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  1. K

    Solar panel too small for charging?

    Not to be anal, but the proper term is PWM (Pulse Width Modulated). I am by no means an expert or very experienced, but one thing I remember from a lot of reading on this forum is: FIRST - connect your batteries to the charge controller. SECOND - connect your PV array to the charge controller...
  2. K

    Double Wire - Double Fuse?

    Thanks, Solar Peeps! God Bless! Kugel
  3. K

    Double Wire - Double Fuse?

    Anyone have any 4AWG welding cable for a good price? :) Be safe and God Bless! Kugel
  4. K

    Double Wire - Double Fuse?

    Thanks all for the input. Stationary application: - Giandel 2000W inverter will be powered by 2s6p 24v-96Ah LFPO battery bank (BB). - Each 2s 24v pair has a 1C of 16A ==> 6 x 16 = 96. Goal is to not exceed this as a discharge rate. - Batt Mfg (Miady) says Max Discharge rate is 40A. But I want...
  5. K

    Double Wire - Double Fuse?

    Want to double up on 8AWG wire to carry 24v-100A to inverter. These are essentially two parallel conductors. Assuming I want 100A total fusing, can I use a 50A Maxi Fuse in each 8AWG wire? Each 8AWG wire will be same length and same connector on each end. My gut tells me the answer to this...
  6. K

    Thinking about getting a 24V PWM Charge Controller...

    HA!! Just realized why this is not a good idea! With my system designed for MPPT (6 x 250w, 3s2p), my wires from panels to MPPT are sized for 17amps @ 91v. This allows me to use 10Awg for the distance I have without too much Voltage drop ~ 1.8%. If I go with 24v PWM, I will have to rewire...
  7. K

    Thinking about getting a 24V PWM Charge Controller...

    Thinking about getting a 24V 60Amp PWM Charge Controller as a backup to my MPPT controller. My Battery Bank is 24v-96ah LiFePO4, 2s6p. Battery mfg recommends 14.4v-14.8v charge voltage with 10A charge current per 12v battery ==> 28.8v-29.6v charge voltage with 10amp charge current per 2s-24v...
  8. K

    Wire Question for 24VDC

    Thanks Snoobler!
  9. K

    Wire Question for 24VDC

    When reading about wire for 12V, 24V, and 48V DC circuits, I almost always see folks using "Battery Cable" or "Welding Lead Cable". I know that these cables are very flexible and can carry a lot of amps for their size. However, I have several spools of 10AWG - 19 Strand THHN (PVC inner...
  10. K

    Battery/Panel Specs and Selecting MPPT Charge Controller

    When you say Improve the C rate, I assume you mean lower it. 24v-96Ah = 6 pairs of batteries ==> 1800W/24 = 75A. 75A/6 = 12.5A/pair. Which is also 12.5A/battery. If I use all 16 batteries: 24v-128Ah ==> 8 pairs ==> 1800W/24 = 75A. 75A/8 = 9.375A/pair. That is below the recommended 10A...
  11. K

    Battery/Panel Specs and Selecting MPPT Charge Controller

    Fair question, gnubie. $/Ah for LiFePO4 was the reason. I really wanted to build my system with lifepo4 batteries for increased longevity over lead acid batteries (Sealed, AGM, etc.). I bought 16 of these for $50 each, which will allow me to make up my two systems: one at 24v-96Ah and the...
  12. K

    Battery/Panel Specs and Selecting MPPT Charge Controller

    Thanks gnubie! Ha! I forgot to attach the battery and panel spec sheet. Please see attached. Also, do you have any particular brand of controller that you would recommend. I would prefer one that either has a view screen, or is capable of adding a remote view screen. I am not a fan of the...
  13. K

    Battery/Panel Specs and Selecting MPPT Charge Controller

    I now have a 24V x 96Ah Battery Bank: 12 x 12V x 16Ah LiFePO4 batteries wired in a 2S6P configuration. Also, for this battery bank, I have 6 x 250W Panels: Vmp = 30.3V, Voc = 37.6V and Imp = 8.27A, Isc = 8.85A. My plan is to wire them 3S3P for 90V x 16.5A nominal to the charge controller...
  14. K

    Looking into purchasing one of these systems...

    Thanks JoeHam! I do have a plan. I going to build two systems. The applications are physically about 100 yds apart, hence the plan for two smaller systems. My region and physical location will give a yearly average of 5.51 solar hours per day, with a low monthly average 4.92/day and high...
  15. K

    Looking into purchasing one of these systems...

    I have changed my plans, yet again! :) Now I am looking at getting two of these systems. Seems like a good package price. Any suggestions? Also, I have already purchased 16 of these Miady LiFePO4, 12-16Ah batteries. As of right now, I plan to split them up into a 24V-96Ah battery back and...
  16. K

    how to disconnect battery

    Thank you! Best Regards and God Bless! Kugel
  17. K

    how to disconnect battery

    OK. Because...? Are they inefficient? Get hot? Won't handle the amperage? 30 amps is 30 amps, for the most part, whether it is DC or AC. I'm referring to using them as a disconnect, not as an overload breaker. I want to understand, because this adds to my knowledge base, and helps to...
  18. K

    how to disconnect battery

    I think I read somewhere on this forum about using a double-pole 240vac breaker as a disconnect switch. Connect/disconnect both positive and negative at the same time. Will that work well for 24vdc? If so, I have a small panel and some spare breakers that I can use for building an "on/off switch...
  19. K

    how to modify a car alternator for 48v charging

    That sounds interesting. Like you said, the engine is running anyway. Also, those continuous duty marine alternators that I mentioned above do come in 12v versions with higher current - not exactly double, but close.
  20. K

    how to modify a car alternator for 48v charging

    Here's the 24v alternator that I plan to use for my portable charging system. https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-USA-BUILT-24V-100A-Alternator-for-Cummins-Marine-replaces-4078701-19011203-/302976236613?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10 And here are some specs for the Delco-Remy version...
  21. K

    how to modify a car alternator for 48v charging

    Delco-Remy 36si or 55si series 24v alternators. These are continuous duty marine-diesel alternators. Clones of the 100Amp 36si can be found for about $300. Then you can get a 24v to 48v booster. If I remember correctly, 3000rpm on the alternator would give you about 75Amps @ 28v.
  22. K

    Looking into purchasing one of these systems...

    One thing I did notice different about this mppt controller is that there are no "Load" terminals on it. Therefore, I assume all loads would be directly connected to the battery, yes? Thanks and God bless! Kugel
  23. K

    Looking into purchasing one of these systems...

    https://hqsolarpower.com/400-watt-12-24-volt-polycrystalline-solar-panel-kit-with-40a-12-24v-mppt-solar-charge-controller-20ft-12awg-panel-and-controller-connector-cables-z-brackets-lcd-display/ My plan is to get another mppt controller and make two 24V - 200W systems out of it. Each system...
  24. K

    Proposed Pump System Design/Schematic

    Will do! Thanks and God bless! Kugel
  25. K

    Proposed Pump System Design/Schematic

    Thanks! Actual pwr consumption is stated as 370W; so, that 500W solar suggestion seems to be for direct connection to solar array. With the intermittent use that I described, and the battery bank (16Ah-32Ah), I think I should be able to function well on 200W solar. Do you agree or am I missing...
  26. K

    Have Batteries and Solar Panels. What To Do for Inverter?

    Y'all probably already know this, but when you max out one phase of a split phase inverter or generator, you have maxed it out for any further 2 phase use. E.G. if you max out one phase of a 240 split phase, via a combo of 240 and 120, you can't add any more 240 to it, you can only add more 120...
  27. K

    Proposed Pump System Design/Schematic

    It looks like my pump. One correction. Specs work out to approximately 8.8 gpm and 92 psi and 2840 rpm.
  28. K

    Proposed Pump System Design/Schematic

    Pump is 24vdc - 16A max at 65 meter max head. Submersible deep well. 3.2 gpm, but no specs given as to what type of pump... Diaphragm, piston, centrifugal, turbine etc. Also just re-read the specs and it supposedly has a built-in mppt; therefore, I think I should wire it directly to the...
  29. K

    Proposed Pump System Design/Schematic

    Thanks. I don't have any specs on the PVC panel(s), yet. Any suggestions? I assumed that I will need something in the 28-32 volt range for proper charging. Thanks again and God bless! Kugel
  30. K

    Proposed Pump System Design/Schematic

    Did I do something wrong? Photo too big? Schematic not clear enough? Sure would appreciate some of you more experienced folks looking over this and giving me some direction/suggestions. Thanks and God Bless! Kugel
  31. K

    Proposed Pump System Design/Schematic

    Please see the attached Schematic-Photo. Should all be self explanatory. Questions: 1. What size should my MPPT be? 2. Can an MPPT be "Oversize" electrically, or is that just an excessive cost thing? 3. How to properly connect the 24V marine alternator/engine to the system? - Should I wire it...
  32. K

    Battery Basics Question

    Thanks Snoobler! I definitely understand Fs (Factor of Safety)! (y):) Many Thanks and God Bless! Kugel
  33. K

    Battery Basics Question

    Because of the differences in LiFePO4 and Deep Cycle AGM batteries, do I still need to double the capacity? I.E. Do I still need a 60Ah LiFePO4 battery "bank" for a 30Ah application? If not, the LiFePO4 Batteries are looking much more attractive, cost wise. Many Thanks and God Bless! Kugel

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