Oasis Montana Spring 2007
Newsletter
Page 1 - Backup Solar Power System
BATTERY BASED, GRID-TIE
BACKUP SOLAR POWER SYSTEM:
Ice storms, earthquake, hurricane, floods, or squirrel in
the transformer…it does not matter what causes it, a power
outage is inconvenient at the least and can become costly
and dangerous if it goes on for more than 24 hours. While a
gasoline-powered generator is often the most popular backup
power choice, fuel may be scarce and expensive during a
prolonged outage. Gasoline fueled generators also require
maintenance, and they can be noisy and dirty.
 How
would you like a backup power source that is clean and
quiet, doesn’t require any fuel to purchase, and can reduce
your monthly electric bill when you aren’t using it? That is
what a battery based grid-tie solar power system featuring
Outback’s PS1 system pictured to the left can do. The PS1
incorporates a single 48V - 3.6 kW grid-tie sine wave
inverter, 60 amp MPPT solar charge controller and the
required AC & DC disconnects all pre-wired in the upper
outdoor rated NEMA 3R enclosure. The bottom enclosure houses
4 deep-cycle sealed AGM batteries that can provide enough
energy storage to run an efficient refrigerator for two
days.
If you connect a solar array to this PS1 system, that would
extend the amount of time you could run your critical AC
loads (well pump, refrigerator, lights, etc.) during a
utility outage. While utility power is available, this solar
power system will keep the batteries fully charged and sell
the excess solar power back to the utility company which
lowers your monthly bill. We have put together a small
sample system quote below so you can see what a system like
this will cost. Of course there are a few variables, such as
solar array size, type of mount structure, and battery size
that can affect the cost of this system as well as its
performance. Keep in mind that there is a $2000 federal tax
credit available for purchasing and installing this type of
system during 2007, and there may be more state incentives
in your area available as well (visit
www.dsireusa.org for
more information). Please give us a call if you have any
questions about this system or if you would like us to
prepare a quote on a larger or different battery based
grid-tie system. We need to know what you want to power and
for what length of time.
1 Outback PS1-3000 inverter/controller/disconnect in NEMA 3R
enclosure
1 Outback PS1 BE battery enclosure
4 Concorde PVX-1080T 12V 108 amp-hour sealed AGM batteries
3 #2/0 AWG 16” black battery interconnects
1 set of two #2/0 AWG 10’ inverter cables
4 Sharp ND-L3EJEA 12V 123W multi-crystalline solar modules
1 eight module top-of-pole mount structure (4” ID
SCH40 steel pipe required)
4 30” #10-2 and one 30’ #10/2 module interconnects
1 Outback PSPV combiner box with one 15A breaker & SOV 
Call for current system price.
On average the four Sharp solar modules will produce ~1.3 kWh of
energy per day with 4 hours of full sun while the four Concorde
batteries will provide 2 days of storage to 50% depth of discharge
at the
consumption rate of 1.3 kWh per day (depending on your
location).
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