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standalone/ offgrid solar inverter without batteries? (self.energy)

submitted 1 year ago by cybermatrix to c/energy

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Would it not be nice to have an inverter (2kw) which is off the grid that can work by having a very small buffer (1 kwh) to power applications that can work intermittent. So when the sun goes away, the applications (such as a pump or fan) work for one hour more and then stops. Like a UPS.

I work for a company that uses small solar pumps for small holder farmers and these pumps do not have batteries. So when the sun is away, the pump simply stops working and continues to operate when the sun is back.

I would like something like that for my shed. My question is this, does anyone knows the correct terminology for such an inverter and or do you know a brand as an example that can do this?

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[–] cybermatrix 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That is a nice small setup. The air pump is a small brushed pump? Why are you still using a buckbooster if the voltage is already 5v from panel and the airpump need 5v? Will the solar panel deliver in morning and evening not the 5v but 3v?. I am suprised that a 5v airpump exist and that it is able to pump air into water (as that cost quite some pressure to overcome)

[–] meyotch 1 points 1 year ago

Yes, it's a DC brush motor, 0.43 amps. It puts out just a trickle of air and is used by small-boat fishermen to keep a live well aerated. The buck booster cuts out very cleanly when the voltage drops below a set point, that's one reason. The other reason is I found cool buck/boost converter that has some features I wanted to play with. That's honestly the real reason.

Panels put out pretty constant voltage, but variable current. That's the role of the super capacitors, to accumulate charge when the light is dim, still 5v but an amperage below the minimum needed for the pump. Did I understand that part correctly?