy a manual transfer switch and reroute the power from the meter box into the transfer switch then refeed your main breaker box. Then wire the output of the inverter to the free legs on the transfer switch.

This way you can use either solar or line power and no mistakes are made.

Found this video about wiring up a critical load panel where you put your solar powered loads in a sub-panel.


The SunGold inverter will have AC grid power supplied to it (AC in?) , so if my batteries can't keep up, the grid will take over ?
 
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Then the only other way you could do it is to transfer those loads to the 100amp sub, put the transfer switch between the main and the sub, and feed the solar there.

I think it's rather crazy not the run the entire house, but if you don't have enough battery power then yes, limit your loads.

I'd still get the 200 amp transfer switch just in case you want to switch the entire house to solar or line power in the future.
 
Found this video about wiring up a critical load panel where you put your solar powered loads in a sub-panel.


The SunGold inverter will have AC grid power supplied to it (AC in?) , so if my batteries can't keep up, the grid will take over ?

The inverter will be set to AC mode by default and will use AC exclusively until you lose your power, then it'll switch to battery mode, and when power is restored it'll go back.

Problem is you can't be charging from solar (solar panels and charge controllers) and the inverter at the same time, one or the other.

I do not have AC into my inverter, and have it set default to battery mode.
 
I think it's rather crazy not the run the entire house, but if you don't have enough battery power then yes, limit your loads.

I'd still get the 200 amp transfer switch just in case you want to switch the entire house to solar or line power in the future.
Great advice and you have convinced me to install the transfer switch to run the entire house.
I'm buying that 200 amp transfer switch (y)
 
On the power cable from the battery pack, what do you recommend for protection, a breaker or class T fuse ?
Here is what I've seen online ; a 200 amp class T fuse protects the red power wire from the batteries to the inverter :


1654775337386.png

The class T fuse holder I like has lug connections. I was going to use a 225 amp fuse ($38)

1654776128308.png

Some prefer to use a breaker ? Here's a 60V 200 amp for $55 :
 
On the power cable from the battery pack, what do you recommend for protection, a breaker or class T fuse ?
Here is what I've seen online ; a 200 amp class T fuse protects the red power wire from the batteries to the inverter :


View attachment 5725

The class T fuse holder I like has lug connections. I was going to use a 225 amp fuse ($38)

View attachment 5726

Some prefer to use a breaker ? Here's a 60V 200 amp for $55 :

How many batteries do you have and what is the AH of each?
 
Is there a limit on the wire size for the battery to the inverter ? Most use 2/0 gauge. I don't see any reason to not use 4/0 since it connects with a lug ?

Here's how I did it:

Get equal lengths of battery cables from each battery 2/0 is perfect, and join those at a terminal like this, then 4/0 cables (1 red, 1 black) from those terminals to the inverter.

It's critical to make sure each battery has the same length cable to the terminal so they drain and charge at the same rate.
 
Here's how I did it:

Get equal lengths of battery cables from each battery 2/0 is perfect, and join those at a terminal like this, then 4/0 cables (1 red, 1 black) from those terminals to the inverter.

It's critical to make sure each battery has the same length cable to the terminal so they drain and charge at the same rate.
Thanks, that is exactly what I thought. :)
 
I have the panels all connected to the Midnite Solar combiner box. I will run 2 cables (4 awg- red and black) to each charge controller from the combiner box.
Question : I was going to install a ground rod out by the solar panels and connect the combiner box to this ground.
At the house, I would install another ground rod and connect the charge controllers and inverter to that ground rod.

Do these ground rods need to be connected ?
 
I have the panels all connected to the Midnite Solar combiner box. I will run 2 cables (4 awg- red and black) to each charge controller from the combiner box.
Question : I was going to install a ground rod out by the solar panels and connect the combiner box to this ground.
At the house, I would install another ground rod and connect the charge controllers and inverter to that ground rod.

Do these ground rods need to be connected ?

Ground the panels (jump a #10 ground wire to each strut), then connect to the combiner, then to the ground rod. Must be an 8' ground rod. Do not use a galvanized rod, get the copper rod.

At the house, connect all the grounds from the inverter and charge controllers to your electrical box (ground bar inside the electrical panel). Your house is already grounded in multiple locations, so no need to drive an additional ground rod at the house.
 
Ground the panels (jump a #10 ground wire to each strut), then connect to the combiner, then to the ground rod. Must be an 8' ground rod. Do not use a galvanized rod, get the copper rod.

At the house, connect all the grounds from the inverter and charge controllers to your electrical box (ground bar inside the electrical panel). Your house is already grounded in multiple locations, so no need to drive an additional ground rod at the house.
Sounds good :) (y)
 
Update !
We finally got a break in the heat wave, so I finally finished burying the wires from the solar panels to the house.
I have two charge controllers at the house and each one handles 12 panels of 440 watts each.
So I had to run 4 gauge wires about 90 feet to connect the house to the panels (360 ft of 4 gauge THNN was about $690)
Next step is grounding everything like Kevin recommended, finishing the wiring around the batteries/inverter inside
and installing my 3 ton mini-split.
I will see how the solar handles the 3 ton heat pump before scaling larger.


Solar panel ground mount

1660875990880.jpeg

Trench running from panels to house


1660874712200.jpeg

Wires from panels entering the basement

1660874830092.jpeg

Wires entering the basement (duct tape holding pipe because it isn't glued yet) :)

1660874928444.jpeg

The "combiner box" under the solar panels. There is one breaker for every two panels.
My panels are 50 volts and 10 amps; if you connect 2 in series you have 100 volts and
10 amps going to each circuit breaker (12 breakers= 24 solar panels).


1660875296729.jpeg

Combiner box closed and locked ! Thought Kevin would like this ! :)

1660876240743.jpeg
 
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Update !
We finally got a break in the heat wave, so I finally finished burying the wires from the solar panels to the house.
I have two charge controllers at the house and each one handles 12 panels of 440 watts each.
So I had to run 4 gauge wires about 90 feet to connect the house to the panels (360 ft of 4 gauge THNN was about $690)
Next step is grounding everything like Kevin recommended, finishing the wiring around the batteries/inverter inside
and installing my 3 ton mini-split.
I will see how the solar handles the 3 ton heat pump before scaling larger.


Solar panel ground mount

View attachment 7223

Trench running from panels to house


View attachment 7219

Wires from panels entering the basement

View attachment 7220

Wires entering the basement (duct tape holding pipe because it isn't glued yet) :)

View attachment 7221

The "combiner box" under the solar panels. There is one breaker for every two panels.
My panels are 50 volts and 10 amps; if you connect 2 in series you have 100 volts and
10 amps going to each circuit breaker (12 breakers= 24 solar panels).


View attachment 7222

Combiner box closed and locked ! Thought Kevin would like this ! :)

View attachment 7224

Nicely done. Kudos.

Pretty soon you'll begin to see the benefits. We've been totally offgrid for 1 month today at our new property and it's been great.
 
I'm almost done with the wiring. Just one more (easy) question :
Do you remember the size of the wires used for the "ac out" from the inverter to your load panel ?
Hope I'm calling the stuff by the right name


1662169213742.jpeg
 
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