Recent content by Off-Grid-Garage

When I started with this channel 2 years ago, it was mainly to find answers myself to my many many many questions I had around LiFePO4 batteries, how to charge them and how they actually work. You could find all kind of information on the interweb but nothing was consistent and you never knew...

As per many recommendations, I did order the NO-OX-ID grease from Amazon US. I have used this between terminals and busbars where I had issues before and so far ? all good... never had to touch these connections again. It is a conductive grease, not a dielectric grease which is in fact an...

Thank you @upnorthandpersonal for this article. That is a great explanation!

What are you guys using in between, any grease like this? It sounds ideal... Conductive Carbon Grease Lubricates and improves electrical and thermal connections between sliding surfaces, while providing protection from moisture & corrosion. Excellent for use on switches and EMI shielding...

I'm in the same boat. Built the system in a 16s configuration and did not worry about cleaning or sanding the terminals. The consequence is now that I have some cells peaking high or low all the time. Loosening the bolt just a quarter turn and tighten them again mostly fixes it temporarily...

Yes, there is. Without link it's only 1.1VAC but with link I can measure 70VAC at both battery terminals. The lightbulb test was negative, no current and voltage disappeared. I connected another string of solar panels today and touched the positive of this string while I touched the grounded...

Before the N to PE link I could already measure voltage between AC outputs and DC (~70VAC from memory). The light bulb test was negative (no current and voltage collapsed). I don't think you can just say that the battery is now carrying 50% of the AC voltage because voltage measurement always...

Yes, that is correct. Their inverter range goes from 300W to 6000W, 12-48V Thanks for putting all this information together, that is awesome!

There was AC voltage before between battery and ground, so this did not change. But I think it's not considered any real voltage with power or current flowing, just what the voltmeter 'sees'. I could not measure any DC voltage across any of the points, no. Does the Victron MPPT does this...

So, I think I have the solution. Thanks to @Hedges for the tip with the light bulb. I did a lot of measurement last night and had all kind of weird voltages: - from the AC outputs to positive and negative around 90V~ - from AC outputs to earth 77V~ - from earth to pos and neg input around 125V~...

I understand that. As this is an complete off grid installation and will never be connected to grid or shore power, it will be the only point of such connection. I also found the Phoenix inverter for $1200 online now, so I will go with that unless there are other options? I will definitely do...

Yes, I read this earlier. Thank you.

This is exactly what I need (should not every inverter have this for safety reasons?): I found this in the manual of the Victron Phoenix Smart Inverter right at the beginning... But AU$1800 ? for a 3kW unit...

I'll scan the one which came with the inverter tonight and link it here. There is nothing mentioned about any of this stuff of course. I don't even think it says anything about the ground stud at all...

That's a good idea to put a small load across the AC output to earth and see if there is actually current flowing. Thanks for the tip with measuring against DC as well. I read in other threads that people ground their negative of their battery but thought it makes more sense in an RV or boat but...