Most reacted threads

Hello folks, Anyone out there from the UK know a reliable source of good quality wire? Google returns a lot of results, but I'd like a proper trustful website. The wires are an essential part of the solar system: (Will's video) Cheers!

Hi there, I am currently designing a system for offgrid use. I already bought the solar panels, and am discussing with a cell provider. I would like to order the Victron components as well, but before that, could anyone with more experience please have a look at my schematics and give me...

What would folks prefer when it comes to choosing the cable type for their system? - single insulated battery cable - double insulated battery cable - welding cable - any other suggestions? Cheers!

Ciao friends, What would your recommendations be for a diy combiner box components? I'm saying box, but not going to have a physical box, just the functionality of it mounted tidily with DIN rails ;) : MC4 combiners - Y or T or whatever, I don't mind MC4 fuses dc disconnect switch with at...

Hi fellow DIY-ers, I would like to add fuses for the BMS sense wires, and thus change the wires altogether. I've got confirmation from Hankzor that the wires don't need to be equal in length, but max length is 150cm (see screenshot attached). My question is, do you know what sort of plug...

Hi, There will be some panels mounted further away from the MPPT and inverter, about 20m away. The panel configuration is 3s3p (3 series, 3 parallel). Each panel is 41.2V VoC and 12.28A Isc. That means over 30A when all are combined. Victron says MC4 connections are rated to 30 A only, and...

Hello DIYers! I've finalised my Victron order, have the solar panels and looking to get all the fuses, breakers, etc in place for the safety of the system. Can anyone with more experience have a look and tell me please if my fuse calculations and positions are good? Any other breakers, fuses...

Ciao! The manuals of Victron equipment, like inverters or MPPTs state that these should not be mounted over the batteries. I suspect this is because acid batteries release corrosive gases that would damage and even provoke a fire with the equipment. However, I am not aware of LiFePo4 batteries...

Hello again! I've been searching for the best backer board for solar equipment, such as inverters, MPPTs, bus bars, etc... Victron manuals state to mount on non-flamable surfaces. This must be a sort of lawyer's text in there, right? ... Nevertheless, what are people using? I was looking at...

Hi, I thought adding a Victron SmartShunt to my setup would provide accurate information regarding the battery, while having a smart battery sense would make sure that the voltage and temperature are ok and communicated to the SmartSolar MPPTs which would disconnect charging if something is off...

Hi, The neverending grounding confusion... Sorry if this was asked before, I searched but couldn't find a fitting answer. Looking to finalise the grounding of my system, Wiring Unlimited by Victron says to ground closer to the battery negative - makes sense. Here is the schematics they attach...

Hi, I'm looking at voltacon combiner box here: https://voltaconsolar.com/solar-string-box-4way-in-2way-out-1000v.html It gives me an option for fuses and an option for voltage... For fuses it is easy: 1.25 X ISC, or simply go by the panel's suggestion on its sticker for "max series fuse size"...

Greetings all, My name is Anton and I'm living in Edinburgh, Scotland. The solar "bug" has gotten to me after seeing some videos of Will on his YouTube channel. Then I ordered his book, saw all videos, checked out his website and silently followed the forum... Now, after a month or so I'm...

Hi! I've found various info on Google searches but wondering what would be the right way to size my busbar. For wires, I can look in the table of the providers for the wires I buy. They have an amp specification in accordance to their size. But with a bare copper tape / bar this information is...

Hi, I've got Kraus & Naimer switch disconnectors. I doubt that it matters, but just to double-check: does anyone know if the wires from the panels are expected on 1,3 or 2,4? The model on the box is KGD40 TD102 . They have no manual coming with them... Thank you!

Hi, Can it ever be that the panels would go even a bit over their VOC? Conversely, can they go over their rated ISC? Cheers

Hello good people! I would like to start my first post by thanking Will for creating this platform, for his book and every video he posts on his YouTube channel! For a few weeks now I've been trying to design a 48v off-grid solar system, and I've been looking at Will's videos, read his book...

Hello, Planning on building a 16s 48v LifePo4 battery system with the Eve 280ah cells. I'm thinking of using a Daly 16s BMS 250A, but recently came across a 300A JBD BMS, but this is contactor based. I'm confident setting up the Daly BMS, there is nothing hard about it. However, I don't know...

Hi fellow solar brains, I've been toying with the idea to add a secondary battery bank in parallel to the current one I have - 16s LifePo4 EVE lf280k. I may add a CATL bank, if I can't find the same EVE ones, or "storage grade" Eve ones... :) However, I'm aware that the banks should have...

Hello fellow solar enthusiasts! My system is working like a charm. I charge the pack of 16 Eve lf280k to 55.2V in absorption, and they are all fairly balanced. I've never seen the delta above 0.020 V. Each cell voltage never goes above 3.5, 99% of the time stays in the 3.45V area when fully...

Hello there, I need a bit of help to understand the schematics of the following from an official manual: What does Midpoint earth mean? It is first time I see this term... I've got the iC60H, which was confirmed by Schneider to be the same with regards to specs and requirements with iC60N...

Hi fellow solar enthusiasts, The options here in the UK for off-grid solar parts is limited, to say the least, compared to the US. Looking for a combiner box, I found one that looks promising...

I was looking to buy wires for my system, hard to find proper good ones here in the UK, especially larger ones. On this website, which has a selection of marine cables, it says " Suitable for 12v and 24v systems (maximum 60v)." Why not 48v systems as well, if max is 60v? Very confusing...

Hi, I'm trying to figure out the wire size for AC-out 1 from my Multiplus II 8000. Do I go by the datasheet continuous power value i.e.: 6400w => approx 30 A at 230V, or do I go by the manual that says 45A for output? Please see the screenshots attached. The consumer unit is 15m away from the...

Solar diy market is very small in the UK and components are not easy to find, that includes wires. For example, finding good quality 120mm2 wire in red is harder than anything. Finding T-Class fuses is as hard as getting a ticket to the moon... :( Anyways, I had a thought, it seems a bit...

Hi! This has been frustrating me for a while now ... The 48v system is all Victron, with the exception of battery cells and the BMS. The BMS SOC is always off compared to the Victron Smart Shunt. The thing is, that for my settings in Victron Smart Shunt, I have set as fully charged voltage to...

Hello there! Just wondering if anyone knows a shop that sells off grid capable Growat inverters, like the SPF 5000 es, in the UK. The Growatt products I find on UK websites are all grid tied only. Thank you

Hello! I've been toying with the idea to use Victron equipment for an off grid solar system, but I heard quite unpopular stories how hard it is to configure them because of the very convoluted/confusing/buggy software. Most of the times it seems that there is a need for their engineer to come...

Hello, I've got Blue Sea battery disconnects, two, one red, one black. Any reasons why not to have both in my system on the battery wires?

Hi, I'm based in the UK doing an off grid system and cannot help but notice the lack of equipment and information regarding PV earthing... Like grounding bolts (Tyco), etc. There's BS7671 as a NEC equivalent but offers little information about pv earthing ... So I paid attention when going out...

Hi, I've got a new series of lf280k, planning to add a second bank to my battery, however, these came with different terminals. The bolts are like in the pictures... Any reasons why I can't get proper bolts (with the head) to tighten the busbars in properly? Thank you

Planning to use Citel SPDs in my DIY combiner box, is this a reputable brand? Many thanks, T

Hi! Victron MPPTs need to be powered by the battery - by that, I mean you are meant to turn on the battery, after which you can turn on the solar PVs in the system. When you turn off the system you do it the other way around, turn off PV power and then battery power. Having the MPPTs powered by...

Hi, Quick one. I'm looking at a Watts247 combiner box, but it comes with a 15A fuse... The Isc of my panels is 12.28A per string, isn't that a bit close? Max fuse says rating 20A on the panel sticker. I mean on a cold bright day, the VoC can be exceeded, can it be a similar situation for the...

Hello fellow solar friends! Adding a second battery bank (EVE lf280k), I have bought two Carling Technologies F series hydraulic MCCB (https://www.carlingtech.com/hm-cb-f-series). However, I cannot find any details regarding how to properly mount this - I see very little information regarding...

Has anyone played with the heating port on a newer JK BMS?

Hi there, On short, I've got a Multiplus II, SmartSolar chargers, all working in simphony with 16s Eve lf280k with JK BMS. I'd like to add another battery bank and thus would need to disconnect the current bank. I've got a system switch that I can turn off. The question is, can I turn off so...

Hi there, Asking here for a friend who has a Solis inverter installed. What sort of plug is it required to connect the backup circuit? I'll search for the manual with regards to fusing and other requirements... Here's a photo of it:

Hi, I'm getting close to installing my off-grid system. There are only some wires and fuses left to purchase. Anyone with experience, please have a look and let me know if the grounding / earth schematics are safe. Earth rod 1 is for lightning protection, while earth rod 2 is for general...

Hi, In a 12 panel system, 6 would be affected by shade and 6 not. Out of the 6 shaded ones, 3 of them are affected a bit more. I can do various combinations like 3s4p, or two systems like 2 x 3s2p. I wonder if it is better to have two smaller MPPTs of 150/45 than having one bigger one like...

Hello!! Is the search functionality broken on the forum or just my internet connection being slow and grumpy?...

I don't think I noted any BMS from overkill to offer over 100 amps. Can you somehow have two connected? I doubt it but it's worth asking... Here in the UK, Daly can be found for sale, but as @OffGridGuy mentioned on another post, the larger BMSes from Daly are not something to be proud off...

Hi fellow solar enthusiasts! We had a high pollen ? period here in the UK and everything was covered in yellow dust. I knew about the pollen period, but had no idea it can significantly decrease production until I noticed the numbers being quite a bit lower than expected. I noticed in peak...

Hello DIY-ers! My project requires mounting some of the panels on a flat roof. The winds in this location are tremendous sometimes, so I'll have to be careful how I mount them. The panels are relatively heavy at 21kg, and medium to large in size with 1.7m by 1.1m (Trina Vertex S 400w). I'm...