Quote:
Originally Posted by Seahawk
I had not really considered this route, but after some research there may be a mix of solar and genset that may work. Our problem is hurricanes and the fact that our farm is the last stop on the grid...even a winter storm will drop power for days due to trees falling on power lines.
I currently have three generators. One is an old Craftsman Vantage I bought 18 years ago (still runs like a dream - I replaced all the fuel lines this past weekend and it started second pull) that is 5kv. It will run all the essentials you mentioned above, no worries. Make sure you can run water, which for us (horses other farm animals, is essential).
I also have a Honda powered generator (Huskvarna) rated at 10Kv. I can plug in directly into the electrical switch gear we had installed and run just about everything at the house except HVAC and water heater.
I have a PTO powered generator that runs off the small tractors rated at 15kv. It also plugs into the electrical switch gear. Not an automatic process but simple enough. This gen is also used a lot around the farm for multiple power tools, compressors, nail guns, etc.
My issue is remoteness and the fact that my wife and I both work and travel quite a bit. The solar with existing gen back-up once I get home is worth looking at. It is absolutely essential to run the sump pumps in the basement.
Thanks, all.
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Give me your usage details, and I'll rough out a system for you. I sell systems like this, but mostly for off-shore and remote locations.
We built 300 Watt, 600 Watt, 1000 Watt & 1500 Watt systems. 120VAC, single phase and a minimum of 6 hours of operation at full load. We also have configurations for 3000 Watts and 8kW, but they require being built into your house circuitry.
The advantage to the last two systems is they are designed to work with the power grid, even selling excess power when the batteries are full. And since you are actually on the inverter all the time, no lights off transfer. You can use it with a generator as well.
I'm planning a hybrid system like this for my house. 72 panels, large battery bank and an 8kW generator. The 8kW will be enough for my house run 18hrs per day and the battery bank overnight. The panels should be enough to handle 60% of my power needs. Won't be cheap, though.