Our 2nd Solar System
Committed to building an even better renewable energy system from much of what I learned from our 1st Solar System:
Components
- IronRidge 3” Ground Mount System @ 56 Degree Tilt
- 24 ReneSola 305W JC305M-24/Ab Panels (8 strings of 3, 2 arrays)
- Outback Power Radian GS8048 Inverter/Charger
- Outback Power Load Center GSLC175-PV-120/240 w/FNDC
- Outback Power MATE3S (Replaced original MATE3) – Connected with OpticsRE
- 2 Outback Power FlexMax80 MPPT Charge Controllers (80A, 150V max)
- Outback Power HUB-10 Communication Manager
- Outback Power Battery Temperature Sensor
- Outback Power FWPV-12 Combiner Box, 8 strings, with 2 Midnite Solar Surge Protectors on 2 runs
- Primary generator: Yanmar Slow-Turning, Energy Efficient 5KW 240V Diesel Generator w/AGS
- Backup generator: DuroMax XP13000EH Dual Fuel Portable Generator 13kW Gas or Propane Powered Electric Start
- GB Industrial Battery 24-125-13 48V 750AH (36 total kWh, 18 kWh usable at 50% DOD) w/watering system
Image Gallery
Posts
EG4 LiFePOWER4 BMS Replacement – A Step-By-Step Guide
For some, the BMS replacement may seem a bit daunting, but just follow this process to have your battery module back up and running.
Buss Bar Failures in Welded Pre-Assembled EG4 Enclosed Battery Rack
If you have received one of the racks from Signature Solar, you may want to check your buss bars.
How & Why to Wire Solar Panels in Parallel or in Series
When connecting multiple solar panels into an off-grid energy system, there are a few wiring options: parallel, series, or a hybrid (a combination of the two).
Going Off-Grid – Overview of Our Home Solar System
In order to build more familiarity with off-grid solar systems, we take a high-level overview of my home solar system.
Outback Power Radian GS8048 PCBA Control Module Replacement
Since this is the 2nd time I’ve replaced this Radian board, I thought I’d video the process.
About Our Solar Panels
In this video I talk about the 24 ReneSola 305W JC305M-24/Ab solar panels in our arrays. On some days, these panels actually produce more than their rated 305 watts. ReneSola JC305M-24/Ab
Iron Ridge Solar Panel Ground Mount
The Iron Ridge solar ground mount system is the first I’ve ever installed. It went well:
The Solar Panels Are Installed
Making great power! And my grilling faux pax. It turns out that the battery ended up having a bad cell. After addressing the grill fire, I continue with the Outback Power components:
West Solar Array Installed
Any day that can make power from the sun can be called a good day. Today was a good day. Ra would be proud. Mare helped me get the rest of the “West” array installed, 12 panels in all. Her help really makes a difference (two people can often make…
A Few Solar Panels Installed
Yep, I worked on Independence Day. Tomorrow I will not work. This is where it starts to get exciting (for me, anyway). Need to pick up a few items from Home Depot so I can get these producing some power!
Iron Ridge Solar Supports in the Ground
Anybody wanna help me put up 21 foot 3″ iron pipe over our heads? No? I didn’t think so. Guess I’ll do it myself, then. I was told this pipe weighs 8 pounds per foot. At 21 feet, that’s 168 pounds per pipe. I find that difficult to believe, but…
Solar Mount Foundations Complete
Building a solar array is typically not all that complicated or hard, but the rocky ground presented some unique challenges. It is a huge relief to be over this hurdle. Mare snuck up on me with the camera as I was finishing up with the last of the solar ground…
Installing Solar Mount Foundations
Well, I’ve got a strategy on the array pole concrete. I bought a mixer that can be used for some other projects I have planned and will just mix on site. I attempted to have gravel delivered (part of it for the concrete, the rest put down on the driveways)….
Installing the First Solar Mount Post
Since a solar array needs to be where the sun shines, any work done on it in an Alabama June will be hot! Mare suggests we setup our canopy. I comply, but find that I move around quite a bit and it tends to get in the way. Today, the…
Digging the Solar Mount Footers
Getting the solar array built has been a top priority for me, but, apparently, it’s not much of a concern for track hoe guys. Again, the frustration that stems from unreturned calls and no shows continues to build. Sometimes I’m more annoyed by the continual lack of customer service. Other times…
Iron Pipe for Solar Ground Mount Arrives
The array ground mount system purchased from IronRidge uses 3 inch schedule 40 iron pipe. Unlike the challenges I’ve had with other service providers, Cavco was much more responsive. They accurately turned the pipe order around within a few days and the delivery guys did all the heavy lifting and…
Running Outback Power Inverter Off of Battery
After getting a new MATE3 from Outback Power, the inverter is working fine with the forklift battery. I broke the original MATE3 when I was unpacking it. I tried to use the inverter with the broken MATE3, but no joy. Now that I have the battery installed, we can use…
Outback Power Inverter Moment of Truth – or Not
I got the commercial battery installed, so I can at least run the Radian inverter off of it and just keep it charged with the generator until I get the solar arrays installed. But I broke the screen on the MATE3 while unpacking it, so I’m not sure I will…
Outback Power Components Installed
Still waiting on the battery and to install the solar arrays, but the Outback Power components are installed inside the solar shed. Once the battery is installed, we can just use the generator to keep it charged up until the arrays go in.