bajaguy
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Solar Power Inverters
Are inverters used in a residential solar power system the Pure Sine Inverter??
I am considering a KACO Blueplanet 1502xi 1.5 kW Inverter
Comments/suggestions???
Thanks
[Edited on 11-25-2013 by bajaguy]
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55steve
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Here's a link that describes the applications for the types of inverters.
http://www.civicsolar.com/resource/pure-sine-vs-modified-sin...
I have a couple of these sitting the garage - one is destined for our place at BoLA.
These are modified sine wave and should work well for our rustic uses at the trailer.
http://simaproducts.com/support/files/STP-3000_User_Manual.p...
[Edited on 11-25-2013 by 55steve]
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RnR
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The inverter doesn't care about the source of the DC power. (battery bank, direct from a panel, automotive alternator, wind generator, etc.)
The type of inverter output (sine wave, modified sine wave, square wave) must be matched to the sensitivites/ types of the devices to be powered.
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DavidE
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The way I understand it, is the inverters used to grid tie are inherently protected.
They cannot produce more wattage than the panels feeding them. The manufacturer of the inverter RELIES on this self limiting factor in system design
security.
But when the inverter is connected to a power source other than a tightly limited and controlled one, the protection is a moot point. The inverter can
be over-amped and the magic smoke appears and gets whiffed away in the breeze.
Leaving the owner without a window to throw it out of...
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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55steve
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DavidE
The way I understand it, is the inverters used to grid tie are inherently protected.
They cannot produce more wattage than the panels feeding them. The manufacturer of the inverter RELIES on this self limiting factor in system design
security.
But when the inverter is connected to a power source other than a tightly limited and controlled one, the protection is a moot point. The inverter can
be over-amped and the magic smoke appears and gets whiffed away in the breeze.
Leaving the owner without a window to throw it out of... |
Most (if not all) Baja installs aren't going to be grid tie-ins. They will be stand-alone solar panels to charge controller to storage batteries to
inverter.
I am currently in the process of getting all the components to make this happen at our place.
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RnR
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IF, you are going to "grid tie" your solar power system, you have to use a high quality, pure sine wave inverter.
Your output must also be "synchronized" to the power grid. Your output must match the characteristics of the utility supplied power in all aspects.
IF, you grid tie, the local power company will specify the exact inverter characteristics before they will complete the utility intertie.
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bajaguy
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Several companies doing grid-tie installs in Ensenada. Our contractor, Electrosolar, works with CFE. One install that I personally know of went from
3000 pesos in a billing cycle (2 months) to 56 pesos in a billing cycle using 6 250w panels.
| Quote: | Originally posted by 55steve
Most (if not all) Baja installs aren't going to be grid tie-ins. They will be stand-alone solar panels to charge controller to storage batteries to
inverter.
I am currently in the process of getting all the components to make this happen at our place. |
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DavidE
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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Connect a grid tie inverter to batteries and you are putting the inverter at great risk. They are not engineered to do that. Wanna hear a grid tie
inverter manufacturer scream?
Call 'em and tell 'em you're gonna hook one of their inverters to a battery system. They'll spill coffee all over themselves.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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freediverbrian
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I was told that a non sine wave converter , will harm rechargable batteries and electronics is that true?
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larryC
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| Quote: | Originally posted by freediverbrian
I was told that a non sine wave converter , will harm rechargable batteries and electronics is that true? |
Dan
Not necessarily, a lot of electronics including computers, use their own internal power supply to convert the 120v ac coming in down to a fairly low
voltage dc power. So the device doesn't care whether it is a true sine wave or a modified sine wave coming in as long as its power supply can convert
it. I don't know anyway to tell if a device is going to work well with modified sine wave or not. I have heard that Makita battery chargers didn't
like MSW power and I used to have a Bosch food mixer that didn't like the MSW either. I do know that devices with motors in them run hotter and
consume more power on MSW than they do with a true sine wave. I burnt up 2 electric refrigerators before I figured that out. I'm not a quick study.
Larry
Off grid, 12-190 watt evergreen solar panels on solar trackers, 2-3648 stacked Outback inverters, 610ah LiFePo4 48v battery bank, FM 60 and MX60
Outback charge controllers, X-240 Outback transformer for 240v from inverters, 6500 watt Kubota diesel generator.
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wessongroup
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"In field" experience ... nothing better ... thanks ... only two 
[Edited on 11-26-2013 by wessongroup]
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Santiago
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| Quote: | Originally posted by larryC
I burnt up 2 electric refrigerators before I figured that out. I'm not a quick study.
Larry |
And one freezer, apparently......
My Bosch power tools will not run on MSW - must use my Honda E2000.
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wessongroup
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How ya like that Honda ... we got a couple of Yamaha's ... same size .. whisper quite IMHO with unbelievable run times on a gallon of gas, plus the
"wife" can pull start them herself ... which is something for her and starting engines ... just saying
[Edited on 11-26-2013 by wessongroup]
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DavidE
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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When Im in doubt about supply brick compatibility I first note how warm the brick gets when connected to public power. My laptop brick gets quite warm
when charging a low battery.
If I connect to an inverter and the brick gets a lot warmer than normal I'll keep reaching over and touching it to make sure it is not overheating.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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monoloco
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Burning up one appliance will cost more than the difference between a cheap Chinese MSW inverter and a name brand quality TSW inverter.
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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wessongroup
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E, hope ya don't use the same approach on "campfires" ... just saying 
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larryC
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Santiago
| Quote: | Originally posted by larryC
I burnt up 2 electric refrigerators before I figured that out. I'm not a quick study.
Larry |
And one freezer, apparently......
My Bosch power tools will not run on MSW - must use my Honda E2000. |
Good one, but that freezer was DoA. I owe you one.
Larry
PS. Ponsonia says to call him in the evenings between 8 and 9. I think he has a question for you.
Off grid, 12-190 watt evergreen solar panels on solar trackers, 2-3648 stacked Outback inverters, 610ah LiFePo4 48v battery bank, FM 60 and MX60
Outback charge controllers, X-240 Outback transformer for 240v from inverters, 6500 watt Kubota diesel generator.
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