Rush PV install !

[adam2]

Thought others might be interested in a very urgent PV install for a cottage in Somerset.

The cottage was not connected to the grid in any proper fashion, but did have a very inadeqaute and unsafe home made overhead line from a neighbouring farm.
This came to the attention of TPTB and was required to be removed forthwith.

A proper connection would cost many thousands of pounds and take some weeks to install.

In view of the very limited capacity of the condemmed overhead line, and consequent small load, it was decided to go PV.

PV modules ordered from RS components, delivered next day
Charge controller and 12 volt lamps sent by post from myself
4 deep cycle batteries ordered from local supplier and delivered same day
Cheap fusebox and other electrical supplies purchased locally.

Very basic wiring, re-using much of the existing done in a few hours.

About 36 hours between severing the improvised mains connection, and PV lighting !
There is still a lot to do, including improving the wiring, building a battery shed, expanding the system, and buying a decent 12 volt fridge.

They could not believe that it could be done that quickly !
It was DIY with telephone guidance from myself.

[clv101]

Nice, sounds like an interesting project. It shows just how powerful today's 'system' is. A few clicks on a website, a couple of phone calls, some expert knowledge and the lights are on.

[adam2]

Indeed, and the lights remain the same brightness even if several are used at the same time !
The improvised mains connection gave a voltage that varied between about 180 and about 270, according to load.

Lighting from such a suppy is not very satisfactory, even with CFLs

The TV was 12 volts due to the varying voltage, as was the fridge.

[DominicJ]

Remember, under no circumstances, even when cloudy, should the owner reinstate his old link up.....
Nor should he install a system to charge his batteries via the 180-270v supply that is not allowed to exist anymore.....

[adam2]

Remember, under no circumstances, even when cloudy, should the owner reinstate his old link up.....
Nor should he install a system to charge his batteries via the 180-270v supply that is not allowed to exist anymore.....

No way ! They got away with it in the past, but it has now come to the attention of the TPTB and I suspect that various officials and inspectors will be keeping a close eye on the place.
They have also photographed a caravan to ensure that it does not remain for more than 28 days.

A larger PV array and a wind turbine are to be added, this was just a start to get the lights on.
At present, laundry has to be taken on a 10 mile round trip to a coin op launderete. A washing machine and a big enough inverter to power it are next on the list.

[An Inspector Calls]

Indeed, and the lights remain the same brightness even if several are used at the same time !
The improvised mains connection gave a voltage that varied between about 180 and about 270, according to load.

The 180 V (AC?) I can understand; where did the 270 V come from?

[adam2]

The voltage was originaly a nominal 240 volts.
In order to "compensate" for voltage drop a transformer was added at the supply end to increase this to about 275 volts actual.
As a result the voltage received at the far end at minimum load was about 270, at part load about 220, and if heavily loaded as low as 180.

As a result lighting was unsatisfactory, and the TV had to be worked from a 12 volt battery that was charged from the very variable voltage mains. A switched mode charger will accept such variations.

A voltage increasing transformer can be useful in some circumstances, but they over did it a bit !

[An Inspector Calls]

And I suppose any concept of earthing was considered a luxury?

[adam2]

And I suppose any concept of earthing was considered a luxury?

Well there was an earth rod, I doubt that it did much good though without an RCD. Dont know what the earth loop impedance was, but almost certainly much too high to open a fuse or circuit breaker.

[adam2]

Permanent upgrade now done.

System changed to 3 wire DC at 12/0/12 volts so as to give both 12 volts for lighting and 24 volts for appliances and the inverter.

Wiring largely renewed, and done properly this time, mainly in plastic conduit.
Lighting generaly 10 amp circuits in 2.5mm cable and small power 16 amp circuits in 4.00mm cable
Battery capacity now 800 A/H at 24 volts.
Charging from approx 600 watts of PV and a Rutland 913 wind turbine.

A new shed/store/workshop has been built with the PV modules atop this, and the reinforced roof structure used to partialy support the wind turbine mast.

High efficiency 24 volt fridge and freezer in use
All lighting is DC, mainly 12 volt MR16 LED lamps and 12 volt CFLs
Large inverter installed to allow use of standard domestic washing machine, this will save considerable petrol compared to driving to a launderete.

Gas lights have been installed in the hallway, the bathroom, and the kitchen area, supplied from a large propane bottle.
This is of course FF but moderate use of gas lighting is a good use of propane and will reduce electricity use if supplies are short.

[adam2]

UPDATE TIME,

A year or so has passed and the installation is generally satisfactory.
The load tended to grow and the renewable input was found insufficient, but that was easily rectified by the addition of a second wind turbine and another 400 watts of PV.

The laundry problem was overcome by use of standard automatic clothes washer, with a "no heat" control.
Without the heater consumption, this is easily powered from a large inverter. The washing machine may be connected to heated or unheated water as needed.

The cheapo no name chinese 12 volt CFLs all failed after little use and have been replaced with "solsum" lamps, or with LEDs, or with 24 volt flourescent fittings.

Considerable use has been made of a 24 volt kettle for quick cuppas when the wood stove is not lit.
A 47 KG propane bottle lasted about a year and was the only significant FF input. Parafin is used for portable lamps, but less than 10L a year.

A reserve of coal derived smokeless fuel is kept, but none has been consumed.
A reserve of parrafin wax candles is kept, but only a handfull have been used.

[adam2]

Have recently visited and thought it time for another update.

The now 2 wind turbines have been a considerable success with output exceeding expectations.

Preps in general were severly tested by the recent cold winter.
No PV output at times as modules covered by snow, and very limited in the prolonged cloudy weather.

Heating arrangements and fuel stocks not entirely adeqaute, they ran out of logs and used most of the emergency coal stocks as well.
The wood stove was kept alight 24/7 during the worst weather, rather than the normal lighting it at lunchtime.
Nearly ran out of propane.
The water pipes froze.
Ran out of normal food, but ample supplies of doomfood.

The electrical system worked perfectly.

Plans for next winter include
A much larger stock of wood(£200?)
An extra propane bottle(£100?)
Improved insulation(free, hopefully)
Changing to gravity circulation heating(£ unknown at present)
Extra blankets and/or duvets, the stove was lit 24/7 due to kids complaining of being cold in bed(£150)
A second freezer (£400, ultra high efficiency DC one)
Stocks of wheat and means of making bread
More stocks of "everyday" food, they did not expect to eat the mountain house "doomfood" just yet!

[Pepperman]

I haven't come across DC freezers before. Found this:

http://www.steca.com/index.php?Gefriertruhe_en

Is that the sort of thing you're referring to? Any other brands?

[Tarrel]

This sounds like an interesting case study. Why did they run low on food, I wonder? Did they get snowed in?

Just a thought about keeping the children warm at night; the good old hot water bottle makes a massive difference to how warm one feels in bed, and uses no extra energy to fill if a kettle is heated on the already-lit stove during the evening.

[adam2]

I haven't come across DC freezers before. Found this:

http://www.steca.com/index.php?Gefriertruhe_en

Is that the sort of thing you're referring to? Any other brands?

Yes that is the sort of appliance reffered to.
Other brands include "Sunfrost" , "Sundanzer" and IIRC "Engle"
The merit of such appliances is greater efficiency, the absence of inverter losses, and not being reliant on an inverter.