diy solar

diy solar

Recent content by Swamplizard

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    Can I fix a flexible panel myself?

    I have two 100watt flexible solar panels from fleabay that stopped working and of course the seller is MIA and unresponsive. Hate to throw them away. Both panels have fried diodes ... can these be replaced by someone with limited soldering skills. Thanks for your ideas/recommendations.
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    Mixed bag of batts to one Inverter?

    Good stuff Eggo - Thanks. The use case is supplemental A/C on a boat. Every "blue moon" we will want A/C for sleeping or to cool down cabin. A/C is new and very efficient so 1500 Watt inverter drives it without issue and very low over-all Amps even when compressor kicking in. Shutting down...
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    Mixed bag of batts to one Inverter?

    any feedback?
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    Mixed bag of batts to one Inverter?

    Thanks all - always helpful! Perhaps I am better off taking the "scrub" mismatched batteries and make one larger lower AH 12V and call it a day? ie. combine the 75AH and 50AH cells into a bigger pack and have an ABC switch - A to Load, B to 175AH pack, and C to 50AH "mutt" pack.
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    Mixed bag of batts to one Inverter?

    Can you clarify this? Do you mean it will burn down the garage or that it will not allow me to use 100% of each battery bank (which I can live with as long as it is safe? Thanks!
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    My Base Electric Rate is Increasing by 31.5% Next Month

    Time to turn that back porch lanai into a solar array?
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    Mixed bag of batts to one Inverter?

    Thanks - Interesting inputs. Perhaps I should have an ABC switch and simply flip between batts as needed.
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    Mixed bag of batts to one Inverter?

    Working on yet another budget LifePO4 project. Goal is to have more 12V capacity for a small room air conditioner and use the battery packs I have. I have Three (3) 12V battery packs each using the exact same BMS (each). One Pack is 175AH, one is 75AH, and one is 50AH. Batteries are different...
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    Thanks to this Forum!

    Embarked on a project during Covid to convert a Promaster Van and have it be all electric - no propane, no gas generators, and as simple as possible. Having zero solar or LIFEPO4 experience I relied heavily on this forum to design, build, and implement a 24V system to drive a roof A/C (in...
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    Battery Charger - 20-40AMP 2-bank for a boat project

    My 20-year old 50AMP 3 Bank charger gave up the ghost last week so I am looking to re-swizzle things on the Boat....add capacity and lose some dead weight. Each motor has it's own sealed acid starter battery and I am converting my "House" battery bank from multiple 6V Lead Acid pigs to...
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    I am always fantasizing about having a energy efficient air conditioner for van life, anyone seen any concepts in tech news or anything?

    Agree with above however, I was on a budget and found the slightly used roof A/C for $300 and wanted it to be a low profile as possible, already planned on LV2424 all-in-one, and I found 280AH LIFEPO4s for relatively cheap ... built TWO 280AH 24V with quality bluetooth BMSs for a total of...
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    LV2424 Utility Input and Charging

    At a couple of camp sites I had to use a small 3 pin to 2 pin conversion plug - for whatever reason having the second ground pin popped the breaker.
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    MPP Solar All in one system

    yes I am but as mentioned it (the step down) may not have enough power to handle the inverter. Was thinking of buying a second one as I am adding a second 24v bank and having the two step downs feeding a 12volt busbar to remedy the situation.
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    MPP Solar All in one system

    agreed - thought about adding same one I have to my second battery bank and having them combine on 12v bus
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    MPP Solar All in one system

    FWIW I made a mistake - my Rv battery system is 24v and I have an all in one. The fridge is a dorm-type 120v minifridge and I picked up a small 500 watt pure sine inverter for when all I need is the fridge running....BUT....I purchased a 24v to 12v step down that cant handle 500w. When the...
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