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gcrank1
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# Posted: 6 May 2022 21:46 - Edited by: gcrank1
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Thinkin on it.....
I have 6 x 102W, 20ish v panels.
They have been at dif times 2s, 2s/2p and 2s/3p to Mppt scc. The location is terrible, sun only from about 10am to 1pm.
And we have the cabin and the toolshed/powerhouse, 'powerhouse' only because it was closest to the poorly sited array. That 'structure' is an 8x12' ice shanty. Now we are on the cusp of bringing in a pre-built 'storage building', a 10x16', our design, big enough to be a small workshop and toolroom. And a good time to organize (cant say re-organize, it never was....more a needed depository).
Im thinking of moving 4 panels (2s/2p) up on the hill to the east, very good exposure, too far to run wires for me even inverted to 120vac up there. I can build a 'phone booth' or 'dog house' for the inverter and a 'marine' battery and an Anderson con pigtail for the cabin LFP battery to carry up of a morning to get 'a few amps of recharge' if/when needed; ie, just a recharge station. Btw, I have two 100Ah LFP's to swap out each day or two...or three; however long they go to where I figure its time. Fortunately LFP isnt fussy about that.
The other two panels Im thinking of having down by the new shed, some 100' from the cabin.
A 20ish' run from array to shed with another LA battery (got a few 'extra' LA, lol) to power some lights as needed. Thinking a 20-30A PWM scc would likely do for that; and any inexpensive scc that says mppt likey isnt anyway.
Whadayathink?
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 7 May 2022 05:04
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Really up to you. How far away is it, will you hike or drive with you battery? I sure don't miss hauling my cabin batteries around.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 7 May 2022 06:27
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It's a bit difficult to under stand what your thinking of doing with your batteries. Why not just put the batteries at the pannels and run 120v down to where you use it? 100' isnt much for 120v. However 50ft is alot for 12v.
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paulz
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# Posted: 7 May 2022 09:28
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I ran 200' of 12g from the cabin inverter to my shop, plus another 50' extension cord inside. Powers the LED shop lights just fine, and I have run drills and angle grinders at the same time.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 7 May 2022 10:05 - Edited by: gcrank1
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Part of this is it has to be done pretty quickly and is low on the (wife's) priorities list.
The 'remote' array proposed location is about 190' from the cabin. The 100Ah LFP is about 30#, like a garden tractor battery weight. After years of moving grp 27ish size LA marine bats at about 70# I dont mind carrying 30#; and they come with a carry strap.
I am not going to run contractor grade extension cords or buy 250+' of UF wire, trench by hand, or rent a trencher. There is too much in flux right now at the property (trying to 'finalize' our end-game intensions; ie, new cabin pr reno the existing. New would mean a new spot where the solar exposure would be good).
I may not even do anything other than swap and take the current bat home every 3-4 days this summer; I just kinda dislike the idea of the array sitting there doing nothing at all and I need to move them anyway because of prepping for the new shed.
The shed will be the 100ish' from the cabin, and at the current bad solar exposure location. Even so, the 2 panels at 200ish W will keep a marine bat charged well enough to run led lights in there for a bit here and there.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 8 May 2022 06:55
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Swapping out batteries in sunny spot that's not where there going to be used sounds like it's going to suck and one more chore to do. I wouldnt do it. Get another few pannels and let them soak up the shade.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 8 May 2022 09:33
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Sadly, the po and builder put the cabin in entirely the wrong spot for solar, but only 'off' by 25yd, lol.
Ime, The 'shady sun' may show voltage but it has no real amps. And I have no intension of creating a solar field in our rustic, scenic location  , they dont look all that good to me on ground mounts (visual pollution) and we cant put em on the roof that points wrong way.
Our Watts use last year ran about 4-5W/day, way low.
Really, I wont mind the walk, gotta take the dog out anyway.
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