Solar panels

jayjay777

jayjay777

Well-Known Member
First let me start off by saying that I want to do this in a discreet manner. As It's a decent size grow, 16kw, 64 girls, coco drip, sealed with c02. Cooled by 5 ton movincool, pro 63. But I still got three ton ac plus more lights.... future expensing if possible.

So as I was saying first and foremost is discretion. I want to fill just the west side of my house with panels so it can't be seen by everyone. I can fit 72 250w panels or so on there (2'x4') which would pay for 80- 90% of my room.

Now here's the problem I have a few questions and some things I don't understand

I would prefer an off-grid system but does that mean I would have to use that power during the day? Or could i store the power in some kind of battery bank?

Also if I puchase a kit that's off grid. Can I hook that right up to my breaker box?

It's an off grid system must I get an inspection or In form my Electrical Company?

I know someone's going to say I need to have a certified electrician do it but I'm very handy, I went to school for engineering and i do all my own wiring and have rewired my whole house I would just simply like some information and answers and I like to go ahead and thank you all in advance

Happy Father's Day

Peace love & respect

Jayjay
 
Indefinately

Indefinately

Well-Known Member
Good Question,

I'm curious to what type of answer you will get, if any.

I was discussing this with a mate of mine that's a sparky yesterday.

Where I'm from , we feed back to the grid and get paid per kW that we give.
Then pay for what we use.
Which doesn't work out, as we feed the grid at the off peak rate ( during the day - main sunlight) and are using power and having to pay the "peak" rate ( in the evening).

My mate basically said that there is a battery system that you require to "store" your own power to use later, in order to be off the grid.
But the technology for the batteries is a work in progress, so currently they are super expensive and not currently worth the cost of setting up.

Hopefully here's a sparky that can clarify.
I've seen a few videos of outdoor growers that have set up solar and banks of batteries to run pumps for water just for irrigation.
But I don't know about a 16kw grow......
Lol

Indefinately
"Let there be Green in 2016"
 
thewanderer718

thewanderer718

Well-Known Member
jayjay777 said:
First let me start off by saying that I want to do this in a discreet manner. As It's a decent size grow, 16kw, 64 girls, coco drip, sealed with c02. Cooled by 5 ton movincool, pro 63. But I still got three ton ac plus more lights.... future expensing if possible.

So as I was saying first and foremost is discretion. I want to fill just the west side of my house with panels so it can't be seen by everyone. I can fit 72 250w panels or so on there (2'x4') which would pay for 80- 90% of my room.

Now here's the problem I have a few questions and some things I don't understand

I would prefer an off-grid system but does that mean I would have to use that power during the day? Or could i store the power in some kind of battery bank?

Also if I puchase a kit that's off grid. Can I hook that right up to my breaker box?

It's an off grid system must I get an inspection or In form my Electrical Company?

I know someone's going to say I need to have a certified electrician do it but I'm very handy, I went to school for engineering and i do all my own wiring and have rewired my whole house I would just simply like some information and answers and I like to go ahead and thank you all in advance

Happy Father's Day

Peace love & respect

Jayjay
Click to expand...
I will be following your thread because i am about to attempt almost the same type of setup. best of luck
 
Millsie

Millsie

Well-Known Member
I'd say with 16kwh of solar you would not be able to go 100% off grid with your current op. IMHO I'd aim for more 20-40kwh of solar as then it gives you more leeway (i.e. each panel doesn't have to be at 100% efficiency)

Furthermore unless you purchase 30-60kwh of batteries it will mean you will have to use all your electricity at instant that it is generated. I've been pricing around, It seems that I can get 30kwh battery packs for roughly 10-15k usd

Might be more, might be less just depends on construction/importation/transport costs and of course this is with repurposed lithium ion cells. For a 100% new cell battery bank build it'd cost 25-30k for a 30kwh, with new cells it would save so much time as one of these packs require 3,000+ cells. Testing all of those cells sucks.

For anyone who is curious:
30kwh - 10-15k usd
15kwh - 8k~ usd
10kwh - 5k~ usd - At this point i think tesla's powerwall comes in cheaper? However I think there is a massive backlog atm
 
torontoke

torontoke

Well-Known Member
there's two types of systems.
Completely off grid and grid tied.
Grid tied is cheaper because you don't need the battery bank. As long as you generate as much as you use you feed to the power company and they issue you credits for whatever you don't use.
The downside to this is you need two smart meters and they will know exactly how much juice you are using.
Going completely off grid is the stealthier option but for a system big as you would need your looking at major major dollars.
Third option is always necessary for back up and that's a natural gas or propane genset. Home Depot sells them 20k is like 10grand

Good luck
 
jijiandfarmgang

jijiandfarmgang

Well-Known Member
jayjay777 said:
First let me start off by saying that I want to do this in a discreet manner. As It's a decent size grow, 16kw, 64 girls, coco drip, sealed with c02. Cooled by 5 ton movincool, pro 63. But I still got three ton ac plus more lights.... future expensing if possible.

So as I was saying first and foremost is discretion. I want to fill just the west side of my house with panels so it can't be seen by everyone. I can fit 72 250w panels or so on there (2'x4') which would pay for 80- 90% of my room.

Now here's the problem I have a few questions and some things I don't understand

I would prefer an off-grid system but does that mean I would have to use that power during the day? Or could i store the power in some kind of battery bank?

Also if I puchase a kit that's off grid. Can I hook that right up to my breaker box?

It's an off grid system must I get an inspection or In form my Electrical Company?

I know someone's going to say I need to have a certified electrician do it but I'm very handy, I went to school for engineering and i do all my own wiring and have rewired my whole house I would just simply like some information and answers and I like to go ahead and thank you all in advance

Happy Father's Day

Peace love & respect

Jayjay
Click to expand...
I went to school for engineering as well, but you don't sound like an engineer.

I don't even want to think how much a solar array off-grid for that setup would cost.

You cold easily figure this out with online calculators, or when you're willing to spend a chunk of change like the 100,000 dollar plus this system will cost, vendors are more than happy to talk to you and work out the fine details.

- Jiji
 
rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
jijiandfarmgang said:
I went to school for engineering as well, but you don't sound like an engineer.

I don't even want to think how much a solar array off-grid for that setup would cost.

You cold easily figure this out with online calculators, or when you're willing to spend a chunk of change like the 100,000 dollar plus this system will cost, vendors are more than happy to talk to you and work out the fine details.

- Jiji
Click to expand...
i was guesstimating $25K for justthe 70 panels he wants
 
redi jedi

redi jedi

Well-Known Member
Rrog said:
WTF are you talking about, $100,000?? Hyperbole a little?
Click to expand...
That figure is probably not too far off.

Honestly when the OP said discrete solar panels it made me lol. To run a 16kw you will need a tracking array..having panels only on the west side means your only making power after 1 or 2pm. And hopefully its always bright and sunny were you live.

Solar for primary power in a grow op is retarded anyways..nevermind the cost.
 
whitebb2727

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
jayjay777 said:
First let me start off by saying that I want to do this in a discreet manner. As It's a decent size grow, 16kw, 64 girls, coco drip, sealed with c02. Cooled by 5 ton movincool, pro 63. But I still got three ton ac plus more lights.... future expensing if possible.

So as I was saying first and foremost is discretion. I want to fill just the west side of my house with panels so it can't be seen by everyone. I can fit 72 250w panels or so on there (2'x4') which would pay for 80- 90% of my room.

Now here's the problem I have a few questions and some things I don't understand

I would prefer an off-grid system but does that mean I would have to use that power during the day? Or could i store the power in some kind of battery bank?

Also if I puchase a kit that's off grid. Can I hook that right up to my breaker box?

It's an off grid system must I get an inspection or In form my Electrical Company?

I know someone's going to say I need to have a certified electrician do it but I'm very handy, I went to school for engineering and i do all my own wiring and have rewired my whole house I would just simply like some information and answers and I like to go ahead and thank you all in advance

Happy Father's Day

Peace love & respect

Jayjay
Click to expand...
You would be better off with led cob. They are DC current, so are solar panels. No need for an inverter. No loss of power from it.

You will also have way less heat and not need as much ac.

It will cost more but it would be worth it.

Have the panels run the cobs directly when the sun is out and store the rest in batteries to run at night.
 
redi jedi

redi jedi

Well-Known Member
whitebb2727 said:
You would be better off with led cob. They are DC current, so are solar panels. No need for an inverter. No loss of power from it.

You will also have way less heat and not need as much ac.

It will cost more but it would be worth it.

Have the panels run the cobs directly when the sun is out and store the rest in batteries to run at night.
Click to expand...
Good idea but I think an inverter is still needed because the voltage from the panels changes depending on the amount of light they receive...dont quote me on that but I believe thats how it works.
 
whitebb2727

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
redi jedi said:
Good idea but I think an inverter is still needed because the voltage from the panels changes depending on the amount of light they receive...dont quote me on that but I believe thats how it works.
Click to expand...
No inverter. It changes DC in ac.

It would need a voltage regulator and a capacitor.

Maybe a rheostat to control voltage.

I would just build banks out of the solar panel and batteries and match my cob rating.

36 volt cobs, run three deep cycle batteries for 36 volts.

Or a person could buy real solar batteries. They are like 2 volts a piece. Allows you to store more power.
 
Rrog

Rrog

Well-Known Member
No one uses solar trackers these days. Panels are so cheap you just add panels.

Anyone that thinks such an array costs $100,000 is seriously out of touch.

Panels are a buck a watt tops. The OP wanted 18,750 watts

Install a ground array to lower cost.

Don't install solar trackers.

Use pipe or larger treated lumber for the base.

Enphase inverters now have much longer warranty.

No batteries. Coordinate with your local utility company and sell them the overages
 
Last edited:
redi jedi

redi jedi

Well-Known Member
Rrog said:
No one uses solar trackers these days. Panels are so cheap you just ad panels.

Anyone that thinks such an array costs $100,000 is seriously out of touch.
Click to expand...
Between the panels, the batteries, the inverter/regulators and the installation cost for enough juice to run a 16kw op...out of touch? sorry I dont think so
 
whitebb2727

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
Rrog said:
No one uses solar trackers these days. Panels are so cheap you just add panels.

Anyone that thinks such an array costs $100,000 is seriously out of touch.

Panels are a buck a watt tops. The OP wanted 18,750 watts

Install a ground array to lower cost.

Don't install solar trackers.

Use pipe or larger treated lumber for the base.

Enphase inverters now have much longer warranty.

No batteries. Coordinate with your local utility company and sell them the overages
Click to expand...
Why not just run cobs?

You could still sell the excess.

Without tracking and batteries you only get a few hours of energy a day.

What you're wanting to do is not run the grow off the solar panel but sell the energy to break even.


I would stay off the grid and run cobs.

Allen Bradley controls. Ladder logic.

No need for the drivers on the cobs as solar is already DC. I don't know why a person would add an inverter and lose efficiency if the sole purpose is to run a grow.
 
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