Kenny_
Solar Addict
Well I'm hoping to go full legal at some point....right now just getting everything tested, working, etc. Once I'm satisfied I'll go full boat and get it all certified/inspected/etc.
5th day of no sun
- Thread starter Zwy
- Start date
Zwy
Emperor Of Solar
Update- Energizer bunny must be lurking in the basement as it is still going. There was some PV from the ambient light during the day that covered light loads and actually saw a few hundred watts charging the batteries. I'll be lucky if it was 1.5 Kwh of PV for the day.
I've been watching cell balance down here at the low end, certainly interesting which cells are lower in voltage down here. Not the ones I see that are lower at the high end. Battery at 50.8V (around 16%), inverters are set to switch to grid at 48V. I might even drop down to 46V to see how things go.
We have been running everything we normally would, just not doing laundry.
I've been watching cell balance down here at the low end, certainly interesting which cells are lower in voltage down here. Not the ones I see that are lower at the high end. Battery at 50.8V (around 16%), inverters are set to switch to grid at 48V. I might even drop down to 46V to see how things go.
We have been running everything we normally would, just not doing laundry.
The tech didn't pay attention to the solar panels. He just wanted to test the meter and be on his way.
Kenny_
Solar Addict
Yeah, that's what I'm hoping for once I get to that point...
Steve_S
Offgrid Cabineer, N.E. Ontario, Canada
Now that would be a handy list to have for people coming here to do DIY only to realize they are not allowed to be free & independent of Big Corp Power Co's etc... What regressive parts of the world make it illegal ?In some places it is actually illegal to be self sufficient and off-grid...
Kenny_
Solar Addict
Many Cities, Counties, Municipalities in the U.S.
Steve_S
Offgrid Cabineer, N.E. Ontario, Canada
You could likely go down 44V safely, 43 tricker & 42 problems you don't want. Once cells are below 2.8, you will likely see "runners" racing to the bottom as they deviate. You don't want the BMS to do an LVD and not be able to recover if too low. Think of those who posted about a Dead Battery because they dropped them too low for the BMS to wakeup and take a charge.
I've managed to go 8 Days with no sun, no input just on my battery bank which hit 10% when I flipped on genny... That was a terrible 2 weeks of no sun last winter... My bank at that time was 1190AH / 30.5kWh.
Steve_S
Offgrid Cabineer, N.E. Ontario, Canada
I think it is critical to get a List of these Places posted on the website somewhere. @Will Prowse what do you think ? This is a Big Gotcha that could catch our members with their Proverbial Pants Down around their ankles.Many Cities, Counties, Municipalities in the U.S.
Not to get too much into politics here Steve ,but Canada has it's own share of crazy policies!
Especially in the last few years
Steve_S
Offgrid Cabineer, N.E. Ontario, Canada
Hell YEAH, STOOPIDITY Knows no bounds... Its a Plague spreading across the globe at pace. I am No fan of the Stupid happening... It's like being in the passenger seat of a Car @ 120MPH, no brakes & headed straight into a concrete wall and nothing to be done... Thank Goodness my remaining lifespan isn't that long...
Mind you, if you buy an EV here, you get the rebate at Point of Sale so you only finance the post rebate price, no waiting and none of that having to owe X to get something back but it has its caps too. But what the heck, there isn't many choices or options like elsewhere in the world.
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It's alright for some ! ???
Zwy
Emperor Of Solar
Awoke this morning and found we were still on battery power. Battery voltage was just above 49V but I noticed I had some B grade 280K cells that were just below 3.0V and starting to run. I decided to raise back to grid voltage to 49V and inverters switched over at about 6:15 AM.
Those cells will be heading to my golf cart and will be replaced in the future. The rest of the cells were still all balanced well, those are 280N's and B grade EVE 304's.
It was a good test, reinforced my decision on those B grade 280K cells. We learned we could go over 5 days of no sun if the heat pump isn't running and we go to propane.
I doubt we get much solar charging today, snow is on array and forecast said cloudy. I'm currently charging to 53V off the grid.
Those cells will be heading to my golf cart and will be replaced in the future. The rest of the cells were still all balanced well, those are 280N's and B grade EVE 304's.
It was a good test, reinforced my decision on those B grade 280K cells. We learned we could go over 5 days of no sun if the heat pump isn't running and we go to propane.
I doubt we get much solar charging today, snow is on array and forecast said cloudy. I'm currently charging to 53V off the grid.
I would to see a list, or at an example of the laws/regulations that are enforcing this.Many Cities, Counties, Municipalities in the U.S.
Zwy
Emperor Of Solar
I run a Batrium and I couldn't recall what I had set for low voltage disconnect so decided to go to 49V as I had a few cells in the 2.95V area. I think Batrium is set for 2.75V. Batrium would still be on, it just trips the ABB shunt trip breaker.
Impressive with a bank that size. If grid was down and we only powered what was needed, we could probably get close to that. I think I've seen as low as 7 Kwh/day as the lowest the house uses.
Kenny_
Solar Addict
Here's a starter for you: https://aurorasolar.com/blog/getting-started-with-solar-permitting/
pollenface
Solar Addict
If you have grid power available why not use it instead of suffering. It's cheaper than fuel to run a generator.
That doesn't really answer my question, or how this makes a code compliant, permited, and inspected off-grid system illegal.
Partimewages
Solar Addict
Think urban area. The more urban the more likely you are to run into AHJ, zoning, and regulations.
In the US I don't consider National Electric Code NEC, and UL as regulations. I look at them as safety instructions and minimum standards. When I was an apprentice years ago we were taught the NEC was the bare minimum. That has served me well.
It used to be the AHJ had all the power but I've seen that change to them just review of stamped engineered drawings and verification that it was installed to the drawings.
Always think safety first!
In the US I don't consider National Electric Code NEC, and UL as regulations. I look at them as safety instructions and minimum standards. When I was an apprentice years ago we were taught the NEC was the bare minimum. That has served me well.
It used to be the AHJ had all the power but I've seen that change to them just review of stamped engineered drawings and verification that it was installed to the drawings.
Always think safety first!
Steve_S
Offgrid Cabineer, N.E. Ontario, Canada
As I have said far too many times, LFP has a designed Working Voltage of 3.000-3.400 which is where the deliverable AH are supposed to come from. Generally the "safe zone" is from 2.850 up to 3.425 with A cells. Once outside of the working range, running occurs. I set my LVD to 2.700 because if there is a heavy load when below 2.9 it can drop low "momentarily" so I account for a buffer.
My home uses on average 4kWh per day. sometimes a bit more or little less but not more that 1/2kWh. Everyone freaks at that but there is good reasons for it. I designed & built this house for High Efficiency, my walls are 9" thick, Roof is 12" thick. All Insulation is High Density Foam, I have a Cool Roof system tied into a Rainscreen siding system that provides not only a thermal break but passive cooling in summer and a heat buffer in winter. I tossed away my AC system as the house never gets above 27C/80F even when it is 37C/100F outside. In winter when it is -30C/-22F the house remains at 25C/77F inside and the heating system only runs for 4 hours within a 24 hour period. Yes it is all monitored & tracked.
My final version of Solar (now in progress) will be completed with 1470AH/37.6kWh.
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