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  1. Northernchateau

    All in One vs separate units

    I know a lot of members love the Victron products but I went with a 2 Growatt AIO units because of cost, east of set-up and foot print. The cost saving allowed me to purchase more battery storage. The only thing I would do different is go with a 48v set-up vs the 24v I have now.
  2. Northernchateau

    What a difference a month makes.

    I built the panel racks and ran all the wiring at the end of Sept 2022. I got the system running the beginning of Oct 2022. 8 Axitec 290 watt panels, 6 Canadian Solar 340 watt panels, 2 Growatt 24V SPF 3000TL LVM - 3kW . Yes they are over paneled. It didn't take long to figure out that I needed...
  3. Northernchateau

    Panel Voltage?

    2 of the same panel in series or if you can break your 48 volt system down to two 24 v batteries you can use the 1 panel.
  4. Northernchateau

    Lets try this again...walmart replaced my dc batteries.

    I have had 2 remote solar power webcam units running for 6 years. Both have a 175 w panel, one has a Rich solar and one a Renogy charge controller. Max draw with webcam at night running IR is about 15 watts. Both units run 24 volts systems and I think the controllers cut off at 23.6 volts. I...
  5. Northernchateau

    Winter panel performance - yes I know the sun is lower etc.

    The good news is, it's only 4 deg F here right now so if we do get some sun I can make some power. The other good news is we only have 1 more week of the sun getting lower in the sky before it changes direction. For me that's a good thing as I have some tall pines which block my noon sun this...
  6. Northernchateau

    Battery discharge

    Low voltage disconnect goes along with battery chemistry. Leaving a 20% safety factor IMO is a good thing as under low voltage really put a beating on battery life.
  7. Northernchateau

    Solar panels at 90 degree angles

    This is a perfect example why I say in some locations it's better to have panels under an soffit and at 90 degs. Yesterday it snowed lightly on and off all day. Below you can see what the panels look like in different locatons. Now I will clean them this morning ,if you have a place you might...
  8. Northernchateau

    Solar panels at 90 degree angles

    I am waiting to run that test. I got an inline meter a few weeks ago and we have not has a clear day since Nov 12th. Next clear day I will take some data and post results. I will say I do notice way better output when the temp drops.
  9. Northernchateau

    Radiant in floor heating system

    Once you have radiant floor heat, nothing else will do. I have it in my house and new garage.
  10. Northernchateau

    Renogy Rover Elite 20A with 12V Smart Battery Cold Weather setup

    Thank you Agreed as I am sure once you start you will want to start adding other things. I have 4 cams running on solar and all had, the unit in the picture below to avoid killing a battery because if low voltage when first put into service. Two of the systems now have Renogy Rover or Rich...
  11. Northernchateau

    Renogy Rover Elite 20A with 12V Smart Battery Cold Weather setup

    Let me speak from 5 years of experience with 2 unit shown below which is: 175w panel, Renogy Rover 20a, 2 110ah deep cycle Walmart FLA Batteries in small vented coolers TP link router w/ Verizon air card Foscam or Microseven webcam uploading a pic every 5 mins. ( both cams have IR for night...
  12. Northernchateau

    Solar Panel snow removal made easy

    Easy meaning I can tap the panel or using my snowbrum it pulls off pretty easy. I am retired so I am here and if they get covered I clean them off. The best way to keep a panel clean in my experience is mounting them on a wall under and over hang. Forget about output losses because of the angle...
  13. Northernchateau

    Can I plug UPS to inverter?

    You will drive an APC UPS crazy if you do not have a pure sine wave inverter that holds steady voltage. Modified sine wave inverters work just fine if they are powering a incandescent light or a heater and some AC motors.
  14. Northernchateau

    Solar Panel Surge Protectors, advise please.

    What SCC are you using and were you thinking about trying to feed 1 SCC with both arrays?
  15. Northernchateau

    Programming a Tracer charge controller for LiFePo batteries

    I have a suggestion based on what I see in the pic. It looks like you have a black 12ga or 10 ga wire to your BMS. That's fine but make sure you have a fuse or breaker in the system that goes along with the wire size. It's a lot easier to change a fuse or re-set a break vs something melting or...
  16. Northernchateau

    Solar Panel snow removal made easy

    DYI Solar Panel Mounting. All lumber is pressure treated and screwed down to the roof. The panels are completely adjustable but for now I have them fixed for winter as I ran out of time. In the spring I will change the uprights out for something that lets me adjust the angle tool free. This...
  17. Northernchateau

    Solar Panel snow removal made easy

    Next snow I will take a pic of all my panels. The vertical one on the wall is under a 18" overhang and stays almost snow free. If you have a cabin and your not there all the time I highly recommend that mounting arrangement.
  18. Northernchateau

    Solar Panel snow removal made easy

    Presently they are 70 degrees off horizontal. Snow removal so far is been very easy. Being i live on the Tug Hill Plateau we usually get alot of snow so I wanted something to get them clean faster. Tomorrow I will take some pics of the back and sides. It's really pretty simple and adjustable...
  19. Northernchateau

    Am I able to use Lithium batteries on my Inverter?

    If you don't have an owners manual it seems these units are all the same and just re-branded ISolar SM 5kw 48vdc = EASUN PIP 4848 = Axpert MKS 5Kva
  20. Northernchateau

    The same Solar modules, different cable length

    1. You can run either the 2s or 2p. 2. The reason I went with 2p and 3p is it avoid you going over voltage and then you are also setting up both arrays the same way. 3. As far as I understand there will not be a difference with 2p or 2s as you stay within the input limits when using an MPPT SCC...
  21. Northernchateau

    Top Brands for Cylindrical cells

    Are you talking LifePO4 or LTO?
  22. Northernchateau

    Use of Flexible Non Metallic Conduit Inside

    Sealtight is I remember has a metal core. I used Carlon electrical nonmetallic tubing and it made the installation easy and clean.
  23. Northernchateau

    Do these cells look too swollen?

    this is what I have been using https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088D73729/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  24. Northernchateau

    Can you hook Solar panels to a garage sub-panel?

    If your talking grid tie you need to check local building and electrical code.
  25. Northernchateau

    24v system: series vs. parallel battery options

    Let me ask something before i comment. What batteries were you thinking abut, FLA, AGM or LifePO4?
  26. Northernchateau

    Do these cells look too swollen?

    If it was me I would have a piece of 1/8" close cell rubber between the cells to help spread the load out on the faces. Also put some shrink tubing or something on those side threaded rods so that can't dig into the end of the cells.
  27. Northernchateau

    Series connect 12v panel with 48volt solar panel.

    Maybe VOC because there is no load but, current plays into the total watt output so mixing panels that are more that a few volts off from each other will not result in the output you think. In series panel voltage adds current does not. I suggest you don't put them in the same string.
  28. Northernchateau

    Solar Panel snow removal made easy

    I have owned and used an Avalanche for many years. Actually I just got a new one as the slip n slide finally ripped on the metal roof edge. It works great and if your panels are laid over more then mine and you get over say 4-6" it's a good choice. The big difference is the snow brum worked...
  29. Northernchateau

    Solar Panel snow removal made easy

    For those that live in places like me that gets snow, I thought I would share how I clean the snow off of mine. Buy yourself a Snow Brum( link posted below) . Take the handle comes off and it has the same thread as a paint roller so I just attached mine to an telescoping paint roller pole you...
  30. Northernchateau

    Growatt SPF 3000TL LVM

    I can not as I don;t have mine set that way. I just know the setting exists.
  31. Northernchateau

    The same Solar modules, different cable length

    Let me try a different approach and do Solar Math: 1st. 2 P configuration will work: 410 w panel x 2 = 820 w Max voltage Vmp: 38,80 V x 1 = 38.80v Max Current Imp: 10,57 A x 2 = 21.14 amps open circuit voltage Voc: 46,60 V x 1 = 46.60 v short circuit current Isc: 11,07 A x 2 = 22.14 amps 2nd...
  32. Northernchateau

    swapping out my SCCs

    I ask because of your inverter size. 3000w / 12v = 250 amps, 3000w / 24v = 125 amps I will take less amps and smaller wire any day.
  33. Northernchateau

    Need help with wire gauge size

    https://www.altestore.com/diy-solar-resources/wire-sizing-tool-for-12-24-and-48-volt-dc-systems/
  34. Northernchateau

    swapping out my SCCs

    My only comment/question is,, why 12v and not 24v?
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