Recent content by izmail

I'm not sure if metal cabinet can withstand lithium fire. And if it can- what gauge shout it be. And I guess it can get very hot, so there should be a dire distance between cabinet and walls or wooden fence in my case. With cabinet solution, good one may be pouring elevated pad and building a...

I'm currently using AGM batteries and according to all available information they are not good for constant cycling. So using these batteries every day during night hours means that with 50% discharge and 300-400 cycles they will be dead in a year. So I'm looking into replacing them with 2...

Here is how an inverter output may look like - just one of many other possibilities. I've also seen some schematics where filter capacitors ( they filter out high harmonics) connected to ground, like this That is why voltage L-G and N-G could 90/30 or 100/20 or in case of capacitors ( they...

Maybe this may help. I had same problem once, even had an exchange with Giandell about the issue and their response was that their inverter ( as any "cheap" inverter) has floating output and grounding one leg is not recommended, but possible. In which case they recommend to use GFCI. This...

Just in case - take a look at this soft start unit from reputable Schneider Electric https://www.amazon.com/Soft-Start-110-460VAC-12A-3Phase/dp/B007ID28MU

According to your drive specs max input voltage is 800. 18 panels in series with Voc 45v will give 18x45= 810v - a little bit over the limit. 18 panels in 2S2P with Vmp=37.5 will give operating voltage 37.5x9=338v and Vmax=405V - which is good for the drive. In this configuration, assuming...

As to my initial statement about unstable voltage signal "It does generate voltage across the resistor from 1.5 ( cloudy) to 2.8 ( full sun). I use this signal for control. But signal does not look stable. One day shows 2.75v, next day 2.65 at visually same sun conditions." As I said in later...

I can suggest using TESO SG-2 programmable relay. It is a wonderful device, actually quite powerful PLC ( see link below). They make them 12v and 24v DC - ideal for solar system. 6 inputs, 4 outputs and 2 analog voltage inputs to measure battery voltage and more. I use it for exactly what you...

Jose! Thank you for interesting reply, very useful information. Glad I found somebody out there who has and working on the same problem. Idea with using light bulb is very "outside of the box" solution. I'd like to ask couple of questions and share what I have so far. Light power emitted by a...

Thank you for good ideas. Arduino solution is also based on solar cell, same thing, Instead of Arduino I use a cheap TECO PLC with analog inputs. It also does all other controls. Very handy by the way - 24v DC, around $100 - ideal for DIY solar system with 24v battery. Problem is to find right...

Running directly from SCC - good idea. No sun- no voltage. More sun- more voltage, pump starts to turn. Full sun - full speed. Unfortunately for me it is an expensive option, solar pumps cost $1000+ (((. As to the system I have - yes, the idea is to run the pump only on solar, using light...

I have a simple off grid system - two 450w panels, SCC, inverter, AGM batteries and controls. It runs pool pump - so far so good. The setup is as follows: 1. Timer turns system on, it starts in battery mode. 2. If there it enough sun, pump runs all day on solar. 3. If cloudy and solar panels do...

After reading about and watching my Epever SCC, I think I know what the problem is. System switches from grid to solar, runs until battery is down to a set limit ( say 25 or 24 v), and then switches back to grid. While grid power is running the pump, SCC starts to charge the battery and enters...

Mike, thank you for a very good explanation. As I mentioned in the opening statement, my system voltage relay does switches to utility power when battery voltage drop to 23.8 or so. After that I expected solar controller to charge battery during sun hours and then turn on a external charger if...

I agree that battery is too small for real application, I'm using what I had for testing ( and made sure that these small batteries are good - at least battery tester says they are). But regardless of the size - I thought, that if I take 10 Ah from the battery, it will take 10 Ah to recharge it...