Solar Project Planning

[carlyai]

For solar panels and inverters installation I think I will use the garage. From the house to the garage is about 18m. As a reference, the pool is 14m long.

 

 

The 3 phase supply comes into an outside (CU1) via that grey painted conduit, then 3 phases go underground to the house (CU2) and 1 phase goes underground to the garage (CU3).

From somewhere around  CU1 (leaving plenty of slack) 3 phase supply cables will be extended to and from the garage. 

That would be 8 25m2 cables if I run 4 wire mains or 6 if 3 wire mains. (I think I need 4 wire going but maybe 3 wire coming back....hope someone can advise).

 

 

The power cables will run along the outside of the pool fence attached with unistrut clamps to the fence. The individual cables with be enclosed in conduit.

 

 

On the garage side of the pool fence the cables will initially terminate on the white wall then go to a 1/3 phase EV Charger. 

Initially I will use the single underground phase attached to the EV charger.

I need suggestions on how to do the next wiring setup: I didn't really want to terminate the cable there but would have preferred it to go all the way to where the solar inverter/s will be further down the garage wall.

Do I terminate the incoming 4 cables in a 60A breaker (CU4), then feed to where the solar setup will be. Also feeds thru a 40A 3 phase breaker to the EV Charger?

 

 

The cables will go along the garage wall to the end wall where they will meet the inverters etc on the opposite wall of the garage or in the next room.

 

 

One place I could mount a the solar hardware and batteries. Would share the room with the EV and pool filtration equipment.

 

Or, I could go next door (still part of the garage) and dismantle my store room and install all the solar equipment in the store room. 

Gets really hot in the garage so if needed I could install an air-conditioning as is a small room.

 

Maybe I should give up the solar on/in the garage and put the inverter/s in the house and PV panels on the Monier tiled roof as 3 phase already in the house.

I would like feedback on anything, especially 4 wire to the garage and 4 wire back and how to terminate the cables into the garage to connect to an EV charger, but extend them on to the solar equipment.

I see overseas now they have 4 wire 3 phase cables in a flat cable configuration. Any comment on running the CU power cables?

 

All comments welcomed. 🙂

[Crossy]

You will need 4-wire each way I'm afraid, that's assuming you're going hybrid solar.

 

You could still put the panels on the garage and run solar DC to inverters in the house. That might prove cheaper.

 

Do you want batteries (even LiFePO4) in your living area?

 

How much solar do you anticipate? You may get away with smaller than 25mm² cables unless volt-drop becomes an issue.

 

Best way is to sketch what you would like to do and cost up the cable runs.

 

[carlyai]

19 minutes ago, Crossy said:

You will need 4-wire each way I'm afraid, that's assuming you're going hybrid solar.

 

You could still put the panels on the garage and run solar DC to inverters in the house. That might prove cheaper.

 

Do you want batteries (even LiFePO4) in your living area?

 

How much solar do you anticipate? You may get away with smaller than 25mm² cables unless volt-drop becomes an issue.

 

Best way is to sketch what you would like to do and cost up the cable runs.

 

Thanks.

Schematic drawing coming. Just bought me a copy of Visio and new monitor.

When you use Visio, do you place the boxes first or last after the cct. elements, or, doesn't it matter.

[Crossy]

2 minutes ago, carlyai said:

Thanks.

Schematic drawing coming. Just bought me a copy of Visio and new monitor.

When you use Visio, do you place the boxes first or last after the cct. elements, or, doesn't it matter.

 

I do the boxes last otherwise the ruddy things keep moving (accidentally selected), but it doesn't really matter. Personal preference.

 

[carlyai]

47 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

I do the boxes last otherwise the ruddy things keep moving (accidentally selected), but it doesn't really matter. Personal preference.

 

Yes that's what I was thinking would happen unless there is a anchor function.