CUBE SYSTEMS
Electricity
The solar system The story of the Cube's photovotaic system is a ten-year quest to attain a balance between supply and demand. When we started out nobody could tell us exactly how many panels and batteries were needed. Over a period of ten years we eventually found out what worked and what did not work. Simply adding more panels to the system did not in itself attain equilibrium: it became clear that the rapid deterioration of the original lead-acid battery bank was the main culprit. Sophisticated charge controllers that stored excess energy from the panels in copper coils would break down and a pricey wind turbine's performance proved disappointing. Low maintenance and rugged simplicity, we discovered, were the keys to success.
Phase 1 Eight Unisolar 64 watt panels at $290 each, eight deep cycle Trojan T105 6 volt golf cart batteries at $60 each, a UPG 1300 watt inverter and a 600 watt Blue Sky SB50 charge controller for $400
Phase 2 Four additional Unisolar 64 watt panels, eight additional deep cycle Trojan T105 6 volt golf cart batteries
Phase 3 Another four Unisolar 64 panels mounted on a free-standing structure, a BZ MPPT 500 watt charge controller replacing the SB50, and a Xantrex 2500 watt inverter replacing the UPG inverter
Phase 4 An Air X 403 wind turbine rated at 500 watts and costing $800 installed, and a replacement Trace T40 Charge controller. The stolen inverter was replaced with an identical model
Phase 5 Four Unisolar 64 watt panels moved to the Cube roof after four on the shed were stolen
Phase 6 Six Kaneka 55W panels at $172 each installed on enlarged shed, the Unisolar panels moved down from the Cube roof to the shed roof, eight Deka 12v gel batteries replace the golf cart batteries at $530 each
ROLLOVER DOTS TO VIEW PHASES
Solar phases The Cube’s original photovoltaic system consisted of eight panels and eight batteries. Eight panels happened to fit the roof of the shed whose size was determined by the existing concrete slab [Phase 1].
This system proved adequate for powering the construction of the Cube, which took place in daylight, but in anticipation of the power requirement of a refrigerator we added four more panels and eight more batteries and a more powerful inverter [Phase 2].
Unfortunately, all this turned out to be inadequate to support the fridge and overnight electrical use once the Cube was lived in on a daily basis. So four more panels were added on a separate structure and the whole system was re-wired from 12 volt to 24 volt to gain efficiency [Phase 3].
Nevertheless, problems in meeting power needs persisted. So a new charge controller was installed (the old one has begun to melt) and a wind generator was added [Phase 4]
When the panels attached to the lower roof-line of the shed were stolen the remaining four panels on the separate structure were moved up to the Cube roof as a precaution. Meanwhile the lead acid batteries had begun to deteriorate and the terminals had become badly corroded [Phase 5].
By doubling the size of the shed we were able to add six more panels plus the four from the Cube roof, bringing the total to 18. The Unisolar panels were now unobtainable so we substituted inexpensive Kaneka panels. The 16 golf cart batteries were all replaced with 8 12 volt gel batteries and the wind generator, which could only contribute an insignificant 2 amps at maximum power (while making an annoying whir) was decommissioned [Phase 6]. The current system is now capable of meeting all normal power requirements year round.
[above] The Cube's lead-acid battery bank from Phase 2. [middle] By Phase 3 serious corrosion has taken hold and battery performance is marginal [below] Expensive but worth it, gel batteries now provide plenty of overnight power and show no signs of corrosion so far
Powering the Cube In this section I will attempt a summary of the overall electrical system for the Cube. The power source is a combination of twelve 64 watt photovoltaic panels and six 55 watt panels, wired together at 24 volts DC. Feed from the panels is collected via bus bars and connected to a charge controller. The charge controller regulates the DC feed to the battery bank and shuts down when the batteries are full. The battery bank consists of eight 12 volt gel batteries wired in series and in parallel to give 24 volts output. The Inverter takes the DC feed from the batteries and converts it to AC using a modified sine wave. A separate DC 12 volt circuit feeds power from one of the batteries directly to a DC water pump above the Cube bathroom sink. The AC output from the inverter travels via underground conduit to the circuit breaker panel at the foot of the Cube stairwell. All light fixtures and plugs derive their power from this panel.
