diy solar

diy solar

using 12v devices while maintaining the simplicity of an All-in-one System

W

Wohl

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Sep 27, 2019
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15
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Germany
Hi! Enjoying the videos very much and along the way learning lots of stuff i wondered about all my life! Very grateful. I'm thinking about these nice All in one systems
and love the fact that i might only need 6 cables, but i am wondering how i would connect 12v devices.

Assuming i have a 12v battery system, when i connect a fuseblock to the same battery system i suddenly have to worry about over-draining the battery again, which i guess i could solve with adding a Battery Protect. I was under the impression i could get away with not using a Battery Protect since the All-in-one device already has safety mechanisms in place; as long as i am routing everything through the All-in-one Device that is. Is there an elegant way to incorporate a 12v fuseblock without too much complication while using the battery safety-mechanisms of the All-in-one Device?

All i can think of is somehow connecting it to the regular house-style 220v (european) outlets but then i would have to step it down to 12 v again. Seems like a waste to convert 12v to 220v and then back to 12v.

In case i had a 24v battery system i guess i could use a little grey step down 24v-to-12v-box but i again would wonder where to connect it.

I'd appreciate any ideas.
 
@Will Prowse indicates in His PIP 800W 12V inverter/charger video there is no place to mount the bottom of the inverter charger; however, there is a place at the bottom toward the middle of the inverter to the left of the battery connections under the cable cover. If you refer to the MPP manual Will Prowse has posted at: http://mppsolar.com/manual/PIP-HS,MS (PF1.0)/PIP-MS 1-5KVA manual-20190109.pdf. The manual shows where you can put in a screw at the bottom of the inverter to mount the bottom to the wall. No VHB tape or strapping needed. Unless you feel it's necessary. I'm going to be mounting mine in my Transit van but I believe it is very secure with three 3/4 in. wood screws. Two at the top and One in the "middle" at the bottom to the left of the battery connections. (See Image below.) ?
 

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@Will Prowse I too am wondering the best way to run a few low draw 12v items with an otherwise all-in-one setup like @Wohl . Small compost toilet fan, roof vent fan, propane heater fan. It seems unwise to set up another system right off the battery bank. Any input is amazing.
 
Hello All, I was just notified that my MPP PIP 800W 12V inverter was delivered via Fedex. I'm very excited to get home and see it. It took about a week and a half to arrive however it arrived much sooner than the expected date. I now have to pick out a spot to install in in my van. I know it is going in a closet toward the back of the van. I've determined that I will not be mounting it down near the floor. because I don't want to crawl on my hands and knees to interact with the display screen... I will post a few un-boxing pics when I get home... ? :)
 

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Buy the remote display screen. Maximsolar (or something like that on Ebay) sells them with a different communication board. Works great and you can turn off the inverter from the remote display. It's not the prettiest display but seems to do the job.

20191001_163830.jpg
 
I was going to order a MPP Solar but have a couple questions.
Did you have to pay about 125.00 just for shipping?
If you have a 24 volt or 48 volt model does that mean you have to have 2 or 4 batteries to make it work? Does it mean it will operate with 1 battery and has the capability to put more batteries in series to get to 24 or 48 volts?
Some MPPT's will work with 12 volt or 24 volt systems and that is why I ask?
 
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K7WMC said:
@Will Prowse indicates in the video there is no place to mount the bottom of the inverter charger. However there is a place at the bottom toward the middle of the inverter if you refer to the MPP manual Will Prowse has posted. it shows where you can put in a screw at the bottom of the inverter to mount the bottom to the wall. No VHB tape or strapping needed. Unless you feel it's necessary. I'm going to be mounting mine in my Transit van but I believe it is very secure with the three wood screws 2 at the top and one in the middle at the bottom. ?
Click to expand...
1570030342150_1570030341245_0_IMG_20191001_144738.jpg
 
Correct. There is a screw hole on the bottom, It's hidden well, but there is one lower mounting hole on that unit. I know it's there because I put a screw through it. And in fact when Ian sent it to me he made note of that.

I will also add that Will commented in his video that putting that face plate back on can be difficult. Just stick it on with painters tape, put the screws in and take the tape off.
 
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Russ said:
I was going to order a MPP Solar but have a couple questions.
Did you have to pay about 125.00 just for shipping?
If you have a 24 volt or 48 volt model does that mean you have to have 2 or 4 batteries to make it work? Does it mean it will operate with 1 battery and has the capability to put more batteries in series to get to 24 or 48 volts?
Some MPPT's will work with 12 volt or 24 volt systems and that is why I ask?
Click to expand...

The eBay vendor I purchased from which was located in the USA in Utah included the shipping in the price so it was free shipping. I paid $339. I just mounted mine. In the closet of my Transit van RV. if it's a 12-volt inverter like mine is it will operate with one battery. However it is recommended to have two batteries providing me with a 200 Ah. I've changed my mind and went from flex panels to glass panels for longevity on the van roof. I will not be screwing them down. But will be using the 3M VHB tape method to secure the solar panels. I know many people that use this method and there has been no failures yet, as long as you follow the recommended procedures for installation.

If you have a 24 or 48 volt inverter system. You can purchase 24 or 48 volt batteries. Or you can also purchase two 12 volt batteries and connect them in (parallel) to create a 24 volt battery, or purchase 24 volt batteries and put them in (parallel) to make a 48 volt battery for a 48 volt inverter.

I believe that's the difference between series and parallel. Series keeps the battery voltage the same but increases the amperage. And parallel doubles the voltage of the battery. Will P. has many YouTube videos describing this process. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong in the differences between series and parallel.

For my 12 volt inverter charger system I will be using two 12-volt Battleborn batteries in (series). Battleborn is located in Reno Nevada. If cost is an issue for you could do as Will Prowse indicates and make your own battery with a BMS = Battery Management System.
 
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K7WMC said:
The eBay vendor I purchased from which was located in the USA in Utah included the shipping in the price so it was free shipping. I paid $339. I just mounted mine. In the closet of my Transit van RV. if it's a 12-volt inverter like mine is it will operate with one battery. However it is recommended to have two batteries providing me with a 200 Ah. I've changed my mind and went from flex panels to glass panels for longevity on the van roof. I will not be screwing them down. But will be using the 3M VHB tape method to secure the solar panels. I know many people that use this method and there has been no failures yet, as long as you follow the recommended procedures for installation.

If you have a 24 or 48 volt inverter system. You can purchase 24 or 48 volt batteries. Or you can also purchase two 12 volt batteries and connect them in (parallel) to create a 24 volt battery, or purchase 24 volt batteries and put them in (parallel) to make a 48 volt battery for a 48 volt inverter.

I believe that's the difference between series and parallel. Series keeps the battery voltage the same but increases the amperage. And parallel doubles the voltage of the battery. Will P. has many YouTube videos describing this process. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong in the differences between series and parallel.

For my 12 volt inverter charger system I will be using two 12-volt Battleborn batteries in (series). Battleborn is located in Reno Nevada. If cost is an issue for you could do as Will Prowse indicates and make your own battery with a BMS = Battery Management System.
Click to expand...
You've got it backwards. Wiring in series adds voltage but keeps amperage the same. Parallel keeps voltage the same but adds the amperage.
 
That vendor knows what hes talking about, I know him personally. I have not linked to his units lately because he has been out of stock. He for sure did not mix up parallel/series connection.
 
Well preacher you did have series and parallel backwards but at least you tried and replied to my question ! I appreciate that no joke. The unit you have is the 800 watt unit for that price correct? I was going to get the 2400 watt unit. Can you tell me the name of the dealer in Utah or where I can purchase one without paying 120.00 for shipping?
I have purchased pretty much purchased everything Will has stated but now I want to return some of it since there is a All in one system. That includes the EPPVER 40 amp and wifi module and auto transfer switch. One dealer said the EPPEVER 4215 was discontinued but I don't know. Again thanks for the response to my question !

K7WMC said:
The eBay vendor I purchased from which was located in the USA in Utah included the shipping in the price so it was free shipping. I paid $339. I just mounted mine. In the closet of my Transit van RV. if it's a 12-volt inverter like mine is it will operate with one battery. However it is recommended to have two batteries providing me with a 200 Ah. I've changed my mind and went from flex panels to glass panels for longevity on the van roof. I will not be screwing them down. But will be using the 3M VHB tape method to secure the solar panels. I know many people that use this method and there has been no failures yet, as long as you follow the recommended procedures for installation.

If you have a 24 or 48 volt inverter system. You can purchase 24 or 48 volt batteries. Or you can also purchase two 12 volt batteries and connect them in (parallel) to create a 24 volt battery, or purchase 24 volt batteries and put them in (parallel) to make a 48 volt battery for a 48 volt inverter.

I believe that's the difference between series and parallel. Series keeps the battery voltage the same but increases the amperage. And parallel doubles the voltage of the battery. Will P. has many YouTube videos describing this process. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong in the differences between series and parallel.

For my 12 volt inverter charger system I will be using two 12-volt Battleborn batteries in (series). Battleborn is located in Reno Nevada. If cost is an issue for you could do as Will Prowse indicates and make your own battery with a BMS = Battery Management System.
Click to expand...
 
Building my own battery will be a challenge since I don't fully understand it yet. I really have no need for Solar to be honest my power practically never goes out and my RV always has full hookups at campgrounds. I am just trying to have some fun with it. I retired at 50 and now at 56 I stayed bored.
I was looking at the 18650 or whatever those batteries are called to build a battery. Using 135 VMAX AGM for now.
 
Maximum solar on Ebay sells the 12v pip for 265 + 80 for shipping. Seemed reasonable to me.
 
Will Prowse said:
That vendor knows what hes talking about, I know him personally. I have not linked to his units lately because he has been out of stock. He for sure did not mix up parallel/series connection.
Click to expand...
Will who is the vendor in Utah that you like?
Do you have a video on using what I think are called 18650 batteries and putting them together to make 1 Lithium battery. I am just using a VMAX 135 to play with right now. If I wanted to buy some batteries like in your video's like Valencia or another used battery where do I get them from a trusted source? You did rely to me once and said Nissan Leaf batteries were not a good choice. When you know little it is easy to be taken advantage of by someone.
Also, one vendor said your EPPEVER 4215 has been discontinued is this true?
 
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