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160w CIGS panels from Rich Solar. These were warranty replaced (I received a "store credit" and bought the 200w glass panels). So while I'm bitter about the whole thing at least Rich Solar did honor their warranty. My advice, though: if you have these panels remember to do this before the year...

Anyone have any idea why Signature Solar sells the hybrid "solar" air conditioners (which directly connect panels via MC4 connectors) rather than the straight 48vdc ones? They sell this one https://signaturesolar.com/eg4-hybrid-ac-dc-solar-air-conditioner-1-ton/ but it uses grid power when the...

I've been looking at the Midnite solar wiring diagrams, such as this one: https://www.midnitesolar.com/pdfs/classic_simple_flow_diagram.pdf The confusing thing is that they don't seem to include the equivalent of a Class T fuse on the battery positive. I see that in almost every other wiring...

RV with existing solar, batteries, and inverter/charger. I have an external array that I have used laid on the ground outside the RV, connected to its own MPPT (panels --> disconnect --> two wires, positive and negative --> MPPT). I'm going to mount those panels to a metal roof nearby the...

A general question. When designing vehicle mounted systems in North America do people have to choose between 30amp 120v (ie the TT-30 plug) or the 50amp split-phase 240 (ie the NEMA 14-50 plug)? Many of the all-in-one inverter chargers appear not to accept 120v power for charging, and I saw...

I'm planning a 48v system for a travel trailer. I'm trying to figure out the arrangement so that I can purchase the MPPT solar charge controllers. My understanding is that I need to design the voltage on the solar to two numbers. The minimum is sufficient to charge a 48v battery. The maximum...

I think I have a grasp of amperage ratings, but I'm confused about max voltage ratings for bus bars. Unlike switches/disconnects/fuses I don't think that arcing is an issue for bus bars (or is it?) I'm confused why wire generally seems to be rated up to something very high (like 600v) but bus...

In all the diagrams I see the fuse to protect the wire connecting a busbar and the solar charge controller (SCC, MPPT etc) is at the busbar end of the wire, not near the SCC. Given that the power flows from the SCC to the busbar, it seems odd to me that the fuse is at the "far" end. I'm not...

Came across this: https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plug-voltage-by-country/brazil/ Apparently there is one standard outlet, but in some parts of the country it gives you 127v and in others 220v. Good times, good times. Maybe well known to people around here, just thought it was...

I have a travel trailer and I would like an alarm in my truck if my fridge loses 12v power while driving. I thought about running a cable from the last junction to the fridge, showing a light if all is good but an audible alarm on power loss would be better. So perhaps something with a small...

House has a generator inlet with interlock switch. RV has a 3000W Victron inverter with sufficient batteries/wiring to provide sustained 25amp of 120v. What do I need on the RV to enable connection to the generator inlet, to provide emergency power to the house? Two issues: 1. AC panel in...

I'm looking at an RV build with a DC powered air conditioner (48v Hotspot), but I think the question is relevant for the 12v DC powered air conditioners as well, or any constant draw DC load. Often we will be connected to shore power (think 30amp 120v). For the sake of argument let's discuss a...

RV site completely shaded. Considering a small mobile system, maybe on the truck tow vehicle, maybe on a dolly. An MPPT and a battery, wheel to sunny spot, lay out panels, harvest sun. Now you have a full 48v battery and return to the RV. How to charge the RV battery? Can this be done with...

Could someone suggest troubleshooting steps? Server rack LFP battery. Was stored (at 95%) for 2 months. Previously working fine. The battery can’t effectively charge because one cell triggers OVP. It shows at 3.5v and rises to 3.7 if any substantial current is applied. Other cells are all...

I'm confused about whether it's ok to attach more than one wire to each stud in the Lynx busbar? There seem to be "wire separator" pieces of plastic (which the manual talks about removing). Seems the general position on this is "try not to have too many on a single stud, definitely not more...

Quite a few RVs are now advertised as "Solar Ready". We have an rPod from Forest River. Ours is not the Zamp SAE connector stuff, but a GoPower branded thing (well, that's what's on the sticker at least) What this means for the rPod is that there is a through-the-roof gland that (I think)...

Setting up a 48v nominal system. Two 48v batteries in parallel, the Jakiper server rack batteries. Each has a circuit breaker disconnect on the battery. Most schematics also feature a main battery disconnect right at the positive busbar, using the red disconnects from Blue Sea. I would just...

I've posted about issues with Rich Solar CIGS panel delamination before. I installed them prior to the advice to tape the eges and delamination came in quickly. https://diysolarforum.com/threads/why-not-cigs.30865/post-615979 To be fair, Rich solar acknowledged the issue and provided...

I am planning a 48v battery system that includes a few 48v loads. I'm trying to understand the options for fuse to protect the wires to the 48v loads. The loads are: 1. 48v-12v 30amp Orion converter (draws 10amp at 48v) 2. A 48v HVAC system (draws max 30amp at 48v) 3. Possibly a 48v hot water...

Could someone point me in the right direction? I'd like to find a way to tell a DC load to shut down based on state of charge of the batteries. Use case is to ensure that the fridge is always powered (until the very last smidge of DC power in the batteries). We will have a DC HVAC system that...

I have a Victron MPPT 150/35 and 11 Rich Solar "Mega 200" solar panels. https://richsolar.com/products/200-watt-24-volt-solar-panel Exactly how this came to be is a longer story :) I currently have 3 of those panels in series on the roof of the house, connected to the MPPT in the RV (ie not...

Does anyone know if it's possible to buy just the shell of a travel trailer without all the appliances and internal stuff. Think like a Transit/Sprinter van conversion but for a travel trailer. ie starting with a road-worthy, licensed, working trailer and a water-proof shell? Could be either...

My first time charging LiFePo. Using the Jakiper server rack battery, charging with a Victron Multiplus II 48/3000. I'm a bit confused about a number of things. I've tried this on the two batteries I have, similar results. No communication between the batteries and the inverter/charger. When...

Hopefully a simple question, I'm just getting started :) I'm considering a 48v system for an RV. Primary need for 48v is to run the Hotspot heat-pump (which runs directly off 48v). I would also like to be able to charge batteries from 120v connections (regular 15amp plugs, and very often...

I am replacing the system in an RV with a 48v system. I have a Victron 48/12 30amp Orion DC-DC converter. Plan is that 48v Input comes from the busbar, runs through a Midnite DC circuit breaker and into the Orion, 12v leaves and feeds the existing RV 12 volt system. Victron materials say...

I'm considering adding panels on the roof of a camper shell on my tow vehicle for a travel trailer RV. The set of panels would be identical to the set on the roof of the RV. I would have a female connector on the truck. When the truck is added in (while driving, when truck is at camp) that...

In the manual for the 48v 3000W Victron Multiplus it specifies 2AWG wire from the batteries/busbar to the inverter. I'm trying to understand why. https://backwoodssolar.com/product_attachments/Datasheet-MultiPlus-II-48V-3kVA-35-50-120V-EN.pdf Regular draw is 3000W ie about 62 amps (at 48v, so...

Is there any hope for 48vdc output from the "solar generators" (e.g., Bluetti)? I think they have 48v batteries internally but only provide 120AC and 12vdc output. A weird ask but intended application would be powering the Hotspot 48vdc mini-split heat pump, which takes 48v directly.

I watched a youtube video from Germany about an Anker Solix "balcony" solar system. Anyone on here use something like this? https://www.anker.com/eu-de/products/b5143411?discount=WS24HES1 The manual shows that it is panels, connected to a micro-inverter, then plugged straight into an...