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  1. M

    Solar Configuration Review/Questions

    Thank you for the feedback! The switch I had purchased to use was this one https://shop.explorist.life/shop/all-products/solar-isolator-disconnect/ which seemed to fit the need, but I wonder now about shutting off under load and if that might cause damage to the switch or elsewhere? I assumed...
  2. M

    Solar Configuration Review/Questions

    Thank you! I happen to already have the panels as they were the perfect size for my van. I'm pretty close to starting to assemble my junction box, just sourcing the last components. Thank you! Much appreciated! I've got things fairly close now and have most of the components for my junction...
  3. M

    Solar Busbar DC Voltage Limit

    Thanks, that is helpful and confirms what I was thinking that at 70V (and potentially higher) when there are no amps flowing through the busbar I should be okay.
  4. M

    Solar Busbar DC Voltage Limit

    I'm working on creating a junction box for connecting my 3 panels in parallel. The box will fuse the positive side of each panel before connecting to a busbar. My plan had been to use a Victron 150A/70V busbar (picture below). The max DC voltage according to the specifications is 70V. My panel...
  5. M

    Wire Connection Methods For Vibration

    I originally had planned around MC4 inline fuse holders, but after reading a bit more on them and learning that there was only truly one MC4 (Staubli) and then a rest of variants with potential for issues from corrosion to overheating I decided I'd rather stick with something more reliable like...
  6. M

    Wire Connection Methods For Vibration

    Thanks Mike, I should have mentioned it's 3 panels, so as you mentioned I have to run the fuses. Here are the panel specs, I have 3 of these on the roof of the van. Panel Specs (Panasonic) Max Power (Pmax) 325W Short Circuit Current (Isc) 6.03A Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) 69.6V Maximum Power...
  7. M

    Wire Connection Methods For Vibration

    I'm working on creating a simple junction box for my solar panel setup on my van. I've got limited height under my panels, so the box is slim and just a little too short to use a din rail type midget fuse holder (2.3" tall fuseholders vs. 2.1" tall enclosure). So instead I started looking into a...
  8. M

    Solar Panel Fusing Options

    Looked further into the options above and the touch safe fuse holder is unfortunately too tall for my junction box (Interior height of about 2"), so I started looking into the the Littlefuse 3 fuse holder blocks and they will fit. My question has to do with the wire connection type for these...
  9. M

    Solar Panel Fusing Options

    Thanks! Looks like a viable option for sure, I just need to do a little digging on the dimensions to see if I could pull off fitting a din rail and one of these in my enclosure. Cool! I hadn't seen these before, so this might be an option for a lower profile version in case the DIN rail fuse...
  10. M

    Solar Panel Fusing Options

    Hello, I've been trying to come up with a solution for how to fuse my 3 panels in parallel. My original intent had been to just use an MC4 3 to1 branch connector with inline 15A MC4 fuses on the positive side. My 3 Panasonic panels use 12AWG and I'm running 8AWG after the branch to my disconnect...
  11. M

    New Van System Planning Help

    Finally getting close to actually wiring this as I've just finished the roof rack and the panel mounts. After enough tinkering and seeing what space I actually have I'm leaning now towards ditching all of the MC4 connectors and just using a couple of bus bars inside my external enclosure...
  12. M

    Small Size High Quality Combiner Box Options

    Running 3 Panasonic panels in parallel to make them work with my 100|50 Victron MPPT (3x 325W). I had considered cutting off the factory MC4 connectors and crimping the connections, but thought if I left that as the only MC4 connection it would make removing a panel easier if I need to at some...
  13. M

    Small Size High Quality Combiner Box Options

    Hello, I'm working on my solar system and had a different thread going with some other questions. Here is the link for reference https://diysolarforum.com/threads/new-van-system-planning-help.13073 My question for this thread has to specifically do with looking for suggestions for a high...
  14. M

    New Van System Planning Help

    Thanks, I've thought about it a little more and now I'm thinking maybe given my rooftop space constraints that I should instead move the PV combiner box inside the van. This would require running each panels wires about 10 feet into the van and then joining. I would keep the MC4 connectors...
  15. M

    New Van System Planning Help

    Thanks for that additional info/explanation. That makes sense on the ground. I'm trying to figure out the combiner box option currently. Was trying to find a slim box option that I could get on the roof under the solar panels so I could combine outside of the van and then just have two wires to...
  16. M

    New Van System Planning Help

    Thanks for the reply! @Odom1957 I'm a bit torn on the MC4 connectors. On one hand it simplifies the connections, but my preference would be less connections where possible as that would offer less points of failure, especially given it's a van so I'm adding vibration to the mix. So I could...
  17. M

    New Van System Planning Help

    Many years later I'm finally back working on this project after illness. Currently working on the solar and have some thoughts/questions I've been reading/referencing the https://diysolarforum.com/resources/fusing-wire-sizing-guidelines-for-solar-panels.143/ to help figure this out. I've...
  18. M

    Van Solar Setup Review

    Just re-posted this over in the General/DIY as I thought it might be more appropriate over there. I was going to delete this post but after looking through the options it doesn't look like I have the ability to delete? Mods/admin- you can delete this post/thread? Sorry for the trouble.
  19. M

    Solar Configuration Review/Questions

    Originally posted this in Vehicle Mounted Systems but didn't get any feedback, so thought maybe I should post in the general DIY instead Working on installing the solar portion of my electrical system in my van and wanted to get some feedback. I've been reading/referencing the...
  20. M

    Van Solar Setup Review

    Working on installing the solar portion of my electrical system and wanted to get some feedback. I've been reading/referencing the https://diysolarforum.com/resources/fusing-wire-sizing-guidelines-for-solar-panels.143/ to help figure this out. I've attached the panel specs as well as my wiring...
  21. M

    DC - DC Charging Circuit Layout Help

    Thanks for all the responses. I went back to the drawing board a little bit and realized that I could rearrange the layout of my electrical cabinet and swap it onto the driver side instead. This means the run from driver seat to the Orion's will now be about 10 feet one way, or 20 feet round...
  22. M

    DC - DC Charging Circuit Layout Help

    Thanks for that information. The calculator is expecting a roundtrip length. I took a screenshot and added it. I guess my questions are as follows 1) For DC wiring does roundtrip length only count if you have wires for the roundtrip? So in my scenario, if my component locations are 25 feet...
  23. M

    DC - DC Charging Circuit Layout Help

    Trying to figure out the layout of my DC - DC charging circuit in my van. I have 4x Orion 12|24-15 Smart chargers, they are fed by my vans upfitter connection point capable of 175 amps. I'm going to limit the Orions to 30 amps max each, so I won't draw more than 120 amps from the 12V connection...
  24. M

    New Van System Planning Help

    Thank you for sharing. I should have added in the context that the Van comes from Ford with a dedicated upfitter system since they are designed in many cases to have a lot of external items added when built out (ambulances - etc). So the charging system comes with dual high output alternators...
  25. M

    New Van System Planning Help

    Hi everyone, after 3 slow months I've finally finished a rough draft of my blueprint/schematic to share for review. I've been working with a great Victron rep who has helped me get this far. Just looking for any additional thoughts or suggestions anyone might have to offer. For some added...
  26. M

    Bench Testing BigBattery 170Ah 24V Battery Pack

    Thanks! That all makes sense. Any thoughts or suggestions on a bench top DC power supply capable of charging the pack with some type of monitoring/software?
  27. M

    Bench Testing BigBattery 170Ah 24V Battery Pack

    I recently purchased (2) BigBattery 170Ah 24V battery packs for my camper conversion project. They'll be delivered in the next couple of days so I'm looking for any advice/input on recommendations for testing them out and making sure everything works as it should. Here is my basic list of tests...
  28. M

    How to Test Inverter Board Push Pull Tubes/Circuits

    Thanks! So far I've only been able to measure power at the battery pack of the unit, and at the inverter board, but the unit won't power on and I'm not sure if it's because of a controller issue or something else. All the buttons work when measured, so the signal gets to the board, but that's...
  29. M

    How to Test Inverter Board Push Pull Tubes/Circuits

    I have a dead Bluetti EB150 that I started a thread on and had a discussion around troubleshooting. That led me as far as getting it taken apart and some testing, as well as going back and forth with Maxoak on what to test next. The last place I left off was Maxoak telling me to test the...
  30. M

    SOK vs. Big Battery (Charge & Discharge Rates)

    On the SOK battery "Questions" page someone asked about getting a different higher output BMS and the response from SOK battery was... "The BMS rated at 100A, 2pcs batteries can not run the 4,000W inverter." Which makes it seem like the BMS is limiting to 100A, whether or not that is to...
  31. M

    Dead Brand New Bluetti EB150

    It seems to me from hearing stories similar to mine and yours that the quality control at Bluetti is sketchy at best, with brand new units just dying without explanation. I still haven't made it around to testing out the push-pull tubes on the inverter board just yet, partially because I don't...
  32. M

    SOK vs. Big Battery (Charge & Discharge Rates)

    So I've read pretty much every thread I can find here about the SOK and Big Battery Powerblock options, along with watching Will's recent video on them and reading through this long thread on Big Battery getting caught making false charging claims (located here for anyone who hasn't seen it...
  33. M

    Is BIG BATTERY full of Crap??

    Yeah, I was wondering if I could then just create my own external temperature sensing disconnect, but thought similarly that it probably wouldn't be ideal to disconnect a high charge rate cold turkey? Maybe if there was a device that could manage the low temp disconnect (if the Victron system...
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