solar system to container

[Shento]

Can anyone help, looking to put a 3kw system onto a container to enable me to charge electric golf karts 36/48v other than the modules would I need an inverter?

 

[telectrix]

not unless you require AC.

 

[Shento]

not unless you require AC.

thanks for the reply,
Im not sure which would be the most economical, either an AC supply with inverter so we can directly "plug in" the carts or as it is DC produced by the panels is there not a way in which the carts can be connected directly or would we need other equipment?
Cheers

 

[screwdriver]

a charge controller would do the job but you may find the input voltage is a bit fun to easily achieve with a 3kw system

 

[Worcester]

Using a charge controller, you would need to find panels with a close match to the required charging voltage and a good reliable charge controller or series of charge controllers. You then wire them in parallel to give lots of amps.
If you do not want any feed in tariff that is the way to go.

Alternativiely you could convert to AC using an inverter, and then convert back to dc via the normal chargers. It will need to be grid connected, or use a device like sunny island to simulate the grid so that the inverter has something to match voltage, frequency and phase to, of course that way any excess not being used by the chargers would be available for the club house, you'll also get a Feed-In Tariff payment for what you generate.

The last one also has the advantage that the buggies will still get charged from the grid, even when the sun isn't shinning!, If you want make sure that you're running on generated power as a priority a cheap controller like this, Solar Immersion Heater Switch - Use Surplus Solar PV Power to Heat Water & Save Money or this .:Energyfactor UK:. - Energy consultancy will only divert power to the chargers when the sun is actually shining.

 

[Shento]

Using a charge controller, you would need to find panels with a close match to the required charging voltage and a good reliable charge controller or series of charge controllers. You then wire them in parallel to give lots of amps.
If you do not want any feed in tariff that is the way to go.

Alternativiely you could convert to AC using an inverter, and then convert back to dc via the normal chargers. It will need to be grid connected, or use a device like sunny island to simulate the grid so that the inverter has something to match voltage, frequency and phase to, of course that way any excess not being used by the chargers would be available for the club house, you'll also get a Feed-In Tariff payment for what you generate.

The last one also has the advantage that the buggies will still get charged from the grid, even when the sun isn't shinning!, If you want make sure that you're running on generated power as a priority a cheap controller like this, Solar Immersion Heater Switch - Use Surplus Solar PV Power to Heat Water & Save Money or this .:Energyfactor UK:. - Energy consultancy will only divert power to the chargers when the sun is actually shining.

Thanks

 

[moggy1968]

you don't need to be grid connected to use an inveter.

 

[Worcester]

@Moggy1968 true, however the gGrid-Commected G83/1 certified inverters do need something to lock on to (else they'll report 'Grid Fail' and not generate anything) hence the need for a Sunny Island or similar, unless you use a specifically designed off-grid inverter.

http://www.sma.de/en/products/off-grid-inverters.html

[url]http://www.sma.de/en/products/off-grid-inverters/sunny-island-charger-50.html

[/URL]