Search results

I seriously don't understand. We have a small forklift and need to charge an AGM 36V pack. Having massive current is not even that important, but I want it voltage regulated or even just adjustable. I can find them no where! However, as soon as we step into the solar arena, now every charge...

I am running a new load monitor that has internal resistance displayed. However, I am not certain how to interpret the data as it changes with load, and reads all zeros with the parasitic 20W load against a 600ah/12V pack.

I very much realize Victron has their "power assist", but I have yet to find a common 'term' for the ability of an inverter to sync and use both generator and solar power, or grid for that matter. Maybe a "hybrid" does this? Being in the engineering field, I understand a lot of what they are...

We use a 5th wheel as an office at a plant nursery but also like to use for a couple trips. I say this because we run it off of solar primarily, but not really enough power. There is no grid power. Right now a 5th is setup with only a 1000W 12V inverter and separate charge controller with a...

To clarify my needs, we have an irrigation controller that needs 24VAC. All the internal electrics in it are DC, they normally run on a 24VAC walwart and that power is what is switched and sent into the field to run solenoids and they are not rated for DC operation. I would like to have this...

We have a hot fence going and I have determined that the average consumption is about 1.5Wh per hour. This is to keep deer out so we don't even use during the day. Currently running on a big 200ah/12V AGM. All I am looking to do is keep the batt topped up a bit. I am looking for a cheap but...

In trying to keep this simple I will just say we are doing some commercial plant growing, and need to pump water from relatively shallow cased water wells. Watering needs are daily and I realize generators will be needed as a supplement but looking to drive the majority with solar. Getting grid...

So I have used some top of the line goods but they are big bucks. I am debating here. I currently have a small system running on one of these small China power meters/shunts. Meter is accurate! However, the way the shunt is made, anemic screws and such, I am reluctant to push that thing...

So I have several high end, commercial 12V AGMs that are out of warranty, never cycled, and were sitting at around 12.5V. I ganged several together in parallel to ensure uniform charging. The issue is the charge voltage will try to swing high while the current is very minimal. Put it this...

I have a battery bank that is ready for replacement. Looking to see what new LiFe batteries are priced good right now? I am not going with over priced Battleborns. Looking for either Prismatic bare cells or 5-10kwh modules. I have some systems picked out in China but I just cant get them to...

before I step through the process of building some, I thought I should see if there are any sources out there?

I am looking to convert an RV to a 48V pack. I will still need to step back down to 12V for DC loads in RV. My options are a DC/DC converter or battery with 12V charger. I am weighing those option. Anyone have experience with either? I have been looking at options but one that might force...

I'm getting tired of seeing all these pics and videos with different fuse/switch/connector gear, and I can't find any of it that is even close to reasonably priced! Surely there is a "solar mart" that focuses on all the common goods needed in any solar system?

I work with industrial electric daily so I fully understand "cable sizing" as it pertains to amps in the conductor, but Something I commonly see in practice in a parallel battery bank is say you have 4 batteries in parallel, people take the POS of battery one, and the NEG on battery 4. I am not...

I still have a "make sky blue" 40A unit running and it't been reasonable other than it hunts around too much and voltage is not accurate. I told the guy in OK about the issues and he got all 'ass hurt' and flipped into an AH.... Probably why he is not selling for them anymore. FF to current...

Never in my life have I heard such a sound! Probably a 1yo pair of GC2 flooded. This noise has been going on for months! I am in there checking stuff and hear what sounds like a bear rolling over in only one cell of one battery. That is also the only cell to spit some acid out the vent...

So I have several large packs that were moved aside for other projects. I realized they were sitting for quite some time. All cells have voltage but balance is out of whack. Some are at 3.2V but I have a couple cells as low as 2.8V. Looking at some data, it appears 2.5V would be considered...

I know better than to try those cheap crimp connectors on solid wire......but I did it anyway.....lol And I am now returning to the scene to fix my temporary job. Typically solid wire wants to be in a screw clamp arrangement but I really need some bullet ends on some wire for another temporary...

I am primarily familiar with commercial stationary panels. I support an RV with solar currently by parking it next to a semi trailer where I mounted panels on that trailer roof. Would sure be nice to have solar on the RV itself but those roofs are both complex, and I question the attachments...

I sold a machine with new AGM batteries. They were actually about a year old but have calcium chemistry so very low self discharge and they were monitored. I sold the equipment without a charger because we needed ours. Warned the guy for 20min about how to charge, and monitor voltage. He...

Have about 250kwh of brand new commercial AGM batteries. Batteries are in south central KS. Have single cell units and 12V/200ah as well. They are being sold as cash and carry, no core. Never cycled. Because I don't like how stuff is stuck on a forum page forever, please just PM if interested.

Met with a guy with some newish but approx 4yo batteries. These were 3 cell batteries. He did not expect me to show up with a meter, nor did I tell him. All batteries tested around 7V. That works out to 2.3V per cell. I refused them. Of course he was not happy but I told them they are...

Figured I would run a different thread here as I have identified concerns in several chargers that just do not limit the voltage in the topping stage. I recently used my old school 6A charger to top a few batteries and went to check the voltage as they finished up and were hitting 15.6V! I...

Needing several batteries for some commercial equipment. Many are just GC2s, but others are bci 921. I am not married to these specific batteries, and I don't really need to obtain the perfect Ah specs as new. I just need to beat the price down! This is going to get real expensive so I am...

I have been looking at this company for a while. Talked to their guy in the states and I told him they needed higher PV input voltages as that is where things are going to go. He told me nope, but apparently I was not the only guy to mention as they are pushing things up there now! 800V on...

Had some Duracell GC-2s that were not that old but capacity was not as advertised when brand new and they rolled off so I returned them expecting to exchange. They of course did not have GC2s so I got paid for the "upgrade" which I felt was stiff at $35 more per battery for an extra 4lbs of...

I will be installing a small battery bank in a tiny home. My county is already resistant but if I follow their own codes to the letter, they really can't do much. Per NEC, it seems like a battery box could be required? This will be 24V. As well, the IRC has a section about storage...

I will first say I am very familiar with wells, pumps, and electric, but I have never tried this little tangent. We are doing a quick and cheap cabin. Minimal is the game here to get inspectors to fly it. I am looking to enter the dwelling with a 24V charge controller and PV, and have a small...

Working on a tiny home design in which we are trying to stay lower voltage or reduce some red tape with our code inspectors. The problem is you can buy 120V toggle switches for a couple bucks, yet I have not found many that are actually DC rated? Can these commonly be found? What about lights...

In short, I was talking with a local PV installer that indicated an entire ground mount structure for any array must be UL listed. We are in the engineering business and fully competent to design and construct a structural rated mount, but I fail to see why UL would need to be required? This...

I am not worried about having the full "BMS" control as we are building some other stuff to protect the battery system. However, I do need a simple equalizer for 16S. Seems bluetooth is very common and "cute" but I need to get that information on the network so I can log and review the data...

Will get right to the point. have a small system we use to support a small building. I know the loads and using 4 GC2 batteries from Sams for this 12V config. The issue is they are NOT passing the sniff test. The highest hit these batteries see is a 20min hit at 20A. These batteries are...

It dawned on me that Will has some unique experience with RV life and I am right now trying to figure out an economical AC inverter solution. What I was really hoping to do to keep things simple is build up a manual transfer switch so when the generator/grid are disconnected, an inverter...

Guess I got most of this in the title....lol Simple stuff like lugs, terminations, etc. Some of this is just stupid expensive for "solar" applications. They must dip it in gold. I have been using some AC components but would be nice to find some cheap sources for this stuff.

Have a situation where we may need to source a large qty of commercial panels, hopefully with reasonable life left. We would be looking for approx 1500-2500 panels. I cannot afford what people are asking on ebay for "10"....and I am sure they are making a healthy profit. This is why I am...