efficientPV's latest activity

Send me an old one to take apart. I've taken AC models apart and it is shameful what they use inside. One 40A unit used the same triac...

You can change out the heater elements to lower wattage ones. You don't need that much wattage if you can heat for a longer time. I...

Actually, techluck makes a PV voltage limiter. It is a variation of the water heater board. It is still absolute crap like their water...

That pictured inverter is not well suited for DC operation. It has a voltage doubler and will not work on DC unless switched to 220V...

This one is well suited for batteryless operation. Well built and nice auto reset. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQG38GCD

SMPS generally work down to 60V or less. Below that they will bump unless the startup resistor is changed. I have one that works down to...

I use switching power supplies to power 12V fans. I think it is elegant. You get full isolation and if the supply shorts it won't...

There is the next generation of cheap 12V inverters that will shutdown with low voltage and start up again when voltage returns. These...

More internet garbage. The diode is backwards. And just what is he running? Solar panel voltage will be ok for many switching...

Looking at pictures of the lamp, why are the probes connected? Current is thru the clamp. Connect brown and blue together and also...

Not likely at all.

Are these bulbs really cheap. Your inverter is putting out some HF noise and the capacitance of the cable is enough to supply power to...

Unfortunately, these are not a thing. I do it by looking at PV array voltage and proportionately diverting enough power directly from...

Try putting it on a 100 foot extension cord.

I use an OP101 to look at pulses from LED lighting to determine how much flicker there is.

Try this, put a voltmeter between the 48V power source and the light and measure the voltage. Depending on the constant current circuit...

Many SAE connectors are reversed depending on use. I assume yours are backwards.

It is a very simple solution. About impossible for anyone here.

Those diode videos are of the wouldn't it be nice variety and are in no way practical. I do wish they would get across the idea that...

Schottky diodes typically have low forward voltages up to about 40V rated inverse voltage. Forward voltage is also lower when they run...