It’s live! After several years of testing and research, then a long and grueling move to the countryside, I installed the first Low Voltage DC wall outlets in my house. A full length multi-episode video documentary is in production to document the system.
Within hours these outlets were powering up one of my DC cooktops, multiple space heaters, and even an electric kettle and light bulbs.
Features and Appliances
The PV2L-MG Micro Grid system is 100% direct PV-DC powered, WITH Battery Backup! It can run all day on pure, clean direct Photovoltaic DC power. And yet, if needed, a control system will safely connect a LiFePO4 battery to the system bus to supply power, or absorb excess power, while also regulating overall system voltage as needed – with no electronics or voltage conversion whatsoever!
NO Charge Controller – NO Inverter – NO High Voltage: Simpler, Safer, Cheaper, Easier to Deploy. This is the way solar power should be.
Appliances: there’s more to come!
Here are just a few of the LV DC appliances either completed or in development, powered by my self-hosted residential DC Micro Grid system:
LV PV DC Electric Clothes Dryer – In Development – this appliance is in development and can consume over 100 amperes of LV DC current. But that’s no problem when you know what you’re doing 🙂
Kitchen-Grade Full Sized Oven – In Development – expected to exceed 5-7kW depending on final design.
Kitchen-Grade Mid Sized Oven – Already Operating!
Kitchen-Grade Full Sized Cooktop – In Development – each burner should produce at least 1.5-2.5kW depending on final design.
DC Lamps and Lighting – already working! More designs in progress.
DC Hot Plate / Cooktop – already working! More designs and optimizations are planned.
DC Electric Kettle Prototype – already working and in live use!
Air Conditioning – Multiple Prototypes In Development
Ultra High Efficiency Heat Pump – Prototype In Development
Solid State Heat Pump – Prototype In Development
There is more – the list is too long
My Vision
PV2L-MG: Self-Hosted Residential LV DC Electrical Service
I am actively building a self-hosted Low Voltage DC Micro Grid on my new property: it will power my house, workshop, and several other planned buildings. There will be no AC induction, EMI/EMF, high frequency switching noise or any such thing. The system operates at nominal 55 Volts D.C. (Direct Current) not A.C. (Alternating Current).
Rather than depending on a battery, it is designed to supplement a battery only when necessary. Instead of being the primary voltage and power source, PV solar panel arrays fill that role. The battery now takes a back seat. It’s only purpose is in a support role to the PV2L DC Micro Grid. To me, this is such a refreshing change from the current “Solar Paradigm” of Solar Panels TO Battery > TO Inverter > To Loads.
It is a dream come true: no more charge controllers to fail, no more inverters to blow up, simple robust DC appliances that don’t need multiple voltage conversions, wifi, bluetooth and silly apps just to operate basic functions. A real blessing!
I am currently overwhelmed with work, but plan to write further on this topic, as well as document and demonstrate some of my basic appliances on camera. Video and more details on the way – please stay tuned!
Thanks for reading! -Dave, SPE
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