Solar Power Shed Project

[3RRL]

Here are a couple more photos of it. I still have to move it into the power shed after I clean up the mess inside. Then I'll cut an air intake opening into the shed and also an exhaust opening where the cooling fan will directly blow all the hot air outside. I'll also cut an opening to route the exhaust from the engine through the wall to the outside.

Next step will be to install the propane lines into the trenches and get them signed off and hooked up to the generator. Then to hook the generator up to the Solar System.

End view of the control panel that comes with the generator. It weighs around 1200 pounds as shipped.




This picture shows the engine compartment. It is a 4 cylinder 1800 rpm Ford motor. It uses only 84 cubic feet/hour under 100% load and down to 44 cf/hr at 25% load. This is near (just under) the load it will have most of the time while charging the batteries. It was one of the main things we looked for when comparing performance of the different brands. By comparison, it is nearly half the fuel consumption a 20kW Generac 3600 rpm generator.

 

[midlf]

What kind of heat shield or sleeving or whatever is needed to get the exhaust through the wall of you solar shed. I believe you have wood walls, correct?

 

[3RRL]

Hi Steve,
Thanks for asking although I'm not sure exactly the answer? The solar contractor will determine the shield and sleeving arrangement for the exhaust. At this point, the generator has a muffler and "tail pipe" on it. From what he's told me, he will most likely extend the exhaust pipe until it exits out the side wall. The hole in the wall will be double the diameter of the exhaust pipe. There will be another "sleeve" that fits the hole and suspends the exhaust pipe in its center. I'll have to take some pictures when he does that and show you.
Rob-

 

[3RRL]

Coordinating deliveries is a real PITA. I have to drive up to meet them every time. Especially when I have meet 2 or mere at the same time. Luckily, the truck that delivered the generator was small enough to drive up the ½ mile dirt road to where the solar power shed is. Next I'll need to arrange meeting the propane guy and inspectors.

The generator runs on propane or natural gas, so we're sort of stuck with the propane...not having natural gas up there. We really thought about a diesel generator but with the price of diesel vs propane it was a no brainer. Even though the diesel we looked at was more fuel efficient, it did not come close to break even over many, many years. The reason is the limited use of the generator. If it were running all the time diesel may have been our choice.

Additionally, it would require another fuel cell storage. We needed propane for our living anyway so it made more sense and was more economical both initially and in the long run because of the limited use as designed. Hopefully, the generator will only run 10 to 15 days per year (except weekly self-exercise) unless we end up using way more energy than we do now, living in Rancho with my garage shop even.

 

[midlf]

Yes I would like to see pictures when the contractor gets it done. I have never done such an installation, and don't know if I ever will, but I'm curious as to how it is done. I suppose it is not unlike a stove pipe.

 

[schmism]

so are you gonna de shrowd it .... its already got a building to live in does it need the extra sheetmetal?

still waiting to see those trakers!

 

[hilld]

so are you gonna de shrowd it .... its already got a building to live in does it need the extra sheetmetal?

still waiting to see those trakers!

While I don't know about his Cummins genset, when I was in the Army repairing gensets, we had to keep the doors closed or the genset could overheat. The shrouding was also a way to channel the air from the engine fan over the generator section and to keep the whole thing cool. If it is designed with shrouding, normally you want to keep it on there.

Derek

 

[3RRL]

That's a good point Derek, I hadn't thought of that aspect. I was going to leave the shrouds on anyway just to help with the noise level. They have different decibel ratings with and without. Additionally, if one of my grandkids gets in the power shed the shroud would help protect both.

schmism, the trackers are "supposed" to arrive at the end of September...we'll see. Man, this is getting pretty exciting now because soon I won't need to drive up from South Camp to turn on the generator that runs the well pump.

 

[3RRL]

In between Dove hunting and finishing up the tractor hydraulics, I managed to move the generator right up to the Power Shed. From here we can roll (on pipes) the generator into position. Then cut the holes in the shed for air intake and exhaust as well as the radiator exhaust. I used the Kama and chains to position it to here. Right now there is a big mess all around the shed but things are slowly getting into shape.



My solar guy took time to let me know his progress on the 6 inverters of the Outback power modular systems. He had the one for the shop up and running using a small 5500w generator. He charged the batteries up with it...just took a long time! He also told me that the main Outback system will have the capacity for up to 230 amps and the one for the shop about 115 amps. This was more than I thought. The combined system is huge and will give us more than enough electricity usage capability for now and for future expansion.
Here he is showing me the automatic monitoring device that will be in the shop. There is another one for the house.



The keypad allows you to "see" every function on the system. It warns of any errors and guides you to the source. You can start and stop the generator through it or it will turn it on automatically when the load exceeds the battery draw. You can set the charging rate and float levels...all kinds of stuff. It also tells you when the other system is being pulled in to run this one, if needed. I still don't know very much about the system. I guess I'll have to read the owners manual after all.

 

[3RRL]

Now the PVC conduit is in the trenches. Later, the solar guy will pull all the wiring in and hook it up. He has sub panels at the end of each trench mounted on 4 x 4 posts. Each will have several 110v and 220v outlets. The posts are near the area where the house will be built so the construction crew can use the power to run their equipment. In doing so, I am saving $10,000 from the construction company by building the solar system first . This was there quote to bring up their own generator and fuel to provide power while they were building . It will also be an excellent "real work" measuring tool to see how the system handles it.



I also took some pictures of the holes I dug with my backhoe. They are huge, being 4' x 4' x 5-½' deep. You can see the ladder in this one for comparison. This is where the 8" diameter steel poles for the Watson dual axis trackers will be set in concrete. They have not arrived yet and are due in at the end of the month or thereabouts. Building and installing them will be the last leg of the project. Then to wire everything up to the solar panels.