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Did he say “XH5 pin” or XH5-N? https://www.mouser.com/datasheet/2/307/en_xh5_n-1649228.pdf

I think net-metering has outlived it’s intended purpose of spurring on the industry. Solar has many economical use cases and no longer needs net-metering to achieve economies of scale and market penetration.

Expense is relative. They already have stamped or water jet panels so they already have much of the precision that’s needed. Just add a couple guide/centering pins and blind mate connectors.

EG4’s issue with their server batteries is that they aren’t using any of the advantages that come with the server form factor. It’s basically just stackable batteries that fit in a commonly sized box which takes up a fair amount of floor space. What they should have done is build in blind mate...

If you can figure out the data format from the context inverter, you could use a Arduino to record the data to an SD card.

They got more energy out for a split second than the laser energy that went into it. But that didn’t include the power that went into generating the laser energy, or the facility cooling systems, computing power, vacuum maintenance, etc. We’re still 100 years or more from fusion power.

Agree. Politicians are getting wise to the fact that net metering, while a way to expand the market, is at it’s core, a subsidy paid by the poor (who can’t afford solar) to the rich (who can afford solar). The only equitable option is to sell the power at the spot price or enter into long term...

Propane tanks have relief valves so once they get hot, they will start venting.

“Well, I don't think it's quite fair to condemn a whole program because of a single slip-up, sir.” -Buck Turgidson

Your B2B charger is probably working properly. The 60A limit is on the input. After boosting from 13.3v to 14.6v you would have a maximum current on the output of ~54A but that is only if your charger is 100% efficient. At 80% efficiency, your max theoretical output would be ~43A. Of course...

I don’t believe in using Romex in RVs. Too many vibrations for solid core wiring. I try to stick to tinned marine grade wiring. Plugs can vibrate loose but if you can prevent that, it should be safe.

You shouldn’t do really deep discharges on any battery (LiFePO4, AGM, etc…) and companies have always used the lowest recoverable battery voltage to market their battery capacity.

If you end up with double transfer switches, you would put the charger between the two ATS’s depicted here:

Add a switch to your ac charger. As is right now you will be using your inverter to charge your battery which will make for a nice heater but won’t do much for your batteries State of charge.

What regulations does it need to meet? ETA: I’m a Texas PE and while it doesn’t look like you’re in Texas unless it’s down in Big Bend, I might be able to give your design a quick sanity check.

You enter the battery capacity into the BMS and it counts amps in and out. The SCC doesn’t know the SOC unless it is tied to the BMS. It can however see the current drop as the battery starts to reach full charge.

Why not do a long format series of videos consulting on a real world off grid DIY project. Start with a site survey and use case video, then a sizing analysis video, followed by a basic schematic, product selection, detailed schematics, build/test…. Think HGTV or DIY network format style but...

They’re using 24v and 48v secondary alternators. ADV rarely gives away their model or branding info of their suppliers but I believe one of the Balmar alternators is shown in the video below.

I think of the plastic sheets as isolation sheets more than spacers. I don’t trust the blue shrink wrap to isolate the cases from each other.

The reason you would want to split your array is if you exceed the max power of your controller, or if your panel groups are operating at different voltages (different panels, different angles, different shading, etc). If those don’t apply, there probably isn’t much need to split your panels.

My understanding is it must be a residence. RVs count. If you can overnight on the boat, that should qualify as a second residence. As for batteries, if they charge 100% from solar, you can apply 100% of price. If 30% of charging is from alternator or shore power, then you can apply 70%, etc.

Depending on where in your system you connect to ground, you may permanently trip GFCI outlets.

I have multiple SBMSs and am using this inverter in my latest build. It’s an inverter only, not an inverter/charger so yes, it will work well with the SBMS.

Bumping this thread b/c AIMS has a 3000w 24v inverter with a remote switch that has a no-load power draw of only 0.45A. This is approaching Victron levels of efficiency. https://www.aimscorp.net/3000-Watt-Pure-Sine-Wave-24-Volt-Inverter.html

Proto Lab, Xometry, and Shapeways are a few options. I've used Shapeways for a couple personal projects before I purchased a 3d printer. My company uses Xometry and Proto Labs from time to time.

If you want to go the analog route, a voltage switch could be created using a voltage comparator with a 5v reference voltage and a voltage divider on the comparator input.

Prices have really dropped. 20 years ago my company bought a comparable thermal camera for one of our labs and it cost $20k back when a dollar was still worth something.

https://www.bluesea.com/products/2107/PowerBar_600A_BusBar_-_Eight_3_8in-16_Studs__

I don’t do cat videos but I had toe fungus once. Even after killing the fungus it took almost a year for my nail to grow out to where it was no longer visible. Really makes you think. :p

I meant the HPR but didn’t know it’s name. I was just wondering if there was room for systems like that in California but on a much smaller scale that a DIYer could build for $50k or $100k that could return a decent ROI over the life of the system. But it sounds like it can’t be done with retail...

We found our scapegoat! Now the only remaining question is whether you weigh the same as a duck.

I was just shocked to see such a high peak rates and wondering about more than just payback times but actually turning a system into a profit center. I don’t know the laws in California and whether providers just provide credits or if they actually write checks to those feeding the grid. If it...

I didn’t realize California power rates were so high. I’m paying $0.11 with no peak hours. Have you run the numbers on building a big battery and charging it during off peak hours and feeding it back during peak hours? With that kind of spread you might be looking at a significant ROI.

Sorry about the misquote. I corrected it. I should have started with the original post.

Dacian believes that solar panels are so cheap that MPPT no longer makes economic sense for off grid applications. He’s drawn lots of fire for that which is odd to me because every BMS he has ever made has been compatible with MPPT charge controllers. This does come with some design constraints...