• Have you tried out dark mode?! Scroll to the bottom of any page to find a sun or moon icon to turn dark mode on or off!

diy solar

diy solar

Most reacted posts

  • Post in thread: Show/Tell and quick reviews

    Just wanted to share pictures and random thoughts from a recent project. I really applaud all you folks on here with super neat and tidy builds! Mine is pretty sloppy by comparison, but gets the job done, haha. Last summer I built a small 800W array and 400Ah AGM 12v battery, which was fun, and...
  • Post in thread: 400 watt solar + Victron 1200 watt inverter + Victron 30 amp Charge Controller + Smart Shunt + SOK 206 ah battery

    Nice work, and all top-shelf gear too! You might think you're finished...but I'm afraid it's just the beginning? You'll find yourself wanting to use the "emergency backup" system for more and more stuff. By this time next year (or sooner) you'll be wanting bigger panels, bigger SCC, bigger...
  • Post in thread: AP Systems DS3 Microinverters

    Last update (hopefully): to answer my own question, "yes", they appear to be plug-and-play. Don't *need* the ECU...unless you need to update their firmware or settings or anything I guess... After a nail-biting 5 minutes or so, when I threw the switch connecting the string to my Sol-ark, they...
  • Post in thread: 30 Volt 10 Amp Power Supply Broken—Dr. Meter

    Yeah, I noticed that too... But when I ordered them (2 days ago) it was Prime, and they arrived 2 days later. Maybe I got the last one.
  • Post in thread: SOLD: Victron Quattro 48/5000 (120V), and Conext 60A/150V mppt - barely used

    @GOO5E looks like the 48th week of 2020, if I'm decoding the serial# correctly. I'm just west of Denver, but I don't mind driving around especially this time of year. I'll be out in Palisade/Grand Junction area in a couple weeks actually. @Haze Good to be cautious, and yeah there's a lot to...
  • Post in thread: Victron SCC odd behavior, scratching my head

    I should've said: yes, plus your bullets 2 and 3 are N/A because I get the same no-power (5-12W) even with SCC in Bulk mode w/full sun.
  • Post in thread: Victron SCC odd behavior, scratching my head

    ...aaaaand the weirdness continues! The Victron just won't work properly for this setup, or battery, or who knows what... I can "trick" it to work, for a few days, but it eventually just randomly stops providing any power. In the meantime I got a Schneider Conext MPPT to try, and it works...
  • Post in thread: One cell low voltage in lifepo4

    I'm having a similar issue, but less extreme so far...I'm wondering if I have a bad cell? One cell (in a 16s bank) started both 1) reading higher up to 0.06v more than average on charge, and 2) dipping up to 0.06v lower on discharge. I top balanced all cells a few months ago and everything was...
  • Post in thread: Show/Tell and quick reviews

    @chrisski Yes, exactly. I use them to disconnect the battery and the inverter, when fiddling with stuff. (and those midnite solar DC breakers are to power-off the charge controller and isolate the panels, if needed) @MisterSandals thanks! I'm hoping this takes a big bite out of my grid energy...
  • Post in thread: SOLD: Victron Quattro 48/5000 (120V), and Conext 60A/150V mppt - barely used

    Victron Quattro inverter/charger (48 VDC input, 5kW 120VAC output) and Conext (Schneider) solar charge controller. I used these briefly on a small off-grid system, about 6mo (before moving houses and dismantling that system). I had 3 parallel strings of 3x 350W panels, feeding a 10kW DIY lifepo4...
  • Post in thread: Boris the bus

    Not pretty, but functional, haha?I like it!
  • Post in thread: 30 Volt 10 Amp Power Supply Broken—Dr. Meter

    Ordered new diodes and popped one in - fixed it, back in business??? Thanks everyone for this amazing site!
  • Post in thread: Enabling Arc fault detection on a Sol-Ark 12K

    My 15K is on 7.2.2.2, roof mounted array using TS4-A-O Tigo optimizers, supposedly. Arc fault has been enabled since installed, no issues at all for first 2-3 months UNTIL...we got the first big snow. It was a couple days after it snowed, when it really warmed up and everything started melting...
  • Post in thread: 30 Volt 10 Amp Power Supply Broken—Dr. Meter

    5 for $5 on Amazon. 5PCS 6A10 Rectifier Diode 6A 1000V R-6 Axial 6 Amp 1000 Volt https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PCPDKKT/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_VCCY3JNN0C5CWS96PPZ1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
  • Post in thread: SOLD: Victron Quattro 48/5000 inverter/charger (moved to new thread)

    (Removed) Created a new thread with additional info and new prices.
  • Post in thread: Sol-Ark 12k AC Coupling Side Load (into sub panel) vs into Gen breaker

    @Ampster Thank you for that info!! For #1, I realized it does seem to be adding it to the daily production. For #2, yep, that makes sense. For #3, yes the grid is up...
  • Post in thread: Victron SCC odd behavior, scratching my head

    Yeah, I posted this in the "BMS" section because initially I thought it was the BMS blocking charge. But then I removed it from the loop, and same behavior, so it must be the Victron being weird. It used to work perfectly with AGM, even totally over-paneled worked fine (3000w of panels but could...
  • Post in thread: The new "My Sol-Ark" App and Migration to AWS is happening very soon.

    Ooooh!!🤦‍♂️There's a completely new app, wow, I really missed the boat here🤣 Got the new MySolark app and logged in with my old PV Pro credentials, working great, amazing, thank you so much for the tip! Ah but as others have noticed, the "E-Today" value (top summary section) only shows PV...
  • Post in thread: AP Systems DS3 Microinverters

    Yes I'm starting to feel that way. There are 2 different installation guides - one says the trunk cable has "brown, blue, and yellow/green", the other guide says "black, red, and green". None of those descriptions match my cable, which has black, red, and blue...?‍♂️ I'm assuming black and red...
  • Post in thread: 30 Volt 10 Amp Power Supply Broken—Dr. Meter

    Hi, I'm having a similar issue, except my diode seems intact...and I don't see anything else obviously burnt/singed/blown on the inside. After using my Dr Meter to top balance 16 LiFePO4 cells, on the verrrry last cell (exhausted after 9hrs of balancing), as I was disconnecting everything one...
  • Post in thread: The new "My Sol-Ark" App and Migration to AWS is happening very soon.

    Oh I see, there are two different E-Today values. One is correct and the other not. Oh well.
  • Post in thread: Sol-Ark TOU Settings

    Ok thanks for that info! How does that compare to the expected behavior if the only box checked is Grid Sell (and no TOU settings)? Seems like it would be identical. It'll obviously export excess solar power to the Grid terminals, same as with Limit to Load selected...and sell all your battery...
  • Post in thread: Wifi dongle "already bound" error Sol-ark

    That's my point, what if I can't? It was a random electrician working for the company I hired, I don't have his contact info, even if I did what if he doesn't comply? I'd have to pay $135 for a new dongle...? Crazy
  • Post in thread: Victron SCC odd behavior, scratching my head

    @chrisski yeah the cheapo Daly units are frustrating because they do work, but you have no insight. My battery came with one of those, but I picked up an Overkill and a Chargery, to try those out. What is maybe happening with your battery is one of your lithium cells is running away and tripping...
  • Post in thread: Breakers

    The second/bottom type (surface mount) can only be used on the low voltage side of your system - like on the positive line from battery (12-48v) to the charge controller, or maybe from battery to inverter. Victron sample system diagrams actually show that exact style of breaker used from battery...
  • Post in thread: Victron SCC odd behavior, scratching my head

    Yes, that's about it. ...except all the other stuff, haha! That I could "kick start" it into functioning, which I randomly discovered, by throwing open the disconnect to the turned-off inverter branch...but even then the SCC would only function normally for a few days then eventually revert to...
  • Post in thread: 30 Volt 10 Amp Power Supply Broken—Dr. Meter

    So on that diode (D30) I get almost 0V in both directions using multimeter diode test, indicating that it's toast. Whereas other diodes on the board I tested, I get 0V one way and 0.6V the other (expected for a good diode). So, I guess I'll try to get my hands on a new one and replace it. My...
  • Post in thread: Sol-Ark TOU Settings

    I have a couple related questions on TOU settings. In my case though, I *don't* want any TOU stuff enabled - BUT, my sol-ark keeps re-enabling TOU after I've disable it! So I go in and uncheck the box, then go back later and its re-checked...wtf! Anyone else experienced that? (I walked in a few...
  • Post in thread: Victron SCC odd behavior, scratching my head

    Eventually the Victron decided to start charging again, once battery voltage dropped to 53.1V (float is 54V). No idea why it waited, maybe it's just not sensitive enough for the lithium flat curve? Luckily this morning it started charging as soon as sunlight was available. I'll keep an eye on...
  • Post in thread: One cell low voltage in lifepo4

    Huh? No, my BMS (Overkill) would only shut it off when a cell reaches an extreme minimum or maximum, 2.7 and 3.6 in my case. I'll probably just do a whole battery top balance again sometime soon - if it's still wonky after that, then I'll know it's just that one cell. I just wonder if the...
  • Post in thread: AP Systems DS3 Microinverters

    I just ordered six DS3 units, the 750w version, for an add-on array I'm building (tying into the GEN input to my Sol-Ark 15k). I purposely didn't get an ECU with them though, because 1) I don't really care that much about monitoring individual performance and 2) more importantly, it doesn't seem...
  • Post in thread: Victron SCC odd behavior, scratching my head

    Putting my new 16s Overkill BMS through its paces with 200Ah 48V battery. Been a rocky start so far, several issues. Victron Quattro kept tripping the "short circuit" protection (I guess initial start-up current was too much?), and slow/buggy Bluetooth. But the weirdest thing is how my trusty...
  • Post in thread: Victron SCC odd behavior, scratching my head

    @bruceb58 I removed BMS from the loop during troubleshooting, to rule it out. But fwiw, I think I set BMS to start balancing at 53.8v, and then SCC "absorbs" at 54.5 for a while so all the cells can even out to about 3.4V. @kgol Happens in both Float and Bulk. In the screen shots above it...
  • Post in thread: How does your inverter deal with ground.

    The second diagram makes sense to me: during inverter mode (power from battery), your device automatically completely disconnects from all house AC sources, for obvious reasons (although it's weird that the cartoon doesn't show a battery anywhere). The first diagram looks wrong, it almost looks...
  • Post in thread: The new "My Sol-Ark" App and Migration to AWS is happening very soon.

    Same here, my PV app puked out a bunch of error codes (false errors, sol-ark is fine) earlier this week, and hasn't provided any data since. The dongle is definitely connected to my wifi, and it shows up as "online" in the PV app, but...no data... I missed the earlier discussion, was there...
  • Post in thread: Sol-Ark 12k AC Coupling Side Load (into sub panel) vs into Gen breaker

    Hi all, I studied this very informative(!) discussion prior to using my GEN input to expand my system. All 3 PV inputs were already full, so I built a 4.8kW array (using AP DS3 microinverters) and basically plugged it right into the Sol-ark, amazing! But I have questions about Sol-ark behavior...
  • Post in thread: SOLD: Victron Quattro 48/5000 (120V), and Conext 60A/150V mppt - barely used

    Um, ok...which thread...? I did experience weirdness with some Victron mppts (totally unrelated to these), and the Quattro tripping my BMS over-current at one point (not the Quattro's fault, easily fixed in a BMS setting). Let me know if you want me to get a shipping quote to your zip code.
  • Post in thread: How fragile are LiFePo4 cells?

    Sorry if this has been discussed, but I can't find anything about how tough or fragile these cells are, in terms of physical handling. Several of my new (hopefully, ha!) 200ah cells tipped over and fell from about 5 inches, flat onto their sides, onto hard basement concrete floor. No external...
  • Post in thread: AP Systems DS3 Microinverters

    I ordered from Renvu and I assume they just cut me a section with 6 connectors. What they had listed was the split phase 10awg (B/R/G), I didn't even know a 3-phase version (with blue) existed until I got it?‍♂️ Pretty proud of myself on the box mounted to the rail!? Drilled 2 holes in the box...
  • Post in thread: Wifi dongle "already bound" error Sol-ark

    Trying to add my "Plant" (sol-ark 15k) to my PV Pro app. Scanning QR or entering info manually, get an error that it's "bound". I assume this means my installer added it to his account, and never removed it, and now I'm locked out...? I took the dongle apart but didn't find any "reset"...
  • Post in thread: How does your inverter deal with ground.

    Yeah, could be. What I didn't mention in my original comment (or to AIMS) was that I actually *did* bond its ground and neutral and ran it for a while. It seemed fine. But after I getting their dire earnings against it, I decided I didn't want to deal with it blowing up at some later point and...
  • Post in thread: Victron SCC odd behavior, scratching my head

    Well if anyone's still reading/wondering, the Victron SCC finally settled into its normal routine, after it "woke up" it's been fine since. It charges until there's no light left in the evening, then starts up again the next morning at first light. Bulk for a while, then Absorption, then Float...
  • Post in thread: Victron SCC odd behavior, scratching my head

    @cinergi Agree with everything you said above. Although my cells were "matched and balanced" when I bought them, in initial charge-up tests I did, I had cells running away to 3.65 when the rest were around 3.5ish. I've been meaning to get a little 3.7V charger, so I can do a proper cell-by-cell...
  • Post in thread: Show/Tell and quick reviews

    Thanks @RichO!! I guess what I lack in cable management skills I made up for in panel aesthetic... I wish I got to look at my handiwork on those panels from my house, but they actually face my neighbor's yard. But at least she won't hate me for making her view ugly.
  • Post in thread: One cell low voltage in lifepo4

    So like if most are around 3.320-3.330v, this one cell will be at 3.380v while charging or 3.270v under load.
  • Post in thread: AP Systems DS3 Microinverters

    Yes Unirack (with IronRidge flashfeet). The conduit goes straight down the roof from there, just a short section, then over the gutter to wall. So no parallel conduit-to-rail connections needed.
  • Post in thread: AP Systems DS3 Microinverters

    Yep, this cable is labeled "3 phase" upon closer inspection, which means Renvu sent me something different than what I ordered... But on the other hand, 3 wires is still 3 wires, right? I wired it up using the blue for ground, and everything seems okay?‍♂️ (1 panel plugged into 1 DS3, got the...
  • Post in thread: How does your inverter deal with ground.

    Same problem here, just got my new AIMS 48v 6000w inverter last night, hooked it up, saw the open ground. So I thought, oh I'll just bond the ground-neutral externally. Emailed Aims to make sure that's okay, and good thing I did because I got this reply: "You CAN NOT bond the neutral and ground...
  • Post in thread: Victron SCC odd behavior, scratching my head

    @cinergi this is what I sent tech support, when they asked to see that info. @kgol you're right, that was a bad example I gave originally, since it appears like the re-bulk value was reached which is why it restarted. But in hours of testing since, it exhibits this behavior regardless of...
  • Post in thread: Victron SCC odd behavior, scratching my head

    It doesn't matter. Even when the SCC is in Bulk mode, it does nothing. When it's in Float, it's not *floating* at the specified voltage (54 in this case). That is intentional. I have no need to push them to their high or low limits. My understanding is that LFP cell lifespan is drastically...
  • Post in thread: AP Systems DS3 Microinverters

    Well all my celebrating and gloating was bad karma because, after only 9 months last night my Sol-ark threw a Arc-fault error, and even though the rest of the system is working fine now, the Gen/Inv input is getting nothing from my microinverter array now. I see 240V, but no watts...ugh...
  • Post in thread: Victron SCC odd behavior, scratching my head

    Once the SmartCharge decided it was done (54.8V "absorbed" for 2hrs), it stopped charging (0W, vs a few watts to "float" my old AGM). Now normally, with my old AGM battery, if a load came on the inverter, the solar charger would pick up its output to match (net current nearly zero), thereby...
  • Post in thread: 30 Volt 10 Amp Power Supply Broken—Dr. Meter

    In diode mode, the meter pushes a small current thru, which I guess more accurately mimics the diode's function. Resistance/ohms is another way tho, but maybe less accurate...?
  • Post in thread: 400 watt solar + Victron 1200 watt inverter + Victron 30 amp Charge Controller + Smart Shunt + SOK 206 ah battery

    Yup, that's EXACTLY how I progressed. First my garage and e-bike, then tried to run my fridge for a few days (but cloudy days would spoil it). So...had to up-size everything! I ended up installing several new plug/outlets in strategic locations around my house then wiring them back to my...
  • Post in thread: Victron SCC odd behavior, scratching my head

    Wow that one looks pretty good and for a totally decent price. Only ones I've found are surprisingly expensive... This is what I thought I'd probably end up getting. I'd charge up the battery pretty far with normal solar charger, like normal each day, then start each cell individually from...

diy solar

diy solar
Back
Top