diy solar

diy solar

Recent content by SolarForU2

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    Potting compound - way to go, thoughts/suggestions?

    You could pot it in bees wax, melting temp 65c, any repairs needed warm it up and tip wax out. But adds to the weight.
  2. S

    Simple home made analog MPPT contoller

    An interesting simple solution using the TL494, no CPU, excellent. RV2 allows only a single battery voltage set point, did you consider adding an RV3 to allow an additional lower value float voltage, with some sort of electronic switch to select one or the other as required? Cheers Mike
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    Best breakers for solar.

    I have a similar smaller 12V test setup here at home, that uses 4 x 400AH Calb Lifepo4 cells, been running past 4 years with a 3500W inverter, powering my office and a fridge + Freezer; I design and build PV controllers and sometimes use it for testing them out. For fuse\Isolation of battery I...
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    Best breakers for solar.

    As your inverter is only 85% efficient at best, the supply current will be near 350 amps, not accounting for appliance surges during switch on. Suggest you use a 400A fuse and an isolation switch. With that sort of power, its too high for a 12v setup to be reliable, better going to 24V.
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    Parallel Charge Controllers Limiting Each Other

    I have a similar setup, two 60A charge controllers each with a PV array connected to a 12v 400AH Lifepo4 battery. Each controller output has its own 100A 2 pole cct breaker wired direct to the battery terminals; this minimizes voltage drops in the cabling of each controller affecting the other...
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    LFP Battery CyclingDepth effect on Capacity

    Bank 2 as it has done less work by being discharged to 1/2 capacity then re-charged will have the longer life. Two 1/2 cycles place less stress on the battery than a single full discharge - charge cycle. Mike
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    Lapping PV panels to create water shedding roof. Thoughts? Comments?

    Cover your roof with clear commercial green/tunnel house film, them mount the panels above that using the normal alloy rails etc. That's what we did over the roof of a small shed containing a diesel generator. We used a semi-clear film that had an embedded nylon mesh, its extremely strong and...
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    Where does the load go on this DC circuit breaker?

    I have received reply back from seller, that single pole breaker is NON-Polarized, can go in + or- lead. Guess that makes it bi-directional, so can be used for battery connection with both charge and discharge circuits.....
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    Where does the load go on this DC circuit breaker?

    Who knows, I have sent them an email asking the question, polarized or not for the single pole breaker; will report back when I get a reply.
  10. S

    Low temperature PV string bypass relay/switching

    If you read the post #5, all info already provided, including pcb and schematic.
  11. S

    ... powering a microcontroller from the battery or charge controller

    I purchased a few of those a few months ago, they only have a 100v electro on the input, so their claim of 120v input operation is dubious at best.
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    Solar diverter for hot water

    Here is a copy of a post I made on another forum, may be a solution. Full circuit and PCB here PV Diverter The device is designed to seamlessly add a load (Hot Water Element) to the PV array whilst connected to existing PV controllers. Mike
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    Where does the load go on this DC circuit breaker?

    Their images of the dual pole device clearly show polarizing +- symbols, they also say it can be used for AC at a higher voltage. Looks like its actually an AC mccb with no magnets for arc diversion, with a voltage derating usage at DC. I guess you are taking a risk using it as it seems not...
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    Where does the load go on this DC circuit breaker?

    Not enough info to tell, need a link to the item purchased.
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    Low temperature PV string bypass relay/switching

    Full circuit and PCB here PV Diverter The device is designed to seamlessly add a load (Hot Water Element) to the PV array whilst connected to existing PV controllers. Mike
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