Bob Coco's posts

I don't know what the exact watt-hrs will be as that is hard to predict.  If I lose power in the summer, I just need to run some lights and misc small items.  If winter, perhaps some more.  It also depends how long power is out and time of day.  When I use the inverter in the RV with existing batteries, I can get 4 or more hrs of running TV, lights, water pump and even the heater blower thru the night.  Something similar for the home would be fine.  I have a generator and can use that to charge the batteries if/when needed.  I lost power for 7 days last winter and really didn't like filling the fuel every 2 hrs or so, especially during the night and at $4 a gallon.  Not to mention that when I finally got to shut the gen off after running 7 days, it seized up, prob from being overworked.

The inverter is a TRACE 2000w, I'm not sure what the batteries are, they are deep cycles I got at Sears.  I run them and inverter at 12v in the motorhome.  The motorhome is parked about 20' from the house, I am going to run conduit underground from house to RV.  If power is out in summer, we'll just live in RV till power comes back on and only run a small circulation water pump (28w) on our aquarium in the house.  So, not much load with that and a few lights.

I have a south facing roof and should get sun from approx 10:30 am to 3mp or later.  I'm having 3 trees cut down in the spring and that should give them more exposure in the AM.

Greg at altE has helped with planning and I've got 4 Evergreen 205w panels coming, a 80W MTTP controller, and varius other things to get me started.  In the future I'll be adding 2 more 205w panels and at that time a separate battery bank and invertor for the home.

Thanks,Bob

Hi Folks,  I just discovered AltE and what a great company and this board is excellent info.  I'm planning a small off-grid system and need some help.  Basically want to use the system as back-up power and to reduce some power costs as well.  I want to start small and have room to expand.  This is what I have in mind. I already have a 2000w inverter and two large batteries in my motorhome which sits unused for most of the year, so I want to take advantage of them for now.  What I want to do is put 4 200w panels on the garage roof and use them to charge the batteries in the motorhome.  I plan on adding 2 more batteries in the bank later.  The distance from the roof to the motorhome is about 25'.  Should I put the MPPT controller/combiner in the garage and just run wire to the batteries, or should I put the controller in the motorhome and run wire to that from the combiner located in the garage? Does it make a difference?  Also what amp controller would be minimum for 1000-1400w of panels?  Eventually I want to expand to this capacity but not want to have to purchase another controller when I do.  Thanks.