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  1. OffGridInTheCity

    Which inverter to choose.

    I'm off-grid w/grid assist. I use 2 x 12,000w 'independent' AIMS and SGP (dumb) inverters -> ATSs -> home circuits. This gives me 24,000w = 100a @ 240v. I did this because buying a 24,000w or larger inverter just wasn't available 6 years ago when I did this at a reasonable price...
  2. OffGridInTheCity

    Who’s Afraid of Retail Electricity Rate Reform?

    Yes but it's overreach (at best) as tax returns are supposed to be protected per current law.
  3. OffGridInTheCity

    Who’s Afraid of Retail Electricity Rate Reform?

    Optional government program - there are choices. Utilities are not the same kind of optional and are not a government program.
  4. OffGridInTheCity

    Who’s Afraid of Retail Electricity Rate Reform?

    A fixed charge is one thing, however..... The OP listed "....and an income-graduated fixed charge...." - e.g. income graduated as apposed to just a fixed charge and the income part has been part of this initiative as far as I've read to date. "Income Graduated" means one will need to...
  5. OffGridInTheCity

    Who’s Afraid of Retail Electricity Rate Reform?

    The big problem I have with this is that you have to disclose you're income (tax returns?) to the utility company (or govt) so they can figure out the rate. Total invasion of privacy - not the America I grew up in.
  6. OffGridInTheCity

    Automatic Transfer Switch

    For up to 30a @ 120v, I use Go-Power (ETL) ATS in my trailer - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00153EYTO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title Pretty easy to install with wago wire connectors For up to 50a @ 240v/120v split-phase (US) I use Progressive (ETL) at several places in my home -...
  7. OffGridInTheCity

    Acceptable temperature of wires/lugs during normal operation

    I have 4 x 4awg wires between 2 x Midnite Classics and the main battery bus in 2" flex conduit of about 15ft. The wires carry up to 80a and can reach 55-60C / 131-140F as they come out of the conduit at 65-80a range. I use the Midnite battery temp probes to monitor/record this info. This...
  8. OffGridInTheCity

    Automatic Transfer Switch

    You ask why no one is using..... For me, I only use UL/ETL certified ATSs at home and in my trailer and I don't see UL/ETL on the product listing - https://www.geya.net/automatic-transfer-switch-for-pv/ But I agree, it's an interesting looking unit.
  9. OffGridInTheCity

    More Batteries or More panels? What is the tactical approch for expansion?

    My approach was to first get a real-life working system powering some circuits in the home. Then I went back and forth - incrementally more panels and incrementally more battery. My goal expanded over time till I maxed out my property with panels and was able to achieve power for critical...
  10. OffGridInTheCity

    Chargeverter V2-extension cord

    I did a regular 240v/120v extension cord for mine. While you don't need the extra wire for 240v - it does create a custom configured extension cord and you may forget the custom nature of it in the future. For example, maybe a few years from now you have a generator -> socket -> panel for...
  11. OffGridInTheCity

    Very Interesting Tesla Battery Degradation Data

    I run a large 18650 powerwall at 121kwh. Thus, I'm very interested in how long my powerwall will be effective and even more interested in what 'failure' will look like. But I'm not seeing any way to relate 50K / 100K miles to solar powerwalks. What do you folks think - extrapolate energy...
  12. OffGridInTheCity

    New EG4 Chargeverter V2

    I understand and perhaps I have a defective unit somehow? (e.g. not out to bash Champion without better info) but 1000w is my max.
  13. OffGridInTheCity

    Need a way to bottle or can excess solar production.

    I've gone round and round in my thinking on this over the last several years - the answer is 'a battery'. Lately, I've been dreaming of a container with 60 used EV batteries to store up 4000kwh during summer for use during winter - 1 cycle / year so used EV batteries should last a long time :)
  14. OffGridInTheCity

    Rack mount vs stand alone?

    You've said it well but I wonder if you'll really buy 'just one'. Many of use have gotten the bug and you may buy 2 or 3 or 5 more over the next couple of years - so it's worth considering what you'll do if this occurs :)
  15. OffGridInTheCity

    BMS choices -- contactor based

    In my setup, the BMS (Batrium) triggers the coil of an external shunt-trip because.... the 300a+ level is beyond anything you'll find integrated into a standard BMS like Daly. Mine is a ABB SACE S3 400a w/24v coil. This allows you to choose a cheaper BMS as long as it has external...
  16. OffGridInTheCity

    How efficient is your generator?

    Just wrapped up a 50minute propane test on the duel-fuel Champion 8000w Model 100297 with Chargeverter set to 100a - https://www.championpowerequipment.com/product/100297-8000w-electric-start-dual-fuel-generator/ Generator -> Chargeverter performed smoothly (no issue with generator) as...
  17. OffGridInTheCity

    How efficient is your generator?

    Agreed but.... I'm at 51 panels (14.5kw) but don't have room for another set :(
  18. OffGridInTheCity

    How efficient is your generator?

    I've gradually come to learn that fossil fuel generator power is not 'the best'. The mechanical/physical *effort/horsepower* required to generate electricity by engine or water or wind is huge. PV is just sooo much smoother, quieter, no mechanical maintenance etc etc. The...
  19. OffGridInTheCity

    Can I use my Manual Transfer Switch Home Backup Setup for Solar Backup as well?

    I'm not clear if you're doing 240v/120v or just 120v. For 240v/120v I use Progressive ATSs https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VAWNVK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title - rated at 240v@50a (50a per 120v line). For 120v, I use Go-Power ATS -...
  20. OffGridInTheCity

    How efficient is your generator?

    Finally got into a position to do a gasoline test on my duel-fuel Champion 8000w Model 100297 - https://www.championpowerequipment.com/product/100297-8000w-electric-start-dual-fuel-generator/ Set my Chargeverter 5000 V1 to 100a and did 10kw at 100a charging at ~53v battery over ~1.7hrs...
  21. OffGridInTheCity

    Warranties 3 5 10 year, does this make a big difference in quality ? E4G or ?

    Why would they share their secret when making $500 with something I might have been able to do myself :)
  22. OffGridInTheCity

    Warranties 3 5 10 year, does this make a big difference in quality ? E4G or ?

    6 years ago I bought AIMS inverters for my solar system, partly due to a good reputation (whatever that means). After 5 yrs and 25,000hrs of really good operation my 12,000w 240v/120v AIMS Inverter started acting erratically. AIMS support could not provide a replacement control board...
  23. OffGridInTheCity

    Is there a difference if I daisy chain batteries or connect them to a buss bar for parallel connection?

    @DavidPoz did a detailed experiment with daisy chain vs bus. Daisy chain wires got hot (less efficient) vs bus where they didn't (more efficient) for the same load in the experiment. @Will did some youtubes on battery wiring as well - here's a couple In my 9 x 260ah @ 48v powerwall, I...
  24. OffGridInTheCity

    Do I need to do anything special to use individual inverters for individual circuits?

    I have 2 x 12,000w inverters that power separate circuits. And indeed, the efficiency rises ~7% (78% -> 85%) as I load them ~40% and greater. In winter/low PV I only run 1 to keep efficiency up as I don't run as many circuits to use all the PV. Each inverter goes to it's own...
  25. OffGridInTheCity

    Solar controller/inverter question

    The Growatt 5000 is a cheaper 5000w @ 48v inverter with 240v input/output AIO ($750) - https://signaturesolar.com/growatt-5kw-stackable-off-grid-inverter-spf-5000us-ul-1741/ In fact, that's a reason they're not so popular is because they're 240v and you need a separate 240v -> 120v...
  26. OffGridInTheCity

    Solar controller/inverter question

    I use the off-grid AIO MPP Solar 3048LV (3000w AC, 48v battery) with optional PV + AC (grid or generator) inputs for my camper ($650) -...
  27. OffGridInTheCity

    New EG4 Chargeverter V2

    At 17amps you hear the engine start to slow and continues to overload mode (engine goes to idle). ~1000w max output. It has 'a knob' and you do choke to start it but then 'run' for running - it's not an adjustable lever kind of thing. No, the vent was open - I'm aware of this 'trick' :) Yes...
  28. OffGridInTheCity

    New EG4 Chargeverter V2

    I noticed the Chargeverter V1 display stops showing real-time current when you do a lot of changes..... Hit Esc as much as you like and it kept showing 0.0a today (and stuck at 11a yesterday) even though my battery shunt was confirming 16a of charging and 40a yesterday. Maybe I'm doing...
  29. OffGridInTheCity

    New EG4 Chargeverter V2

    Eco-Mode was blocking the Champion from working! Did another test with Eco-Mode off -> Chargerverter on the Duel fuel Champion 2500-Watt (Model 200961) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08L45W2V9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title and it worked. You have to explicitly turn Eco-Mode off...
  30. OffGridInTheCity

    How fancy does racking have to be?

    I know what you mean! However, part of this has to do with how difficult is it to access/repair panels... My roof panels are just not accessible to me for a few reasons whereas my ground mount, I can handle personally. So top end IronRidge, Aluminum it is. Ground mount made with...
  31. OffGridInTheCity

    New EG4 Chargeverter V2

    In the pic above, I can feed AC into either the MPP Solar OR the Chargeverter. I'm talking about feeding Champion AC into the Chargeverter - the Champion could not power the Chargeverter. I noticed this morning that 'Eco Mode' is the default for the Champion... I'll try another test with...
  32. OffGridInTheCity

    New EG4 Chargeverter V2

    Received the order a couple of days ago and got one of them installed in the camper trailer! When boondocking, this will let me hook the generator directly to the Chargeverter and still be able to use the full 3000w AC from the MPP Solar. Yellow doesn't fit with the decor but I don't have...
  33. OffGridInTheCity

    automatic transfer switch

    For 120v @ 30a level I use Go-Power (ETL listed) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00153EYTO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title Now in year 6 using them with no trouble, they switch back/forth ~500times a year - so nearing 3,000 relay clicks so far. They have WAGO connectors - easy to hookup :)
  34. OffGridInTheCity

    How Would You Outfit This Camper?

    Let me make a high-level comment. We did a cargo trailer -> camper but went all electric, including 9,000BTU mini-split. At the heart we have a 3000w inverter w/48v battery. We have 1300w solar, 27kwh battery bank, and 3000w generator. It all works great BUT.... we do have to...
  35. OffGridInTheCity

    Raspberry Pi Ethernet data logging?

    This could be off-topic, but if you introduce an IotaWatt, you could use the PI to collect data via the internet for any inverter. I use IotaWatt to collect data on AC output from my AIMS and SGP inverters. This time of year I'm only running the SGP with "I1Red" being L1 and "I1Black" being...
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