My DIY 60 kW 220 panel setup

[Nobodybusiness]

Getting that 300 MCM Cu cable to make the turn into the 225A breaker was a real challenge!

I’ll bet. I had to bend 400 MCM Cu in a transfer switch.
My bend was a little wider than yours.

 

[lsneon]

So how is the crypto mining going? I thought about adding a crypto mining rig as a dump load on sunny days. I decided instead that I'll build a motorized compost tumbler heated with a heat gun on a wifi timer.

Not sure I understand, why does a compost need a heater? Every one I've ever built had an internal temp of 160+ . . . .

 

[iancumdn]

We've installed so many Axitec panels and their productivity is awesome. Here you can find some of our projects: https://blacksolar.ro/galerie-foto/

 

[Max de Arriz]

When are you adding the tracking systems!?!

 

[BastropMetal]

I have a pole barn with a metal roof very similar to yours and I'm looking for mounting brackets. Which ones did you use?

 

[MrM1]

I have a pole barn with a metal roof very similar to yours and I'm looking for mounting brackets. Which ones did you use?

I can't speak for the OP of this thread, but on our pole barn, and on my similar pitch metal roof home I used S-5 Versa brackets to attach to the metal roof Then the rail of your choice.

I've used Unistrut (from bigger box stores - I don't recommend due to scarcity of panel clamps etc), low cost Prosolar rails and clamps, and most recently the very low cost Signature Solar Mini Rails.

 

[BastropMetal]

I can't speak for the OP of this thread, but on our pole barn, and on my similar pitch metal roof home I used S-5 Versa brackets to attach to the metal roof Then the rail of your choice.

I've used Unistrut (from bigger box stores - I don't recommend due to scarcity of panel clamps etc), low cost Prosolar rails and clamps, and most recently the very low cost Signature Solar Mini Rails.

Thank you for the feedback. I'm going to read up on all of those options to help me make my decision.

 

[MrM1]

Thank you for the feedback. I'm going to read up on all of those options to help me make my decision.

S-5 makes a large assortments of metal roof hardware mounts. Their VersaBracket is water tight and the most economical.

 

[Fearless]

This is exactly what would work for me. Here in Texas, cheap used schedule 80 drill pipe is plentiful. Can you tell me the size of the pipe and if you bought or made the pipe cap/flanges? Also, did you have to prove wind load tolerance to a permitting authority?

 

[Holly18]

This is amazing! Thanks for sharing

 

[Dacflyer]

@crazydane >> If None has told you yet... I built a controller for an old satellite dish.. the motor is 24v, but will work fine with 12v.. just slower, which will be great for the project.. Look at http://www.redrok.com/electron.htm#led3x
they have these in ready built or kit form.. easy and cheap, and connects straight to the motor and uses the existing limit switches.
i built mine into a small landscape light.. metal body with glass jar cover.. then the control box housed a small 7Ah battery and a 10W solar panel with small charge controller. I also used a 4PDT for manual / Automatic control, and another switch so i could move the panels manually E or W.
the control board inches things back to East during the night, so that it's ready for the next day..
check out the site,, pretty interesting..

 

[altenergy20]

The next day the POCO came out and killed the power to the house, and moved the cables from the pole into the new meter base and energized the new panel and left. It then took me about 3 hours to mount the transfer switch and run new 3/0 Cu to the sub-panels in the house. Bending 3/0 Cu is no fun at all, although it was not nearly as bad as the 300 MCM feeding the solar sub-panel.

View attachment 110474

Next I decided to pour a pad and make a "power room" where the service enters the house.

View attachment 110475

Structure done:

View attachment 110476

The roll of cable is a 24 strand fiber cable that I ran down to the shop building since I had ditch dug anyway.

20 kW Kubota generator installed and wired:

View attachment 110477

Last month I decided to ditch all the micro inverters and go 100% SMA SB string inverters. Doing all the ground mounted arrays was easy since I had easy access to the inverters, but the 56 panels on the roof were a different story.

I hauled a pallet up onto the roof, got it level, and the moved the top row of each array section onto it, and then shifted the remaining panels in each row, up one:

View attachment 110479

Inside the shop, I build a frame to hold all the inverters along with the 225A sub-panel. Here's a shot from when the shop roof arrays were still on micro inverters:

View attachment 110481

All done:

View attachment 110483

Closeup of solar sub-panel:

View attachment 110484

Getting that 300 MCM Cu cable to make the turn into the 225A breaker was a real challenge!

All PV wire going into the inverters are 10 AWG and the A/C output of the inverters going to the sub-panel is 6 AWG. The feeder wire from the solar sub-panel to the converted 400A shop meter base is 300 MCM Cu.

Output when the sun is out:

View attachment 110485

Production for the last 30 days:

View attachment 110486

I want to post genuine constructive feedback but I need your permission to do it.
I can't figure out whether you're still active recently or not.

 

[Hedges]

"Last seen Sep 1, 2023"

even though he last posted "Jan 27, 2023"

If his post is still up, you have our permission to tells us what you think about his work!

 

[Dutchman84]

Fantastic job! Thank you for going into such depth showing us.

 

[Sanwizard]

"Last seen Sep 1, 2023"

even though he last posted "Jan 27, 2023"

If his post is still up, you have our permission to tells us what you think about his work!

He is probably on his yacht off the coast of France enjoying some Wine and the scenery, all purchased from his mined Bitcoins. ?

 

[Israel Keys]

And I thought I had gotten too addicted lol...?
Awesome Job buddy

 

[Sharing Society]

What is going on with these wire splices?
Did you heat shrink them;
Did they go into the 2in or so PVC conduit in the other picture?

 

[Backyc1]

I'm also new here.
Thank you for sharing your experiences

 

[highwaypirate]

What a system... amazing!

 

[Siamac]

He is probably on his yacht off the coast of France enjoying some Wine and the scenery, all purchased from his mined Bitcoins. ?

Quite possibly could be otherwise how is he going to use 300 kwhr per day?