Picking off grid solutions can be a minefield when it comes to hardware as there is too many options, there are ups and downs or pros and cons to the different systems allowing you to have power off grid or back up and how they will or will not work.
Going off grid means that you are in charge and responsible for your home/business power needs, so getting it right and having a back up is essential. We get asked a lot of questions and carry out real life testing and investigations into solutions that actually work. But here is one of the more recent offerings.
Rack enclosure solar power systems.
This rack unit contains Rack batteries and Rack inverter, meaning the whole power system is contained in its own space. it is also scalable up to 45Kw of power output.
Within the same we put our first package with 30kwh of battery, however there can be many more batteries added, but then you get to the point where the rack size becomes cramped once you reach 120Kwh of battery storage. Oddly on “stock” config can run 1000w load for around 42 hours, and that us with the 30kWh battery.
The down side
These systems are lower voltage than most systems, your solar input voltage tops out at 145v, you do have a higher current, which can be problematic for some due to cabling requirements.
This means you will have a 4S2P solar configuration (4 in series and two in parallel) limiting you to 8 panels or 3400w. This is per inverter, which only has a single mppt.
Due to the system being high current standard MC4 connections are not used and nor are the 4mm or 6mm cables as they would not handle the demands, therefore the installation requires some good DC knowledge over more standard system installations.
The positives.
Having a single unit (enclosure) where you can add hardware to scale up your operation is great. you can have a grid or generator supply AC power in, as well as use the unit as a pass through, keeping things together. rather than spread over walls and floors.
Just Three cables.
AC in, PV In and AC out. Without having battery cables trailing between hardware the unit self contains many of the part that make this work. Therefore the the AC in from the grid, or generator. I suggest the gen kit mounted to the side!.. With a PV connection, and then the AC out ( gen kit again) you have a roll around unit that can move with you.
Cost:
We start this unit at £5,500 with plans of a reduction in cost.
Adding the battery unit is £1500 and additional inverters £1098.
I should mention that the inverter costs are not cost effective as they could be, but there are limited suppliers of rack mount inverters. and you are paying nearly 3 times the cost of a wall mounted inverter for the convenience.
off grid 30kwh 5kw power system — RenewSolar
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