See more at: produceyourgreenpower.com Solar wind hybrid system used to power shop lights, small power tools, radio and a fan. Using dynohub wind generator
Well, I think I’ve finally finished my home solar project. After doing a lot of reading, I believe I have an otherwise decent and safe system. I tried to design it around the NEC’s Article 690 as much as “practical”. I’ve added additional components, and changed a few things around. It’s been an enjoyable and worthwhile learning experience. I read “free” books on design, operation & maintenance, and safety, along with referencing the National Electrical Code in relation to PV systems. After playing with my new Grid Tie inverter, I’m convinced that it’s a good addition to any system that produces 500+ Watts of power. My system is not the best and my way is not the only way to implement a home system, but I hope my ideas helps someone along the way. For those that wish to truly learn about Stand-Alone PV system design etc, the following are excellent free books I downloaded and used: 1.) Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Systems – (by Sandia National Labs) 2.) Maintenance And Operation of Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Systems (Sandia) 3.) Working Safely with Photovoltaic Systems (Sandia National Labs) 4.) Photovoltaic Power Systems And the 2005 NEC: Suggested Practices Simply google the titles and download the pdf’s, and your good to go. Good Fortune, and have fun. Latest Diagrams: (Expanded System) dc254.4shared.com (Initial System) dc382.4shared.com Other useful links; photovoltaics.sandia.gov photovoltaics.sandia.gov
Video Rating: 5 / 5
49 comments
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london1817 says:
December 17, 2012 at 5:04 pm (UTC 0)
Thanks! I tried.
2012solarful says:
December 17, 2012 at 5:51 pm (UTC 0)
great vid
makeSOLARPANELS says:
December 17, 2012 at 6:29 pm (UTC 0)
★★★★
Thanks, I love solar energy, I’ve built 3 panels… very cheap. I have posted the guide if anybody interested..
Easy and useful!I hope it helps someone!
london1817 says:
December 17, 2012 at 6:58 pm (UTC 0)
no, this doesn’t make any noise.
bhgoats100 says:
December 17, 2012 at 7:15 pm (UTC 0)
does this make a loud noise
london1817 says:
December 17, 2012 at 7:16 pm (UTC 0)
They are 15 watts a panel…3 panels.
wajahatkhan says:
December 17, 2012 at 7:25 pm (UTC 0)
What are the specs of your solar panels? Are they 50 W ? 🙂
london1817 says:
December 17, 2012 at 8:17 pm (UTC 0)
not that I know of…I just took 2 seperate systems and combined…you could go to “other power.com” and get ideas…thats where all mine come from.
wotan237 says:
December 17, 2012 at 8:52 pm (UTC 0)
is there a cheap how-to manual out there to build such a set up?
bobinmissouri says:
December 17, 2012 at 9:10 pm (UTC 0)
i left a coment on your home page let me know if this motor is big enuff
Ahmad Azzam says:
December 17, 2012 at 9:12 pm (UTC 0)
coool and smart 😀
london1817 says:
December 17, 2012 at 9:42 pm (UTC 0)
Thanks man!
skaterfilms200 says:
December 17, 2012 at 10:21 pm (UTC 0)
i like your halfpipe
london1817 says:
December 17, 2012 at 10:35 pm (UTC 0)
Thanks! The turbine… I made so It was altogether like 40 dollars.
jwaflergmailcom says:
December 17, 2012 at 11:00 pm (UTC 0)
hey love your code system!!!!! lol Nice set up !!! how much was that Turbine!!!!
DJMC5ive says:
December 17, 2012 at 11:51 pm (UTC 0)
its very pretty! I’m out on the outer banks right now, its rainy. I’m one of those people who walks around all day thinking about how I can reduce or eliminate my energy consumption, or at least offset the cost of a bill by some other means. I might just sell one day, and move away to somewhere with less regulation. (which seems silly to me, that everyone promotes green living then turns around and makes it against the rules).
london1817 says:
December 18, 2012 at 12:01 am (UTC 0)
cool! how do you like it out here? Really green out here!
DJMC5ive says:
December 18, 2012 at 12:23 am (UTC 0)
Thanks! I’m actually on vacation in NC right now 😛
london1817 says:
December 18, 2012 at 12:58 am (UTC 0)
Good for you! I felt the same way and moved from San diego calif. to the foothills of
NC….Big change but I am able to be me & do what I want to do …….so go for it!
DJMC5ive says:
December 18, 2012 at 1:41 am (UTC 0)
I think that what you are doing is a beautiful expression of the human nature of invention and creativity. I feel that so much of the rules that govern American hoa’s etc limit creativity and attempts to bring self sufficiency. Feels like, that in the name of property values, we are molded and forced to be the same. I am seriously jealous of those who have these freedoms such as you, and one day…The HOA can kiss my ass! I’m movin to somewhere where I can do what you do!
london1817 says:
December 18, 2012 at 2:35 am (UTC 0)
no….just hook em up together & straight to the batteries.
ProtocolsMaster says:
December 18, 2012 at 3:07 am (UTC 0)
hi, do you need a grid instalation when you have both wind turbine and solar panel? Im looking to install both wind and solar because my town is very resourceful on both.
london1817 says:
December 18, 2012 at 3:34 am (UTC 0)
I don’t have a good answer for that……………trust your heart.
SimianAxiom says:
December 18, 2012 at 3:57 am (UTC 0)
Someone replied to one of my posts their site and commented on magenergy, they didn’t seem to impressed. They said it was a well known scam, and that I should be more cautious lol. Do you think it’s true?
london1817 says:
December 18, 2012 at 4:13 am (UTC 0)
Well, its been up for years and not problem with snow…… but the huge wind storms
have hurt it where I had to lower it down and do repairs….never heard of Magenergy……this is pretty cool
stuff just get a plan and do it…..but make sure you know what you want to power up first like…lights radio, battery charging tools and such to subject loads.
rhandsom says:
December 18, 2012 at 5:04 am (UTC 0)
Thanks for your comments. I look forward to seeing your setup.
mrbuki77 says:
December 18, 2012 at 5:30 am (UTC 0)
wow!, I am very impressed with how well setup and truly thought out your system is. I have a similar GTI, just 250w. And I am almost set with getting our playroom/ office space off grid. I will have an update on my system uploaded this week. Hope to see your thoughts my setup. Sam
rhandsom says:
December 18, 2012 at 5:40 am (UTC 0)
Thanks for your comments, I cleaned up my setup considerably from this video and I replaced an inverter. For now I believe I’m done, the system does what it needs to do. everything else is…. just extra I guess. Take Care.
chalkhill714 says:
December 18, 2012 at 6:37 am (UTC 0)
WOW !!! talk about growth.. beautiful set up..are you really done though, lol seems like enough is never enough your a insparation …thanks for sharing
rhandsom says:
December 18, 2012 at 6:50 am (UTC 0)
After a year and half, I can tell you the fans were excessive, the grid-ties are not necessary for a backup system. If I had all of the same types of panels I could have used 1 charge controller and not 2. I also should’ve purchased an inverter/charger combo instead of just an inverter. So if you stick to the batteries, a good inverter, charge controller, and get all panels of the same type, buy appropriate disconnect switches and fuses, you should be good to go.
vmeas says:
December 18, 2012 at 7:38 am (UTC 0)
Thanks for the video. Please explain how you connected the inverter to your transfer switch. I’m very interested in setting up a backup power using a battery bank to the house.
rhandsom says:
December 18, 2012 at 8:12 am (UTC 0)
There are inverters that will allow you to connect to Solar, Wind, or Batt. Just be aware that you must keep the unit cool to prevent overheating. I have one connected to a 24v system. And I typically run it in sunny conditions for 4hrs. It averages around 470w per hr * 4 = 1.8kW. A lot of pwr is lost due to heat. I don’t run it all the time or when I’m not at home and I use an external fan blowing in and around the unit to keep it cool. it’s a 12v – 30v GTI, so far no problems for almost a yr.
mrbugman says:
December 18, 2012 at 8:33 am (UTC 0)
Hello. I was told it would ruin the inverter connecting straight to the batteries. Have you been running it that way for a long period of time? Also what is the voltage you have going into the inverter? I was thinking of setting my system up in a similar way. I need no more than 2 KW going into the grid. The electric company doesn’t have net metering here in MS so I need to generate no more than I use. Thanks for info and g
reat job on video.
rhandsom says:
December 18, 2012 at 9:19 am (UTC 0)
No problem glad to help.
Solar Power says:
December 18, 2012 at 9:40 am (UTC 0)
Thanks for the links!
rhandsom says:
December 18, 2012 at 9:58 am (UTC 0)
Thanks for your comments, wiring the fans in series would’ve worked. I didn’t think of that at the time. I have since removed the DC fans and rearranged my setup to be neater.
LPenney709 says:
December 18, 2012 at 10:38 am (UTC 0)
You should have just wired your two 12 volt fans in series across your 24 volt buses. That would have saved you a shitload of time and money.
rhandsom says:
December 18, 2012 at 11:14 am (UTC 0)
No problem, I’ll update the link in the description.
gurlblu2001 says:
December 18, 2012 at 12:12 pm (UTC 0)
All of your videos are super informative and I really appreciate you for taking the time to share. Thanks ! Your updated drawing would really be helpful to me, Im having trouble accessing it. Can you help?
rhandsom says:
December 18, 2012 at 12:33 pm (UTC 0)
I’ll try and see if I can see about connecting one of them to the load side of the charge controller without frying them. Thanks.
mag7mm1 says:
December 18, 2012 at 12:37 pm (UTC 0)
I see the grid tie seems to give you more watts connected to battery bank but you can only run it for 3 to 4 hrs. Would you be better off to connect grid tie to a charge controllers dump load comming from battery bank, so your batteries are always full and you would then have your grid tie on for longer periods? 450 watts is good but say 300 over 6 hrs is better, and you wouldnt have to watch it! Just a thought, really like your vids and hope you keep them up. Thanks
rhandsom says:
December 18, 2012 at 12:44 pm (UTC 0)
Thanks for your comments. Actually, the GTI’s are run during a sunny day for 3 or 4 hrs. Around noon they are turned off and the batteries are fully recharged to full capacity in approximately 2 to 3 hrs. The Depth of Dicharge is generally not more than 10% during that time. I generate 1.5kW or more during that time. Optima AGM’s are generally good for 5 years if taken care of, a 10% DoD shouldn’t hurt them. Think of what a car alternator and battery does everyday it’s driven to work.
rhandsom says:
December 18, 2012 at 12:49 pm (UTC 0)
Thanks for your comments. The mppt charge controllers for this 24v system support a max of 400w, 70v & 15A per array. Each panel array is connected in series and doesn’t exceed the limits. Each array without the CC will not generate more than 8 or 9 amps, hense the higher volts for the mppt’s. The fans are there to keep the units cooler during the summer months to prolong life, overheating is not a problem with these. The 2 controllers are there because the arrays are different.
mag7mm1 says:
December 18, 2012 at 1:21 pm (UTC 0)
Was wondering if your grid tie is connected to battery bank your battery bank will never fully charge, could this damage your batteries and how could you get around it? I agree that connecting the grid tie to batteries would make the grid tie more effective.
ambrose361 says:
December 18, 2012 at 2:07 pm (UTC 0)
did you ever think your charge controllers are to small maybe you can loose the fans in you upgrade your charge controllers.
rhandsom says:
December 18, 2012 at 2:16 pm (UTC 0)
Thanks, 2 other viewers were thinking along the same lines. At the time that idea didn’t occur to me, and I know it would’ve worked. But in any case, my current approach also gives me some additional flexibility. Take Care.
David Willis says:
December 18, 2012 at 2:50 pm (UTC 0)
Just a thought. You could run those two fans in series on the 24v, without converting to 12v, and running them parallel.
David Willis says:
December 18, 2012 at 2:58 pm (UTC 0)
You can do that, you just need a voltage switch, that turns on a relay when the batteries are full, then shuts off when they start getting low.
Brown969 says:
December 18, 2012 at 3:16 pm (UTC 0)
I’ve never heard of anyone doing it either, but it made sense rather than dumping any excess current to something like a heater.