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Grid-Tie 5.4kW Solar Power System with Micro Inverters

Grid-Tie 5.4kW Solar Power System with Micro Inverters
Grid-Tie 5.4kW Solar Power System with Micro Inverters
 
Item code Brand name Model number
KITONGRID-6 AltE Grid-Tie 5.4kW System

Grid-Tied 5.4kW Home Solar System
Kyocera Solar Panels/Enphase Micro Inverters

Description

This a grid-tied home solar system for a residential energy-efficient home. The output of this system varies depending upon where you live and what time of the year it is. Use the map at the bottom of the page to get an idea of how many Watt*Hours you can expect from your system on average during a typical year. Expect more ouput in the summer (highest output period) and less in the winter (lowest output period). Please consult the Photovoltaic Power Systems And the 2005 National Electrical Code: Suggested Practices Photovoltaic Power Systems publication for information regarding electrical wiring requirements. Kyocera KD245GX-LFB





Components:

altE's Home Solar Systems include the major components needed for a solar installation. Since each installation is unique, some parts/materials will need to be purchased separately to satisfy the needs of your specific project and local regulations.

1. Photovoltaic Modules (aka solar panels, solar electric panels)
The PV modules are the individual building blocks for providing power from the sun. They are typically made from silicon cells, glass, tedlar, and aluminum.  PV modules can vary in type, size, shape, and color.  The common nominal voltages for modules are 20V and 24V, in order to accomodate the voltage windows of grid tie inverters.  Costs for PV modules are currently averaging around $1.00 - $2.00 USD per rated watt.

This 5.4kW grid-tie home solar system features twenty (20) Kyocera 270 Watt Multicrystalline Solar Panels. The ONLY solar panel to rank as Performance Leader in ALL test categories by PV Evolutions Labs (as reported in GTM Research's July 2014 and 2016 PV Module Reliability Scorecard), the Kyocera 270 Watt Solar Panel is designed and built for long-term yield stability ! Click Here to read article.

2. Racking/Mounting System for PV modules
The mounting system for the PV modules includes the hardware to permanently affix the array to either a roof, a pole, or the ground.  These systems are typically made of aluminum and are customized to the mounting surface and the model of module used.  It is important to consider distance from roof for flush-type roof mount installations. Restricting airflow under the modules results in higher module operating temperatures that reduce power output.  With pole mounts wind loading must be considered and proper civil works must be done with the foundation for the pole as well as the possible addition of supplementary wind supports for the array frame.   The cost of a mounting system can vary drastically based upon the number of modules and type of mount.  The average cost is between $250 and $1000 USD.

3. Combiner Box
A combiner box is an electrical box where series strings of PV modules are then spliced in parallel.  This is also the place where the PV series string fuses or circuit breakers are located.  This allows the installer to bring the separate strings together and combine them into one positive and one negative conductor, change wire types and leave the area of the modules in conduit.  They are usually outside and weather rated, so they can be right next to the array.  Combiner boxes usually cost between $100 and $200 USD.

4.  DC and AC Disconnects
The DC and AC disconnects are manual switch units that are capable of cutting off power to and from the inverter.  Some inverters have disconnects integrated into the unit with switches, others can have them integrated into a power panel assembly, and some inverters leave you on your own to provide suitable disconnecting means.  The disconnects are used by service personnel or authorized persons (fire/police/electric workers) to disable power from a renewable energy system (in this case PV) so that there are no live electrical parts associated with the inverter, and that no current is going to the grid that could harm utility employees in the event that they are working in your area.   Homeowners or authorized personnel can use the disconnects to de-energize a system for maintenance or service. Disconnects can range in cost from $100 to $500 USD.

5. Grid Tie Inverter (Micro Inverter)
The grid tie inverter is the device that takes the energy that the photovoltaic system produces in DC current form and turns it to AC current that is then sent (sold) to the electric grid.  These inverters typically have a voltage input range from 100 to 500 volts DC and they convert it into 120 volts AC, 240 volts AC, or 208 volts AC.  These inverters are especially sophisticated devices that must conform to special regulations in order to tie into the utility.  When the power goes out in your area, it is important to know that the grid tie inverter will not allow power to be sold back to the grid.  This is done to prevent electric utility workers from being injured or killed by working on power lines they thought were de-energized.  When the power goes out, your power will go out as well.  A grid tie inverter will not resume normal operations until the utility grid has established standard conditions for 5 straight minutes within strict parameters.  Prices for inverters can range from $0.40 to $0.60 USD per rated watt.

There are benefits to having a system layout with many small inverters (micro inverters) instead of a single large inverter (string inverter). First, it gives the system reliability by not having a single point of failure. If a module or an inverter is having an issue, it only affects the output of one module, as opposed to the entire system. In a single large inverter system, if one solar module is being shaded, it negatively affects the output of other modules in the system. The micro-inverter decentralizes this so that if one module is being shaded, the output of that particular module is the only one that will drop.

Grid-Tied 5.4kW Home Solar System Includes:
Part Number Item Description Quantity
KYO270KU2706MCA Kyocera 270 Watt Solar Panel 20
TWOXR100132A IronRidge XR100 Rail,
11 Feet, Mill Finish
12
TWOXR100CAP IronRidge End Cap for XR-100 Rails 8
TWOXR100-SPLCBD IronRidge Splice Kit for XR-100 Rails 8
TWOFMLFT003 Ironridge L-Foot Kit for
XR Rails (4 Pack) - No Hardware
9
TWOFF2SQUARE Ironridge Square Bonding Hardware for L-Foot Kit (4 Pack) 9
TWOUFOCL001B IronRidge Universal Fastening Object, Black (4 Pack) 11
TWOUFOSTP46MMB IronRidge Stopper Sleeve 46mm, Black (4 Pack) 2
TWOGDLUG003 IronRidge Grounding Lug w/Hardware, 2pk 1
ENPM250-72MC4 Enphase M250 250 Watt Micro Inverter 20
ENPET-240PORT Engage Trunk Cable for Micro Inverter 22
ENPET-SEAL-1 Enphase Watertight Sealing Cap 2
ENPET-TERM-1 Enphase Branch Terminator 2
ENPET-DISC-01 Enphase Disconnect Tool 1
ENPET-CLIP-10 Enphase Cable Clips, 10pk 2
TWOMICROKIT IronRidge Mounting Hardware for Micro Inverters 20
ENPENVOY-S Enphase Envoy S Communication Gateway 1
MIDMNSPD-300AC Midnite Solar Surge Protection Device - 300V 1
BURBIBS43 BIBS4-3 Multiple Wire Terminal, Clear 2
SQUPK3GTA1 Ground Kit 1
SQUDU221RB Square D DU221RB 30A 240VAC Unfused Disconnect 1
MIDMNPV6DISCOAC Midnite MNPV6 Disco AC Micro Combiner Box 1
MIDMNEAC20-2P Midnite 20A AC Two Pole Breaker 2
GENSR-1HOLE-LN 1/2" Single Hole Strain Relief/Locknut 1
GENSR-1HOLE3/4 3/4" Single Hole Strain Relief 2
HLRWESHLBL NEC 2011 Compliant Label: Electric Shock Hazard Label 3
HLRCSCIRLBL NEC 2011 Compliant Label: Caution: Solar Circuit Label 5 Pack 1
HLRAC2011 NEC 2011 Compliant Label: AC Module Rating Label NEC 2011,Inverter 1
HLRACDISCT NEC 2011 Compliant Label: Photovoltaic AC Disconnect Label 1
HLRLAM1 NEC 2011 Compliant Label: Clear Over-Laminate for Rating Labels 2
HLRDONOTMOVE NEC 2011 Compliant Label: Do Not Relocate PV Breaker Label 1
HLRPVACDIS NEC 2011Compliant Label: PV System AC Disconnect Rating Label 1
HLRDCCONDUCT NEC 2011 Compliant Label: DC Conductors May Be Energized 1

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I find my total energy usage or the "loads" of my appliances?

Step 1:   Calculate loads of household appliances (in watts):

a. You can find a listing of common appliance wattage ratings here

b. You can also use a Kill-A-Watt meter, which gives readings of how much
instantaneous power and energy an appliance is using.

Step 2: Calculate total energy usage (in watt hours per day)

a. Use the load information you just assembled with our load calculator to find out how many watt-hours you use per day. 

2.  The label on my appliance does not list Watts, it only lists Amps.  How do I find the wattage?

Converting from Amps to Watts is a simple calculation: Watts =  Amps x Volts

           Our household voltage is 120 Volts AC.  If we have a television that lists 1.5 Amps, we calculate the wattage as follows:

           1.5 Amps x 120 Volts = 180 Watts

3.  My refrigerator lists kilowatt hours per year.  What wattage do I enter in my load calculator? 

Convert kilowatt hours per year to watt hours per day by the following calculation:

Kwh x 1000 = watt hours per year
Watt hours per year / 365 days per year = watt hours per day

4.  How do I know what size PhotoVoltaic system I need for my energy usage?

To get a better idea of system size, take the data from your load calculator and use it in one of our system calculators, either for on-grid or off-grid applications.

5. How do I figure out the likely energy production of a given system which lists rated Watts of PV?

Step 1: Look at the solar insolation map below to find you average sun hours per day. 

Step 2: Multiply the rated Watts of your system by the amount of sun hours per day to get the average Watt-hour production number. 

Step 3:  Decrease the calculated amount by about 20% to take into account system inefficiencies. This will provide a more realistic view of the system production. (**The 20% reduction is to be conservative.  That way your production should not fall short of your usage.)

Here is an example: 

Calculate the predicted energy production of a 1 kW PV system in Pittsburgh, PA.

  1. The solar insolation for the Pittsburgh area appears to be about 4 hours.
  2. 4 sun hours x 1000w = 4000 watt-hours
  3. Decrease that number by 20% (or multiply by 0.8):  4000 x 0.8 = 3200 watt-hours per day = 3.2 kilowatt-hours per day.

Note:  It is important to know that the sun hours for your area change based on time of year.  Average daily sun hours provide an estimate to calculate the approximate size of a system.  If you are completely off the grid (not connected to utility power), and rely on PV to produce all of your electricity, you will want to have more accurate calculations.  To be more accurate, use data close to your area that is broken down by month, compares the angle of PV modules, and includes information on whether or not you have an active tracker for your array.  This data can be found in reference materials like the Photovoltaics Design and Installation Manual.


Find the average annual insolation for your area below.

Shipping

Most products take 10-14 days to be delivered. Batteries, module and mounting systems may be shipped by truck freight and usually take 1-2 weeks to be delivered.

NOTE: Always consult a licensed electrician before installing your electrical components.


This item is a package made up of the following components. Please call to speak to a sales representative to learn about other options which may be available.

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