Sma Sunny
Sma Sunny
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SMA-600VDC KLKD-1Sunny Boy GFDI $11.42 SMA Fuse 1A600VDC KLKD-1Sunny Boy GFDI 485QMUS-10-NRNR-SMA-600VDC KLKD-1Sunny Boy GFDI… |
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SMA BEAM-BT-SUPPLY Sunny Beam USB Plug-In Power Supply $74.95 Use with SMA Sunny Beam The USB plug-in power supply can be used to connect the Sunny Beam to a socket, to charge the batteries via the mains instead of using the solar cell USB plug-in power supply with adapters… |
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SMA BTPBINV-NR Bluetooth Piggyback Communication Module $145.00 Features: For wireless communications between inverters and the Bluetooth version of the WebBox or the Sunny Beam One communication card is required for each inverter in the system Up to 150 ft range in open air. Walls and other obstructions will decrease usable distance The following SMA inverters can be retrofitted with the SMA Bluetooth Communication Card: |
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SMA SB 232 SERV USB Sunny Boy PC Service Cable $145.00 Service cable for technicians and installers. Allows remote communication between the Sunny Boy Inverter and a windows based laptop with Sunny Data Software installed. Features: |
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SMA SB4000US Sunny Boy 4000US Grid Tie Inverter 4200 Watts $2,390.00 The 4000US is specially designed for countries that require UL certification. Automatic grid voltage detection and an integrated DC disconnect switch simplifies installation, ensuring safety as well as saving time. This model features galvanic isolation and can be used with all types of modules-crystalline as well as thin-film. The die-cast aluminum enclosure, with the OptiCool active temperature … |
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SMA-SB3000HFUS-30 $2,044.13 SMA Sunny Boy 3000HFUS 1-Ph Grid Tied Inverter 3000W SB3000HFUS-30 SB2500HFUS-30 DC Discon 1 Unfused i/p 1 MPPT 10 Yr Warr Neg Gnd Config Bluetooth-SMA-SB3000HFUS-30… |
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SMA-Sunny Boy 3300TL HC ROW Inverter $2,911.93 SMA Sunny Boy 3300TL HC ROW Inverter Transformerless Sunny Boy 3300TL HC ROW Inverter Sunny Boy 3300-ROW Inverter-SMA-Sunny Boy 3300TL HC ROW Inverter… |
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SMA SB2000HFUS Sunny Boy 2000HFUS Inverter High Frequency $1,899.00 The 2000HFUS is designed for projects requiring UL certification and represent the next step in innovative SMA technology. It features world-class efficiency, a slim-line enclosure and reduced weight. It can be mounted in between wall studs, making it perfect for new construction or space-constrained retrofits. The modern graphic display and wireless Bluetooth communication system provides a wealt… |
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Secular Folk-songs from Dalecarlia $20.98 … |
Sunny Island by SMA
Diy Solar Part 3 – System Costs
Component Costs
Let me start out by saying that I do not think its a good idea to go out and try to build a system from individual components yourself. Unless you have experience in electrical work or are already a solar professional, this can over complicate what is already a complicated process. I also get calls from people who have inherited some Solar Panels or bought an inverter on eBay. You can certainly cobble a system together with used parts but keep in mind that efficiency is advancing in this industry fast enough that even panels made 4 years ago are behind the times. The best way to start is with new, brand name products.
Panels
Solar Panels vary widely in cost now but are quickly becoming a commodity in terms of pricing. You can find many Chinese manufacturers that will provide panels for $2/watt. But what will you do when you have a warranty issue? Odds are your panel company will be defunct or impossible to reach.
I would suggest using a name brand for the panels. In my opinion, Sharp, Sanyo, Mitsubishi, and Kyocera are all excellent panels. Evergreen panels, which are American made, and REC which are made in Norway, are good panels but less prevalent. For these name brand solar panels you can expect to pay anywhere from $3.00 to $4.00 per watt retail. Obviously the more you buy the better your price per watt will be.
Inverters
There are three major inverter companies that do the lion share of solar installations: SMA (the Sunny Boy line is one of the most popular in the world); Fronius (like SMA a German company); and Xantrex (which makes a wide variety of electrical gear). You really can’t go wrong with these brands, but of course that means they cost a little more too. For pure Sine Wave inverters, which is what you’ll want for 99% of American homes, you can expect to pay about $2,500 for a 2000 Watt Inverter.
There are many other brands that you can get inverters for closer to $2000 (PV Powered, Outback, and Samlex come to mind) and could be perfectly acceptable for your system. One thing to keep in mind is that since you are connecting to the grid, your utility probably has a list of acceptable inverters. Be sure to check with them before buying ANYTHING.
Racking
There are so many racking makers and types (eg roof, ground, pole) it seems like every day I learn of a new manufacturer. Generally I don’t get too picky about the racking companies. The key part is making sure that you are buying the right racks for the panels and installation type you have. Uni-Rac, Iron Ridge and DPW are all reputable brands and can handle 90% of installation specifications. For a 2000 watt flush roof mount system you can expect to pay about $800-1000 for the rails, mounts and clamps. Ground mount and tilt systems get more expensive because there is just more parts involved.
Wiring, Disconnects, and Accessories
This is a hard part to estimate because it depends on your installation and the distance between the panels and the inverter. One key concept is to realize the larger the distance between the panels and inverter, the larger and more expensive that wire will be. DC power, much like water, must travel through larger wire at higher amperages to maintain efficiency. For a 2000W system I would budget about $400 for a typical wiring, disconnect, fuses, lighting arrestor, and conduit setup.
Complete System Costs
Ok, so that was the hard way to estimate a system. The fact is that companies have recognized that most people want an all-in-one-system. These kits can be customized for your particle application and come with the parts you need and, most importantly, instructions and drawings! Now this isn’t quite like putting together that entertainment center from Target, but with some patience, tools, and a little help from an electrician, these kits are actually very doable.
The best part of the kit is the cost. If you do the math on the system talked about before you’re looking at about $12,000-$14,000 and you have to match all your components. Kits generally run about $5-$6 per watt. So our 2000 watt example system would be closer to $10,000. And its a Complete Package, some customers have to add conduit and some wiring, but for the most part its a turn-key system.
Micro-inverter Systems
We touched in Micro Inverter system before but I wanted to talk about cost quickly. These inverters are meant to be connected directly to one panel of around 230W. Then the inverter can be connected to the grid. This changes the economics of systems significantly because you can get a 230W panel for around $700, a Micro Inverter for $230, and a small rack system for $100. Add in some wiring, a fuse and a disconnect and you’ve just gone solar with grid connection for around $1300. Not bad eh?
Next week we’ll start the install.
About the Author
Kriss Bergethon lives off the grid with his wife in Colorado. For more information visit his website at Thin Film Solar Panels. Kriss Bergethon is a solar expert and writer. For more of his useful articles on Solar Power, please visit Solar Panel Kits.
