gslabbert5119
Well-known member
I am designing and installing a solar system from scratch, and being a computer guy and not an electrical guy there are many things that I do not understand clearly.
To date I have received immense help and assistance from Jim Tanner (Oregon_Camper) and I am most grateful, thank you Jim, and I will continue to use him as a resource until I get this all done and working the way I want it to. However I an the type of guy that needs multiple opinions and input until my brain wraps around this stuff.
So here is my main component list
Solar Panels
2 x 300w 24v Renogy (to be connected in parallel) I chose these instead of the 100w due to the footprint as well as the ability to expand to 1200w if necessary.
MPPT Controller
Aims Power 100 AMP Solar Charge Controller 12 / 24 / 36 / 48 VDC MPPT
Inverter Charger
Aims Power 3000 Watt Pure Sine Inverter Charger - ETL Certified Conforms to UL458 Standards
Why Aims Power... Price, value & performance plus available cash, (There may be better choices, only time will tell)
Batteries
6 x Trojan T-105 225 AH wired in series and parallel to provide 12v 675 ah (usable around 335 ah)
I took a serious look at Lithium, but just cannot afford 4 x 100ah Lithium batteries at $949 each. This will be my first major upgrade if my wife continues to enjoy the RV lifestyle and we solve the internet access issues while boondocking.
Battery Monitor
Victron BMV-712
Wiring
4/0 flexible welding
Various bus bars, fuses on - off switches and such
My question is about A/C power
Did you solar guys run a sub panel for the A/C circuits that you wanted the inverter to supply A/C current to, Items such as Microwave, tv, computer systems, furnace and such.
If you did this what items did you put on the sub panel?
Is it even necessary or is there some other way to isolate the A/C for now and have my little Honda EU22001 run the A/C, which brings me to a confusing point
If I am running the A/C from the generator and it is connected to 30/amp reel, how do I separate what goes to the main panel and the sub panel or is this basically pretty simple and I am missing something.
My lack of complete electrical understanding leaves a hole here, and I need to understand in laymans terms.
Why the need for what I think is a fairly large system (except maybe the number of batteries)
Well my wife works in an industry that requires high levels of security but can work from anywhere, but requires VPN and to be online 8 -10 hours a day.(Internet access is a whole different issue which I will be addressing later.
Lastly I would love to be able to run my A/C on solar but it is impractical.
Thoughts ideas and suggestions before I make a huge mistake here.
Gavin Slabbert
To date I have received immense help and assistance from Jim Tanner (Oregon_Camper) and I am most grateful, thank you Jim, and I will continue to use him as a resource until I get this all done and working the way I want it to. However I an the type of guy that needs multiple opinions and input until my brain wraps around this stuff.
So here is my main component list
Solar Panels
2 x 300w 24v Renogy (to be connected in parallel) I chose these instead of the 100w due to the footprint as well as the ability to expand to 1200w if necessary.
MPPT Controller
Aims Power 100 AMP Solar Charge Controller 12 / 24 / 36 / 48 VDC MPPT
Inverter Charger
Aims Power 3000 Watt Pure Sine Inverter Charger - ETL Certified Conforms to UL458 Standards
Why Aims Power... Price, value & performance plus available cash, (There may be better choices, only time will tell)
Batteries
6 x Trojan T-105 225 AH wired in series and parallel to provide 12v 675 ah (usable around 335 ah)
I took a serious look at Lithium, but just cannot afford 4 x 100ah Lithium batteries at $949 each. This will be my first major upgrade if my wife continues to enjoy the RV lifestyle and we solve the internet access issues while boondocking.
Battery Monitor
Victron BMV-712
Wiring
4/0 flexible welding
Various bus bars, fuses on - off switches and such
My question is about A/C power
Did you solar guys run a sub panel for the A/C circuits that you wanted the inverter to supply A/C current to, Items such as Microwave, tv, computer systems, furnace and such.
If you did this what items did you put on the sub panel?
Is it even necessary or is there some other way to isolate the A/C for now and have my little Honda EU22001 run the A/C, which brings me to a confusing point
If I am running the A/C from the generator and it is connected to 30/amp reel, how do I separate what goes to the main panel and the sub panel or is this basically pretty simple and I am missing something.
My lack of complete electrical understanding leaves a hole here, and I need to understand in laymans terms.
Why the need for what I think is a fairly large system (except maybe the number of batteries)
Well my wife works in an industry that requires high levels of security but can work from anywhere, but requires VPN and to be online 8 -10 hours a day.(Internet access is a whole different issue which I will be addressing later.
Lastly I would love to be able to run my A/C on solar but it is impractical.
Thoughts ideas and suggestions before I make a huge mistake here.
Gavin Slabbert
