Hello from Perth, Western Australia!

Hi Everyone,

I am an IT nerdwho isalways interested in new gadgets and technology. I have a 5kW EnphaseSolar PV systemon my roof and this currentlywipes out all ofmy day time usage, and feeds a decent amount back to the grid ontop of that, but only for the lower7 centsas we only built this house a few years ago.I have been very keen to get a battery system going as I really don't like feeding my excess back to the grid for such a low value and would much rather use it in my house after the sun goes down!

I'd really like it if I could cover most (if not all) ofmy night time usage with battery (lights, fridge, wall sockets only. no aircon or oven etc).

Currently I am in research/development mode, watching all of your Youtube videos as much as possible, and reading these forums/websites... I am still unsure tho how I am going to tackle my Enphase system, as most of you generally use string inverters... I have little knowledge tho of how I can do this, I have read that a AC Coupled/HybridInverter would possibly handle the AC comingfrom the Enphase inverters...

Since I only started recently on this, I have not done any cell/pack collecting.. so will need to start looking at that, if it is even feasible to do a DIY Powerwall for my current system?

Unfortunately, due to the size of my block and house etc, I am limited to putting the battery system in my Garage - which I'm not really sure if i'm keen on that idea being a system with potential risk using these junk laptop cells.... tho all of your systems look very well put together with all the necessary precautions taken with fusing and cell monitoring etc...

Looking forward to the learning and other peoples experiences in this great community!

Welcome.

If you want safer cells in general LiFePo4 could be the way. Other than that its up to each one to decide how safe you want to do it i would sa

daromer said:

Welcome.

If you want safer cells in general LiFePo4 could be the way. Other than that its up to each one to decide how safe you want to do it i would sa

Click to expand...

Thanks daromer.

Hey mate can you post the details of your Enphase system components?
You should have been given a user manual from installation it's a CEC, Western Power and Synergy requirement.
You may be better off expanding the Enphase battery modules in your system and not trying to mix it.

Darmok said:

Hey mate can you post the details of your Enphase system components?
You should have been given a user manual from installation it's a CEC, Western Power and Synergy requirement.
You may be better off expanding the Enphase battery modules in your system and not trying to mix it.

Click to expand...

Hey Darmok,

I don't have an enphase battery only micro inverters... Do you mean the manual for the envoy or the micro inverters?

System is 19 x 265w panels with the m250 inverters and the envoy monitor.

Welcome my friend, time to get the feet wet, but stay away from the electric Anyhow, it seems you picked a good place to start. I have watched all the video's more than once, they never get old, learn something new each time. There is also lots to learn from this group. I am in the permitting process, once the local government approves, Tesla can begin their installation. I watched a video today on Enphase, don't they do some DC to AC conversion at the collector? It would not appear that you will be able to charge directly from the collectors, but rather a ac to dc inverter. I am researching this stuff now, hoping to understand a lot more before the installer gets here in a month or two.....

Bob

RobertBaumer said:

Welcome my friend, time to get the feet wet, but stay away from the electric Anyhow, it seems you picked a good place to start. I have watched all the video's more than once, they never get old, learn something new each time. There is also lots to learn from this group. I am in the permitting process, once the local government approves, Tesla can begin their installation. I watched a video today on Enphase, don't they do some DC to AC conversion at the collector? It would not appear that you will be able to charge directly from the collectors, but rather a ac to dc inverter. I am researching this stuff now, hoping to understand a lot more before the installer gets here in a month or two.....

Bob

Click to expand...

Hi Bob,

Thanks - yes I am also reading up and trying to get my head around it all.. I looked at the MPP Solar Hybrid V series, could I run that in Hybrid mode and feed the Enphase AC to the AC "IN" of the unit, then run the "AC OUTPUT" to the mains (load), and that way the Enphase will go directly to the mpp, power the house / charge batteries...

Did you order a Powerwall 2 AC coupled unit? ...

Sentinal said:

RobertBaumer said:

Welcome my friend, time to get the feet wet, but stay away from the electric Anyhow, it seems you picked a good place to start. I have watched all the video's more than once, they never get old, learn something new each time. There is also lots to learn from this group. I am in the permitting process, once the local government approves, Tesla can begin their installation. I watched a video today on Enphase, don't they do some DC to AC conversion at the collector? It would not appear that you will be able to charge directly from the collectors, but rather a ac to dc inverter. I am researching this stuff now, hoping to understand a lot more before the installer gets here in a month or two.....

Bob

Click to expand...

Hi Bob,

Thanks - yes I am also reading up and trying to get my head around it all.. I looked at the MPP Solar Hybrid V series, could I run that in Hybrid mode and feed the Enphase AC to the AC "IN" of the unit, then run the "AC OUTPUT" to the mains (load), and that way the Enphase will go directly to the mpp, power the house / charge batteries...

Did you order a Powerwall 2 AC coupled unit? ...

Click to expand...

I am on the permitting phase of the install with Tesla Energy, formerly known as Solar City. I am not sure how much information the installers will share with me during the installation. I guess the question will be: How will I hook up a PowerWall in the future if this is a grid-tie system. My system is sized out to be 120% of my needs so I am getting 28 collectors at 325 watts per collector.