Friend's OutBack system is d-e-a-d dead. He's looking to me for options. I'm looking to you for input!

Friend's OutBack system is d-e-a-d dead. He's looking to me for options. I'm looking to you for input!

In brief, the batteries are shot, and the system is rendered inoperable as a result. He's looking for options to get up and running again. Here are the details:

It is a grid-tied system. There are two arrays feeding into two charge controllers. Each array has 9 panels, in three strings of three. One has 216W panels, while the other uses 235W panels.

The charge controllers are OutBack MX60. The inverter is, I believe, a GTFX or a GVFX.

He is NOT NEEDING BATTERY BACKUP ANYMORE. I think the estimate to replace the existing batteries is about $4000.

Here are some general options, as I see them:

• replace inverter/charge controllers/battery with something like an SMA SB 6000 ($600ish)

• replace inverter/charge controllers/battery with 18 Enphase micro inverters (about $900)

• replace inverter/charge controllers/battery with 18 SolarEdge optimizers and a SE3800A-US (roughly $1000 + $600)

• replace original batteries for $4000

• replace batteries with something else

I wonder, could the bank of batteries be replaced with a single battery, or much smaller bank, or even with a bank of electrolytic capacitors? Fortunately, I have access to a large store of caps at very little cost.

Going some battery route stands to be the fastest and simplest way to skin this cat. I really wonder about the possibility of using caps, as that seems to be a way of having the system be more reliable moving forward. (The batteries are ALL bad, after 7 years.)

Unfortunately, there is a utility pole that casts a shadow on some part of the arrays at most any time of day. So, panel-level MPPT makes some sense, but, damn, is it expensive! Enphase seems much more reasonable than SolarEdge, but, still, it is a pricy way to go.

The Sunny Boy seems like the least expensive way to go, but there's just the single MPPT. Damn if I know what to do about the mismatched panels, and the single MPPT.

What say you, geniuses of things?

submitted by /u/Techwood111
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