surpluspermaculturedesignSolar / Wind Install in Western Massachussetts
In the summer of 2014, Surplus team member Brecht installed a wind / solar system in Western Massachussetts. This system serves both as an energy source and as a back up for Richard and his family. Whenever the grid blacks out, the system automatically switches to the stored solar and wind power.
Goals
- Install 8 solar panels and 1 wind turbine
- Run a battery bank as back up
- Connect a subpanel to the back up battery bank
- Generate 2 phase (110V) and 1 neutral and have the inverters switch automatically between grid and battery power
- Install a separate ground for the panels and wind turbine
- Educate and train the client as the design and installation proceeds
Design Drivers
- High quality components
- Low maintenance
- Optimize high voltage <-> low amperage for long 200 ft cable run
- Possibility of monitoring and evaluating system's performance
- Compatible with existing battery bank of T105 batteries
- Needs to be fully automatic
Design
The system includes
- Large DC breaker panel with DC battery disconnect, dumpload disconnect, inverter protection, wind diversion controller breakers and ground fault interruptor
- Two large Outback VFX3524 inverters for double phased system with shared neutral
- Two Outback Flexmax80 Charge Controllers
- RJ45 communication interface that allows the inverters and the charge controllers to 'talk'
- Redundant battery overcharge protection (to avoid the wind turbine to overcharge the batteries)
- Automatic switch between grid and battery power in times of black out or battery surplus energy.
- Electric wind turbine brake in case of high velocity winds
- 5 x 300 Watt wind turbine dumpload
