There is a company out here that is selling a relatively small
(SLA-type) battery system for use with grid-tie solar. It has
connections between the solar panels/inverter/grid. It "fools" the
inverter into believing that the grid is still on by disconnecting the
grid, and feeding a "pseudo grid" into the grid side of the inverter. If
the sun is up, it leaves the panels connected as the primary source of
power. If the sun is not up, it feeds battery to the inverter as "pseudo
battery".
It's still several thousand dollars. I don't know that it makes sense
from an economic standpoint, but it's less expensive than a full-battery
type system.
bp
<part15sbs{at}gmail{dot}com>
On 10/15/2015 8:33 AM, Paul McCall wrote:
Interesting concept. So, you would just use a smaller # of batteries
and expect the solar array to run your household “live” x% of the
time, and if doesn’t’ have enough, then it relies on utility power?
*From:*Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] *On Behalf Of *Chuck McCown
*Sent:* Wednesday, October 14, 2015 10:23 PM
*To:* af@afmug.com
*Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Did I miss Chucks opinion on Ubnt SunMax
I have a grid tie inverter. Reduces my bill. A back up generator I
much cheaper that batts.
*From:*Sterling Jacobson <mailto:sterl...@avative.net>
*Sent:*Wednesday, October 14, 2015 8:05 PM
*To:*af@afmug.com <mailto:af@afmug.com>
*Subject:*Re: [AFMUG] Did I miss Chucks opinion on Ubnt SunMax
What’s the best battery system currently?
I remember buying a bunch of large batteries for our sites and wiring
them in 48 volt to the inverter.
Is there a better method than that for storing solar power from the
array and using it at the house on inverter?
Ideally it would be an inverter that took as much power from the solar
as possible to power the house, then leaned on mains if it wasn’t enough.
Is there even an inverter that intelligent for homes yet?
Or are we just stuck with on/off use of the solar/batteries?
*From:*Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] *On Behalf Of *Chuck McCown
*Sent:* Wednesday, October 14, 2015 7:46 PM
*To:* af@afmug.com <mailto:af@afmug.com>
*Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Did I miss Chucks opinion on Ubnt SunMax
$1 per watt for DIY systems.
That is without battery. A full battery system is going to cost you 3
times that or more.
*From:*Sterling Jacobson <mailto:sterl...@avative.net>
*Sent:*Wednesday, October 14, 2015 7:37 PM
*To:*af@afmug.com <mailto:af@afmug.com>
*Subject:*Re: [AFMUG] Did I miss Chucks opinion on Ubnt SunMax
Yeah, they said $1.50 a watt purchased, but do it yourself installed.
I guess it’s nice having it converted on panel to AC.
But what’s this price vs. buying panels yourself and running DC to a
battery bank?
I want both. I want the panels and the battery with a decent inverter.
I don’t care so much about selling back to the grid.
*From:*Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] *On Behalf Of *Mathew Howard
*Sent:* Wednesday, October 14, 2015 7:27 PM
*To:* af <af@afmug.com <mailto:af@afmug.com>>
*Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Did I miss Chucks opinion on Ubnt SunMax
I think they mentioned something about under $1.50/watt,.. or
something like that, but I have no idea if that's anywhere near what
the real price will be.
It looked to me like they're trying for simplicity more than cheap.
On Wed, Oct 14, 2015 at 8:15 PM, Chuck McCown <ch...@wbmfg.com
<mailto:ch...@wbmfg.com>> wrote:
$/watt is the only thing that matters to me. Pricing was not
discussed.
Mounting looks good. Normally integrated inverters and not the
most cost effective method.
Like to know the pricing. Also, you have to submit schematics and
all kinds of other things to the local building inspection
authority here to do a grid tie system. Not sure this would fly.
Did not see all the labels and disconnects that are required here.
*From:*Craig Schmaderer <mailto:cr...@skywaveconnect.com>
*Sent:*Wednesday, October 14, 2015 5:25 PM
*To:*af@afmug.com <mailto:af@afmug.com>
*Subject:*[AFMUG] Did I miss Chucks opinion on Ubnt SunMax
Not sure when they released this, but I just saw this on their
website. https://www.ubnt.com/sunmax/
