A Forum run by Enthusiasts of MidNite Solar

Gallery of Installation pictures => Owner Installed system pictures => Topic started by: phxmark on November 08, 2014, 02:22:53 PM

Title: Off Grid System in Maricopa, AZ
Post by: phxmark on November 08, 2014, 02:22:53 PM
This is the system I installed for my friend in Maricopa, AZ.

Midnite Solar Classic 200
Magnum MS-4024PAE Inverter
Magnum Mini Panel
2 Universal Battery 12v-200ah Batteries
10 UpSolar 240W Panels in five strings of two panels
Homemade shelf for the batteries
Homemade mounts for the solar panels
Sun 600w Grid Tie inverter controlled by Aux1 when batteries are fully charged

So far the system puts out about 9kwh per day.  The house is not a heavy user of electricity.
Title: Re: Off Grid System in Maricopa, AZ
Post by: zoneblue on November 09, 2014, 01:18:56 PM
Nice photos. Is this full off grid or grid backup?

If the former you might want to consider looking at your inverter to battery ratio. Dont you have a
4kW inverter drawing 196Amps at rated load, and a 200Ah battery? Thats 1C, and quite a lot!
Title: Re: Off Grid System in Maricopa, AZ
Post by: phxmark on November 09, 2014, 03:45:59 PM
It is an off grid system, but does have the capability to connect back to the grid.  The house doesn't use that much energy.  I have only managed to put the inverter into overload once when using an A/C, microwave oven, water distiller and electric grill at the same time, otherwise it seems to hold up quite well.  I have only drawn the batteries down to around 52% so far.  I get about 6 hours out of the batteries with slightly modified electric usage from normal during the night. My friend is making plans to add another bank of batteries when she gets the money.  Issue is the space where the system is located is a small closet.

I have had the Classic put out it's maximum rated current of 78 amps.  The fans were all humming at the time.  The inverter at that time was pushing about 3kw pulling about 130 amps total.  78 amps from charge controller and the rest from the batteries.

I have a 600W grid tie inverter that clicks on when the batteries are fully charged and there isn't that much current draw.  I watched the electric meter Saturday and a little over 2kwh was rolled back on the dials through the day
.