Solar Design Info

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tedge

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Camden, ME
I'm wondering if anyone knows a good information source, either book or website, for designing and installing whole home solar systems? I've been offered a T&M job for a 1000sq.ft, 3 season camp on an island off the coast. Apparently the builder has had some experience in the installation, and needs someone with the electrical knowledge to design and tie the system together. I've never done anything like this, so I'm excited to learn something new.
 
Re: Solar Design Info

If the guy knows you have no PV experience and is willing to pay you T&M while you sort it out, that is either a phenomenal opportunity, or you're being roped into a drug ring unwittingly.

Either way, keep us posted. :D

From what I've seen (from the outside looking in) it's a very lucrative field to have knowledge in. Some things are the same, some things are very different.

I'd start immersing myself in all aspects. Internet, library, get fluent with the ideas. I'd say a 1000 ft is a great place to start. Good luck!
 
Re: Solar Design Info

I do know that the inverter and/or the PV panel manufacturers will do a great deal of the engineering and specifing for you. They really want their stuff used, and used right.
 
Re: Solar Design Info

I thought it was too good to be true at first. As of yet he hasn't given me any reason to think that. He knows my work, and knows I won't screw him, so I think that is how I ended up with it.

I was hoping that someone out there would be able to point me to one or two indespensible sources of info. There is lots of info on it, and I'd rather have a starting point, instead of just jumping in.

It is a good point that the manufacturers will probably be willing to spec out the whole project. Hadn't thought of that.
 
Re: Solar Design Info

There are two major United States manufacturers of inverters for solar cells (located three blocks apart)at the Arlington Airport in Arlington, Washington. The names are "Outback" and "Xantrex".

You will need one of two types of inverters. The first type allows you to sell power back to the utility. The second is strictly for local use and requires a storage battery bank either in a ventilated battery room or in plastic underground battery vaults. Using standard 2x4 panels, you will find that Siemens solar panels provide the most power for a given price range.

Research the various Xantrex inverters and you will understand how the two systems work. In general, most inverters are 48 volts and solar panels are 12 volts. You build series-parallel arrays to suit your power requirements.

Bye for now
 
Re: Solar Design Info

Brad,

Sounds like you've had some experience with this stuff. Have you found that a company like Xantrex is willing to work with contractors in designing smaller projects like what I'm talking about? The reason I ask is that, in my research I've found a company called New England Solar that sells pre-designed kits which you can tweak to meet your exact needs. They apparently design and sell you the system, you just have to put it in. I imagine that buying the components separately would be cheaper, but do you think I could find the technical support I'll need to put it all together?
 
Re: Solar Design Info

You should read both of these documents cover to cover before you even think about your installation. Lots of handy info, including the problems of working with DC, and they are written for people less knowledgable than the average electrician. From what I've heard, the author of these, john wiles, wrote most of the PV stuff in the NEC.

Note: they are both larger PDF's, you may want to right click and selsect "save as..." to get a local copy before you open them. Well worth printing them out and keeping in the truckk as well.

PV Sys and the NEC:
http://www.re.sandia.gov/en/ti/tu/Copy%20of%20NEC2000.pdf

And an update for the 2002 NEC:
http://www.nmsu.edu/Research/tdi/public_html/pdf-resources/2002_NEC_PAPER.pdf
 
Re: Solar Design Info

I would caution you that a fair amount of the information that floats around out there regarding PV installations is very suspect.

I used to read and post on some of the home power generation sites and you would not believe the kinds of things they suggest people do. I gave up after a while.

Even the manufacturers give some really awful advice. I read a blurb on a web site from one of the manufacturers that claimed PV generated power is completely exempt from the NEC because it is not connected to the grid. Some time later I noticed they had removed this claim.

The really scary ones are the home wind power people. Not only do they have homemade electrical generators, but home made towers for them as well. In general I am not opposed to tinkering but building 30 and 40 foot high towers for their wind powered generators seems like it ought to have some engineering input in it.

[ January 25, 2006, 05:48 PM: Message edited by: petersonra ]
 
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