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    Free solar panels - Orlando, Fl USA

    Found this on another forum. Don't know any more than that. https://ideasforus.org/solargiveaway/
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    Schneider XW Pro LBCO & current question

    Wondering if I should change the LBCO, and/or some other values? Situation: Grid went down about noon. We switched the house over to solar via the giant transfer switch. Shut off all the breakers for non-essential loads, so as to prolong battery charge. Schneider alarm! I forgot that the...
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    LED ceiling lighting

    I wanted to illuminate the shed where the solar electronics are installed. The ceiling has 4' Fluorescent fixtures that I had converted to LED, but they are powered by the grid. Did not want to re-wire these, so I bought some LED strips to stick on the ceiling. 16.4 ft. long (5m), 24VDC...
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    Winter 23-24 upgrade plan ideas

    The system has been through 3 Summers now, and I have modified it each Winter, based on what I learned each season. Very cloudy here (tropical) Summers, PV performance suffers dramatically. Have added more PV each Winter, w/ associated electronics. Summer of 2023 demonstrated the need for more...
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    Schneider XW Pro won't qualify genset on AC2

    Finished the electrical work to connect the generator to the inverters. Won't qualify the AC2. Firmware is 1.11.01bn49 Anyone else have AC2 qualify OK on this version of FW? What did you do to make it work? The countdown timer expires, AC2 LED on the inverter control panel is flashing, just...
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    Schneider XW Pro generator connection progress

    Decided to go ahead and provision the option to connect the generator to the Schneider inverters, so as to be able to charge the Rolls FLA batteries. Might also use the generator to support loads, under certain conditions, if I can decipher the XW Pro generator configuration options. From...
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    water heater switchgear question

    Planning for the replacement of the 30 year old electric water heater. Old unit works fine on the solar, uses 6kw for about an hour to heat 80 gallons. I have it on a timer, heating elements turn on once per day, about Noon. 80 gallons is plenty for one day of our use. Considered replacing w/...
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    8 Rolls Surrette FLA batteries, 445Ah SOLD mods please delete!

    SOLD - Thank you, Eric!!! 8 Rolls Surrette FLA batteries, 445Ah. https://rollsbattery.com/battery/s6-l16-hc/ March 2021 date code. Includes bus bars, watering system manifold & hand pump. Excellent condition, ideal for a small solar power system. $1200 cash only. These are like new, have been...
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    schneider xw pro air filter service?

    Not sure if I am supposed to clean the air filter in the inverters on any type of schedule. User guide only says to change the filter if the inverter overheats and shuts down due to the filter being clogged. Any XW-Pro owners here ever seen a filter so dirty it blocked airflow?
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    Schneider system battery upgrade

    I built a basic system in 2021, (with the help of this amazing forum). One Schneider inverter & charge controller, 21kw of FLA batteries, 5840 watts of PV. Just wanted to run the well pump and keep some lights and a refrigerator operating overnight. The system worked so well, I expanded the...
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    CME and EMP question

    I was reading about the big CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) that missed our planet (mostly) on March 12 2023. Made me realize the next “Carrington” event is just going to be a random surprise for the Earth. Kind of a ”Great equalizer”, as we will all be back to the Stone Age, electrically. I have...
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    Rolls 4 ks measurement needed

    Anyone have Rolls 4KS style batteries installed? I am ordering some to upgrade from the smaller batteries I have now. I need to construct a lifting frame before ordering. The dimensions on the site do not show the case width, which I need to make a frame to fit under the lifting ears. Rolls...
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    Might get to test the hurricane tolerance of these mounting systems soon

    Depending on whether or not the storm stays on the present track, the aerodynamic characteristics of the ground mount and roof mount could be tested. Not too worried about the ground mount, lots of concrete, deep piers. The roof mount (unoccupied shed) is bolted through the corrugated...
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    motion activated LED for generator shed

    The Diesel generator is "last resort" for power here, if the solar batteries are exhausted, and recharge is not available. The generator battery is kept charged by a small solar panel, connected to a Victron SmartSolar MPPT 75/10 charge controller. Preparing the generator to start in the...
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    Storm power outage!

    I was in the workshop during a storm this afternoon. (separate building from the house) Heard the inverter relays clack. Otherwise, I would not have known the grid was down, as most things in the workshop are powered from the solar equipment, which had switched from grid to battery. Wind had...
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    electrical schematic drawing program

    Looking for advice on a schematic drawing program that runs on Apple Mac. I would like to document the electrical system, solar and grid. In the past I used an Apple product "Mac Draw" on my Lisa, worked great. It has been explained to me that the 1980's are now over. I tried LibreOffice...
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    Schneider Conext XW+ Mini Power Distribution Panel SOLD JAN 26 2024

    I upgraded and now this Conext XW+ Mini Power Distribution Panel (PDP), Prewired, SKU865-1013-01 is no longer needed. Mini PDP supports one XW+ inverter/charger, a generator and either a MPPT 100 600, 80 600 or MPPT 60 150 Solar Charge Controller...
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    Ideas on how to get these panels on the roof?

    Looking for ideas on how to get 8 - 40lb panels from the ground to the roof safely, without damage to people or equipment. I have started installing the SnapnRack rails on the shed roof. My daughter can help me on her day off, so two people will be available. Thinking about some kind of...
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    Corrugated, galvanized steel roof mount options?

    Planning a Winter project: Put 8 PV panels on the roof of the workshop / HAM shack where the solar electronics are installed. Did some searching, but could not obtain any results pertaining to this type of roofing material. I did find some information about galvanic reactions between...
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    Ideas for the definitions for these Schneider equipment settings

    I can’t find any definitions for these Schneider settings in the FAQ’s here. Schneider tech support says these values have to match in my Inverter, MPPT controller, and Battery Monitor, as all are connected by XANBUS. (Looks like no one told the Battery Monitor team about this.) Guesses...
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    Schneider system design wasteland......no one knows anything.....

    I want to add more PV panels to obtain more power for my inverter to use. I understand the inverter I have is capable of 6800 watts continuous. 6800 watts does not seem to be possible with one single Conext XW MPPT 100-600 Charge Controller. I need help in designing a system upgrade to obtain...
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    Need suggestions for A/B transfer switch between 15A receptacles

    Hi, I need help locating some kind of manual transfer switch. I want to be able to manually switch the things plugged in to this inverter powered receptacle to a nearby grid powered receptacle. Now I just unplug the devices from the “solar” receptacle, and re-plug into the adjacent grid...
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    Can I add more PV panels, w/o damaging the charge controller?

    First time DIY solar, has been running fine since I turned it on in May. I have learned that the actual output of the PV array @ the Charge Controller is less than the published numbers, due to normal system losses. Charge Controller is the 100A- 600vdc version of this...
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    Generic temperature sensor sources?

    Anyone have suggestions for a temperature sensor that is: - IP capable - Can be accessed by a generic browser - Does not need an app or smartphone - POE or WIFI This is the only one I have found, other options? https://avtech.com/Products/Environment_Monitors/Room_Alert_3E.htm
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    Report on our first grid outage and running on solar

    Had an “opportunity” to run the house on the inverter/batteries for the first time this morning! The new solar we have has been operational for a couple of months now. Grid went down @ 01:30. We woke up and waited a few minutes to see if the grid outage was just a blip. After 5 or 10 minutes, we...
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    Request a second opinion - too many clouds - plan "B"

    First solar system I installed has been running fine now for a couple of months. Thanks to all the advice and tips, links, provided by this exceptional forum! Site planning was done so as to avoid shade on the PV array during peak insolation times throughout the year. (Had to cut down 3 trees)...
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    Will this addition be adequate to start the heat pump?

    Just completed installation of a Schneider Conext 6848 XW+ Pro inverter, and associated accessories. It was initially to run the well pump and some other smaller loads. Works great for that. Lots of extra capacity available. We did an experiment to see how it would do running the entire house...
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    Schneider XW+ Pro technical support win

    I installed the inverter & all the other Schneider electronics May-17. Worked fine until a week ago. Noticed that the battery level row of LED’s was dark, but batteries measure full charge. The LED's worked before. No more 12vdc from the inverter AUX connector, now 2vdc (battery box fan needs...
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    Battery box progress!

    I have been working on a sealed battery box enclosure, with a vent to the outside. Was going to make the box out of plywood, but the plywood/CDX prices here are currently insane. Realized I could make the box out of Lexan for just a tiny bit more $$$ than the cost of plywood….. 48vdc fan to...
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    Schneider Conext XW Pro project finished!

    Finally done w/ this project, and in time for hurricane season! Amazing to me how the system takes watts from the PV and sends the power to the devices, dynamically changing as the load and insolation change. I am learning to detest clouds! Beginning to wish I had more batteries, possibly next...
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    bus bar or 4/0 welding cable for this??

    I can connect these batteries with 1/4” silver plated copper bus bar, or 4/0 welding cable. They are 445Ah. Not sure of the pro - con aspects. What method would you use and why?
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    Battery installation prep

    Started getting ready for batteries! (Picking them up tomorrow) Started battery monitor wiring, and a installed a vent to the outside for the battery fumes. I’m going to build a Lexan box around the batteries, pressurize it w/ a 12vdc fan that will be operated by the inverter, which has a fan...
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    Is this the best way to add more PV to my system?

    Wife & I finished placing the 12 PV panels today! Next week I’ll go pick up the batteries, and we can turn this thing on for the first time. There is room for 4 more panels on the frame, so we could do 16. Is the following the correct way to proceed to add 4 more REC 365AA? Currently have 12...
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    Today's ground mount progress!

    Started on the SnapNrack ground mount today! I am pleased to report it was 94 degrees, I am 71, working alone, and no injuries! Took 6 bags for the SW front pillar. It is shallow hole (30”), so not too difficult. One more SE front pillar, and then the rears, which will be difficult. The rear...
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    Final big shipment'o stuff arrived

    Solar panels arrived!!! 12 REC 365 watt, will connect in series. But first, need to build the PV mounting system. Steel pipe was delivered, and most of the pipe connecting brackets showed up w/ the PV order. I dragged out the 1950’s vintage concrete mixer. Need to obtain a pallet of bags...
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