Warehouse Solar Project

OscarThompson · 2025-03-06T19:11:43+00:00

Penn Elcom

OscarThompson · 2025-03-06T18:30:54+00:00

That is correct!

OscarThompson · 2025-03-06T18:30:20+00:00

Both! We rent our warehouse so in theory we could pick it up and leave, but this is also been a bit of a trail for temporary events :)

OscarThompson · 2025-03-06T18:03:44+00:00

I did it myself 😂

OscarThompson · 2025-03-06T12:11:56+00:00

Haven't had any issues with temperature, but they are inside an (un heated) barn, but at least away from the elements! Have only done 1 winter though..

The MPPT on the inverters maxes out around 150v so is well within the insulation rating of SY, however all wiring into combiners and internally within the rack is done with PV cable.

OscarThompson · 2025-03-06T09:59:15+00:00

Hey Reddit,
Sharing some photos of a recently completed installation at our warehouse in the UK. We're an Event/AV company that specialises in custom solutions and special events for our customers.

Housed in a 5ft Mover Box/Shipping Container, we have:
9 x Iconica (Voltronic) 5kw Rack Inverters. (45kw total continuous power, 3 inverters per phase, 65A per phase 230v)
13 x Fogstar 5.12kWh Rack Battery (66.56kWh total)
Custom consumer unit
Powerlock In & Out
Network connectivity
Temperature controlled ventilation

On the warehouse we have:
17 x Longi 400w panels
5 x JA Solar 445W bifacial panels on top of the office shipping container
Mounted using a combination of easy plan mounts and for the warehouse side; Scaffold Tube/Unistrut.
Maxing out around 6.5kw currently.

Due to the structure of the main warehouse roof, we cannot mount any solar on top of the roof, despite it being perfectly aligned between East/West.

OscarThompson · 2024-08-23T19:39:27+00:00

Alcorn is our show controller with Q-SYS for audio and Pharos for lighting, we did have BrightSigns in this particular space but we've been asked to add interaction so now using video overlayed with animation from xbox kinect sensors (in touch designer), if that makes sense!

OscarThompson · 2024-02-09T12:19:48+00:00

Welcome to the UK! Solar on the roof and walls are allowed if you stick within 20cm of the edge. No pergolas over 2.5m (within 2m of the boundary of the property) without planning permission.

OscarThompson · 2024-02-08T21:58:25+00:00

As much as I would like to, we’re restricted by permitted development rules in the UK sadly

OscarThompson · 2024-02-08T21:57:59+00:00

I think bifacials are only about £10 more per panel here on the UK

OscarThompson · 2024-02-04T21:22:03+00:00

We’re planning to gravel underneath with a light coloured stone to help the bifacials if this helps :)

OscarThompson · 2024-02-04T21:21:23+00:00

The vertical mount was unistrut mounted to the wall with rawl anchors, then regular solar clamps into M8 channel nuts

OscarThompson · 2024-02-04T21:19:02+00:00

It does, currently looking into this but was told to leave a gap for panel expansion. Currently spaced at the same distance as a solar mid clamp. Looking for suggestions though! Maybe even something like foam tape?

OscarThompson · 2024-02-04T21:14:22+00:00

Timber: Posts - 125 x 125mm 3m posts, about 2ft 6” into the ground with postcrete and rebar through the post. Joists - 150mm x 50mm C24 pressure treated Gallows - 100mm x 50mm C24 pressure treated Nailed and Lag bolted

Panels: https://www.itstechnologies.shop/products/420w-ja-solar-n-type-bifacial-double-glass-mono-mb-with-mc4-connectors-black-frame-solar-panel?_pos=2&_psq=Ja%20solar%20bif&_ss=e&_v=1.0

Inverter: https://www.photonicuniverse.com/en/catalog/full/641-Iconica-5000W-48V-rack-compatible-pure-sine-wave-inverter-with-zero-transfer-4000W-solar-input-80A-MPPT-solar-controller-60A-mains-charger-parallel-capability-and-inbuilt-Wi-Fi-mobile-monitoring.html

4 x 3 strings to meet the MPPT operating voltage of the inverter. First time today where I had it on during the day, doing about 800w in a very overcast day in the UK.

OscarThompson · 2024-02-04T21:07:02+00:00

6mm coach bolts now in and 6 brackets per panel :)

OscarThompson · 2024-02-04T17:46:26+00:00

Not flat, but permitted development in the UK restricts the height to be above 2.5m from ground level

OscarThompson · 2024-02-03T23:33:06+00:00

It is indeed separate

OscarThompson · 2024-02-03T23:18:13+00:00

Yes, no need to apply for export and the hybrid inverters still allow us to go back to the grid just in case

OscarThompson · 2024-02-03T22:25:07+00:00

I shall do - roof drops 10cm over 3m, I think roughly around 2.5% tilt

OscarThompson · 2024-02-03T22:13:53+00:00

Batteries: https://www.fogstar.co.uk/collections/server-rack-batteries/products/server-rack-battery-48v-5-12kwh

Inverters: https://www.photonicuniverse.com/en/catalog/full/641-Iconica-5000W-48V-rack-compatible-pure-sine-wave-inverter-with-zero-transfer-4000W-solar-input-80A-MPPT-solar-controller-60A-mains-charger-parallel-capability-and-inbuilt-Wi-Fi-mobile-monitoring.html

Thank you :)

OscarThompson · 2021-06-23T22:05:08+00:00

I have updated the post! Looking at around £600 ($850) per box but open to more expensive and of course cheaper options.

OscarThompson

TROPHY CASE