A newbies DIY solar install

[deezler]

I have a deposit in on the F150 lightning. Really intrigued by the stated capability to act as whole house battery backup. Thats 98 or 131 kWh of battery sitting right there, might as well use it during an outage (assuming you also have another backup vehicle, should you drain the EV fully over a few days).

My 6500 watt gasoline Generator kicks pretty hard when the 3/4HP well pump comes on, but it does it.

 

[cqaigy2]

I have used 3500 watt generators to run well pumps. it really depends on the individual well. and ours were deep 240 units, not jet pumps

I've used a 3500 watt generator too. Pump motor is 240 volt A.C., 1 H.P. submersible sits at 400 feet. The pump control does have a big fat capacitor to help with the starting current.

 

[bmaverick]

I've used a 3500 watt generator too. Pump motor is 240 volt A.C., 1 H.P. submersible sits at 400 feet. The pump control does have a big fat capacitor to help with the starting current.

Nice.

Is it possible to take a pix of the capacitor setup to assist? What brand and rating too. It would help so many of us out on this power the well ordeal.

 

[cqaigy2]

Nice.

Is it possible to take a pix of the capacitor setup to assist? What brand and rating too. It would help so many of us out on this power the well ordeal.

It's a Franklin Electric 2801084915 QD Submersible Motor Control Box 1.0 HP 230V 1PH For 3-Wire Motors

The start capacitor is 105-126 MFD (uF) Motor Start Capacitor 250 volt A.C. Electrolytic.

 

[Carl_NH]

Nice.

Is it possible to take a pix of the capacitor setup to assist? What brand and rating too. It would help so many of us out on this power the well ordeal.

I would imagine this is the standard three wire pump with the control box which has the capacitor and start relay in the box instead of in the pump. Mine is a two wire with the capacitor and start windings in the pump. Either way both pumps (2 or 3 wire with control box) draw the same starting and running current.

A 1 HP submersible running amperage is between 8-9 amps, starting probably 15-16 amps, so a 3500W is about 16 Amps 240V so its right on the edge.

What is interesting is if you see the pump manual from Goulds and Franklin Motors - page 15, generator recommendations based on pump size, they state for 2 wire pumps to increase the KW by 50%. That must be due to the start capacitor in the pump vs near the electrical panel/control box?

 

[ning]

I used a 3500W generator as backup with a 3/4hp well before I got batteries. That generator occasionally would throw its breaker when the well started up and I'd have to reset it a couple of times.

 

[newbury]

<snip>On another slant -
Has anyone seen a good DIY solar carport implementation? If so any good links?
I've got to replace a carport that was about 20x40. Basically I need to roof over the area to keep stuff underneath protected from the Mississippi sun and rain.
The previous carport was only paneled down on one side so I'm not looking for a complete enclosure.
I could orient it in a solar friendly angle.
But I'm thinking those big panels on frames could easily be adapted to a carport roof.

And I am thinking the carport isn't wind rated enough to add solar panels to it and withstand a Cat 1 hurricane or even close. I hate the idea of adding solar panels just to have them blown away at the first hint of a storm.
You may have a substantial carport, but I am envisioning one of those kinds like a lot of people are installing these days that just bolt to a slab in a few hours of time.
David from jax

No, I was thinking of a solar install with parking underneath.

This was a nice site to see this morning. I know of 2 people that lost panels last night. Lot's of downed fences, trees, etc. Highest wind gusts recorded in our area were 85 mph. We never lost power but the outage map showed 27,000 without last night.

View attachment 725228

What I was thinking of was building about this much solar panel, 5' to 7' off the ground on the low end (south) and whatever on the high end (north).
attachment try 2

With a little (2'? 4'?) extension of metal roof on the north for additional rain protection.

The entire structure would be built to "solar specs", (wind rating and snow/ice load) over the present parking lot.

 

[ning]

No, I was thinking of a solar install with parking underneath.

What I was thinking of was building about this much solar panel, 5' to 7' off the ground on the low end (south) and whatever on the high end (north).
View attachment 726262
With a little (2'? 4'?) extension of metal roof on the north for additional rain protection.

The entire structure would be built to "solar specs", (wind rating and snow/ice load) over the present parking lot.

I had thoughts of having my ground mount be up higher so that horses could use it as a sun shade in the summer, but the standard mount needs to be installed near the ground and raising it would completely change the engineering calculations for wind.

There obviously exist these things (local businesses have large carports of solar) but considering the prices I'd definitely get something engineered even if you DIY the work.

 

[bmaverick]

No, I was thinking of a solar install with parking underneath.

What I was thinking of was building about this much solar panel, 5' to 7' off the ground on the low end (south) and whatever on the high end (north).
View attachment 726262
With a little (2'? 4'?) extension of metal roof on the north for additional rain protection.

The entire structure would be built to "solar specs", (wind rating and snow/ice load) over the present parking lot.

bummer, dead link.

 

[cqaigy2]

I had thoughts of having my ground mount be up higher so that horses could use it as a sun shade in the summer, but the standard mount needs to be installed near the ground and raising it would completely change the engineering calculations for wind.

There obviously exist these things (local businesses have large carports of solar) but considering the prices I'd definitely get something engineered even if you DIY the work.

I wonder about that too. I've seen where animal or tractor shelter where it's regular construction with rafters, and also purlins going across the rafters, with the panels screwed into both the rafters and purlins. The panels acted as the roofing material. Good ventilation below and some protection from sun and rain.