Pushing a legal Mini Solar System to its LIMIT!
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Date: 2023-09-03
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Comments and reviews: 20
wol
Old Design Issues
- Limited to 600 watts, excess power goes to the grid without compensation.
- No energy storage system (ESS) to store excess solar power.
New Design Improvements
- Installed solar panels on the roof for better efficiency.
- Added energy meters to monitor power flow.
- Created a 48V battery pack using four 12V LiFePO4 batteries.
- Used Victron MultiPlus II for energy storage and management.
- Configured the system to use the battery pack as a 600W power source.
Performance Metrics
- Reduced grid power consumption to around 50 watts.
- Battery pack charges with excess solar power.
Future Improvements
- Need more solar panels for better utilization of the battery pack.
- Approval from local grid provider is required.
Positive Points (Sorted by Importance)
1. Modularity: The system is easily extendable and customizable.
2. Energy Storage: The new design includes a battery pack to store excess solar power.
3. Monitoring: Added energy meters for real-time monitoring of power flow.
4. Safety Measures: Included circuit breakers and surge protection devices.
5. Software Configuration: Allows fine-tuning of power usage and storage.
Negative Points (Sorted by Importance)
1. Cost-Effectiveness: The system is not yet cost-effective due to underutilization of the battery pack.
2. Complexity: The system requires a good understanding of electrical systems and may not be suitable for complete beginners.
3. Approval Required: The system needs approval from the local grid provider.
4. Installation Challenges: Difficulty in installing solar panels on the roof.
reply
Old Design Issues
- Limited to 600 watts, excess power goes to the grid without compensation.
- No energy storage system (ESS) to store excess solar power.
New Design Improvements
- Installed solar panels on the roof for better efficiency.
- Added energy meters to monitor power flow.
- Created a 48V battery pack using four 12V LiFePO4 batteries.
- Used Victron MultiPlus II for energy storage and management.
- Configured the system to use the battery pack as a 600W power source.
Performance Metrics
- Reduced grid power consumption to around 50 watts.
- Battery pack charges with excess solar power.
Future Improvements
- Need more solar panels for better utilization of the battery pack.
- Approval from local grid provider is required.
Positive Points (Sorted by Importance)
1. Modularity: The system is easily extendable and customizable.
2. Energy Storage: The new design includes a battery pack to store excess solar power.
3. Monitoring: Added energy meters for real-time monitoring of power flow.
4. Safety Measures: Included circuit breakers and surge protection devices.
5. Software Configuration: Allows fine-tuning of power usage and storage.
Negative Points (Sorted by Importance)
1. Cost-Effectiveness: The system is not yet cost-effective due to underutilization of the battery pack.
2. Complexity: The system requires a good understanding of electrical systems and may not be suitable for complete beginners.
3. Approval Required: The system needs approval from the local grid provider.
4. Installation Challenges: Difficulty in installing solar panels on the roof.
reply
Ur_Quain
All those breakers and shunts and zigby adapters and yadda yadda is really going to add up. cost wise.
I did 20kw of solar for around 12k US, 15k if you count mistakes made along the way, and some unfortunate equipment failures. I have two small microgrid systems like in the video, and about 10kw worth of micro and string inverters that backfeeds the grid. I did it all myself and then had it inspected. I am lucky in several ways, I had land available to mount most panels on the ground. I also have one grid connection that goes to four households, so I have an absolutely huge base load compared to my usage. I send about 8-10% power back to the grid, the rest gets used up or stored in batteries. If I were in a high cost of electricity, it would pay for itself much faster, but 2 years in and it'll be paid off in 3 more years.
One drawback is it was kind of a hobby, I started with the microinverters. I added a 5kw string inverter, then two hybrid inverters and batteries. But now everything just works, and it isn't much of a hobby. Adding on to what I currently have will have drastically reduced ROI, as whatever I add will largely go back to the grid and they only pay 1/3 of what they charge me. I need to improve the temperatures that my hybrid inverters see. everything is outdoors but dry. They experienced temperatures this summer that this area has never seen before. Not sure how to best go about this.
reply
All those breakers and shunts and zigby adapters and yadda yadda is really going to add up. cost wise.
I did 20kw of solar for around 12k US, 15k if you count mistakes made along the way, and some unfortunate equipment failures. I have two small microgrid systems like in the video, and about 10kw worth of micro and string inverters that backfeeds the grid. I did it all myself and then had it inspected. I am lucky in several ways, I had land available to mount most panels on the ground. I also have one grid connection that goes to four households, so I have an absolutely huge base load compared to my usage. I send about 8-10% power back to the grid, the rest gets used up or stored in batteries. If I were in a high cost of electricity, it would pay for itself much faster, but 2 years in and it'll be paid off in 3 more years.
One drawback is it was kind of a hobby, I started with the microinverters. I added a 5kw string inverter, then two hybrid inverters and batteries. But now everything just works, and it isn't much of a hobby. Adding on to what I currently have will have drastically reduced ROI, as whatever I add will largely go back to the grid and they only pay 1/3 of what they charge me. I need to improve the temperatures that my hybrid inverters see. everything is outdoors but dry. They experienced temperatures this summer that this area has never seen before. Not sure how to best go about this.
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education
instead using multiplus II inverter, best solution should be Easy solar II GX (inverter + battery charged + MPPT PV in only one box) + one current clamp connected to the inverter for measuring actual power, you can have a complete ESS system, without using external mini inverter and very slow in response to variable load rs485 power meter. you can set up the easy solar for a grid tie system (no power back to mains). I've a installation with Easy solar II GX with 2. 4 kw solar panel + 14kw/h batterry, in one year I produced and stored, 2. 5 MW of power consumed only in my home, nothing send back to the grid I hope will be inspiration for new video
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instead using multiplus II inverter, best solution should be Easy solar II GX (inverter + battery charged + MPPT PV in only one box) + one current clamp connected to the inverter for measuring actual power, you can have a complete ESS system, without using external mini inverter and very slow in response to variable load rs485 power meter. you can set up the easy solar for a grid tie system (no power back to mains). I've a installation with Easy solar II GX with 2. 4 kw solar panel + 14kw/h batterry, in one year I produced and stored, 2. 5 MW of power consumed only in my home, nothing send back to the grid I hope will be inspiration for new video
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John
The problem with the decentralized energy solutions are, it's missing the CHEAP storage solution. At the current price of electricity it just doesn't make sense to store it. If no storage, then all the energy gets pushed into the energy grid which leads to the strange case, where you have to pay to feed in electricity due to over-supply (of solar/wind energy.
=> to make green energy work, we need to solve the problem of cheap storage
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The problem with the decentralized energy solutions are, it's missing the CHEAP storage solution. At the current price of electricity it just doesn't make sense to store it. If no storage, then all the energy gets pushed into the energy grid which leads to the strange case, where you have to pay to feed in electricity due to over-supply (of solar/wind energy.
=> to make green energy work, we need to solve the problem of cheap storage
reply
Kristoffer
I wish my gov would allow the small grid tied 500watt wall socket configs: (
Where i live you need approval from the gov and a new special power meter.
In my case i just build a 1. 5KWP solar array that tracks the sun in 2 axis and then its connected to a growatt 48 volt offgrid inverter with a 2kwh lifepo4 battery pack that i can also use in my DIY e-bike
the entire thing paid for itself in 4 years
reply
I wish my gov would allow the small grid tied 500watt wall socket configs: (
Where i live you need approval from the gov and a new special power meter.
In my case i just build a 1. 5KWP solar array that tracks the sun in 2 axis and then its connected to a growatt 48 volt offgrid inverter with a 2kwh lifepo4 battery pack that i can also use in my DIY e-bike
the entire thing paid for itself in 4 years
reply
Outroduce1
The easiest way to actually get your solar panels on the roof, is to simply slide them on your ladder (with shorter side resting on your biceps as you climb up) and another person already up on the roof will grab the opossite side, you won't damage them that way and it is pretty safe. Personally, I've gotten thousands of PV modules on the roofs that way.
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The easiest way to actually get your solar panels on the roof, is to simply slide them on your ladder (with shorter side resting on your biceps as you climb up) and another person already up on the roof will grab the opossite side, you won't damage them that way and it is pretty safe. Personally, I've gotten thousands of PV modules on the roofs that way.
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Insyder
Here in the Netherlands we have a thing called saldering, where anything that you push back to the grid will be deducted from your monthly bill, but that's going to be abolished in the next few years, so I was looking into a system like this as well, and you did exactly what I was planning to do, so thanks for saving me some time figuring everything out!
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Here in the Netherlands we have a thing called saldering, where anything that you push back to the grid will be deducted from your monthly bill, but that's going to be abolished in the next few years, so I was looking into a system like this as well, and you did exactly what I was planning to do, so thanks for saving me some time figuring everything out!
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Duncyy
Nice setup. But if back feeding is a problem, why not go with MPPT's on the DC bus of the Victron set? Right now if something happens with the Victron set (or the breaker get tripped) you will still feed back to the grid. Alternative, connect the inverters to the output of the multiplus. Also this way solar will still work in case of a blackout.
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Nice setup. But if back feeding is a problem, why not go with MPPT's on the DC bus of the Victron set? Right now if something happens with the Victron set (or the breaker get tripped) you will still feed back to the grid. Alternative, connect the inverters to the output of the multiplus. Also this way solar will still work in case of a blackout.
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Vijfsnippervijf
Pretty interesting to see: The 8 bit guy has a similar system. It consists of a number of solar panels connected to a battery pack which is conned to the home circuits to power via a manual transfer switch or interlocked circuit. This does basically exactly the same, just without any tie to the grid.
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Pretty interesting to see: The 8 bit guy has a similar system. It consists of a number of solar panels connected to a battery pack which is conned to the home circuits to power via a manual transfer switch or interlocked circuit. This does basically exactly the same, just without any tie to the grid.
reply
DrFiero
On my system, I had it setup wrong at first (for at least a month) and was backfeeding due to overgeneration (and don't worry, it's anti-islanded. Unfortunately, I have a conventional meter (not bi-directional) so all the excess power was being BILLED to me! Yeah. my power bill went UP for a while! Ooooops.
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On my system, I had it setup wrong at first (for at least a month) and was backfeeding due to overgeneration (and don't worry, it's anti-islanded. Unfortunately, I have a conventional meter (not bi-directional) so all the excess power was being BILLED to me! Yeah. my power bill went UP for a while! Ooooops.
reply
John
Should be able to use the AC in and Out put so you can have an emergency sub panel that is battery backed up. So if the grid power go down, you can power everything off the multi plus. Legion Solar make a system using same idea to have plug and play systems without feeding the grid and no permit and just diy.
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Should be able to use the AC in and Out put so you can have an emergency sub panel that is battery backed up. So if the grid power go down, you can power everything off the multi plus. Legion Solar make a system using same idea to have plug and play systems without feeding the grid and no permit and just diy.
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Tructruc
There is a big concern with the old design, the leaking energy that goes into the grid can be dangerous for the technicians working on the grid because they can disconnect the power input but they don't know that you are sending electricity and so they could be electrocuted so be careful guys
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There is a big concern with the old design, the leaking energy that goes into the grid can be dangerous for the technicians working on the grid because they can disconnect the power input but they don't know that you are sending electricity and so they could be electrocuted so be careful guys
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Kreciq
If there is a lack of voltage from the grid, then there will also be a lack of power from the PV, because the grid inverter is responsible for the PV and it does not work without voltage from the grid.
This Victron does not have a PV MPPT charger, which at this price point is ridiculous.
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If there is a lack of voltage from the grid, then there will also be a lack of power from the PV, because the grid inverter is responsible for the PV and it does not work without voltage from the grid.
This Victron does not have a PV MPPT charger, which at this price point is ridiculous.
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Sinder
as I can see, you faced the same problem that made me abort by solar/battery project: you didn't find a convincing 3 phase inverter. I ended up selling 100% of my energy production, which makes sense as I sell electricity at twice the price I buy it, but is useless in case of a power outage
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as I can see, you faced the same problem that made me abort by solar/battery project: you didn't find a convincing 3 phase inverter. I ended up selling 100% of my energy production, which makes sense as I sell electricity at twice the price I buy it, but is useless in case of a power outage
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Brian
From the title, I first thought of a tabletop model of the Solar System, with planets revolving on coat hangers around a yellow ping pong ball. And I was like. wait, how would you make an illegal one? Great video about solar energy, but I would like to see the other thing sometime too haha
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From the title, I first thought of a tabletop model of the Solar System, with planets revolving on coat hangers around a yellow ping pong ball. And I was like. wait, how would you make an illegal one? Great video about solar energy, but I would like to see the other thing sometime too haha
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Jadon
Wow! Looked into setting up a much smaller similar system, but here in the States, we don't have systems in the grid to handle backfeeding, so it's harder to utilize mains and solar at the same time. Apparently backfeeding here can cause failures or harm to workers so the fines are big!
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Wow! Looked into setting up a much smaller similar system, but here in the States, we don't have systems in the grid to handle backfeeding, so it's harder to utilize mains and solar at the same time. Apparently backfeeding here can cause failures or harm to workers so the fines are big!
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TheBackyardChemist
Note that some electric companies in Europe strictly prohibit customers feeding any power into the grid without a permit from them. You can get fined and have your power disconnected for unauthorized backfeeding. So be careful and read your local laws and the contract!
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Note that some electric companies in Europe strictly prohibit customers feeding any power into the grid without a permit from them. You can get fined and have your power disconnected for unauthorized backfeeding. So be careful and read your local laws and the contract!
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sylas
You can actually be fined for pushing power back to the grid without telling the power company where I live (basically they want more money along with you giving them electricity. I don't think they really have a way of knowing who is doing this or not though.
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You can actually be fined for pushing power back to the grid without telling the power company where I live (basically they want more money along with you giving them electricity. I don't think they really have a way of knowing who is doing this or not though.
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TecSanento
Why dont you just. add more Inverters and panels to the roof, while you work on it the roof anyways?
Adding more panels should always be the option before adding a battery - you could even make those panels stop producing once exporting power.
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Why dont you just. add more Inverters and panels to the roof, while you work on it the roof anyways?
Adding more panels should always be the option before adding a battery - you could even make those panels stop producing once exporting power.
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education
Sounds good. The problem is the price of the batteries. It drasticaly reduces the ROI. At the moment, I prefer send Power to the grid a lost money. I do not dose that much as I now consume as much I can during sunny days (boilers, HVAC.
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Sounds good. The problem is the price of the batteries. It drasticaly reduces the ROI. At the moment, I prefer send Power to the grid a lost money. I do not dose that much as I now consume as much I can during sunny days (boilers, HVAC.
reply
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