diy solar

diy solar

Search results

  1. A

    Your preference, DIY or rack?

    Linseed oil, I believe, provides a more natural look than varnish, and is less toxic. But yes I believe your premise is correct!
  2. A

    Mixing Lithium Batteries

    I've added an additional LiFePO4 battery to my existing system and have not had any problems. How are your current batteries paralleled? If you are using a bus bar to parallel your current batteries then simply charge the new battery to match the SOC of the older batteries and connect the new...
  3. A

    9k BTU Heat Pump Advice

    I don't believe I'm pushing the mini-split at all. It only heats/cools the main room in our house and has only remained at full power briefly on start-up. It's actually been a great substitution for the 12K window shaker it replaced. I've tracked its wattage over the previous summer and this...
  4. A

    9k BTU Heat Pump Advice

    Could you expand on this? I'm fully off-grid and depend on my inverter (Schneider SW4024), obviously. This summer I installed a 12K Pioneer 120 AC inverter model. What possible harm can I do to my inverter? What can I do to mitigate any harm?
  5. A

    Overkill BMS onboard shunt accurate?

    I haven't done an actual test, but anecdotal evidence comparing the soc between the Whizbang Jr. shunt and my Overkill BMS they are within one percent of each other. Normally, it is spot on. Anyways, the Overkill BMS doesn't track the soc via a shunt. I believe it's by coulomb counting.
  6. A

    Li Time 12V 100AH GRP24, Bluetooth 5.0

    Two batteries, in parallel, will tend to equalize in voltage but NOT state of charge. This is especially true with the inherently flat charge/discharge profile of LFP batteries.
  7. A

    Have we painted ourselves into a corner?

    I'm admittedly not familiar with the Pylontech batteries, however, that being said, generally any battery of corresponding chemistry (ex. LiFePO4 with LiFePO4) added to the system will work. They should be similar in amp-hour capacity, but that can be stretched somewhat. I have two separate...
  8. A

    We Live to Fight Another Day. May the odds be ever in your favor.

    I love this. My TOWMBO is currently soaking in a natural hot spring in 16-degree weather. For anyone that tough, obeisance is deserved!
  9. A

    Conext sw4024 - LifePO4 requirements ?

    Just caught this. Once series-connected, you've created a 24-volt battery and must set your charging parameters appropriately. 14.4 volts will not charge a 24-volt battery consisting of two 12-volt batteries series connected.
  10. A

    Conext sw4024 - LifePO4 requirements ?

    I have a Schneider SW 4024 inverter that has been charging my 510ah LiFePO4 battery bank for three years. You can set your preferred parameters by entering them via the Conext SCP in the Advanced Settings menu. I'd like to also second the previous recommendations to avoid the series-connected...
  11. A

    Quantity of batteries vs quantity of panels.

    Something about lead acid batteries is that as they age they charge/discharge differently. Adding more lead-acid batteries to an existing system introduces problems. They don't play well together. They won't charge well together and if lead acid batteries aren't fully charged, over time they...
  12. A

    I really dunno which one to buy and based off their websites .....who can tell?

    If you don't need active balancing the Overkill BMS is a rock-solid unit. I've had two of the JBD-based units for a couple of years. Can't beat the warranty. Overkill is US-based and quick to respond if needed.
  13. A

    My Experience With a 12k Minisplit Heat Pump in Negative Degree Weather

    OK - Took a bit to see that happen. I did catch it during a defrost and it was pulling ~1225 watts during the roughly 2-minute defrost. It ramped down from 950 watts during the heating cycle to ~215 watts for a few seconds and then the heating kicked in and it rapidly went up again around 1225...
  14. A

    Signature Solar ? Important Announcement ?️1/15/2024

    Yeah, you're right, but I wouldn't want their heat in the summer. Probably really humid then too. Bad combination!
  15. A

    Signature Solar ? Important Announcement ?️1/15/2024

    I agree!!! Just checked the weather in Sulfur Springs and it's a balmy 13 degrees and sunny. Here it's currently -11 with a predicted high of -6. Embrace the suck!
  16. A

    My Experience With a 12k Minisplit Heat Pump in Negative Degree Weather

    I'll try that as soon as my house batts are topped off. I'll hope and catch it during a defrost cycle but I haven't really had it long enough to reliably predict those.
  17. A

    My Experience With a 12k Minisplit Heat Pump in Negative Degree Weather

    You're understanding regarding power during extreme cold weather is correct. At the time it was pulling ~1300 watts according to my Kill-a-Watt meter. The defrost cycling is a bit harder to pin down. I've seen it defrost a few times (the first time I thought it had caught fire!) but it...
  18. A

    My Experience With a 12k Minisplit Heat Pump in Negative Degree Weather

    I ordered and installed a Pioneer 12k Diamante Inverter + in July of '23 and have been very pleased with it. Summertime performance was great, especially compared to the 12k window shaker it replaced. What has absolutely amazed me, however, is the cold weather performance. Right now Wyoming is...
  19. A

    Hard mind set getting used to lithium iron phosphate batteries

    I fully understand what you're talking about. I too started with the L16 Trojan batteries when I went off-grid. We (wife and I) were constantly watching/tending to these things. After switching to the LiFePO4 chemistry it was literally life-changing! I do still monitor the two batteries...
  20. A

    Well pump set up

    My brother and I share a well on our 40-acre property. It is 290' down and is using the Grundfoss SQ pump. This pump works off of AC and DC voltage. We have 4-12v deep cycle batteries in series, 3-145 watt panels providing power to a Midnite Solar Kid SCC. No inverter. This is all 8 feet...
  21. A

    Do You Ever Regret Going Off Grid?

    My wife and I have been off the grid for 5.5 years now and neither of us wants to go back. We bought 40 acres in Wyoming, with the nearest power pole about four miles away. Paying for the grid to come to us was definitely not an option. We started with Trojan lead acid batteries and I killed...
  22. A

    I've Joined the Ranks (Lead is Dead!)

    Yes, that's not bad. It saves you the time and labor of ordering and assembling the batteries yourself. Plus, you have the warrantee should you encounter difficuties.
  23. A

    I've Joined the Ranks (Lead is Dead!)

    Yes still very happy. After a year had passed, I added an additional 230ah battery to the system, now 510ah total, and it has been integrated seamlessly. Very happy with the lifepo4.
  24. A

    Adding a battery to my system.

    They probably are but it doesn't hurt to check. Adding a second battery is a straightforward, simple process. I did the same thing earlier this year. Make sure to match the SOC between the batteries prior to paralleling to avoid a large current transfer/inrush/spark.
  25. A

    Adding a battery to my system.

    The only issue I could possibly see is to make sure that both batteries state that they can be paralleled. Not all of these ready-made batteries have a BMS that is parallel compatible.
  26. A

    SHOW ME YOUR MEGAWATTS!

    This post prompted me to check my Midnite SCC, and after nearly 5 years off-grid we've produced 7.264 MWh. Doesn't really sound like much to me, but we don't lack any amenities and are 100% AC-driven (no 12v/24v appliances, etc...)
  27. A

    Help with absorption time, ( lifep04 16s)

    Yes, I do have the wizbang Jr. I do believe that is necessary to use tail current for ending absorption.
  28. A

    Help with absorption time, ( lifep04 16s)

    That's pretty much what I settled on for my system. I've programmed my Midnite 200 to absorb until I get to 25A tail current (510ah system) and/or 75 minutes and float at 27V (24V system).
  29. A

    Best inverter for home

    I will also recommend Schneider. I've used one (Conext SW 4024) for almost five years now with zero issues.
  30. A

    How long do you leave your system unattended?

    Depending on the intricacy of the system, you can monitor it via the internet. My system is not capable of this, however, when I'm gone I just point a Blink camera toward my SCC and the Schneider SCP and check in as I feel I need to. I'm never gone longer than two weeks and would not want to...
  31. A

    Big Battery?

    I'd like to echo what @Browneye said as I came to the same conclusion when I made the switch to lifepo4 a year and a half ago. I wasn't willing to take the chance with so many negative reviews and went with the build it yourself. I just added an additional 230ah DIY and am a happy off-gridder.
  32. A

    Pre-wired from Alt E

    I've had a very similar pre-wired setup (the only difference is 24v) in continuous off-grid use for four years. It has performed flawlessly. My brother who lives on the same 40-acre property has Magnum components and his inverter crapped out at the two-year mark. Everything is a gamble these...
  33. A

    Deal on panels

    A screaming deal is usually hard to pass up, however, I would caution you from buying parts piecemeal prior to assessing your total system needs/wants. You don't want to purchase parts on a whim and then find out later that the purchase doesn't meet the needs of the finalized system. Have you...
Back
Top