diy solar

diy solar

Search results

  1. F

    Turbo-AC-coupling - will this work???

    I’m trying to plan for an off-grid system that offers the freedom to move my 3.5kW grid-tied system off-grid (if ever needed). I’m looking at the Conext SW 4048 which supports AC-coupled solar power connected to it’s output port but is limited to 45A or ~2.25kW of charge power. My 3.5kW...
  2. F

    Protecting 24V control signals?

    I’m using my 24V battery to supply the 24V control signals to drive a couple SSRs and looking for the easiest way to protect that wire. Since the currents are minuscule, I’m thinking I can just use a 1A or 2A inline-fuse like this...
  3. F

    Powering your house from a V2L-capable EV

    https://wattever.com.au/power-your-home-from-an-ev/
  4. F

    Any Growat SPF 3000TL LVM-24P Split-phase users?

    Two Growatt SPF 3000TL LVM-24P can be stacked into a 3+3=6kW split-phase off-grid solution powered by a 24V battery. I’m interested in whether we have any members stacking 2 SPF 3000TL LVM-24P inverters for split-phase power and would appreciate any views as to whether it’s a reliable...
  5. F

    Heltec 350A relay BMS (48V / 16S)

    I built two 24V / 8S LiFePO4 batteries with Heltec BMSes and have been happy with them. I’m now planning my first 16S / 48V LiFePO4 battery and perusing Heltec’s BMS offerings, I see they now offer a 350A relay-based BMS...
  6. F

    How do hybrid inverters resync to grid?

    Excuse the newbie-to-hybrids question, but I’m hoping someone knows the answer: Following a power outage when the UPS capability of the hybrid has taken over supplying 120V/240V split-phase power out the AC input and now grid power returns, what physically/electrically happens as the output of...
  7. F

    New Y&H split-phase 10kW hybrid inverter

    This just popped up on Amazon...
  8. F

    Which is best for off-grid: LF versus 2xHF vs single-phase HF + AT ???

    For pure off-grid use (no connection to grid), I’m evaluating the different inverter architectures I am seeing and interested in any insights as to pros and cons of each and reasons to prefer one architecture over another: LF: Conext SW is a good example of this architecture 2xHF...
  9. F

    Off-grid inverter-chargers with full isolation between AC input and AC output?

    I’m looking for an off-grid inverter-charger that fully isolates AC input from AC output. Whether there are any transfer switches or not, AC input should only be wired to AC battery charger and not connected to inverter output or AC output. Are there any off-grid inverter-chargers delivering...
  10. F

    High Voltage DIY LiFePO4

    OK, so now that these high-voltage BMS kits have started showing up...
  11. F

    Solis RHI-S6-EH1P-K-H-US HV Hybrid Inverter

    Most members here are using 48VDC batteries with their hybrid inverters (if not 24VDC or even 12VDC) but Solis just announced a new fully-integrated (no separate Autotransformer) split-phase 240/120VAC hybrid/storage inverter for the US market...
  12. F

    Charging 300-350VDC battery?

    I’m trying to help out my brother who is interested to capture solar energy into a 350VDC battery to power his well pump overnight. He’s found several OTS batteries in the 300-350VDC range but is striking out on finding any solar charge controllers that charge within that voltage range. I’ve...
  13. F

    Victron ESS Mode 2/3 through MK3?

    For any of you advanced Victron users out there, I’m trying to understand my options to control a Multiplus II on ESS modes 2 or 3 from my Modbus-RTU-based PLC. From this document: https://www.victronenergy.com/live/ess:ess_mode_2_and_3?do=export_pdf Dynamic control of Grid Power Setpoint -...
  14. F

    Cheap PWM SCCs?

    As I consider my equipment needs to charge a 24V LiFePO4 battery from a 1S string with Vmp of 30.2V, I’m coming to the conclusion that PWM will be better than MPPT (because more voltage margin). So I’m looking at the PWMs out there seeking models capable of LiFePO4 charging parameters. There...
  15. F

    DIY pseudo-PWM SCC using relay?

    (Spoiler alert - there is no PWM) I’m adding a small 750W DC-coupled ‘bonus’ array to my grid-tied array and want to use relays to switch off a grid-tied Microinverter in late morning when my large grid-tied array starts getting up close to peak output (due to export power limit). From ~noon...
  16. F

    DIY solar divert to EVSE

    I’m looking for ways to build a Solar Divert to EVSE, meaning I want to communicate to an EVSE what charge power to use and when to begin and end charging. There are several Smart Chargers out there offering this feature, such as the Emporia Smart Charger...
  17. F

    Current ratings for short length of 10AWG PV wire?

    Problem: I’ve got a Soladeck through-roof junction box with cable glands that accept wire OD of 7.4mm (0.2913”) maximum. I’m trying to feed a new 3P1S parallel string into that junction box which means I’ll need a short length of 10AWG PV wire running out of the junction box into a Staubli MC4...
  18. F

    Controlling Air Conditioner as Dump Load?

    I’m looking for ways to control a portable air conditioner as a dump load. More specifically, I have an Energy Meter that will be measuring when solar power export to grid is approaching my 3.5kW export limit and in that circumstance, I want to remotely turn on a portable A/C (which I have not...
  19. F

    Monitoring DC-coupled PV production with shunt?

    I’m looking for easy ways to monitor / measure DC-coupled production and realized that placing a shunt on the output path of an SCC (or multiple SCCs) should provide an easy solution. Interested in anyone who is already doing this? In particular, I’m considering building a PLC-based or...
  20. F

    48V EV battery chargers

    I just ran into these 48V EV chargers from Thunderstruck: https://www.thunderstruck-ev.com/tsm2500-charger-only.html I’m looking for ways to store my excess 240VAC-coupled solar power generated during the day into a 48VDC battery for use offsetting consumption overnight. This 48V charger has a...
  21. F

    Solark Microinverters

    Coming in 2023: https://www.sol-ark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/M1000-M2000_Brochure_V5.pdf These are rebadged versions of the Deye SUN1000G3-US-220: https://www.deyeinverter.com/product/microinverter-1/sun600-800-1000g3eu230-single-phase-4-mppt-microinverter-rapid-shutdown.html and...
  22. F

    AP Systems DS3 Microinverters

    Surprised to see there is no thread on these new Microinverters yet, so figured I’d start one: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aY1RyvDp9Az-jay6xCTGtmUTaDDJ2IZv/preview A dual-MPPT Microinverter with 880VA of output for only $200 has got to be the most competitive offering in today’s...
  23. F

    Calculating Watts AC?

    I’m embarassed to have such a newbie question, but I’m attempting to validate results being reported by my Microinverter gateway and would appreciate clarification on a detail that still leaves me confused: Is Watts AC calculated as Volts AC x Amos AC or is there some correction factor such as...
  24. F

    Hybrid inverters supporting Zero Export to External CT on AC input

    I’ve been searching for / waiting for a 24V hybrid inverter with capability to offset loads on the AC input (grid side) using external CT sensors. This is intended primarily for grid-tied customers with existing AC-coupled solar who are primarily interested in adding a hybrid inverter and a...
  25. F

    Wire size and fusing for 3P array

    I’m toying with the idea of combining 2 or 3 panels before feeding into a high-capacity Microinverter and have some newbie questions about wire size and fusing. I know that 3P generally requires a fuse on each incoming branch/panel while 2P does not and I just want to confirm the logic for that...
  26. F

    Switching solar panel strings between inverters/SCCs

    I’ve got a 1S3P 1kW DC-coupled array that I am thinking about using for grid export until a power threshold is reached and then switching one panel at a time away from the Microinverter over to an SCC. One of my 380W panels has an Isc of 11.5A, so a bit beyond what can easily and cheaply be...
  27. F

    Simple AC-coupled solar production monitor /meter to control dump load / relay

    I’m not sure my question is ‘advanced’ enough for this Forum but here goes: I’m looking for a simple way to monitor my AC-coupled solar power production in kW to drive a dump load when it gets close to my 3.5kW export limit. This is east to do with a current-controlled switch but I’m getting...
  28. F

    Any downside to bifacial panels?

    I got a dark roof that is not going to reflect and like back up to the bottom d a bifacial panel, but because the cost of bifacial panels is better than monofacial panel, I’m considering using them and want to make sure there is not some downside I’m overlooking. For example, does the lack of...
  29. F

    High Voltage powerwalls?

    I don’t what to get hung up on the definition of ‘powerwall’ versus ‘battery’ but I’m interested to understand whether there are any budget high-voltage batteries out there that are a good value. By High Voltage I’m taking about ~400V with absolute minimum of 250V. A 10kW 400VDC battery from...
  30. F

    Resealed Jinko 460W panels?

    There are a large number of these ‘resealed’ Jinko 460W panels that are coming available for great prices. These were apparwntly ‘cracked’ and have been ‘resealed’ after being rejected as defective by the customer and sold as scrap. I’m just checking whether there is any experience with and...
  31. F

    V2H status?

    I ran a search for ‘V2H’ on the forum and everything I found was at least a year old if not two. So I figured this was as good of a place as any to start a new thread on the status of V2H. Specifically, while we’ve seen several new EVs announced including the Ford F150-Lightening and the...
  32. F

    Best budget solution to offset consumption?

    Most of the Hybrid inverter solutions are higher-powered, more expensive and more complex because see they are designed to supply backup power during a grid outage. I’m looking for the best UL-Approved budget All-in-one or All-in-few solution with a battery to minimize import and export only...
  33. F

    Eguana AC-coupled battery

    I searched the forum for ‘Eguana’ and got no hits, so here is a new thread in case anyone knows anything about this relative newcomer to the NA AC-coupled battery market: https://www.eguanatech.com/_resources/Installer_Resources/Evolve Hub/70008 Evolve Hub A Installation Manual.pdf?v=0.437 It...
  34. F

    Orison plug and play battery

    I just ran into this ‘plug and play’ battery being developed by Orison: https://orison.com/product/ I’ve seen some posts on the Forum about whether these batteries can be used to provide backup power or not, but that is not my focus (nor is the question of whether the Orison battery is...
  35. F

    Solid State Batteries

    This guy does a really good job showing how Lithium Ion batteries work and giving an overview of what is on the horizon with Solid State Batteries:
Back
Top