[EVDL] using solar panel

1124 Views 13 Replies 1 Participant Last post by EVDL List, Sep 5, 2007

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Discussion Starter · Sep 3, 2007

Trying to deal with the critics that I'm still using fossil fuel for my
ride.

Are there any inexpensive grid-tie inverters to connect some solar panels
directly to my grid?

I was thinking just use a couple panels, less than 500watts

thanks
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Discussion Starter · #2 · Sep 3, 2007

no
must use an approved inverter at about $2000 and need
at least 10 large hi wattage panels $500 ea
they get you comming or going but you can make a solar
charger for your own EV one harbor freight panel per
battery at about $100 or less ea.

--- m gol <[email protected]> wrote:

> Trying to deal with the critics that I'm still using
> fossil fuel for my
> ride.
>
> Are there any inexpensive grid-tie inverters to
> connect some solar panels
> directly to my grid?
>
> I was thinking just use a couple panels, less than
> 500watts
>
> thanks
> _______________________________________________
> For subscription options, see
> http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/ev
>

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Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 3, 2007

m gol <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Trying to deal with the critics that I'm still using fossil
>> fuel for my ride.
>>
>> Are there any inexpensive grid-tie inverters to
>> connect some solar panels directly to my grid?
>>
>> I was thinking just use a couple panels, less than 500 watts.

From: Keith Vansickle
> No. Must use an approved inverter at about $2000, and need at
> least 10 large hi wattage panels $500 ea. They get you coming
> or going, but you can make a solar charger for your own EV.
> One Harbor Freight panel per battery at about $100 or less ea.

It's not *quite* that bad. It's easy to get something that works. It's just that the US utilities have written regulations to make it has hard as possible to meet. For some reason, I get the impression they don't want us to be able to generate our own power!

I have five old PV panels, Arco M52L, that cost me about $50 each. They run a Trace Microsine grid intertie inverter, which generates 120vac at up to 200 watts -- it cost about $300. This is a small simple cheap system to generate AC power and push it back into the grid safely.

--
"Excellence does not require perfection." -- Henry James
--
Lee A. Hart, 814 8th Ave N, Sartell MN 56377, leeahart-at-earthlink.net

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Discussion Starter · #4 · Sep 3, 2007

[No message]

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Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 3, 2007

From: m gol
> Are the Trace Microsine grid intertie inverters still available?

Yes; if you live anywhere except the USA. They are made in Holland, and the model is "OK4U", made by N.K.F. Kabel BV. Trace had exclusive rights to import them as their model MS100, and I bought one from them in 2001. Since then, the utilities have toughened the grid intertie standards, and Trace now sells only their own inverters.

There are lots of ways to do grid intertie, if you just want it to work and not try to meet the utility standards. Probably the simplest is a motor-generator set with an induction generator. An induction generator automatically quits generating as soon as grid power is lost.

--
"Excellence does not require perfection." -- Henry James
--
Lee A. Hart, 814 8th Ave N, Sartell MN 56377, leeahart-at-earthlink.net

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Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 4, 2007

Why not setup a standalone system for charging your EV battery? . During
insolation, the PV modules will directly charge your pack but at night you
can use the pack volts plus approx 15% and directly connect them to transfer
charge quickly. For more sophistication and cost you can use a maximiser (a
type of optimising DC -DC converter) to do both of these functions. This is
a bit of a broad brush description as there are controls reqd as well. I am
in the happy situation of having 4.6kW of PV installed (and no grid) and for
9 months of the year there is more than enough to support the household and
charge EV batteries. David Sharpe
----- Original Message -----
From: "m gol" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 2:08 AM
Subject: [EVDL] using solar panel

> Trying to deal with the critics that I'm still using fossil fuel for my
> ride.
>
> Are there any inexpensive grid-tie inverters to connect some solar panels
> directly to my grid?
>
> I was thinking just use a couple panels, less than 500watts
>
> thanks
> _______________________________________________
> For subscription options, see
> http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/ev
>

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Discussion Starter · #7 · Sep 4, 2007

As has been mentioned, there are many safe, if not legal, ways to do this.
(grid intertie)

Just google "guerilla solar".

Been done for years.

Have Fun!
Roy

~~~~~~

Roy LeMeur

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Discussion Starter · #8 · Sep 4, 2007

500 Watts of solar panels are pretty small (physically).
Why not just mount them on the EV and charge the pack?

Won't make much difference, but it would at least be more efficient than a
grid tie and then charging the pack from the grid.

> Trying to deal with the critics that I'm still using fossil fuel for my
> ride.
>
> Are there any inexpensive grid-tie inverters to connect some solar
> panels
> directly to my grid?
>
> I was thinking just use a couple panels, less than 500watts
>
> thanks

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legalistic signature is void.

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Discussion Starter · #9 · Sep 4, 2007

[No message]

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Discussion Starter · #10 · Sep 5, 2007

I'd contact CitizenRE. They'll build an entire solar system for your
needs, then sell you the electricity at installation-time prices over
the length of the contract.

Judebert (not associated with CitizenRE, just considering them myself)

> m gol <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>> Trying to deal with the critics that I'm still using fossil
>>> fuel for my ride.
>>>
>>> Are there any inexpensive grid-tie inverters to
>>> connect some solar panels directly to my grid?
>>>
>>> I was thinking just use a couple panels, less than 500 watts.
>>>

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