Solar setup for 3a 240v compressor and small welding jobs

[CamaroMan]

Hi all - just moved my shop and need to setup a solar system..

I use hand tools 99% of the time and will just be charging cordless batteries, run the drill press occasionally, run approx 60w 110v worth of shop LED lights.. I VERY infrequently need to weld but there are time that I do, plus I want to run my compressor if I need to, maybe once a month for 45 minutes at most (sand blasting)..

Could someone shed light on the following:
12v vs 24v?
battery aH?

Trying to keep the budget moderate but I realize quality costs.. So im considering the 3.2v lithium cells initially 4 but I can maybe push for 8 to get to 24v. A split LF inverter (size? 5000 - 6000w?) and panels not sure yet, maybe 600w- ill be using this very in frequently so theres plenty of time to charge.

In Socal and I have 10 hours of great sunlight 99% of the time..

Thoughts?

So far: 12v 280 ah battery system 700 dollars
There are some split inverters for around 600-900 dollars
300w panels about $350 -

bms about 75 bucks..

 

[jeepxj]

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then run a generator when you wanna weld or sand blast.

 

[ipgenie]

X2 on using a generator for the infrequent welder/compressor use.

A power bank like the Bluetti would run everything else (as long as the drill press is smaller) and solar would keep it charged up. Sounds like you won't have to worry about freezing temps so no worries there. Building your own could be a fun project too.

I think you will be money ahead and have a better system with a smaller battery bank and generator like Jeepxj suggested. A battery system big enough to run everything would be waaay oversized for your normal day to day use and expensive.

 

[Noltz]

Does the shop have power at all right now? Because others here are right; It's not worth the additional batteries & inverter costs to run an occasional welder & compressor. A 5k Generator just outside the shop will run either of those no problem. You could put it in a shed outside & run one of these pass through kids for your welder & compressor. This image is from the "Reliance Generator passthrough kit"

 

[Firebrick43]

Hi all - just moved my shop and need to setup a solar system..

I use hand tools 99% of the time and will just be charging cordless batteries, run the drill press occasionally, run approx 60w 110v worth of shop LED lights.. I VERY infrequently need to weld but there are time that I do, plus I want to run my compressor if I need to, maybe once a month for 45 minutes at most (sand blasting)..

Could someone shed light on the following:
12v vs 24v?
battery aH?

Trying to keep the budget moderate but I realize quality costs.. So im considering the 3.2v lithium cells initially 4 but I can maybe push for 8 to get to 24v. A split LF inverter (size? 5000 - 6000w?) and panels not sure yet, maybe 600w- ill be using this very in frequently so theres plenty of time to charge.

In Socal and I have 10 hours of great sunlight 99% of the time..

Thoughts?

So far: 12v 280 ah battery system 700 dollars
There are some split inverters for around 600-900 dollars
300w panels about $350 -

bms about 75 bucks..

The battery system to give sand blasting capabilities would be insane, in size and cost.

 

[jeepxj]

The battery system to give sand blasting capabilities would be insane, in size and cost.

not really true anymore for size. cost wise its a bit overkill to sandblast a bit once a month.

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over an hour of run time.

 

[Firebrick43]

not really true anymore for size. cost wise its a bit overkill to sandblast a bit once a month.

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over an hour of run time.

That battery pack has a 30amp recommended discharge rate, at 46 volts is 1380 watts. That is just under 6 amps at 240 volts which is going to run a 3/4hp motor which isn't going to sandblast anything past the first 15 seconds.

So it would take at least 3 battery packs at least to get a true 3 hp compressor running, and that isn't very good for sandblasting.

So 1500 dollars times 3 is 4500 plus 790 for the inverter is 5290 dollars for a barely acceptable sandblasting, add another 3000 dollars for a 5hp compressor set up or 8290 dollars plus the compressor.

Or you could buy an 13 hp engine driven compressor with a CFM rating about the same as 5hp electric compressor for 1400-1800 dollars, with a honda engine to boot.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Trying to keep the budget moderate but I realize quality costs.. So im considering the 3.2v lithium cells initially 4 but I can maybe push for 8 to get to 24v. A split LF inverter (size? 5000 - 6000w?) ...

Well, there goes the budget ! A split-phase LF inverter is a lot of money !!!

If you really plan on doing this, you need a 24V, or better yet, 48V battery bank. Will Prowse on YouTube has evaluate many inverters, chargers, BMS and other solar equipment. He charges his Tesla from the sun !

Also check out episodes of Ambition Strikes on YouTube from a few months ago. They have a solar setup that will run a lot if heavy equipment, including a plasma table. They are 100% off grid, so they have a giant military surplus generator as a backup. $$,$$$ !!!!

 

[theoldwizard1]

then run a generator when you wanna weld or sand blast.

Actually, a very reasonable alternative !

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Good luck trying to run a welder and compressor off a small budget friendly solar inverter battery setup...

The inrush current needed to run a sizeable compressor for sandblasting is gonna be large...

Money would be better spent on a generator

 

[CamaroMan]

Hi all thanks for the replies. I wanna make the solar thing work if possible. Some more details:

Currently I have 24v 380ah batteries on their way. Im using a soft start device for the compressor.. prob run 600-1200w panels.
Ill be using a low frequency pure sine wave inverter from 24 to 220v..

The battery bank should be able to run the compressor for 45 minutes non stop, plenty for what I will be needing it for. Usually my sandblasting projects are small and dont take more than 10 minutes.

I have a 220v engine block ranger washer I also want to utilize (draw alot less than the compressor)..

 

[CamaroMan]

Batteries set me back 500, inverter maybe 500-750, used panels 300 bucks. There is currently no power at the shop hence why- plus im renting and dont want to pay the 3-5k its going to cost just to put power on someone elses property..

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Is the shop on a residential property where the house has power?

 

[dcg9381]

In Socal and I have 10 hours of great sunlight 99% of the time..

Thoughts?

So far: 12v 280 ah battery system 700 dollars
There are some split inverters for around 600-900 dollars
300w panels about $350 -

It's going to cost thousands. Like over $4k. I agree that the generator is the better option. As this is a rented shop, you don't want to have to haul off this infrastructure.

See this post. Your use case is better because you don't need continuous power. But even in SoCal, you're going to have 3+ days of overcast.

 

[jeepxj]

while everyone is in here for solar: are these roof boxes ok to bring romex into for a microinverter system? their photos show it but wasn't confident.

 

[alfredeneuman]

I want to run my compressor if I need to, maybe once a month for 45 minutes at most (sand blasting)..

3A @ 240V is a little more than 1/4 HP. You'd need a HUMONGOUS storage tank to blast for 45 min straight