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Raynes Engineering, Inc. |
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| Castle Valley Outdoors Executive Retreat - Historic Baker Ranch Homestead | ||||||||||||||
| General System Description: 1.44 KW solar array, 2/3 mounted as tilt-able roof-mount on utility building roof, 1/3 on tilt-able ground mount, SolarBoost 6024 charge controller, Outback VFX3524 inverter with PS2DC switchgear, 12 Trojan L16 batteries, tie-in of existing diesel generator utilizing an existing outdoor manual transfer switch, no remote start. This was a complete upgrade to an existing system, performed in two phases, the first in 2005 (battery, battery enclosure, and CC replacement, interim cabling and circuit disconnects) the second in 2006 (complete inverter/power panel replacement, addition of 960 watts of solar panels with complete re-wiring of array). When the upgrade was complete, the only original equipment still in service was four solar panels and a manual transfer switch, both of which were completely rewired. |
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| BEFORE - This bank of automotive batteries wasn't performing too well. | ||||||||||||||
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| BEFORE - Inverter and charge controller plastered in to the wall. Cabling from the PV array was undersized, limiting the ability of the battery bank to reach the appropriate voltage for full charge. | ||||||||||||||
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1st Phase Upgrade
The charge controller was replaced with an SolarBoost MPPT unit, to maximize the array production, and so that the array could be re-wired for 24 volts. That rewiring, together with upgrading the cabling and terminations all around, reduced over 90% of the line losses. A small breaker enclosure and battery meter were also added so that the caretakers were no longer flying blind. Some of the construction was not brought entirely up to spec, anticipating a further upgrade as budgets allowed. |
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| This location is an absolutely beautiful ranch consisitng of old Homestead era buildings, that have been carefully restored to preserve the original feel. Somehow, a standard-issue battery box made out of unfinished OSB just didn't seem appropriate. | New bank of Trojan L16 batteries, laid out and cabled to keep line losses to an absolute minimum, and properly vented (see adjoining picture) | |||||||||||||
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2nd Phase Upgrade
A completely new Outback Power Panel was supplied, the battery bank re-wired for 24 volts, the solar PV array was tripled in size and re-wired again, this time up to 48 volts. |
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