Most reacted posts

Maybe, but you cannot know for sure. I happen to have exactly the same question, and would have done the same. Notice the OP did not add external links, he just pasted in the photo with specs and brand name. Nothing wrong with that surely!

I found the same thing @snoobler posted up above. I checked with my supplier about swapping out the 1 battery for extra solar panels but that may not be possible since the order has been prepared already. I also checked the SMA Sunny Island specs (see 17.3 DC Connection for Battery) and found...

Thanks a lot for the info-I'll have someone take them all out and measure the resistance correctly! The problem is that the thing is at my project site in Kenya so sending it out your way is prohibitively expensive. I will bring it back to Europe with me next time I go though-and check with you...

Hey hey, I am doing something very similar for my family house down in Kenya. One piece of unsolicited advice to you however would be: get the precision stuff/brains of the solar project from well known makers in Europe/US. Do not take chances with that. With my project, I am getting the...

Thanks Toms! Yeah, I am attempting to create a DC coupled system like the one shown here. What I find confusing is that the configuration does not appear to be supported in SMA Design tool- checking again to see if I can add SMA SIC50. I also thought that the sunny island had a charge controller...

I see the Kilovault balancer you linked will draw up to 10Amps from the higher voltage battery. Victron balancers on the other hand will draw a maximum of 0.7Amps. I am guessing the Kilovault and other such balancers will correct imbalances quicker. The difference is huge though, why is that?

Hello Folks, I have been looking for for an international supplier (preferably in Europe where I live) for the Victron Easysolar 5000VA/150 MPPT for my solar project in Kenya. I just cannot find any reputable suppliers that will sell and ship over there. I have been through Amazon Germany...

I spoke to the current contact person on their Alibaba page (Daisy) and they told me that these were no longer in stock. Is there any reason to shun used cells, especially if they have been tested and the IR+capacity are good and matched? I would not mind used cells that are well tested and...

Oh yeah, that's definitely a great idea. I am aware of the SOC~lifeExpectancy relationship. I would have preferred to have it in the bank though- just so that the whole bank ages slower and I have a bit more usable capacity. I will research a bit more on the 60V bank possibility but I was...

Hello folks, In my battery bank setup, I have got four identical 12V LiFePo batteries connected in series into a 48V bank. Each battery here has got its own BMS i.e., the BMS's do not talk, each does it's own thing. As you might guess, the first battery to charge up goes open circuit and so the...

They did refer me to their distributors map, and the two appointed distributors already in Kenya. The trouble is, those two Kenyan distributors are not folks you want to deal with: total joke.

Thank you! The prices are pretty close to Alibaba rates for each kind of ware I think. I wonder if anyone here has bought from them (Sunpal) and what their experience was, and also wonder what folks make of europe-solarstore.com . I am also looking at @upnorthandpersonal post on his experience...

Hi! These look pretty neat, do you have a post / comment on your experience with them so far? Cheers.

Oh Yeah, the whole package was delivered some weeks back. Everything is in order. I am travelling down (to Kenya) to do the installation next month so I will update this post shortly after. According to my folks (its them that received everything), all items are in tip-top shape and I saw the...

I understand, - but this is not the inverters fault. So, yours is running perfectly huh? How is the noise?

Hello, thanks a lot for making this point. I intend to use the Victron Easysolar 5000VA charger/inverter unit. I just revisited the datasheet and see that the 150V/100A charger it comes bundled best works with 24V/48V banks, which it will auto-detect. I see no mention of 60V banks in there, only...

Yeah, but for Kenya, customs is much improved since they started ending the paper era. Charges, taxes and the clearance processes are clear but the permits you need to bring in what is where the real headache is. Branded, pre-assembled batteries would for sure be easier for an ordinary Joe to...

Depends on where you are though. My project site is down in Kenya. Certain things are difficult or expensive to get or ship in without much fuss with customs. Then again, I am yet to get to that gangster level where I build my own battery packs :-) :-). If I knew a seller that's got such units...

I disagree. The myriad serious issues users are reporting speaks volumes-and Growatt have not climbed to #1 on account of quality. Just tart by Googling "Growatt inverter reviews", then head over to Youtube and read comments below videos of their products (including non-promo real-life test...

Thanks a lot for the input!! Actually the project site is in Kenya so we are talking 240V/50hz. How do the "new in-the-box" Sunny Boys and Islands come about? If you have any links to some websites, I'll certainly have a look. Also, my system is pretty small: 6KW. The system you have got is...

Has anyone been able to update the JKBMS firmware from Linux- any debian? I can get the JKBMS PC software to open just fine in Ubuntu (with playonLinux or with Wine) and I can click around menus and so on- all functions are available. However, the BMS is never detected on the COM port as it...

I am in the process of shopping for an off-grid inverter and was just wondering, what is the difference between the Growatt SPF 5000ES and the Growatt SPF 5000 HVM-WPV counterpart? I see the two are from different series and the datasheets' first page would appear to suggest that the ES line has...

Thank you very much- I was looking for the same thing and it had not occurred to me to check with the official storefront. However, the suppliers own front probably deals with bulk orders for dealers around the globe so a 1-order item might not inspire the best in terms of the quality of...

Hello folks, I am having some trouble decoding the technical details of the cells in the attached photos. These are BYD, but the serial number does not appear to follow the modern naming convention as with EVE cells for example. According to the guide here, the number of digits should be 19 or...

The panels are working like a charm, this is 9 months down the line. I had zero visible/physical errors with the hardware itself. The electrical perfomance is right at par with the advertised specs for 400W half-cell panels. I have 10 panels configured to run at 100V/40amp. 6 panels are still in...

_

Very good point about the system's modularity and ability to limp along when something fails.. The Easy Solar is in fact quite modular: you could literally piece it apart into the usual components. It's just neatly boxed up..

Nothing against Windows actually- not in this case. I think it would be one step forward to be able to do this in Linux, or alternatively, from the android app on the phone- which is work in progress I heard (from Andy)..

Wow, at 0.09 volts you are at serious death ranges for a lithium battery that is supposed to operated nominally at 48V. It could be that the battery died or got irreparably damaged, then the Gwatt is unable to charge. The Gwatt should have had a low voltage cut-off where it shuts down all load...

Live and learn indeed, just from writing up my own experience with Sunpal batteries..sigh

There are far too many reports online of malfunctioning and serious safety, quality and operational issues with Growatt inverters for me to trust the brand or product. I went with Victron and I am very happy so far-especially with their VRM monitoring portal-Growatt cannot match that.

Hello Aslan again, after about 8 months of use, I am having serious problems with two of the five batteries I bought. From my discussions with Sunpal, it looks like they will not honor their terms of warranty, and are offering to add two new batteries "with my next order" i.e., pay them more...

There are far too many reports online of malfunctioning and serious safety, quality and operational issues with Growatt inverters for me to trust the brand or product. I went with Victron and I am very happy so far-especially with their VRM monitoring portal-Growatt cannot match that.

I am looking at these ones here to expand my storage-what do you think? There doesn't seem to be much user feedback out here on all these 400-500ah cells : https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/500Ah-Lifepo4-Lithium-ion-Cell-big_1600337159436.html?spm=a2700.9114905.0.0.MWNROo

How sir? I cannot find this use case in Batrium docs and how-to's..

No, the reports are from people that bought brand new straight from Growatt or from very well-known authorized dealers. Alibaba is just fine:There are very many reputable sellers there-and they are easy to separate from the chaff using the usual techniques (check reviews, whether they are a...

For those of us already with 4x 12V LiFePo batteries in series, what BMS can we use to manage the whole bank? I suppose it would be a 4S, 48V one but I cannot find such a product anywhere, any leads?

Yes, I wrote a full post here: https://diysolarforum.com/threads/the-sunpal-co-lifepo4-lithium-battery-scam-my-experience-and-advice.66875/. Horrible experience really.

Just in case you missed this: A number of Growatts have recently been recalled in Australia over electrical/fire safety issues: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/growatt-inverter-recall-mb2162/amp/

I think the ES model is the later one, and that the differences are on the first page of the full PDF datasheets at the bottom of each inverter page. For example, with the ES it is possible to scheduler charging and discharging time slots-could be very useful :cool:

Hello folks, I am working on the design of my off-grid system in SMA Web Design tool. One thing I find confusing is why I need both a PV inverter (Sunny boy 6 for example) as well as a storage inverter (Sunny Island). I thought that modern inverters integrate DC-AC. My System would be similar...

Hello from Switzerland (and Kenya) sunny folks! I am new to the forum and literally stumbled in while researching for my upcoming, first ever solar project. I thought I would share what I have been up-to so far and listen to any thoughts/advice the community may have. The project site is down...

_

I recently purchased this JBD BMS here at the IC GOGOGO Aliex store and I am currently locked in a refund tussle with the seller. Seller is unsurprisingly unwilling to replace or refund. I would like some assistance diagnosing and fixing the problem to see whether repair would be the best...

Thanks all. The thing is, I was not at all familiar with the so called AC-coupled systems as everything I worked with before was DC coupled with a charge controller, battery bank then inverter. To have a DC coupled system with the Sunny Island for a 6kw PV array, I would need at least 3 Sunny...

Hello folks, I intend to series-connect four or five 12V Lithium batteries to make a 48V or 60V bank for my residential solar project. From my reading here and here, I understand that keeping the four/five units in balance is critical. Note that each of these units already have an internal BMS...

Thanks for the alert. I am just scrutinizing the product description once more and these batteries are actually described as LiFePO4... What am I missing?

Oh yeah, had a little shock there :)

I would rely mostly on customer feedback to decide. Do as many inquries as possible, check their reviews on Alibaba, also check other sellers and compare, good luck!

"Your imagined solution does not exist."- this is what I really needed to hear.- I thought I was not searching properly. I was holding on getting Victron balancers thinking I might come across some magic solution in the form of a 4s, 48V balancer. I am familiar with the other workarounds of the...