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  1. ImpatientMaker

    Need terms to google for my dream system (solar, battery, hybrid grid).

    I really appreciate all the responses! And I got what I wanted, which were terms and understanding to ask better questions. I especially appreciate @Hedges detailed questions and answers.
  2. ImpatientMaker

    Need terms to google for my dream system (solar, battery, hybrid grid).

    I appreciate that, and yeah, 50KW/day is a ton. I can live without AC (I can always go sit in my car or jump in the now colder pool) as long as I can power some fans. I have recently connected an Emporia Vue into my Home Assistant setup, and I intend to add hall sensors to the circuits in my...
  3. ImpatientMaker

    Need terms to google for my dream system (solar, battery, hybrid grid).

    Great info and questions! I think I'm ok spending up to $10k but less is better. I want to do as much DIY as possible, and my wife is supportive of that.. But as the name says, I'm, impatient, so I might buy one of the batteries Will has evaluated. I do have a pool and I also have AC. I...
  4. ImpatientMaker

    Need terms to google for my dream system (solar, battery, hybrid grid).

    Thanks. I'm slowly learning what the relevant components I need are.
  5. ImpatientMaker

    Need terms to google for my dream system (solar, battery, hybrid grid).

    Between 1000 and 1500 KWh per month I own the house and I can put panels on. I already have pool heater panels (water is pumped through them) from the 80's that take up a lot of roof space, not sure if those would stay. It's a 5 bedroom house, not sure of the exact size of the AC. I do have...
  6. ImpatientMaker

    Need terms to google for my dream system (solar, battery, hybrid grid).

    I've been lurking for a couple years here on and off, built my own solar generator two years ago with the knowledge gained and have used it several times to power my fridge. Now I think I'm ready to design a whole-house DIY system with battery backup. But I'm still learning how hard it is to...
  7. ImpatientMaker

    Making use of cordless power tool batteries (e.g. 18v)

    That's why I figured I'd jam them into the solar charge controller since it takes whatever the panel throws at it I guess I should mention I already have a 12V system that I built (scc, inverter, 100w panel, etc)
  8. ImpatientMaker

    Making use of cordless power tool batteries (e.g. 18v)

    Perhaps (and thanks for your reply), but they're good enough to power the tools, and I was thinking at the very least I could connect them to my MPPT SCC and give the system a bit more juice.
  9. ImpatientMaker

    Making use of cordless power tool batteries (e.g. 18v)

    I have a handful of Ryobi 18v batteries for various cordless power tools, and I saw this item on Tindie, which made me think I could power an inverter with these with the right circuitry. Anyone played around with this? I'm not enough of a sparky to figure it out myself.
  10. ImpatientMaker

    Finished my Solar Generator

    So far just having the one panel has kept the generator fully charged, about which I'm pleased. It's only in the sun about 1/2 the day too.
  11. ImpatientMaker

    Finished my Solar Generator

    I just bought a 200A fuse, which I know is under-rated, but at the time I was planning to get a 2000w inverter. I found while shopping around that for this brand, 3000w was not much more expensive. I don't need that much so I just left everything else as is.
  12. ImpatientMaker

    Finished my Solar Generator

    I actually didn't get that at first! Been a long day.
  13. ImpatientMaker

    Finished my Solar Generator

    I originally was going to buy a cheap "generator" on Amazon, and in the course of doing my homework, I stumbled on Will's You-tube channel and it all kinda snowballed. This design, in addition to trying to be low-cost (relatively) just needs to be able to go around the exterior of my house...
  14. ImpatientMaker

    Finished my Solar Generator

    Primarily it was to be a learning experience. Primary rationalization was to have backup power for my fridge's and freezers during power outages. I didn't lose power during the much publicized outages in California, but I have lost it several times this year after a vehicle crashes into a...
  15. ImpatientMaker

    Finished my Solar Generator

    Thanks for the kind remarks and info! Here are some answers to your questions: The double battery wires were included with the inverter. I plan to replace them with something better, as per Will's (and your) recommendation. But for now they work fine. I only have the one fuse at this...
  16. ImpatientMaker

    Finished my Solar Generator

    Well, nothing is really ever finished. I still want to automate it with a Raspberry Pi, etc., but for now, it's in production.
  17. ImpatientMaker

    Progress on my Solar Generator

    Here are the latest progress pictures. I installed the new SCC (20A) and so far so good. Astute viewers will notice that the red/black wires on the PV connection look backwards. That's because I used this connector, which was assembled completely dain-bramaged (as some reviews had noted)...
  18. ImpatientMaker

    Progress on my Solar Generator

    All I had time for this weekend was the backing board, but I'm really happy with how it turned out.
  19. ImpatientMaker

    Liquid Metal battries (Ambri)

    I initially joined this forum because I was trying to learn about batties (Lead Acid, LiFePo4, etc.) I just stumbled on this technology. This video is a 50 minute presentation at Stanford that I find riveting. The company started to further this research is Ambri.com.
  20. ImpatientMaker

    Progress on my Solar Generator

    I figured out. Seems obvious in hind-sight, but my 100A shunt worked, and the 300A was off by a factor of three....and then the penny dropped. There is a poorly documented max current setting, once I did that, it works fine.
  21. ImpatientMaker

    Progress on my Solar Generator

    Just rechecked. Voltage is pretty consistent with DVM. 12.78 vs 12.8. The inverter seems to be off by .1, but maybe that's due to its overhead. The power is off by a factor of 3 (approx). Not sure how to calibrate these things. I have another meter/shunt set (lower amps but that's fine for...
  22. ImpatientMaker

    Progress on my Solar Generator

    I don't have a picture with the shunt wiring - I was testing with alligator clips, etc. Watts are watts, no matter the voltage, so it shouldn't be off by so much. I'll have to test it again to double check. The reviews are good for this device. No PV at this time as the SCC is borked. I...
  23. ImpatientMaker

    Progress on my Solar Generator

    Well, the LED read-out that came with the shunt doesn't work so well. I had a hair dryer pulling over 1200W (according to my kill-o-watt) but the LED showed only 400W. I may just pitch it and build my own sensor for the shunt.
  24. ImpatientMaker

    Progress on my Solar Generator

    yes! That's the same video I linked above :-)
  25. ImpatientMaker

    Progress on my Solar Generator

    It's part of this device. I tested it tonight with alligator clips and so far so good.
  26. ImpatientMaker

    Progress on my Solar Generator

    I replaced the bolts on the shunt with longer ones that go through the board and a nut between the board and shunt (plus washers). I chose 5/16x2" since that was available at home depot. Everything else is metric of course so I get to use ALL my wrenches :-)
  27. ImpatientMaker

    Progress on my Solar Generator

    After trying various mobility options for the generator (mostly rolling tool boxes) I finally settled on a hand truck. Much easier to work on a flat board. I was inspired to do so by this video. What I've done with my design is to add in a shunt to allow measuring the current going to the...
  28. ImpatientMaker

    breaker or fuse?

    Thanks Gnubie! Really helpful. I'll use my 200A fuse for now and order a higher amperage one. TBH, reviews on cheaper breakers on Amazon confirm your assertion about junk - The exception seems to be Blue Sea products. I think I'll go with fuse and just a switch, like this one.
  29. ImpatientMaker

    breaker or fuse?

    I'm laying out the components of my portable solar generator. Currently I have a 200A fuse to go between battery and inverter. However, I'm considering buying a breaker instead, mostly so I have a convenient "off" switch. Also wondering how to figure out what size. I upgraded from a 2000w...
  30. ImpatientMaker

    Work in Progress - no solar yet, 24v 3000w Inverter and 400ah LiFePO4 with battery protect

    I think you can go to 100% DoD on LiFePo4 batteries. https://battlebornbatteries.com/depth-of-discharge-li-ion-deep-cycle-batteries/
  31. ImpatientMaker

    Good, affordable, quality batteries...

    I was just like SolarRat described. I was nearly ready to pull the trigger on some LiFePo4's but then I decided I have a lot to learn first and should cut my teeth on an AGM (certain kind of lead acid) battery first. I got this one and so far been very happy with it. I have not put much load...
  32. ImpatientMaker

    DIY Solar monitoring.

    I have an Epevar Tracer 30A scc and it came with the serial<>USB cable. I know there are Windows apps but I am tech masochist so I'm looking for a Linux (or other OSS) solution. I found this thread with a lot of info on a driver for Linux on the Raspberry Pi (so I assume it will work on other...
  33. ImpatientMaker

    Amusing wording in my inverter manual

    Not the usual warning about lead acid batteries...
  34. ImpatientMaker

    Differences in cheap 100w solar panels?

    Not sure how significant this is, but I received the Newpowa solar panel last night and just now put it out in the morning sun. I measured the voltage across the leads as 20+V. So at least it works :) With the just-announced additional power shutdowns I'm really glad I have these parts...
  35. ImpatientMaker

    Differences in cheap 100w solar panels?

    Thanks Eddie - I plan to go "crazy" after I've learned a bit more. My slogan as the ImpatientMaker is, "Learning the hard way, so you don't have to." Ultimately I want to build my own power-wall, etc. Thankfully my girlfriend is totally onboard. (Totes Yeet?)
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