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  1. Y

    Can you recommend a DTC?

    Several years ago, I converted off of my oil fired hydronic system. In doing so I had a bunch of leftover parts (hydronic coils, indirect water heater, etc.) I kept all of it hoping to do a solar thermal setup somewhere down the line and I finally picked up some cheap new/old stock flat plates...
  2. Y

    Wiring from SMA Sunny Boy to (2) SMA Sunny Islands to sub panel

    That's your SB and your SB only. If you're going to be doing a grid-tied installation with battery backup which is what your original post seemed to want to do then you should be sizing beyond just the SB. If you're using aluminum. Not with copper. No, I suggest you keep up to date with...
  3. Y

    Wiring from SMA Sunny Boy to (2) SMA Sunny Islands to sub panel

    This is a weird one. 50DP breaker in the house that feeds the sub right? 4 AWG AL or CU? Installation manual calls for 4 AWG copper. Stepping down to 8AWG would limit you to 50A and the SI's have a 56A pass through capability. You would need to configure it appropriately and install a...
  4. Y

    Connector Type of SMA Sunny Island

    Thanks for the confirmation. Just went and popped them all out. Screw driver goes up, slight pressure downwards and they slide right out.
  5. Y

    Connector Type of SMA Sunny Island

    I purchased a set of used Sunny Islands to compliment my existing ones. The AC1 and AC2 connectors are different than the screw type of my current ones. Does anyone know how to release the wires from these? The previous owner cut the wires instead of pulling them out proper. They seem like...
  6. Y

    Tesla Founder Series Powerwall 2

    New and unopened. Can be opened for pictures upon request. 320lbs 52" x 37.5" x 12" is the box dimensions. Freight shipping or local pickup only. Asking $6500.
  7. Y

    how to disconnect battery

    Just to clarify, it’s the usage of a Vac breaker that’s the problem. Using a Vdc breaker is fine. It’s exactly what commercial UPS system do: Just make sure you use a DC breaker, or one that handles both AC and DC like the one above and not just an AC one.
  8. Y

    FS: Blue Sea 1000A Bus Bar

    Brand new. Purchased 3. One for each positive, negative, and ground but ended up getting an enclosure that came with bus bars already. Asking for $125 shipped.
  9. Y

    Help needed - 48VDC system (Skoolie)

    Is there a reason why? Is it just efficiency? If so, I have a couple of thoughts but they won't be purely solar related. If efficiency is top of mind and you don't mind taking the time or spending the money to get a truly great functioning system, I think there's a couple of additional ideas...
  10. Y

    LifePO4 Standby/Backup

    - 10kW SMA SB w/ Sunny Island 48V - 27kW Solaredge w/ Sunny Island 48V - Both Grid Tied - DC/DC 48V Generator The system operates very much like a UPS, but it’s fully configurable. So I can cycle the batteries everyday if I wanted to, but it seems a waste to use cycles when the grid is...
  11. Y

    LifePO4 Standby/Backup

    I plan on using mine in a backup capacity, but a bit concerned about essentially storing them at a high state of charge. Keeping them at 40% SOC would seem to defeat some of the positives associated with a LifePO4 system. How is everyone handling this? Are you keeping them at a low SOC in...
  12. Y

    XUBA 280ah in 48v w/ "dumb" inverter/charger

    Not an expert, but here's my novice opinion. 1) Schneider uses their Xanbus for communication on the XW6048. If you don't trust your BMS, it seems they make a Conext Bridge to help it communicate...
  13. Y

    20kw to 50kw Hybrid Inverter

    Try PVWatts (https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/pvwatts.php) 50kWh/day = 1,550/month or 18,250kWh/year. Ghana gets on avg 5.12hrs of sun per day. There will need to be some system details but if you want to average 50kWh/day with a hybrid/net metering system you need a system that’s about 13kW-15kW...
  14. Y

    280AH LiFePO4 too much in Small Package?

    So...don’t buy now and wait for the price to be slashed in half?
  15. Y

    280AH LiFePO4 too much in Small Package?

    So...buy them now before the price doubles?
  16. Y

    300amps a cheaper way?

    I'm having a similar problem but at a higher voltage. What you're proposing is a a parallel string topology (first connecting in series to make 12v, then in parallel to up the amps). As some have said, a DC/DC converter could work. But then you're going to lose efficiency through the...
  17. Y

    280AH LiFePO4 too much in Small Package?

    In a much bigger form factor though. So I think he may be referring to density. A Calb cell is 449mm x 71mm x 275mm. A LFP280 is 173 x 71mm x 200mm. That's 3.5x more volume for only 79% more energy. 2 LFP280 cells in parallel would be smaller and offer more Ah than a single 500Ah Calb. Or...
  18. Y

    48v DC Generator to 48v Battery Bank

    Those are all very good points, and I haven't been able to find any more information as to if there's an on-board charge controller or not but there is an onboard BMS with HVC and LVC. Contact with SMA has confirmed that the SI will do very little with a DC charger and won't control it the same...
  19. Y

    FS: MidNite Solar MNBE-D Enclosure

    Yes, it’s a Type 1 enclosure. Same one here: https://www.midnitesolar.com/productPhoto.php?product_ID=171&productCatName=BATTERY%20ENCLOSURES&productCat_ID=12&sortOrder=7&act=pl I’m in NJ, I can break it down to ship - it came in two boxes. Just need a day or so to get it taken apart and boxed up.
  20. Y

    FS: MidNite Solar MNBE-D Enclosure

    Purchased in 2014, used for 6 years where it stored (4) 12V AGM Class 31 Batteries. Enclosure stayed indoors inside a basement and is in good condition. This is the 2 shelf version. Upgrade to 3rd shelf can be added but does not come with this. Prefer local pickup and can leave it assembled if...
  21. Y

    Parallel String vs Parallel Cell

    I take that back. It just clicked for me (maybe) In one of the videos he talks about parallel equalization upon battery startup. If I take that concept forward then connecting multiple cells together for a “supercell“ could theoretically allow that to equalize to form the single cell and within...
  22. Y

    Parallel String vs Parallel Cell

    Just to clarify, I’m talking specifically in regards to batteries. One could do a 4P16S and get 51.2V@400Ah in a parallel string or a 16S4P to get the same 51.2V@400Ah. So in the flow terms both would technically be the same, but there’s often a preference of one over the other. I watched a...
  23. Y

    Parallel String vs Parallel Cell

    Hi, I'm new to batteries and battery building and trying to read up and learn as much as I can so I can build my own LifePo4. One of the things I came across as a big no-no seems to be a parallel string configuration. But I'm trying to understand the difference between a parallel cell...
  24. Y

    48v DC Generator to 48v Battery Bank

    The web access allows a max amperage setting on the controller. The DC/DC converter has that setting as well so I can set that. What I still don't understand though is how it would carry it out. Because the load panel supplies power to both the loads/batteries as well as the batteries on...
  25. Y

    48v DC Generator to 48v Battery Bank

    I don’t see anything about a remote current sensor, only a voltage sensor. So is it possible the generator doesn't care about the current and only switches it based on the voltage? One more question. Is it possible that my understanding of how batteries charge is incorrect? I've been...
  26. Y

    48v DC Generator to 48v Battery Bank

    So when I saw the Alltrax DC Motor Controller onboard, I assumed it would control it. Is that not the case? I'm thinking there has to be something that limits, because it has a 48V/100Ah capability onboard. So it needs to have the ability to limit that charging with either the controller...
  27. Y

    48v DC Generator to 48v Battery Bank

    Going to update this thread since the generator arrived today. It was a T-Mobile surplus and there quite frankly wasn't a whole lot of information on it, but it all turned out well so far. So maybe this will help someone else some day. It was a brand new/old unit from 2015. It was a unit...
  28. Y

    Is this the Biggest LiFePO4 Battery Bank you've seen?

    You know, I sat here thinking. I don't get why they call it a comb. Why didn't they just call it an E or IEEI design? Then it hit me.....hair comb. I was thinking honeycomb.
  29. Y

    Is this the Biggest LiFePO4 Battery Bank you've seen?

    I'm new to battery design and a visual learner. So like this?
  30. Y

    Seeking system design advice

    For input, yea it's Max 56A. Output is Max continuous at 41.7A. About 6-7A lower than the 6048. When the sun is shining there's no issue, it's all being consumed directly from the panel. When the sun is gone, it's a different story as it pulls from the bank and limited by the inverter max. I...
  31. Y

    Is this the Biggest LiFePO4 Battery Bank you've seen?

    What's the comb design? I can't picture it.
  32. Y

    Seeking system design advice

    I have a 4548 & 6058 on one panel - limitated to essentially 40A/240V. Then a (4) 5048 on the other panel - limited to 84A/240V. I have them isolated to prevent issues - essentially a custom "cluster" since theirs can only be done in a 3Ph. What I'd like to do is combine them. Then I'd be...
  33. Y

    Seeking system design advice

    When you says 2S2P, do you mean a double split phase configuration? Going through the manual it allows that, which is what my 5048's are setup for. But I have a message out to SMA right now to try to understand further and what may happen or why it isn't recommended to mix and match or to go...
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