Recent content by BusLee

Wait, I don't understand. What's the difference in (4) 12v 100ah batteries in parallel and (2) 12v 200ah batteries in parallel then put in series with the equivalent to make a 24v storage bank? If anything I would think they'd both be 400ah at 24v. Why wouldn't the output of each match if the...

Ok, so we've sort of switched gears. The immediate crisis has been solved a different way and we're back to building the system we're going to use for the bus, into the shed until we get the bus finished. The immediate differences being we're using (4) solar panels instead of (6) that are...

OK, I went back to Will's book and realized I was calculating everything wrong. My numbers will be more like 1480w/72v/123.3a...I think that's right. So for a 12 volt system I'm going to need an SCC that can handle at least 120a as long as it has over-paneling protection, correct? That cost in...

Oh and yes, I think a 12v system verses a 36v system makes more sense for this situation.

I like the eastish westish idea, I think I can pull that off where it's going to be located. I plugged everything into the energy calculation spreadsheet and this is what it came up with. Most of this load will be in the evening and night with the exception of the refrigerator and composting...

So I need to look for something that will handle 1480w/72v/20.5a for a 2S2P set up? Do you guys think I would be better off dropping down and using only (2) of the solar panels to reduce the wattage? Am I over powered for a 300ah set up?

I'm a total noob when it comes to solar, this will be my first system, and would just like to confirm my calculations. In a 2S2P configuration I'd be theoretically making 740w/72v/20.5a?

Good to know, I believe we can get by for now with the 12v system. The only thing that's going to be 120v is an apartment fridge and I don't have the funds to drop on a new battery in right now. I do intend to eventually run the bus on a 24v 800ah system, but that's down the road a bit. This is...

It's been a bit since I posted, my bus build is kind of dragging, but that's another story. I have a 14' x 24' shed on my property where the bus is located that I intended to use as sleeping quarters while I have the roof off the bus. Well, our place was right in the way of Ida last weekend and...

Just a bit of an update, the second set of batteries arrived on time and without incident. They are safely tucked away in my shed waiting for the rest of the system. I did use them for a few days when the ice storm hit us and knocked out power in February to charge phones and run a couple of...

How do you like them so far? Are they holding up? Thanks for the advice guys!

How do you guys feel about used solar panels? There's a guy a couple of towns over that has (4) 280w LG panels for $135 each. Think that's worth checking out?

I thought I'd give you guys an update since there's been an issue with delivery of my batteries. Apparently UPS lost all three of my batteries in Salt Lake City. UPS was no help of course, I was never able to get anyone on the phone and their "chat" system is junk. I even went to a UPS store and...

Most definitely. We're toying with the idea of installing the system in our shed first to get our feet wet with solar and test out our design and ideas. I'll post up pictures of that set up and when we move it to the bus.

Well, we finally have the money to invest in the first part of our solar system. We decided to go with Dakota Lithium 12V 100ah batteries for our bus build. There isn't a ton of information on here about them, except the threads about their delivery and customer service. I placed the order last...