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Nice to know they are performing well. Others have reported similar findings...that they perform well and output is to spec. My question on those panels is their longevity. As pointed out by others there seems to be some inconsistent manufacturing with the solder blobs which introduces some...

OK, so REC is good quality? I've heard of a lot of these brands such as REC, but just because I've heard of them doesn't mean they are high quality. Also, does an older product line just mean they might be a little less efficient? I'm actually OK with that because I also tend to think that as...

That is a good deal, but I still really like the idea of picking up some "new leftovers" from a local distributor/wholesaler. Likely to be very affordable and also putting smaller odd-lots of panels to use. I like the idea of reducing waste through buying used or new yet un-sellable items and...

I am near Raleigh NC, but Charlotte and anywhere between Raleigh and Asheville is within reason. Not sure how to check for wholesalers in my area. That's a good deal on REC panels.

Sounds just like me. Actually doing some research on those NE Solar panels right now. Seem to be a great deal, however there is a thread that identifies what may be a problem with soldering and the possible impact on longevity of these panels...

I'm with you on the warranty stuff, Dave911. I think a longer warranty is just more of a gauge of potential quality, but who knows. And things change so quickly these days that even reputable brands from 10years ago may be doing things totally different today. And that goes for...

Excellent feedback, and I have heard of Santan and Signature Solar. I think I saw Santan has some kind of free shipping offer going on, but I'm sure there is a minimum order amount that applies. The problem here is that for the project I have in mind, I only need 10-12 panels, so a pallet of...

Yes, I've tried to read all the other used panel threads. Through reading those I have decided buying used panels may be worth the gamble as many people have had great success. Check for physical damage, snail trails, micro cracks etc, and also test for voltage and amps. The sole remaining...

Thanks for the tip. I looked into both of those, and apparently you can get a 30% credit for solar, solar and battery or just battery alone. However, I will need to dig a little deeper into what they define as "used as a residence by the taxpayer". To me, this sounds like it may not be...

OK, so it sounds like Residential Clean Energy credits are off the table. But...maybe Advanced Energy Systems credit could apply. Probably looking at 3KW inverter and 7-15kw battery storage for this initial project. The decision whether to actually do the project doesn't really hinge on...

I am looking at installing an All-In-One system at a short-term rental property. At first it might just be the AIO unit and batteries with no solar, and the intent would be to have purely as backup to power essentials (fridge, lights) when power goes out at the property which it does quite...

I have the one with the fan on it like in the first post in this thread .. that's the one Will had recommended. Those options you linked look good, but if I was going to drop more money on testers I was thinking around $100 and not $200+ because I've already put a bit over $100 into stuff...

Reviving a bit of an old thread instead of starting a new one. I already have the "beginner friendly" capacity tester with the fan on it, and I also have a 0-30v 0-10A variable adjustable DC power supply. Both of those items work well, but I really like the idea of having the ability to chart...

So, I may have found a source of battery storage for pretty cheap. See below. Panasonic (Sanyo) Modules These are 300wh for $20 and are 13s lithium 18650 cells, so I figure that should be OK for use with a 48v AIO unit? Now my question...would it be possible, reasonable and relatively safe to...

MPP - the "zero transfer time" of these units appear to be due to them always being on and always running whatever is hooked to them through the inverter. I'm assuming there is no way to circumvent that. If trying to achieve mostly solar operation from a system, then that's reasonable. But...

Thanks for clarifying Steve. I am going to look at the 1035 or 1035(+) because I do have some use for the higher voltage capabilities. This is where the confusion sets in. All three of the below are from the same vendor, and the base device appears to be the same. But the prices range from...

I tried looking for the differences as well. The only thing I could find is something about the zeroing function. The 1030 you have to zero every time but not the 1035. ?? The cables are different between them too. But I really have no idea the difference in functionality if there is any...

Which one on Amazon? To me these look exactly the same from Amazon and Ali except the Amazon version with all accessories is $80 and the Aliexpress version is $40. Amazon Yaorea 1035 Aliexpress Yaorea 1035 And for a few bucks less here is the 1030 Aliexpress Yaorea 1030 If the Amazon one was...

I don't have an IR meter, but from what I've read the YR1030/1035 or RC3563 seem to be the way to go. I think I will just get the 1030/1035. It will be used for 8ah Headway cells, 18650 lithium cells, and potentially some larger LFP cells (300ah) in the future. Would love to be able to get...

Thanks Sunshine Eggo, I will limit the parallel to 4 at a time.

I figure I will parallel a whole bunch at a time...maybe even 24 at a time all in parallel just to get some voltage in them. I have busbars that I can use to connect up to 12 in parallel at a time, but I can also put a busbar between those to make 24p. Is there any danger in using the...

So...no good to get a dozen that are at 0.85v-0.90v, hook them parallel and charge at 1A? That would be about 0.01C if I am not mistaken. 12 cells x 8ah each = 96ah. So 1C would be 3.6v at 96A. So 0.1C is 9.6A and .01C is .96A. I've got quite a few of these to try to bring back to life, so...

I've got some 8ah Headway cells that are at about 0.9v, some at 1.1v and some at 2.5-3.0v. I have an adjustable benchtop power supply (30v, 10A). I also have some busbars that I can connect up to 12p. What is the best and quickest way to charge these and would there be a different method for...

OK, so in that case I guess really all the BMS would be responsible for is low voltage cutoff to prevent over-discharge. I'm assuming hopefully it can handle that duty just fine

Let me make sure I have the job of the BMS correct. They are meant to prevent over-charging and over-discharging at the cell level, right? And an additional feature that some may have is balancing at the cell level. So tool batteries have a built-in BMS in the battery itself I'm assuming. To...

I'm looking to build a few small projects with 18650 cells. Looking at 3s-6s and nothing more than 4p-8p with 1600mah cells. Anybody ever used these type of super-cheap BMS units? 3S BMS 6S BMS One project I have in mind would be a "backpack battery" for a leaf blower. I have a 20v (5s) 4ah...

This is a part-time property. We do short-term rentals and unfortunately only get out there ourselves every so often. Really just want the option to have backup power to run essentials when the grid goes down. Do the Growatt systems only switch over to the inverter when the grid is down?

Yeah, basically all of my cameras are in shade so I would need the separate panel models. At $66 for 3 of them it's pretty tempting just to get pre-made. Thanks for sharing the link.

There are so many of them...care to share which ones? I really like the DIY route, but admittedly this time it could be skipped if there is a reasonable pre-made solution. DIY might be slightly cheaper and probably better, but I'm not powering a house here. If there are any units that can be...

I see the 3048 says it is parallel able and split phase able. I'm still learning, but it appears split phase is kind of like putting things in series. But unlike DC series connections that simply double the voltage, the split phase arrangement also puts the two 120v legs out of phase with...

OK, so sounds like maybe 4-6 panels would be a bare minimum. And as far as battery, I'd probably just keep my eyes on auctions and get as much LFP capacity for the buck as possible. It'll be in a basement, so doesn't need to be pretty or new, just needs to work and have a decent amount of...

I have 2 Blink outdoor cameras (3rd gen?) and 1 Blink doorbell camera. I'd like to not have to buy/replace the special lithium AA batteries, so I was thinking of going solar. I've seen pre-made units on Amazon, but they probably have the lowest quality 18650 cells and no charge control so I'm...

Got it - I don't want grid-tied. Only want solar to feed essential house panel, never back to grid (which I don't even know if they allow here or not) I didn't describe my intent very well. From scratch I meant buy the separate components and hook them together. I didn't mean to imply that I...

Too bad not eligible for the tax credits, but I would do it anyway. No noise, little to no maintenance and reducing environmental impact take priority over cost for this particular application. And, yes, I would shoot to oversize the system a bit. The property is near Asheville NC, so it...

It sounds like you are both describing the same thing. I'm thinking these "all in one" systems are basically a box with a charge controller, an inverter and some kind of smart switch that automatically switches from grid to battery/solar when it senses grid is on or off. Correct? Can one make...