diy solar

diy solar

From Belgium / Balcony limited

F

Fripi

New Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2022
Messages
16
Hi everyone, happy I found this forum!
So much to read, so much info, a little bit overwhelming but very interesting.

Just little background:
As many people in Europe I'm looking for backup plans, as my freelance job on a computer, I need electricity and blackouts are announced, also the bill becomes crazy high..

I've invested in a Ecoflow Delta Pro + 400w solar panel which stays on my balcony, I know here some are against it, some are pro... I keep my fingers crossed.
It was the easiest to "install", my system isn't connected to my main net, just to solar panel and to my computer, works great for now but I could need more than 400w with our weather.

Looking forward to learn from all your experience
 
Fripi, great initiative! I am one of yours. I have some questions;
- Why did you opted for a off-grid setup?
I ask because NL has a "net metering" (salderen) and probably BE too, then you can dump all energy into the grid and use it as a battery.
- 400W seems quite a lot for just a computer. You need more?
- You put panels in the balcony? Please share a photo! Happy to see how you made it. (I also have 200W on the balcony)
 
Fripi, welcome to the forum, I also have a limited area for solar panels (my pool patio). The most important thing to remember with limited space is always get the most efficient equipment you can afford. I now use Victron for my system. I do not know much about Ecoflow but the forum is a great place for information on most equipment.
 
What about "PV Windows"
Solarwindows.jpg
 
Hi Fripi, welcome to the forum.

Since you've already invested a decent amount into an off the shelf system, my question would be, are you looking into diy now?
 
Last edited:
Jordi said:
Fripi, great initiative! I am one of yours. I have some questions;
- Why did you opted for a off-grid setup?
I ask because NL has a "net metering" (salderen) and probably BE too, then you can dump all energy into the grid and use it as a battery.
- 400W seems quite a lot for just a computer. You need more?
- You put panels in the balcony? Please share a photo! Happy to see how you made it. (I also have 200W on the balcony)
Click to expand...
Hi, sorry for my slow reaction, difficult week o_O

So I'm not sure yet of how it works now in my building (from 1978) also I'm a little affraid of blackout as my job relies on having computers running. I also notice several people having problems with their Delta Pro once connected to the grid.

So now I just keep laptops and mobile phones charged with the Delta Pro and main computer directly connected also.

The computers can run as low as 180W but when rendering a video or 3D it can go way up to 650W, in a video game even 750W.

Nothing crazy, the angle isn't optimal but works pretty well, the delta pro goes off automatically in the evening and turns on as soon as sun hits the panel :

2022-10-07 17.31.04.jpg
 
Sky-HHI said:
Fripi, welcome to the forum, I also have a limited area for solar panels (my pool patio). The most important thing to remember with limited space is always get the most efficient equipment you can afford. I now use Victron for my system. I do not know much about Ecoflow but the forum is a great place for information on most equipment.
Click to expand...
Thank you,
well the Delta pro is kind of all in one solution, solar panels can be connected directly to it, it has a 3600 battery and all kind of output connections (ac, usb-A, usb-C...) but the difficulty is to find the right panel composition to get the max out of it as it's limited to 15A and 150V input.
 
Daxo said:
Hi Fripi, welcome to the forum.

Since you've already invested a decent amount into an off the shelf system, my question would be, are you looking into diy now?
Click to expand...
Hi, thanks, now I'm trying to learn more about electricity ? in my apartment (part of a huge buildig wit 156 apartments) DIY would be difficult as there are a lot of rules to respect, but who knows if one day I live in a house DIY makes a lot of sense. Now I needed kind of a quick solution and this step made me curious about other solutions, for the futur.
 
I dig it. After seeing the pic, this is really minor, but I'd fabricate some sort of little shade so that the junction box where the diodes are inside aren't getting hit directly by the sun.

Sounds nutty, but perhaps to limit the sun's uv exposure to the cables, maybe a little split-loom coverings over the cables. Heh, perhaps even a light wipe on the cables themselves with some automotive interior type uv protection spray.

You'll thank me in about a year. :)
 
Why not use 2x605Wp regular monocrystal panels in series, standing "landscape" on balcony? Angle 70deg (bottom offset 40cm away of the wall) will be optimal for winter time. For example, panel dimension is 246x113x3,5 cm for Jasolar JAM78S30-605MR. Be careful of balustrade shade. Sunray angle ( sun elevation over horizont) is now about 30deg.
 
Fripi said:
Hi, sorry for my slow reaction, difficult week o_O

So I'm not sure yet of how it works now in my building (from 1978) also I'm a little affraid of blackout as my job relies on having computers running. I also notice several people having problems with their Delta Pro once connected to the grid.

So now I just keep laptops and mobile phones charged with the Delta Pro and main computer directly connected also.

The computers can run as low as 180W but when rendering a video or 3D it can go way up to 650W, in a video game even 750W.

Nothing crazy, the angle isn't optimal but works pretty well, the delta pro goes off automatically in the evening and turns on as soon as sun hits the panel :
Click to expand...

Thanks for the update. For us to fully understand; you have some solar panels, then a Delta Pro to store the energy and then you use the Delta Pro in off-grid mode to charge your laptop batteries and feed the desktop computer. Is the Delta Pro the item under the panels wrapped in a bag? and then you bring a socket inside your home?

Sounds a bit nosy but I very much appreciate to learn from these ways of managing power at home :) specially when you mention the "defects" or problems of such a big battery unit.

Lastly, have you tried or considered to find a way to keep your panels slightly inclined on the wall? Like by putting pieces of Porexpan with an easy-to-removed two sided tape... A little tilt of these panels would increase output significantly. The hard work is already done by the nails on the wall and since they seem flexible panels, a little tilt won't hurt. In summer inclination can make a huge difference, so you have 6 months to prepare for that.
 
Substrate said:
I dig it. After seeing the pic, this is really minor, but I'd fabricate some sort of little shade so that the junction box where the diodes are inside aren't getting hit directly by the sun.

Sounds nutty, but perhaps to limit the sun's uv exposure to the cables, maybe a little split-loom coverings over the cables. Heh, perhaps even a light wipe on the cables themselves with some automotive interior type uv protection spray.

You'll thank me in about a year. :)
Click to expand...
I just installed the panel, the delta pro will go inside at the end, I just need longer cables and then I'll attach them in some closed cable management system agains the wall. Thanks for the advice !
 
eWelina said:
Why not use 2x605Wp regular monocrystal panels in series, standing "landscape" on balcony? Angle 70deg (bottom offset 40cm away of the wall) will be optimal for winter time. For example, panel dimension is 246x113x3,5 cm for Jasolar JAM78S30-605MR. Be careful of balustrade shade. Sunray angle ( sun elevation over horizont) is now about 30deg.
Click to expand...
Hi, thanks for the idea, but balustrade shade is indeed a big problem, that's why I'm looking at lightweight balustrade options, I read everywhere that they are not very good but options are very limited
 
Jordi said:
Thanks for the update. For us to fully understand; you have some solar panels, then a Delta Pro to store the energy and then you use the Delta Pro in off-grid mode to charge your laptop batteries and feed the desktop computer. Is the Delta Pro the item under the panels wrapped in a bag? and then you bring a socket inside your home?

Sounds a bit nosy but I very much appreciate to learn from these ways of managing power at home :) specially when you mention the "defects" or problems of such a big battery unit.

Lastly, have you tried or considered to find a way to keep your panels slightly inclined on the wall? Like by putting pieces of Porexpan with an easy-to-removed two sided tape... A little tilt of these panels would increase output significantly. The hard work is already done by the nails on the wall and since they seem flexible panels, a little tilt won't hurt. In summer inclination can make a huge difference, so you have 6 months to prepare for that.
Click to expand...
Yes the delta pro will go inside, but I just installed it a week ago, and for now it's not to cold nor to hot outside.

With actual weather it takes 3-4 days to fully charge the 3600W, reason why I'm looking into more panels.
just for laptops and mobile a fully charged battery keeps those running for days, but the big computer... that one will consume everything in 6-7 hours.

About the inclination that's the next step, but there's a lot of wind blowing at the 8th floor, so not sur foam will hold well, but I'll try
otherwise I'll use the lower fixations to put a wooden plank or aluminium sheet... work in progress

angle.jpg
 
Hi,

after over a month my only complain of the Ecoflow Delta Pro is the noise, those fans are horrible server fans, I would love to replace those with high static pressure Noctua 80x80 fans like those https://noctua.at/en/nf-a8-flx

BUT... opening the beast would void the warranty ?
Has anyone already done such an operation ?
 
How I wish they placed quality fans inside during production. Thanks for the link. I see these cost around $22.00 in the USA.
I did see a video where a guy replaced the fans on his unit. He didn't indicate what type of fans he used. Let us know if you change them.
 
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