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  1. X

    Real-life winter production in SW Michigan -- lesson learned; have a backup battery charging source!

    Midnite classic 200. it's fine... I get some production on some days, like 10-80watts, but that's typical and not even remotely usable. Barely enough to charge my phone up, lol.
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    Real-life winter production in SW Michigan -- lesson learned; have a backup battery charging source!

    I'm going to resurrect this old thread, because I see people reacting to it from searches. This year, it's even worse. I had ZERO production for 28 days straight in December and January.
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    help choosing well pump setup

    grundfos are DC rated, most are 30-300v. so, unfortunately, with a 24v system, you're not going to be able to support DC direct on that. you'll need a DC-DC converter to step that up which, to get enough amperage to support a 3/4hp pump or larger, will cost more than an AC inverter. don't...
  4. X

    December PV starting off crappy again.

    everyone can cry me a river, haha. In michigan, we have seen the sun 3 days since November. literally. zero production. if off-grid, I would be 100% on generator the past two months.
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    help choosing well pump setup

    grundfos is the standard for DC/solar/off-grid well pumps. expensive, but worth it.
  6. X

    solar pergola on pavement, only weighted down

    If you don't need to be able to pull all the way through, just put them on the 'back' side only, above the hood of the car. plenty of space there.
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    Growatt 3000 24v and another charging source

    sweet, okay... that makes a ton of sense. thank you @Mattb4
  8. X

    Growatt 3000 24v and another charging source

    in my DIY 24v system I have a Growatt 3000 24v that I am not utilizing the SCC on. I have my 2kw roof array charging the battery bank with a Midnite classic 200. I'd like to add a 1kw array optimized for winter and take advantage of the SCC on the Growatt i'm not using. Any foreseeable...
  9. X

    solar pergola on pavement, only weighted down

    great idea, love the concept! do some wind load calcs. if it's truly black-top pavement, you could easily put some grounding rods down through it to secure it. black-top pavement is super easy to patch up.
  10. X

    2024 YouTube Video Ideas

    I would like to see videos on DIY solutions for those of us in the upper-midwest. I know you're not in the area, but many of the DIY projects you do are completely unrealistic for me in Michigan.
  11. X

    Arc fault question

    450v?! dang! YES, NO question. for small systems under 150v that are properly installed, I have far less concerns with not having AFCI. however, sounds like you're working with a pretty large array. I specifically put a midnite classic behind my array solely for AFCI.
  12. X

    WaterFurnace Series 7 – Total Cost Breakdown

    wow. thanks for the writeup. that all makes sense. I have been seriously considering an outdoor wood boiler, which is the most common form of off-grid heating here in MI. but, for a completely fuel-less system, this is tempting. the need to process firewood is what is prohibitive in wood...
  13. X

    I don't know what to choose..and my eyeballs are rolling around in my head from research...?

    a lot of good feedback so far. don't be intimidated by it. take your time, but be diligent. your first step should absolutely be an energy audit. start a spreadsheet of everything you use electronically and estimate how much you actually use it. a "killawatt" is cheap and great to measure...
  14. X

    My little movable panel set-up.

    looks pretty solid. i'm planning to do something like this for a temporary 1kw array on our back patio.
  15. X

    EG4 6000xp up and running!

    tidy. well done.
  16. X

    Guesstimating production

    yep, more accurately... step 1: https://www.suncalc.org/ get your azimuth step 2: plug in arrays, azimuth and angles here https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/
  17. X

    Expanding my system - adding second Midnite classic 200 + 1kw + 100ah

    here's my current sytem https://diysolarforum.com/threads/residential-diy-grid-assist-install-2kw-roof-array-growatt-3k-24v-24v-chins-batt-bank.44121/ I'm planning to add: 1x Midnite classic 200 SCC 1x 24v CHINS 100AH in parallel with the other two for a single bank total of 300ah 4x 250w...
  18. X

    Chins vs Li Time vs? Wow, battery prices!

    I have been running two CHINS 24v 100ah lifep04s for our small off-grid array and have had zeros issues since commissioned Aug 2022. amazingly... they're almost HALF the price now since I bought them in 2022 for $800 each. now they're $549.
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    Lithium iron phosphate battery safety (LFP)

    i'm well aware. the point of it is to contain the reaction and block any possibility of ignition by an external source should there be a mechanical failure or overcharge/damage cells/etc
  20. X

    Lithium iron phosphate battery safety (LFP)

    okay, so I guess i'm not crazy. thanks for validating that. I'm also seriously considering adding another battery considering how far lifep04 battery prices have dropped. I think you all have convinced me to construct a concrete 'box' to put all them with a steel vent tube outside. 1/2 USG...
  21. X

    Lithium iron phosphate battery safety (LFP)

    how are you heating it?
  22. X

    Lithium iron phosphate battery safety (LFP)

    Great to see you on here, Steve. I hope you're doing well. When i say "off gas", I'm referring to the gas byproduct of a mechanical puncture or physical damage to the cells obviously not charge/discharge due to normal use. basically, i'm wanting some 'insurance' should I have a runaway...
  23. X

    Lithium iron phosphate battery safety (LFP)

    wish I could move it all outside of my house. i'm in Michigan, so 1/3 of the year is near/below freezing.
  24. X

    Lithium iron phosphate battery safety (LFP)

    My father and I continue to be at odds regarding lifepo4 safety. he is insistent that it is inherently unsafe citing all the tesla fires/failures and inability to contain/stop runaway combustion, as well as insurance companies failing to issue payouts to owners and requiring them to park EVs...
  25. X

    Too many panels in parallel?

    ah... gotcha. that explains the lack of knowledge on your installers. most electricians in the USA still won't touch solar unless is a microinverter/AC based system. just make sure the wiring is 90degC rated. 10ga should be sufficient then.
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    Too many panels in parallel?

    okay, yeah... I stand corrected on the 18kpv... carry on.
  27. X

    Too many panels in parallel?

    so... i'm going to ask a bunch of questions that all play in to what you're asking. FilterGuy did the math... but IMO we don't have enough info yet.... are you in the USA? what climate are you in? do you need to account for temperature correction due to freezing? that won't push the VoC...
  28. X

    Running PV wires in an attic/indoors/basement guidelines?

    nice ideas... but none of that will meet USA NEC 690 residential requirements because we've started with unlisted equipment.
  29. X

    Running PV wires in an attic/indoors/basement guidelines?

    I'm not aware of this requirement, nor do I think it's valid. is there an NEC guideline you can point to? Listed equipment will have provisions for connectors for EMT or MC cable. that victron SCC is not UL listed for residential install.
  30. X

    Running PV wires in an attic/indoors/basement guidelines?

    metal clad cable absolutely IS permitted to be used in attic spaces. flexible conduit is unlikely to be allowed. I don't know and won't answer for it. just go with MC cable properly sized. make sure you account for temperature derating in your cabling size look over the FAQs in my signature...
  31. X

    Solar assistant: do you use it?

    I did, but not any more. I realized that monitoring solar (FOR ME) is pointless after about a month of having my system commissioned. I can't control the sun nor the output, so why bother watching it? it's going to produce what it's going to produce. I find it far more efficient and...
  32. X

    residential DIY grid-assist install -- 2kw roof array + Growatt 3k 24v + 24v chins batt bank

    yep, that's correct. I have about 1ft of exposed PV in the attic from the gable inlet to the JB. I should put it in EMT.
  33. X

    10/2 MC armorlite in attic DC from roof box to disconnect -- attic temp derating?

    yep, sure did @ChrisG -- worked exactly as expected. i posted it all in my show-and-tell thread.
  34. X

    residential DIY grid-assist install -- 2kw roof array + Growatt 3k 24v + 24v chins batt bank

    ^ I have a real roof rake. I also have a 40' extendable brush/squeegee for our RV. It's all crap and doesn't help. EVERY TIME after it snows.... every. time. the panels would warm just enough to melt a little of the snow and then refreeze. every panel was always completely covered with a...
  35. X

    residential DIY grid-assist install -- 2kw roof array + Growatt 3k 24v + 24v chins batt bank

    11 month update. not a single issue. the system continues to perform flawlessly.
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