Thread: Off grid solar 240Volt for house appliances

Hi,
The installer who did my neighbour's house said he has his 240V lighting independant of the 240V solar/grid connection as the first step of getting off the grid all together.

Some inverters can handle charging batteries as well, so you could 'cross subsidise' the supply in deficit.

Cheers

What sort of appliances do you want to run off them? If your thinking the washer and dryer and using them off the solar only when the sun is out, then all well and good, but outside of that your batteries wouldn't last 5 minutes. So, in that case, you're better off just using your existing grid connected solar - it's already there.

Whatever batteries and inverter you buy, it's doubtful the costs will make it viable. Living off grid - completely - is a lifestyle choice and sacrifices would have to be made - like not using a dryer, AC or other high demand appliances again.

If you want to run a few batteries and panels to run your lights at night, then that's a more achievable goal if you are still going to have your power from the grid as well.

The quality of inverter you need for hard wiring to the house would probably cost more than you'd ever save. However you could do what I did and run a whole bunch of 12V LED downlights around the house on their own battery powered circuit, quite legally. If you actually did wire a suitable inverter to the house I'd get it wired direct to your existing power board with a changeover switch so that a number of circuits can be run at once. I believe you could even get an automatic changeover switch.

Originally Posted by bee utey

The quality of inverter you need for hard wiring to the house would probably cost more than you'd ever save. However you could do what I did and run a whole bunch of 12V LED downlights around the house on their own battery powered circuit, quite legally. If you actually did wire a suitable inverter to the house I'd get it wired direct to your existing power board with a changeover switch so that a number of circuits can be run at once. I believe you could even get an automatic changeover switch.

An ATS for single phase domestic supply is quite expensive. The 12V lighting would be the way to go. You might use a separate 240V AC circuit on an inverter in the garage perhaps.

Thanks for the replies
What I originally planned was to simply run an extension cord in to the garage & run my pressure pump. It is a 5.8 amp 1250 watt or half horsepower Onga. That & my computer.
The pump only runs for a max of 45 minutes a day spread over 24hours. I have already bought 8x 105 Amp batteries @ $35.00 Each & now have only 160 watt in panels all up but more to come. That would be enough to keep me happy.
Before the better half made me see reason, I wanted to trial run an extension lead in to the laundry & run the washer - 600 watt motor- & freezer- 190watt, Dryer would be a no no, its 2350 watt& see how long the batteries lasted, but if the sparky came out, then maybe get him to also wire in a kitchen set of power points for microwave, fridge, toaster & kettle, it would be a case of not using two appliances together - apart from the fridge.
For another $280 I can get another 840 amps of storage, which should power the fridge & freezer through the night very easily.


Any power I can save during the day should theoretically feed back in to the grid @ 30c a KW. I do own 3 Land Rovers so my cost Vs benefit radar is shot anyway. I overspent on Tank water but the rates went up to beggary & my payback sums went from 14 years to paid off after 6 years. Maybe that might happen here??


So the replies indicate I would have a problem having a second circuit independent of mains for some power outlets in the house?


At present, I'm only running this computer that uses 480watts,- up to 5 hours a day but the batteries charge up OK & I only have 2x 80 watt panels hooked up atm.
Regards,
David

Originally Posted by DeeJay

Any power I can save during the day should theoretically feed back in to the grid @ 30c a KW.

Who's paying 30c/kWh?
For selling back into the grid 8c/kWh is the price nowdays.

We get 44 cents a Kw for anything we feed back into the grid (South Australian Govt subsidy through TXU I think).

Originally Posted by DeeJay

...
So the replies indicate I would have a problem having a second circuit independent of mains for some power outlets in the house?
...

If you have a 2nd 240v circuit independent of the mains you'll be fine.

How far is the place you are generating the power, from where you'll be using the power? You'll have to think about the voltage drop between them. Use the 240v to do distances, not the 12v, or you will need enormous cables to stop the voltage drop in the 12v side of things.

Give it a go and let us know how you get on