diy solar

diy solar

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  1. S

    Potting compound - way to go, thoughts/suggestions?

    You could pot it in bees wax, melting temp 65c, any repairs needed warm it up and tip wax out. But adds to the weight.
  2. S

    Simple home made analog MPPT contoller

    An interesting simple solution using the TL494, no CPU, excellent. RV2 allows only a single battery voltage set point, did you consider adding an RV3 to allow an additional lower value float voltage, with some sort of electronic switch to select one or the other as required? Cheers Mike
  3. S

    Best breakers for solar.

    I have a similar smaller 12V test setup here at home, that uses 4 x 400AH Calb Lifepo4 cells, been running past 4 years with a 3500W inverter, powering my office and a fridge + Freezer; I design and build PV controllers and sometimes use it for testing them out. For fuse\Isolation of battery I...
  4. S

    Best breakers for solar.

    As your inverter is only 85% efficient at best, the supply current will be near 350 amps, not accounting for appliance surges during switch on. Suggest you use a 400A fuse and an isolation switch. With that sort of power, its too high for a 12v setup to be reliable, better going to 24V.
  5. S

    Parallel Charge Controllers Limiting Each Other

    I have a similar setup, two 60A charge controllers each with a PV array connected to a 12v 400AH Lifepo4 battery. Each controller output has its own 100A 2 pole cct breaker wired direct to the battery terminals; this minimizes voltage drops in the cabling of each controller affecting the other...
  6. S

    LFP Battery CyclingDepth effect on Capacity

    Bank 2 as it has done less work by being discharged to 1/2 capacity then re-charged will have the longer life. Two 1/2 cycles place less stress on the battery than a single full discharge - charge cycle. Mike
  7. S

    Lapping PV panels to create water shedding roof. Thoughts? Comments?

    Cover your roof with clear commercial green/tunnel house film, them mount the panels above that using the normal alloy rails etc. That's what we did over the roof of a small shed containing a diesel generator. We used a semi-clear film that had an embedded nylon mesh, its extremely strong and...
  8. S

    Where does the load go on this DC circuit breaker?

    I have received reply back from seller, that single pole breaker is NON-Polarized, can go in + or- lead. Guess that makes it bi-directional, so can be used for battery connection with both charge and discharge circuits.....
  9. S

    Where does the load go on this DC circuit breaker?

    Who knows, I have sent them an email asking the question, polarized or not for the single pole breaker; will report back when I get a reply.
  10. S

    Low temperature PV string bypass relay/switching

    If you read the post #5, all info already provided, including pcb and schematic.
  11. S

    ... powering a microcontroller from the battery or charge controller

    I purchased a few of those a few months ago, they only have a 100v electro on the input, so their claim of 120v input operation is dubious at best.
  12. S

    Solar diverter for hot water

    Here is a copy of a post I made on another forum, may be a solution. Full circuit and PCB here PV Diverter The device is designed to seamlessly add a load (Hot Water Element) to the PV array whilst connected to existing PV controllers. Mike
  13. S

    Where does the load go on this DC circuit breaker?

    Their images of the dual pole device clearly show polarizing +- symbols, they also say it can be used for AC at a higher voltage. Looks like its actually an AC mccb with no magnets for arc diversion, with a voltage derating usage at DC. I guess you are taking a risk using it as it seems not...
  14. S

    Where does the load go on this DC circuit breaker?

    Not enough info to tell, need a link to the item purchased.
  15. S

    Low temperature PV string bypass relay/switching

    Full circuit and PCB here PV Diverter The device is designed to seamlessly add a load (Hot Water Element) to the PV array whilst connected to existing PV controllers. Mike
  16. S

    Low temperature PV string bypass relay/switching

    I use a voltage sensor circuit, that places external loading across the array output when the volts get too high; this pulls the array voltage down from an otherwise excessive peak as could occur if the battery bank was on float with no load and freezing cold outside. Only takes a small load of...
  17. S

    DIY MPPT SCC?

    I like the prospect for such a simple controller, however have a question. Once bulk charge state is completed, what mechanism do you use to reduce the regulated voltage to a lesser amount; as its not the best practice to keep your lifepo4 bank at such a high voltage for long periods of time.
  18. S

    Where does the load go on this DC circuit breaker?

    >> Is it dangerous to use them when inverter will charge the battery ? Because if it's not dangerous, then for added protection when charging I could just add a fuse on the battery. Well you could go ahead and use it, mount it close to the battery; Its unlikely the inverter in charge mode will...
  19. S

    Where does the load go on this DC circuit breaker?

    Unfortunately your circuit breaker is polarized; so is uni-directional only. Source power (battery) + top LHS, - top RHS Load + bottom LHS, - Bottom RHS As it isn't bi-directional, is unsuitable for use when the load side can also push charge back into the battery. You can purchase these types...
  20. S

    Solar Panel DC Breaker Connections

    Read this document, it outlines various ways to connect polarized breakers. Breaker Connection Cheers Mike
  21. S

    diy circuit that measures voltage with relay to turn off power to the generator. Can it be done?

    Get an adjustable voltage sensitive relay, use its internal switched contact to open a larger contactor that will handle the current\voltage out of the generator. Link Voltage Relay Cheers Mike
  22. S

    Automated Discharger for Large AH Cells

    Think I might design and build my own using a simple buck converter, to load up the battery under test with any current between 0 and 50 amps, set by a 10 turn panel mounted pot. Same for the battery voltage end set point, use a similar pot to present a reference voltage to the cpu; cpu will...
  23. S

    Automated Discharger for Large AH Cells

    Thanks, looked at those, also similar items on AliExpress; I wouldn't believe they would run continuously for > 10hrs at 20 amps, spec's on these sort of items are fantasy and perhaps 1/2 the rated value at best. Sorry I wouldn't trust them on any expensive batteries.
  24. S

    Automated Discharger for Large AH Cells

    I'm looking for something to discharge Lifepo4 battery cells at a constant current down to a predefined cell cut-off voltage. I don't need to measure power out, just bring them down to a fixed value. I have been using a CellPro PowerLab 8, for smaller batteries, but its pretty hopeless on these...
  25. S

    12v DC HOT water circulation pump. Brand there is quality advice

    Look for a Davies Craig 12v car radiator auxiliary circulation pump, I have several in use in various setups, they are magnetic drive and designed for near boiling water, 10's thousands hours life time. Cheers Mike
  26. S

    HVDC Battery

    I'm building a 100v 50AH bank, 32 x EVE cells, for use in a portable power bank, will contain a 4KW low frequency 230 vac inverter, MPPT PV charger and 32 cell BMS, all components of my own design; theory being, if it blows up then I will have all the details on how to fix it.. Intended for...
  27. S

    Configurating my hybrid charge controller for CALB LIFEPO4

    If the "Float" voltage from your charger is set at the batteries normal rest voltage (3.38 per cell) then they wont accept any charge, BUT when a load is placed across the bank, their resting voltage will drop a bit - the charger supplies the load in this instance.
  28. S

    Configurating my hybrid charge controller for CALB LIFEPO4

    I have same CALB cells in a 24v bank, limit bulk voltage to 3.5v\cell = 28v, this will charge them to 99%, charger should then switch to a lower voltage of 3.35 - 3.38 V/cell. With a load on the system the voltage will reduce and load will be taken up by the charger, batteries will still be at...
  29. S

    Variable Power Supply and MPPT for charging LifePO4 bank

    Hey no problem, I worked > 20 yrs with high power AM, FM, UHF, TV and uWave radio transmitters, great industry, don't miss 3am call-outs at all, now retired. Hope Baserati gets his setup working ok.
  30. S

    Variable Power Supply and MPPT for charging LifePO4 bank

    As an electronics engineer 40+ yrs, whom designs and builds PV controllers and high power industrial inverters, MPPT controllers work fine off a regulated PSU with a constant current setting, please read my original post again. I test all my designs of MPPT controllers on the bench using a CV...
  31. S

    Variable Power Supply and MPPT for charging LifePO4 bank

    I take it you will use the adjustable PSU to charge batteries to a lower set point like 3.335 v\cell or 53.36v for your lower state of charge. Then use the mppt charger with PSU set to higher voltage OR use PV panels on the boat to top them up prior to or during sailing. Contrary to Tecnodave...
  32. S

    Pb-C - Lead Carbon cells vs Lifepo4

    I would agree with Steve777, those 2 volt LD-C batteries are very robust and can handle a lot of charge current, with a long life. We are using 3 parallel 48 volt strings of the 6 volt 300AH LD-C batteries, each with their own 60 amp PV charger, would have liked to have used the 2 volt ones...
  33. S

    Pb-C - Lead Carbon cells vs Lifepo4

    WE have been using a smaller 24v bank of PB-C 6v cells for the past 2 years as in interim solution prior to installation of a larger 40KW bank same batteries. I also have a 45Kw bank of 400AH Lifepo4 cells in another system. The PB-C bank is no where as efficient as the LifePo4 setup, the PB-C...
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