Hey everyone! I'm diving into my first solar setup and really could use your advice. I'm pretty new to solar tech, so I'm looking for insights or suggestions. Here's the scoop: we live in Napa, California, in a rented single-family home and both work from home, running several servers in the garage that consume about 600 watts continuously. Since roof installation isn't an option, I'm planning to set up 4x400W bifacial solar panels on two large, south-facing pergolas in our garden. We're starting with the first pergola, and the current plan includes a manual transfer switch installed by our landlords for disconnecting from the grid during fire season. I've got a list of planned components for the solar system, including battery storage and a hybrid inverter, but I'd love any feedback you all have - especially regarding smarter choices or lessons learned. Also curious about integrating the transfer switch in a rental! Thanks a ton!
3 Answers
Just a thought, but for integrating transfer switches: they can be a bit clunky and might cause brief interruptions when switching, which isn’t ideal for your connected devices. It’s often better to consider an inverter that can seamlessly switch between solar and grid power, as they handle things more smoothly. Also, make sure you have local regulations sorted for your panel mounts!
You might want to consider sizing up your solar output. With your 4x400W panels, you're looking at around 8 kWh on a perfect day, but your servers will consume about 14.4 kWh daily. So, it’s a bit tight! Plus, there's efficiency loss when transferring between solar, battery storage, and inverter. Keeping some space for future expansion on your second pergola is a good idea!
Just a heads up regarding the Growatt SPF 5000 ES inverter—it’s meant for 240V single phase, not split phase. You might need an autotransformer like the ATS-5000T for around $300 to get that split-phase power most US homes use. Also, you likely won’t need a separate MPPT charge controller since this inverter typically has that built-in. Check out Will Prowse's website; it's a fantastic resource for DIY solar setups!
Got it, I’ll look into that! Thanks for the recommendation!
Thanks for the tip! I’m definitely eyeing the second pergola for extra panels.