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  1. W

    Relay advice for switching off 12v loads when AC loads are disabled by inverter

    I'm a bit over my head now, but I'm not sure that I can use the dry contact signal to power a relay for my use-case. The way it is programmed, the NC will open in the case of low battery, but then it closes again when the inverter is completely off. I would need it to open for low battery, and...
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    Relay advice for switching off 12v loads when AC loads are disabled by inverter

    oh lookey here: not only do I have a spare usb but it appears I have a relay already... (for auto-genstart perhaps?)
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    Relay advice for switching off 12v loads when AC loads are disabled by inverter

    \ Mine has a usb (ethernet looking style) which I already use for the wifi module. Perhaps I could find a splitter and just use this... I suppose I could put a simple switch which bypasses the relay for backup 12V.
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    Relay advice for switching off 12v loads when AC loads are disabled by inverter

    The victron unit looks like the best option but for two downsides: 1. cost 2. the maximum disconnect voltage is 48V. I would need to be able to set it a bit higher...especially since my inverter wont accept my generator to charge batteries if they are below 48V I also dont need all the...
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    Relay advice for switching off 12v loads when AC loads are disabled by inverter

    so i could use one of these and cut the plug and wire it into the relay for switching? https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-100V-240V-Charger-Recorder-Bluetooth/dp/B08C4MVLZ1/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2MXDNVM82V1DS&keywords=wall+wart+5v&qid=1671473400&sprefix=wall+wart+5%2Caps%2C240&sr=8-4
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    Relay advice for switching off 12v loads when AC loads are disabled by inverter

    interesting, although I don't conveniently have an outlet near my inverter and no free breakers to add one either. I looked for solid state relays with an AC control and a DC output, but couldnt find any. Wonder why that is? Every other combination I could find; AC/AC, DC/AC & DC/DC , but no...
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    Relay advice for switching off 12v loads when AC loads are disabled by inverter

    So my inverter has a low voltage disconnect which cuts power to the AC output when battery voltage reaches a setpoint (in my case I have it set to 48.5V). But my DC/DC converter which I use to power my 12V loads has no such disconnect. I want to turn off my 12V loads at the same time as my...
  8. W

    Solar Panel Ripped off roof of RV; How to replace with similar panel?

    I'm pretty sure it was a low or medium speed incident where they hit a branch and it just lifted the panel and popped a bunch of rivets off. Had it been screwed down everywhere, yes maybe the branch breaks first, or maybe the panel comes off anyways and then I'm left with a bunch of holes in the...
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    Solar Panel Ripped off roof of RV; How to replace with similar panel?

    I found one locally that has very similar specs, so I think it should work: https://www.solar-electric.com/canadian-solar-cs3k-310ms-monocrystalline-310-watt-solar-panel.html
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    Solar Panel Ripped off roof of RV; How to replace with similar panel?

    Actually I found what appears to be an identical panel with different branding: https://www.solar-electric.com/mission-solar-mse300sq5t-mono-perc-solar-panel.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhLKUBhDiARIsAMaTLnFAtCtRX5J8IEjVBkAlWlGDkXgQcjIiB-3tJ0sCATOD5Nz1_BIR8FkaAsVcEALw_wcB However I cant seem to find one...
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    Solar Panel Ripped off roof of RV; How to replace with similar panel?

    I'd rather not replace any more than just the one... they are custom mounted by me and it was some damn hard work fitting them all in to limited roof space. Panels riveted to aluminum angle that is then double-sided eternabonded to roof, with a few screws on the leading edge for good measure.
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    Solar Panel Ripped off roof of RV; How to replace with similar panel?

    I had a renter hit somethings with my RV and ripped off one of my panels. If they even noticed, they didn't tell me, and I didn't notice myself until a while later when confused why my solar output was so low... Anyways I need to replace the panel but I can't find an exact replacement: ...
  13. W

    16s w/ bluetooth suggestions

    oh, i am mistaken. it is the battery with the lcd screen that is lower on the top and the bottom, which completely makes sense. So maybe all i need to do is remove the screen & top-balance again and they might stay together now. I am guessing the breaker is just wired into either the positive...
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    16s w/ bluetooth suggestions

    Hmm I just had a small epiphany though. I had to get one of them warrantied and they sent me the upgraded model, same battery but in an enclosure with a LCD voltage display and a circuit breaker. Which could be enough of a draw to cause a drift...
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    16s w/ bluetooth suggestions

    They are in series, so the main negative is on the negative of the one that fluctuates more and the main positive on the positive of the other one.
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    16s w/ bluetooth suggestions

    I think even gaining Bluetooth monitoring functionality would be worth the hassle of a new bms. Just because the cells are used and I'd like to see what they're doing individually too
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    16s w/ bluetooth suggestions

    What i mean is the two batteries don't stay in balance with each other. Even after connecting them in parallel and top-balancing the two together, they drift apart. One of the batteries goes higher on the top end of charging as well as lower on the bottom end of discharging. edit: no, one of...
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    16s w/ bluetooth suggestions

    I have two 24V a124 batteries from bigbattery in series in my RV. They are these ones: Each has its own 8s BMS. non-descript, from china. Maybe because they are used cells and different, I can't seem to keep the two batteries in balance. I couldn't find a battery equalizer for 24V, but I had...
  19. W

    12v for RV: DC-DC converter or AC-DC converter

    Oh I see. I pretty much never use my generator
  20. W

    12v for RV: DC-DC converter or AC-DC converter

    oh cool. I hadn't thought of this before. I've never used a relay so I've got some research to do, but this sounds even cheaper than the victron battery protect and would essentially do the same thing.
  21. W

    12v for RV: DC-DC converter or AC-DC converter

    not sure I understand this. what would this do?
  22. W

    12v for RV: DC-DC converter or AC-DC converter

    yes automatic transfer switch in inverter. So thats another possible solution would be some sort of auto-start for the generator. although I'm not always in places where I can run the generator, and most times Id rather just have loads turn off at a programmable SOC, as my AC loads do. The LVD...
  23. W

    I'm looking for a battery balancer for 2x 24V lifepo4, 48V system.

    ok since no one replied I'm going to assume they don't exist, which is kind of what I figured. however the other solution I thought of would be to get a 16S BMS and treat my two batteries like one.
  24. W

    12v for RV: DC-DC converter or AC-DC converter

    thanks all for the suggestions so far. this is my buck converter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ML5ZML2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 this is my inverter: https://watts247.com/product/pip-3048lv-mk/ my battery is only 5Kw, I am considering doubling to 10KW. Even so, in...
  25. W

    12v for RV: DC-DC converter or AC-DC converter

    So when I designed my system I actually removed the converter that came with the RV and went with a 48V>12V step-down converter. This works fine but there are a few issues. One is that because the converter is upstream of the inverter, it is not in communication with the LVD of the inverter. In...
  26. W

    48V/100AH EG4-LL 5.12KWH VS 48V/103Ah Husky 5.3kWh

    I have also looked at these two, and while I think I'm leaning towards DIY, I would probably pick the Eg4's between the two. Main reason being my personal experience with sub-par assembly quality on the bigbattery batteries that Ive had.
  27. W

    I'm looking for a battery balancer for 2x 24V lifepo4, 48V system.

    My two bigbattery 24V batteries are terribly out of balance. Its not a question of just putting them in parallel every once in a while, because the same battery goes higher V on the top and lower V on the bottom. (currently about 1.5V at the top, and 3V difference at the bottom, with...
  28. W

    Inverter not outputting this morning even with generator input (mpp solar 3048 lv-mk)

    edit: after solar brought it above 50V i turned inverter off/on again and it did start outputting at this point. I do have a separate issue though, sometimes when this inverter turns off it likes to reset to a 50hz output and i have to go and change it back to 60hz. what is that about??
  29. W

    Inverter not outputting this morning even with generator input (mpp solar 3048 lv-mk)

    So I ran my batteries down to the LVD last night in my RV and just went the night without power, no big deal. This morning, not wanting to wait several hours for solar to kick on the system, I turn the generator on. Inverter sees the input, 124V, 62HZ, but its still not charging or outputting...
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    Adding parallel battery to existing bank to increase overall system reliability?

    also speaking of this, I just learned about Victron's battery balancer, but I guess there is only a 12V version. The other solution I thought of was to remove the BMS' from my two packs, and add a 16S BMS, in effect joining my two 24V's into a 48V, single BMS battery.
  31. W

    Adding parallel battery to existing bank to increase overall system reliability?

    yes, i was definitely going to avoid the 2x 24V situation and just slap a 48V bigbattery/gyll or DIY in parallel. I've had enough of series connections to want to add anymore...
  32. W

    Adding parallel battery to existing bank to increase overall system reliability?

    My current system is 2x 24V 100Ah lifepo4 in series for 48V 100Ah. I have had numerous BMS issues and balancing issues that hopefully are mostly resolved. When considering adding capacity I had been under the impression that I was going to need to buy the exact same batteries, but I guess thats...
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