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    Transfer switch recommendations

    TLDR - what do I tell the electrician to use to setup grid as backup and my solar as primary? So I am finally far enough on my list to get an electrician to hook the solar system up to the house. Biggest issue is getting the grid setup as a backup system. What I wanted to do was install a new...
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    Low cost SCC suggestions?

    I have an an electric fence that uses a 12v battery as a power source. I already have a spare 250W and a 100W panel from another project using an AIO unit. I need to keep the battery charged and know either will do it. But I need a SCC for the system. Want an ok one but since it will be in...
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    Solar lights recommendations

    Got a shed out in middle of field w no windows. Need to put light inside it. Would like to just do solar powered (just lights so I can see) so I don’t have to worry about keeping things charged. So many options. Ick. Anyone got experience w a kit consisting of a small panel for outside...
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    Indianapolis- remote ok

    I have 30 panels to get setup in 3 different sets (max to fit my controllers). I need help figuring out where to put the sets in my property. Challenge is trees to east - house to west a and all facing South loses a ton of light hours. If you can help install, fine. If you can just help me...
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    Freeze-ageddan oops

    I am in Indiana and when the reports of the deep freeze heading towards us, priorities shifted. Animal housing was prepped so they were dry and out of the wind. Generator was started to ensure power would not be lost (grid is above ground through trees). Canned foods were moved back to the...
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    How would you string this?

    Need some help laying out my panel setup to maximize production and minimize wire cost. Facing south and west give me the best sun. South is totally clear. West gets sun most of the afternoon. I do not know how much sun will reach pure west facing panels in the winter as we are new to the...
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    question on Will's dual EG 6.5 setup - battery to busbar cables

    As the chaos of life speeds up, I am at a point of making sure I have everything to install a system almost just like Will's 48V off grid solar system. My question is about the cables from the batteries to the busbar. Will 2/0 be enough? He has 4/0 from one set to the bus bar and 2/0 from...
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    Melted MC4. What happened?

    So we pulled my 9 250W 3S3P panels off the roof as I am moving. No issues except one connector seemed to have melted. Current still went though. Any idea what happened? Not sure which forum to put this in. Mods if I need to move please let me know.
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    top balancing

    Getting ready to build 2 48v batteries out of 230aH cells. I have a 24V charger. Can I do these cells in 24v setups and then rebuild to 48v? I did not too balance my 24v batteries but let the BMS do it over time. Thanks
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    Public Thanks to Will

    @Will Prowse I want to thank you for the detailed writeup following your video of the 48V off grid solar system. I have a 24V system and am making a house sized 48V system. The EQ4 answered many questions and your video was almost exactly what I had envisioned for myself. The descriptions for...
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    230 vs 280

    So I am about to build 2 48V packs. I currently have 3 24V packs - all made out of 230aH cells. My thought is to get all 230aH cells for the new packs so I have complete interchangeability. If one cell goes down, I can tear apart a 24V and fix another. What would be nice would be to get 1...
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    1, 2 or more inverters?

    Another thread as I look at things for the new house. We are going to have 200A service from the grid. So I need to replicate that with the Solar setup. Will be powering the house, well (240V) and large shed. First question is: What is better? One large 12K inverter or 2 6K inverters, tied...
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    My DIY vs Prebuilt comparison - May 2022

    So there will be different posts coming from me as we are getting a new place and I will be taking it almost entirely off grid. A separate post will come about inverter recommendations. Batteries. This is for a 48V system to provide up to 200A service (to match the grid input). DIY has costs...
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    Planning house connections / electrical rework

    We finally have a place to move to! We are redoing the electric in the house. Currently we have 100A service. We have to update the breaker box as we cannot expand with the additional breakers we need. So will most likely upgrade to 200A service. I have talked with an electrician and he says...
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    Charger question

    I figured out the major shortcoming in my system is the lack of ability to charge on demand through my AIO 24V GroWatt 3000. if I add this PM3 charger to the system (connect to the busbars), I can simply plug it into AC and charge the batteries? I want the ability to charge when "I" need to...
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    Charging via AC when not enough sun

    A shortcoming in my system that I need to overcome is to be able to charge the batteries when “I” am ready – not when they get to the cutoff voltage. The 24V GroWatt 3000 will charge the Lithium batteries via external AC power when their voltage gets to the designated set point. If I know they...
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    Complete rebuild of a house - how would you power and heat/cool ?

    I don’t know if this will be fun for you or not. I have a love/hate view of these challenges. Especially since I will be paying for this one! I am moving to a new house that first must be renovated. Completely renovated. House is well over 100 years old (original part is over 140 years old)...
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    SCC for EITHER LA and LFP? (NOT at same time)

    I am trying to plan for next summer and need some advice. Is there a decent SCC that can handle EITHER lead Acid or LFP batteries? I will have a need for 12V DC power - and forsee zero need for AC with this system. I already have spare Panels. But I need a controller to be able to charge...
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    Serverrack battery case

    I love the idea of being able to mount batteries in a server rack. Any idea where to get a case like LifePower is using? Thanks
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    forcing charge GroWatt?

    I have a GroWatt 24V 3K unit with two (2) DIY LFO batteries using Overkill BMS. Right now the system is working almost perfectly for its setup. Stays off grid; the 2kw solar panels usually get things recharged in a day of full sun. However, I am hitting the limits with shorter days AND more...
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    What would you buy now?

    If you knew you were going to have to build another system within the next 6 months, what would you buy now (if anything)? I will hopefully need a second solar setup at a new location in about 6 months. (grid install is 10k+ to just run wires) I already have a 24V system at home – 2 batteries...
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    DC powered dehydrators?

    Looking forward, and not having very good luck in searching the interwebs, I am wondering if anyone knows of a DC dehydrator out there? I am looking at a setup where I can do many things (power fans and small water pump) with a 24V system. Leaving the inverter out and doing everything off the...
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    Please check my setup

    Please double check my math. I am at the point of getting the mounting supplies to put the panels on the roof. Want to maximize the number of panels. I have 10 panels – figured out I can put more up, but that is all I have. Information as of now is: Each panel is: 250W, 37.6V max 8.27A I have...
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    How to plan for mounting

    This has to exist ... a simple, how-to or walk through manual on mounting panels. I need to mount panels on the roof and looking through things I am (again) feeling overwhelmed. Thanks
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    Unequal battery discharge help

    Good morning, This is proving to be a long post with all of the information. here is the summary: I have 2 24V batteries of the same age attached in parallel that are discharging at different rates. Why and what do I do about it? Full post here: I have built 2 24V batteries with EVE...
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    Growatt 3k Power saving mode question

    I finally have my GroWatt 3K 24V up and running. I emailed Ian (where I bought it) but have not heard back after several days. Wondering if the group can help me. If I put turn on power saving mode (program 4) the manual says "If enabled, the output of the inverter will be off when connected...
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    3 or 4 panels?

    I am trying to determine if 3 or 4 panels are the best way to start. I have more, but right now I can install either 3 or 4 (the space should hold 4). Each panel is 250W and 30V. 3 panels in series will give me 750W and 90V. 2 sets of 2 panels (series) put together in parallel will give me...
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    What is required for a Solar Panel to charge small portable battery bank

    I have heard of the small solar panels or backpacks with the solar panel built in - and got to wondering: What is required to use a full sized panel (I have some extra panels) to just charge either a phone or the small portable battery bank that are readily available? While these batteries...
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    PV cable suggestions - bulk vs pre-made

    I am at the point where I am ready to wire up the panels. Going to start with 3 (in series). Then will expand to another set of 3. And eventually another set of 3. All in different locations around the house (due to space and other considerations). Here is my question: Better to buy bulk 8...
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    must inverters (MPP/Gorwatt) be mounted vertically?

    I finally have the components together to build my system. Since I am putting everything on a cart, must the All-in-one unit (I have the Growatt) be mounted vertically? Or can I have it laying down on a board? Flat and clear for smooth airflow - just not vertically like on a wall. Thank you
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    Cable length when paralleling batteries

    Just watched Engineer777 and he installed 2 48V batteries. A comment he made has me wondering about my system: He stated that when you are in parallel need to be the same exact length. So I have 2 24V packs that I want to put together in parallel. One will be removable via unhooking the cables...
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    Mixing Solar Panel size ok?

    Not sure if this should be here or the newbe forum. Admins, please move if necessary. A quick question – can you mix different sizes of solar panels? Example: if I buy 2 100W panels and 2 250W panels, can I put the 2x100 in series and the 2x250W in series and then parallel the two sets? Or...
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    Simple Planning PV generation question

    A simple question about planning for PV. Below you see what my hours per day will be. Is my thinking along the correct lines by planning for the MINIMUM sun hours per day? Example: putting out 9x250W panels would give roughly 2.8kW for a day (250W panel * 9 Panels * .80 efficient * 1.57 hours)...
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    How does a BMS work?

    How do BMS control charges for individual cells? My understanding is the BMS connects to the overall negative of the battery, plus a single wire to each cell’s positive terminal, then a wire to the positive power supply. If the battery itself is connected to the positive and negative of the...
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    My portable design -

    I finally got what I hope to be a “portable” battery backup designed out. Through asking questions and reading other discussions, I have learned TONS and TONS from this forum. The inverter is the Growatt SPF 3000TL LVM. I picked this for the surge ability and faster Grid/AC recharge ability. I...
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