I live in a nazi county in Colorado and finishing up my offgrid log cabin. I've done 100% of the work myself and it was inspected by the county.
I have a 4kw solar array with all renogy equipment. Not UL listed but my county requires NEC2023.
Each time I have an inspection I 100% tear down...
Not FLA, but I have a few Optima Blue Tops 12v wired in parallel running my offgrid shop that are 7 years old and running strong. They get discharged to 12.0v nightly.
Ok so continuing troubleshooting this thing.
Earlier this morning the panels themselves were at ~122 VoC (at the panels).
Then I flipped through the screens on the unit and found the PV input voltage was at 61 and output was 1.8amps. I was like 'huh' why is the input voltage at only 61...
If there is an actual EMP, our solar equipment doesn't matter. Even for us who are offgrid.
The rest of society is done for.
Our gear just prolongs our survival and makes us a target... if our gear actually still works.
Am I wrong?
In the past I had an issue with tripping the arc fault/Ground fault breakers whenever the generator was running (and when it would shut off).
I'm still building this offgrid log cabin while living in it.
I've expanded my main PV up to 4Kw and also have a secondary renogy system that feeds the...
I too am still learning, but have lived 4.5 years 100% offgrid in Colorado. My system has evolved (and still is) but currently 1.8kw of panels going into 48v renogy inverter/charger and 8 renogy 200ah batteries.
My system requires, I dunno, a good 5 or 6 hours of good sun in order to not...
Thanks for all the help. This is my first time dealing with 48v and this brand new renogy 3500w controller/inverter.
6s2p of renogy 12v 100w panels is all this controller can handle. 7s2p causes a fault even in low sun.
I'm up to 6s3p now. All the compact mono panels. This seems to work...
I have a 48v renogy AGM battery bank wired into 4S2P. 2 years old fed by a 2400w solar array and renogy 48v inverter/charger on the SLD setting
I've babied these things the past 2 years running the generator a lot during the winter and low sun days.
I have never gotten below 49v SOC and...
I'd like to add that 2 different guys here on the mountain who have been up here offgrid for 30+ years recently needed new batteries. Neither of these guys are 'online' so to speak, so they are not exposed to this or other forums.
My buddy reached out to the local solar guy who grew up offgrid...
Thanks
Thats kinda what I was thinking.
I have never had lithium batteries before.
I simply have not had time to 'deep dive' into this forum as I've been too busy with life and building my offgrid log cabin that I live in.
lol I'm the OP and just now seeing this.
I can give a 2 year review though:
1 - It seems the Renogy 48v inverter/charger is a good unit. It's given me over 2 years of 100% uptime. The BT Home app is better than it was, but still kinda sucks.
2 - The Renogy 200AH AGM batteries also seems...
I re-installed the N-G bonding screw into my main panel. Now there is zero voltage across N-G in the receptacles. This is the way the inspector saw it and liked it.
I am looking for a ~6000w UL Listed 48v Inverter though. I want the system to be right.
I have the same Renogy 48v inverter. Running 6s4p Renogy 100W panels. 6 in a string. I originally thought I could get away with 7 in a string, but it popped the MPPT controller inside the unit in VERY low light.
Thanks guys.
I needed to buy today, so I got a couple of 200ah chins from Amazon.
As for the question about: why not expand my current system....well...I'm running 8 renogy 200ah AGMs that are 2 years old. I'm trying to prolong their life for a couple more years while I finish this log...
Unit has been in operation powering my small offgrid log cabin for 2 years.
I was doing some maintenance and discovered the inverter has 40v AC between the Neutral AC output and the ground screw on the case. This is with the inverter connected to ONLY the batteries. No MPPT, no AC input, no...
I don't know if my problem is the 8, 200ah renogy agm batteries, or their 48v controller/inverter.
I'm up to 4P6S of panels now. 2.4kw
I will admit that we've had an usually snowy season that is now turning to rain, so more clouds than usual.
But I still think that my old setup with 10 6v...
I can't answer that question directly.
I think that with voltage across N and G it causes the outlet testers to not work correctly. I'm in the same boat as you yet my system works 100% fine with all my electronics, saws, etc. It's ran 24x7 for about 3 years now.
Thanks man
I definitely understand at least some basics...I always (always) connect the batteries first.
I WFH, so I'm here all day looking at this thing. Right now (at 7:30am) the sun is coming up. I went outside and disconnected both parallels strings and checked VoC (is that correct) by...
After running these two, 100ah chins for a month, I think this chart is pretty accurate.
I run these chins feeding my main array for about 5 hours every night at around ~500w of load.
They seem to be doing great and I plan to get a couple more when funds free up.
Well mine with 18 100w panels wired in 3p6s in full Colorado sun at 8500 feet in elevation has seen a max of 1500watts (according to the lame renogy app that matches what the display on the unit says if you move a decimal point on the app). Under normal load.
That might be about right for you...
I have this type of fuse on the main + terminal on my system. 4 chins 12.8v 200ah wired in series. I do not have any fuses between each of the batteries. Should I places fuses between each 12.8v battery? Should I switch the main fuse to another type?
This happily runs my offgrid log cabin...
Yes, I'm bonded on the main panel.
I went back and forth on the bonding. I was unbonded for a year or so, then only discovered that I have around 30V AC across N/G when installing a new outlet on an AFCI circuit that I turned off. That 30v AC was a little tingly.... So I bonded again...
It has fans that come on when it's charging above 600w or so...... not too loud, but definitely noticeable... I have it in my basement where I work to ok. Hearing it come on reminded me to reply to this post.
Otherwise it's quiet.
I'm no electrician and the plan is to use this in my log...
Few comments on the new 3500w renogy inverter.
Default is to pull 40amps from the grid, which in my case is a couple of yamaha generators. I have a 2000w ef2000 and 7200watt industrial. Neither can provide 40amps at 120v ac, so I had to change the settings to only pull 15amps from the...
I built an offgrid log cabin that is currently powered by non-listed solar. Miles from the nearest utility and will NEVER be 'on grid'. This has been a long process and I'm about ready for the final inspection which includes electrical. Rough electrical is done. All Solar-related equipment...
I happened to receive the chins 4amp charger yesterday evening.
I discharged the batteries down to 12.9v, then ran my generator all night. They were at 14.6v this morning when I woke up.
Applied a ~1000w load to them and within 10 minutes the are currently at 13.0v.
I'm planning to keep the...
I have 8 Renogy 200ah 12V AGM batteries wired up to the Renogy 48V inverter with 2.1kw of Renogy panels. Powering my offgrid log cabin that I live in during construction.
How low of voltage should I let these AGMs get too? We've had a lot of snow lately in Northern Colorado.
I typically...
Yup
Right now the sun has basically set and neither array is making any power.
Cheap Amazon volt meter shows 13.6v on the chins.
My 8 renogy 200ah AGMs are reading 50.6v in a 4S2P config.
I'm about to flip the switch and drain these chins until the BMS cuts them off...
That is kinda what I thought. I wish I could call the inspector and ask, but I'm in hot water with the county because I've taken 6 years to build this cabin. (they discount property taxes while building and they want their FULL money from me)
I wonder if this would also extend to a 'portable...
TLDR; new chins 200ah in parallel after a couple of partly sunny days have charged from 13.1v to 13.2v.
Ok so I got a couple of new chins 200ah batteries from Amazon a couple of days ago. They were both at 13.1v out of the box. I have a new renogy rover 60amp CC and set the user settings to...
Just as the title says, but let me explain my setup:
I have lived 100% offgrid miles from the grid for 6 years in a small log cabin. The cabin is 100% operational meaning it has all the normal appliances, but the kitchen stove, dryer, water heater, etc run on Propane. My typical electrical...
Update
So after a few days The two 12v 200ah chins batteries finally reached float. My renogy app actually said float and the voltage was at 13.8.
I put a ~300W load on the inverter and in 30 minutes the volts dropped to 13.1v. The CC started charging immediately after the load was placed...
I also think you are on the right track.
I'm offgrid in the Colorado mountains with lots of winter sunshine, but my property is NOT good for solar because of trees and the ridge to my south.
I think you won't really know how the sun hits your property or how the trees will affect it until you...
Yes, I've been throwing panels at this thing trying to increase performance.
I have 24, 100w panels now and barely limping along.
Heck I don't even know what to believe. The LCD on the unit or the lame renogy app on my phone. The app has never shown more than 1400watts of charge power...
I have the boost voltage set in the renogy app at 14.4v.
We had some decent sun today and the CC actually stopped charging. These batteries don't have BT, so I can't see the BMS.
I decided to reapply the 300w load and now it's down to 13.0v. This is while the CC is charging at like 50w due...
I need to watch that vid as I live in pretty high in the mountains and we have a lot of lightning.
Whenever we get lightning storms, I go out and physically disconnect and separate the MC4 connectors from my solar array by several feet. I sometimes even turn off all my breakers, inverter, etc.
I'm about to buy a pair of 48v inverters and don't wanna be hassled by salesmen. You guys don't post prices and force me to 'inquire for pricing' hence I will be hassled.
Off the list and moving on to the plethora of vendors who do post their pricing and allow 'buy now'.
I've had 4 12.8v 200ah Chins LFP wired in series for 48v running my offgrid log cabin for a year now. No complaints.
I'm considering adding one of the Chins 48v 100ah to the bank for more capacity during the winter...
I am thinking about increasing voltage by adding another panel in each series string.
That should put me somewhere in the 140v range.
so that would be two sets of 7 100w panels in series.
It's still right now under full sun saying ~125v PV in and 8amps
I live full time offgrid on Storm Mountain CO while building my log cabin.
Been running the following 12v system with great luck: 8 Renogy 200ah AGMs in parallel, 40amp Renogy controller, 2000w Renogy inverter/charger and 9 100w Renogy panels in parallel. The batteries are less than 6 months...
yes
at this point I think the Renogy 48v controller/inverter is probably a decent unit. Too bad it's not UL listed though.
I think the Renogy AGM 200ah batteries suck. They don't seem to be able to absorb power (recharge) very quickly and that limits my 2.4kw array from being able to charge...
yes I think you are right, I think these Renogy 200AH AGMs pretty much just suck.
and so may the Renogy 48V controller.
Really what happened here is I felt sorry for my neighbor who burned and I gave him all my solar, then bought into the 48V inverter charger/AGMs without really giving it any...
yeah, I think you are right.
They will be delivered on Monday and will be installed into my secondary array and put into use. I'm hoping they are 'good' and I won't have to mess around with returning them or opening them up...
Heading out of town for work for 5 days. I'm running a 2.4kw solar array wired in 4p6s. We are seeing record heat and sunshine this entire time.
Thinking about disconnecting a couple of strings while out. My offgrid log cabin doesn't use much power while I'm away. Just need enough to keep...
yes, my crappy AGMs are sitting on the concrete floor in my underground basement. Zero sun on them and the hottest the basement gets is about 65 degrees F.
Just got the new inverter connected. The wiring is much easier with this thing.
Not even close to the permanent install, but it's working great right out of the box. I forgot to order the BT module when I ordered this unit, but it's on the way.
Hey I'm new to this forum (but not forums...) and just purchased the new renogy 3500watt inverter/charger 48v.
I've lived full time offgrid on Storm Mountain Colorado for 4 years now and have a few 12v arrays on my property. My 'main' array is 9 Renogy 100 watt 12v panels, Renogy 40amp mppt...
ah now that makes sense. thanks. I have my Renogy 48v inverter set to 15s which is connected to 4 Chins 12.8v LFP. At 16s it seems to 'bounce' off the BMS when the batteries were full. I'll dig into this a bit. thanks again.
I dunno much, but my Renogy 48v inverter with a cheap outlet tester always shows open ground regardless of my bonding the first (main) panel or not.
Out of curiosity, see if there is AC voltage across N and G on the inverter with it plugged into nothing but the batteries. I bet there is...
At least the OP got out safe.
Makes me worried about my system: 4 chins 12v LFP's wired in series with a single fuse between them and the inverter. Sitting on concrete, but with only 7' above to the TJI joists/subfloor.
If my chins decided to leak I wouldn't know it as they are in a case.
I know LFP is the new norm and I am running 4 Chins 12v 200ah in series for my 48v offgrid system powering my log cabin where I'm living. Very happy with the performance, but pretty shook up about this latest incident. I also have 8 Renogy 12v 200ah AGMs in my shop doing basically nothing.
I...
I completely forgot about that setting.
I haven't touched my unit in a few weeks now. Seems to be working.
My dilemma is that it doesn't appear this thing is UL listed and won't pass code...
I think when I measured 14.6v it was still on the 4amp chins charger.
These are on my secondary array which is just topping off my primary array to keep the AGMs happier.
I've been running them at night. Seems that under a ~500w load they will sit at 13.0 volts for at least 5 hours.
I think...
Yup. He is in cedar springs. He has electricity.
I'm a few miles higher up storm mountain.
Palisade is just across the valley from me. I am at exactly the same elevation as Palisade. Can see it plain as day from my cabin.