Recent content by ko6kL

shown are the ones that fit the panels , id rather not re engineer the little black diode and string connection box on the back of these panels... with new frame mount standard mc'4 that would be even more connectors to buy. and tiny area to resolder... if the panels had wire hanging out with...

speaker wire. not a great idea.... for sure not the dollar store stuff.. if it is not black in color not really going to last outside.... at least wrap well with good 3m electrical tape( 33 or 88 ) to protect it from water and UV... Iv used some heavy 10 and 6 gage industrial extension cords...

Hello Folks ! I got a great deals on used ~170 panels @ $20 each, but it seems to have a non standard connector someone said maybe euro mc-4's ? , iv run low on the jumpers that came with them and don't want to keep splicing them as that is not to 'code' even with my small scale project so far...

my sma Sunnyboy 7.0 has lost some production data when it's not connecting well with the router and also stays off a little longer than i want after a black out... but very few of them on this grid. utility tax is $31 like the meter fee here, but the system has paid itself off now after 7 plus...

I would say the SOK is a good one for this, the all-metal box should be good if on the shelf and not connected. Wire connects over ~3 ft can pick up that pulse wave and bring in a spike to anything, but i think the BMS might have a chance, it's not like a sensitive radio receiver on a long wire...

im switching some 48volt panels with one also, no problems so far. but i see some better ones for 36volt golf carts,

the mini split PV models are also appealing as a way to get some cool air with out busting my Netmetering 1.0 contract. If you can find some room on a wall to hang the inside unit and a installer.

IM using a big old relay for that in my setup, Maybe not the best one, but working so far. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08F2G1J9D/

Has anyone ever noted any low outputs on the solar logging such as below. it seemed to match the nights that has little or no moon. that thin blue line between sundown and sunup disappears completely on the no moon night. we also get a little light from a street light across the street, perhaps...

Older APC ups's work pretty well as cheap short term AC, need to find one that can be started with out the AC cord plugged into the wall... the older ones mostly..., you can also grab a nice network and phone line protector from the parts inside.

I would use Anderson power pole connections for DC

i dont think the PCM SCC can give you any more current then the PV is giving it... all it can do is chop the voltage down to the battery requirement. but the mppt can more then double the current the PV has in my experience. also you can only get the charging amps the battery needs at the time ...

you can use a old style light bulb as a load for AC or DC , lights up about 1/2 at 50volts also.

earth ground is to protect you from shock when reaching to items in the system. the frame of panels, power box, outside of power tools, etc. a place for the static discharge to go with the lightning comes... something to trip a circuit breaker if your power tool shorts out inside.. the...

you should not be seeing 120 AC on the PV lines... that's going to be a problem at the combiner box. ( somebody skiped a bypass capacitor or something inside to save a buck ) you could be seeing some DC from the SCC towards the PV inputs , i think it squirts a little DC towards the panels every...