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Bringing In Power T...
 
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Bringing In Power To The House

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(@robertm)
Estimable Member
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 205
Topic starter  

I built a tiny solar "generator" on the cheap. I only have four 100W panels, a 20A controller, about 200 AH @ 24V of battery storage, and a 4000W PJ inverter. I am planning on bringing in 115V over 12 AWG copper wire to a 20A breaker in a little distribution box. That circuit would power one 15A duplex wall receptacle. 


   
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(@notmario)
Reputable Member
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 314
 

FWIW, if you're running the cable anyway, i'd go ahead and run the second lug for 240v. Minimal extra effort, and you can potentially feed it to your main panel later when you have a bigger system.


   
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(@robertm)
Estimable Member
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 205
Topic starter  

My thought is to put in a small dedicated distribution box just a short run away from my inverter. The house distribution panel is another 100 feet away, and I'm not sure I will ever upgrade to the point of powering the whole house. For instance, my 4 panels fill the bottom roof of a backyard shed. I think I will be happy with a small renewable energy system that functions as an emergency power option.


   
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(@thebutcher)
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Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 355
 

One thing about small solar installations...  they inevitably turn into big installations 🙂


   
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(@robertm)
Estimable Member
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 205
Topic starter  
Posted by: @thebutcher
One thing about small solar installations... they inevitably turn into big installations 🙂

Time will tell, but my immediate goal is to power essentials in the house for 5 hours. PG&E is offering credits if I can reduce grid power usage during specific critical days this summer, from 4PM to 9 PM.


   
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