FAQ
ANSWERS TO YOUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Question: How do BluOasis units produce water from air?
BluOasis units generate water via an atmospheric water generator, which uses a standard refrigeration cycle to capture the humidity in the air. It condenses the humidity into water and then the BluOasis unit treats it with ultraviolet light before allowing it to drain from the unit via gravity into a customer provided storage container.
Question: How much water will the system produce each day?
The BluOasis units will produce approximately 10 gallons (44 liters) of water over a 24-hour period from 80-degree F (27 degree C) air at 60% relative humidity. The atmospheric water generator yield is a function of temperature and humidity, and it works best in warm humid locations, with production falling off in cooler and dryer environments. The atmospheric water generator consumes 12kW over the course of the day, so it should be coupled with a sufficiently sized array (around 3,000W) or tied to a grid/generator power source to achieve its maximum yield. The system can generate smaller amounts of daily water with smaller arrays. Through the remote monitoring application, you can set water or power priority mode so that the system optimizes generation.
Question: Are BluOasis units cost effective?
Yes. Most solar power systems require unique designs and parts from multiple vendors. BluOasis units are designed to be highly integrated and automated, making them easy to set up and simple to operate, eliminating the need for electricians to design and implement custom solutions. As a result, from a total installation cost basis, BluOasis and BluPower units are the most affordable turnkey off-grid power and water systems available. BluOasis also uses an intelligent power switching panel to provide system reliability and autonomy, features currently not available on the market at this price level.
Question: What equipment and appliances can I run with the BluOasis unit?
The BluOasis and BluPower units have two Power Output Interfaces that supply either 220/240VAC up to 30 amps or 110/120VAC up to 16 amps. This is sufficient to run most homes, cabins, or remote job sites, including household appliances, power tools and washers and dryers. These output interfaces use the connectors shown below and are designed to connect to a jobsite spider box for powering an array of tools or high load devices. The Power Input Interface can be connected to a home’s backup generator plug, or to other A/C power Sources. Both interfaces can be controlled via the Power Interface Panel or by using the IoT enabled device website portal.
While operating high load systems it is important to monitor energy draw and battery capacity, as excessive use could rapidly drain the battery system.
Question: Can I run my entire off-grid home from a BluOasis unit? How do I wire my home to do that?
Yes, each BluOasis and BluPower unit can run your entire off-grid home with 6kW or 12kW of output power. The BluOasis and BluPower unit can be connected to your home the same way you would connect a backup generator. The home or facility, gets wired just like a standard grid-connected building. The electric panel has an automatic or manual transfer switch that allows you to power the home from a generator or from your unit with single phase 110/220VAC or 120/240VAC. You can augment a unit by connecting a backup generator that continues to power your home in "off-grid" mode even when the battery capacity is depleted.
Question: What type of generator can I connect to a BluOasis unit?
BluOasis and BluPower units can be powered and charged via an external generator to charge the internal battery and/or power external loads. Generators are connected to each unit via a standard L15-30 generator cord and plug and accepts 240 V AC power (not 120 V AC power). Each unit has an auto-generator start connection to command the generator on in low battery voltage situations.
Question: Can I install additional solar panels later?
Yes, the BluOasis unit can handle up to six strings of arrays with a maximum of 4500W or eight strings with a maximum of 6000W depending on the model. All strings must be matched to have the same input voltage, with a minimum of 60VDC and a maximum of 90VDC. We recommend you purchase your array kit from BluOasis to ensure system compatibility.
Question: How long does it take to recharge the battery bank only using the sun?
The system charge rate is a function of the solar array area. To determine your recharge time, divide the utilized battery capacity (in kWhr) by the daily solar harvest (in kWhr/day). For example, our BluOasis 1506 has a 15kWhr battery. If it begins the day with 20% of its capacity, meaning 3kWhrs, it will require 12kWhr of sun harvest to fully charge. This would take approximately 4-6 hours with a 3kW array.
Question: How does the weather impact my power generation?
The solar panels produce peak power on clear days and with good sun angles (direct sunlight on the panels). Clouds will reduce power generation but still provide some power. The BluOasis and BluPower web interfaces provide local forecasts at your unit's location so you can optimize your power use and/or water generation.
Question: What's the difference between lead-based and lithium-based batteries?
Lead-based batteries degrade as a function of the depth of discharge, while lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries will not. Lithium-ion batteries have a higher energy density, meaning more battery capacity per unit volume. Lead batteries support 2000 cycles at 50% depth of discharge (DOD) and 1000 cycles at 80% DOD. Lithium batteries support 3000 cycles at 100% DOD. For these reasons, our high performance and high cycle units use lithium iron phosphate batteries.
Question: Why do you use lithium-iron batteries versus Lithium cobalt oxide batteries?
Lithium cobalt oxide batteries are unstable when overcharged and can catch fire if the battery management system fails. Lithium Iron (LiFePO4) batteries, while slightly heavier, have more stable chemistry and do not have this failure mode.
Question: What maintenance does the system require?
The power system does not require any maintenance. The BluOasis water generator has a filter that should be changed once or twice a year depending on the unit's operating location. In dustier climates, the filter should be changed more frequently, as dust will impair air ingestion and water making performance. The unit comes with two spare filters.
Question: How do you ship each unit?
Each BluOasis unit is packaged within a crate individually, with or without a full complement of solar panels and cables to create a complete solar power and water system. The crate is designed to easily offload the unit using an integrated folding ramp.
Question: Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we ship across the United States and internationally. Please contact us to inquire about configuring a unit to your country’s standards.
Question: I have additional questions; how do I get them answered?
No problem! We are here for you. Please fill out the contact form and we will get right back to you with an answer.