Open Source PV System

December 2017 - Completion Walk-Through

• After testing various loads including internet, lighting, washer, dryer, hydronic pumping, water pumping, macerator lift pump, computers, refrigerator, freezer, vaccuum cleaner, microwave oven, cutoff saw and power tools, and other various appliances - the working system is this:

See also final system diagram.

BOM

• 24-12 step down - [1]

Working Documents

Final

Edit

Initial

edit

Note: shipping for $1300 worth of panels (3kW) was $500 for $1800 total. $0.43 per watt solar panels, and price continues to drop.

CAD

Cabinet:

• Width: 40.25"
• Height: 48"
• Depth: 17.5"

Electrical Panel

• Battery - File:Battery.fcstd
• Deep Electrical box - File:Deepbox.fcstd
• Deep box with switch - File:Deepbox switch.fcstd
• Triple deep box with switch - File:Deepbox switch triple.fcstd
• Shallow electrical box - File:Shallowbox.fcstd
• Charge Controller - File:Chargecontroller.fcstd
• 5kW + 8kW Inverter - File:5kWinverter.fcstd
• Breaker Box - File:Breakerbox.fcstd
• Electrical Closet - File:Electrical closet.fcstd
• Electrical Panel Assembly - File:Electrical panel assembly.fcstd

• 

  Electrical Panel - File:Electrical panel assembly.fcstd

Electrical Plan - Seed Eco-Home

edit

Faculty House 2015

edit

BOM

edit

Inverter

• Fuse - glass, 250V,F25AL - 6mmx30mm - [100 Pcs Glass Fuses 25A 250V 6mm x 30mm Fast Blow Skywalking]

Lighting

• Relay
• Stepdown
• Lightbulbs

Data

• Intial performance data collection - PV System Log

Industry Standards for a 3kW Off-Grid PV System

Not Installed

• $13k - [2]
• 3000W kit for sale with batteries and inverter - $8200 - [3]
• 3kW kit - panels + power center - $9100 - [4]
• $8k without batteries - [5]

Installed

• 3000W - $14k - [6]
• 3000W $18k - [7]

Not Off-Grid

• $9-11k typical for 3kW fully installed - [8]

Links

• Open Source Power Meter