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Solar Panels, Batteries, Blackouts and Off-Grid

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wayneL

VIVA LA LIBERTAD, CARAJO!
Joined
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I have some questions regarding power supply for anyone who knows about these things.

We have a 5.5 kw solar system on my pile.

1/During an interruption to mains power, (and assuming there is sunlight) does the inverter still supply power to your own household, or does that cease to function also?

2/Assuming I purchased a (portable, not a power wall) Lithium solar generator, say 10-15kwh, can those existing solar panels be wired to charge the battery, with or without being also connected to the mains.

I have more, but contingent on the answers to the above.
 
On your present system your system shuts down and you lose all power.
Refer link below for your options to get around this. Basically you need a transfer switch to take you off the meter + a battery.

On question 2 you can do anything.
This is not my bread and butter but I would think you would have a transfer switch that may be automatic during a power failure that switches you from grid power to battery power. Also the switch or a separate switch could be used for charging the batteries purely from the panels.

i would be interested if anyone has set this up in a practical way.


Page not found

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www.ausnetservices.com.au
 
Okay those issue in the pdf now.

Can one isolate themselves semi-permanently/permanently from the grid?

I understand it's no problem technically, I'm asking in the legality sense in regards to WA... in which everything seems to be against the law.
 
wayneL I'm a bit surprised that you didn't already know the answer to your first question. Did you not ask that before installation?
 
Eager said:
wayneL I'm a bit surprised that you didn't already know the answer to your first question. Did you not ask that before installation?
Click to expand...
They were already here when we bought the place, so never really been shown how it all works.
 
Wayne I should know but been out of the system for a while but the solar mobs will in WA there are about three reliable companies (maybe more now but doubt it) Synergy being one.

I had a system put in by Solargain (also reliable meaning they have been around for longer than 5 years). they will give you all the details required including quote and location on your roof top should you need more panels.

Just note the size system you have and make and model of the inverter before calling although ever chance they will already know.
 
wayneL said:
Can one isolate themselves semi-permanently/permanently from the grid?

I understand it's no problem technically, I'm asking in the legality sense in regards to WA... in which everything seems to be against the law.
Click to expand...
I don't know if there's anything specific to WA but certainly in SA and Tas no law precludes doing so as long as it's all done by the book technically.

A private generation system where a grid connection is present will be inspected that's a given.

At home well yes my inverter will disconnect itself from the grid and black start itself to run the house as an electrical island in the event of supply being lost. Only thing that'll stop it is if the battery's flat + no sun.

Then once supply is restored it'll resynchronise to the system and resume normal operation.
 
Could someone please give me a good place to learn about residential solar conversion? This house (not mine) already has solar HWS installed, but looking at getting all elec supplied by roof panels. No gas at this property, fairly small daily elec usage. Basically want to know cost of system (installed), what you end up paying elec companies after full conversion and time to pay off the panels. Thanks a lot.
 

Never used this site to obtain installation quotes but it does have a few calculators

Solar And Battery Calculator: See Your Savings And Payback

Our solar calculator provides you a complete picture of the savings and payback for solar power in Australia - with or without batteries. Simple to use.
www.solarquotes.com.au

In my case, I used a local, well-established firm. They may not have been the cheapest but they weren't cowboys either and are still around.
 
Thanks Belli,

Sorry for delayed response, it didn't come up on my replies.

Did you look into Tesla Powerwall for battery storage?
 
Gringotts Bank said:
Thanks Belli,

Sorry for delayed response, it didn't come up on my replies.

Did you look into Tesla Powerwall for battery storage?
Click to expand...

The inverters are able to accommodate batteries but I have yet put them in. Presently my annual electricity costs based on the power companies calculations is $200 after all feed-in tariffs. On some days during Summer my 24 hour usage from the grid is 0.2 KWH. The biggest cost is heating (ducted recycled) during Winter. Also solar hot-water installed when the old HWS system finally blew up. I figure overall at present batteries isn't worth it financially.

However, I was have an almost joke with a neighbour when we were discussing the possibility of the "sun tax" being introduced when I said if that happened he'd lose count of the number of batteries I would have in the garage. I could do now it just to go completely off-grid but given my present electricity costs, right now it's a nup.
 

Just to add after this matter came up, I was looking at Redflow ZCells rather the Tesla.
 
sptrawler said:
From memory @mullokintyre has Redflow batteries installed.
My so is 100% off grid he has BYD blade batteries.
Click to expand...
I have been off grid for years using lead acid (AGM) batteries. Every time I check current prices of batteries, lead acid are still way cheaper in regards to usable kilowatt-hours.

Apart from being more compact, lighter and charge quicker, lithium does not stack up for me.

In a typical off grid situation, the batteries do not need to be charged fast, as you have the full day to do that.

On the question of the life span of lithium or lead acid batteries, "Giant Batteries" offer the identical warranty for either type of battery.
 
A few people have briefly discussed batteries. For those who have installed a battery for night usage and power outages, has anyone regretted it?

I just received an offer via email from Origin Energy (my current provider) to join their Origin Loop Virtual Power Plant (VPP) and get a $2,500 discount off a LG RESU10 solar battery. They have a five year interest free option and I'm seriously considering taking the plunge. They buy back some stored battery power at 20c per Kwh and with energy prices continuing to rise, it seems like a reasonable investment to make at the moment.

If any battery owners have any feedback - positive or otherwise - please share your experiences.
 
Only had the system since November, but it certainly works as advertised.
Batteries use he residual power from solar to charge up, and then provide power once the sun goes down.
We have had some days where we generate 55KWhrs, use 10 to 15, another 5 to charge the batteries, and the rest goes back to the grid, albeit at the miserly sum of 4.4cents per KWHrs (this is the rate in Victoria set by the Guvmint).
Cloudy days kill the solar output big time.
Will need to go through a winter to assess things.
It depends on why you want to install a system as to how effective they are.
For us, it was all about insurance, and given the number of blackouts an brownouts the system has recorded since installation. it was worth it.
The money saving side is hard for me to justify, but if you are going to get a deal from Origin, it may be worthwhile.
Is the control of the system for 5 years, or for the life of the project?
If you are charging the batteries during the day via solar, the worst outcome you will get is that at sme stage when you might want to use the battery, you are getting it sucked out by origin for which they give you 20c per KWH, while feeding grid power back to your home at 25 cents per KWHr.

Mick
 
A lot will depend on the size of the battery yours sounds like 8.8kW/hr, size of your solar array and your personal usage pattern. Someone I know who is off grid has no problems, but that is with 30Kw of solar and a 15kW/h battery and the house set up for low consumption e.g heat pump HWS and lpg cooking.
It would be worth reading your electricity meter, in the morning when you get up and in the late afternoon say around 4-5pm and get an idea of your normal consumption overnight, that should give you an idea if the battery is worth putting in.
 
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