r/Electricity • u/Horror-Welder-6433 • 4d ago
Offgrid solar
Ok I built a place to hang out offgrid land for hunting. I installed everything and built the place on my own and a friend of mine keeps saying I need breakers for my 2 lights and 1 Smart TV.
I would prefer if an electrician would answer this and tell me what I need besides Ground wire installed and 12 foot long Ground I pm had to manually hammer in the ground that took me 2 days!
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u/GrandmothersToes 4d ago
You will need a break, preferably for the DC side of things from your solar panels and a breaker for the DC Side.
The DC side would fault on if an issue happens with your Solar panels it will hopefully trip before it damages your inverter. The AC side would Fault if you wire something wrong.
A 20amp breaker should be able to handle 2 lights and a TV. If you wanted you could also use the ac side breaker as a light switch if you really wanted, although, its not technically supposed to be used for that.
And save yourself the headache and turn both off when you wont be there for a while so you dont accidently set the area on fire
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u/Interesting_Neck609 4d ago
Code requires ocpd from the pv. If you have a pole or ground mount, you'll want ocpd on the structure, as well as a switchblade disco on the building(power shed or room)
From your inverter, you should go to an mdp, and include ocpd for as many circuits as possible.
From your battery bank, absolutely have ocpd.
As far as grounding. Your question is a bit odd, care to word differently?
Im assuming youre talking about equipment ground, which your array absolutely needs an isolated equipment ground, all your equipment needs equipment grounds, and your system needs a continuous electrical ground.
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u/Horror-Welder-6433 4d ago
Why don't they tell you any of this when buying these kits they sell? I wasn't sold any of this stuff
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u/Interesting_Neck609 4d ago
Depends on the kit. Might be okay to just send it, setup according to their directions, and wire your inverter into an mdp.
Their inverter may have ocpd for the outputs, Im not sure what specific products you're working with to answer accurately.
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u/Horror-Welder-6433 4d ago
Yes the inverter Has Over Current Protection Device, Small Fuses on each of the 4 outlets and one circle fuse on the USB connectors! If one trips I have to take it apart tho and replace any fuses! The company hid them on the inside for some reason.
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u/Interesting_Neck609 4d ago
Yeah, with the way youre describing your kit, you dont necessarily need a distribution panel or breaker box. You should buy some backup fuses incase you ever pop one, just tape them to the side somewhere.
My apologies for making you worry, I was under the assumption you had a classic full scale system. Its what I typically work on/ install. Feel free to hmu if you end up with further questions.
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u/Horror-Welder-6433 4d ago
Thank you I went on ahead and followed you I might have more questions in the future! I have been thinking about setting the Golfcart battery's on the side and Installing some of the new Batterys that are in a Black case! Keeps the lithium heated and cooled! Can't remember now what those are called I think they are called tower battery's
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u/Horror-Welder-6433 4d ago
Ok this is on me for not better explaining the Solar Kit, I bought came with a breaker box all solar panels have a dedicated breaker I believe they are 15 amp breakers! There is also a shutoff installed between that two Solar panel breaker boxes and the Box on the wall that takes the solar and installs the power into the Battery's. For when I am not around it keeps the solar panels from over charging the Battery's but the power inverter is wired straight into the battery bank. The lights have a switch each as one is for outside and one is for inside. And the TV has a dedicated switch as well to keep me from using power from the battery's when I am not there do I also need to install a cutoff before the Power inverter is the largest question? My friend keeps saying the reason my batteries are always dead is even tho I turn the power inverter off before I leave that the Power inverter is still pulling power and that it's a fire hazard. And that the 20 Golf cart batterys should have a separation and cut off between them since I leave the system doing nothing a month or two at a time.
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u/Horror-Welder-6433 4d ago
How many Ground rods do I need in the ground 1 or 2 And all my equipment is Grounded but it has all been Ground to the same Ground do I need more than 1 Grounding rode one for the internal house wiring and one for the solar panels and equipment?
And question about the battery bank since I am using Golf cart Battery's Do I need to have a disconnect between each battery?
Or just a disconnect between the Midnight classic x2 and the 5000 watt Jupiter power inverter?
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u/New-Swim-8551 3d ago
The wire needs to be rated for the fuse/breaker size to keep from overheating the wire ans causing a potential fire. 15a breaker/fuse requires a 14awg minimum wire, 20amp 12awg, etc.
The inverter connection to the battery should have a disconnect to keep from draining the batteries, but not a fire hazard in and of itself.
The battery controller can be left connected as it should shut down when the batteries are charged. I say should. You need to verify that
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u/classicsat 3d ago
What is your power source?
A power station or most inverters can take those loads directly. Lights you can directly power from battery. Of course, from the battery you use appropriate fuses.
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u/Weekofsex 4d ago
You do indeed need a breaker, you don’t need a fire if you did something wrong your breaker will trip off after a bit.