Amazon is big part of the problem. You take huge risk buying off of Amazon now since they'll freely sell you even breakers that are dangerous. I bought a couple small Dewalt batteries off of there few years ago only to be told months later that they found out they were counterfeit. Now how am I supposed to tell which one of the batteries are the ones I got from Amazon and counterfeit and the ones that I already had?
“ Don’t Install DC Isolators on Solar”
- Thread starter D71
- Start date
@D71 what are you going on about that Vevor box so much? It is a standard steel NEMA electrical enclosure box. Given the fact it is attached to a PV array, and has electrical conduit running to it, I'm going to hazard a guess that it has a bunch of wires in it 
And you do realize BMSes don't have GPSes in them, right? Not sure where that one came from... You have to enable location services when using your phone to connect to the BMS because of the bluetooth connection. I think it uses Bluetooth Low Energy so that for the NEARBY device (your phone) it can say "I'm right here." It can't call home to China or anything like that. It can't reach outside of a couple hundred feet in theory, let alone in practice (which is less in my experience).
And you do realize BMSes don't have GPSes in them, right? Not sure where that one came from... You have to enable location services when using your phone to connect to the BMS because of the bluetooth connection. I think it uses Bluetooth Low Energy so that for the NEARBY device (your phone) it can say "I'm right here." It can't call home to China or anything like that. It can't reach outside of a couple hundred feet in theory, let alone in practice (which is less in my experience).
At the solar farm we use Shoals combiner boxes rated at 400 Amps out and 1500 Vdc with a 10kA short circuit withstand, each branch has a 45 Amp fuse. I also got one of them for my home system even though the voltage is less than 500 Volts and total Amps is under 50 A, I put 20 Amp fuses in the 2 circuits in use. I figure you can't go wrong as long as you over kill it.
Where can you get those at?
I have 3 jk bms and have 4 VIP bms.@D71 what are you going on about that Vevor box so much? It is a standard steel NEMA electrical enclosure box. Given the fact it is attached to a PV array, and has electrical conduit running to it, I'm going to hazard a guess that it has a bunch of wires in it
And you do realize BMSes don't have GPSes in them, right? Not sure where that one came from... You have to enable location services when using your phone to connect to the BMS because of the bluetooth connection. I think it uses Bluetooth Low Energy so that for the NEARBY device (your phone) it can say "I'm right here." It can't call home to China or anything like that. It can't reach outside of a couple hundred feet in theory, let alone in practice (which is less in my experience).
Have you ever read the JK BMS bluetooth app privacy statement? It is extremely long and covers everything to cover them based on them gathering your details while using their required app services. You comply or no bluetooth service. They are not up front when making purchase.
Here is just beginning of 4 pages…..there are a lot of jk bms consents by the user (me) to use the bluetooth app and if turn off location services for blue tooth then the app will not work. The bms is password required or it logs faults until set for new password. It nag screens while using app.
Why does it require location services to keep using the app.
you are either in range or not in range and it is password encrypted or get faults and bluetooth app nags. Why does it need location services on android or ios device after setup? There are a lot of Rights being given up to use their simple bms bluetooth app. If you refuse to share they shutdown the password encrypted app. Again I bought 3 jk bms and am being denied access unless report to them for location services with bluetooth app. Again have you read the JK BMS privacy statement ,…. I did a forum search and you report only having jbd bms…stated you want jk bms. Might want to down low app and read terms of service and consent.Did you buy a JK BMS? If not might down load app and see what you are signing up before dropping your coins. They still own and control it.
What you get with bluetooth location services turned off - either android or ios devices when trying to access jk bms bluetooth required password app
Nothing allowed.
Read the jk bms app privacy agreements….they can even turn - sell info to third parties. Info stored in China. What is being exchanged without our viewing it….. have to read the JK BMS app agreement. You basically agree to be their chinese regardless of purchase - you don't own it - cant use without their agreement consent. Why does a communist country want all that info. I bought the product do I not own it?
Obviously I own the product but cant use the feature of bluetooth without location sharing with them via the app.As for the Vevor box you really dont know what is in it either. When you try to talk down to ppl kind of boomerang effect if the person you are talking to takes it as not helpful and even antagonistic . I take it as such.
ZWY posted in this thread with accusations towards me.Any particular reason why you would place yourself between ZWY and my questionS about his “Chinese Vevor imitation box” for content? You don’t know what is in that Vevor box either. I can assume contents of Vevor box and guess contents too. Why would you think my imitation - imagination is broken. If I am to copy ZWY for imitation then he must share.
So insults as to the obvious are not constructive. He aka ZWY stated my isolation pv cut out switch box is a copy - aka imitation with mc4. So what connections are in that Vevor box? My isolation cutout by specs is superior. My cutout is the king of his cut out. So…. Again you are guessing what is in the Vevor Box. Why try to be there? Are you wanting to be an imitation ZWY? Might be a rubber solar chicken in that box… or flux capacitor…. Or a location services required intrusive something or other ….
Remind you again …. I bought the jk bms with my money based on blue tooth advertising but not based on required location services sharing my data. That was not disclosed at time of purchase. Should I obtain a lawyer and sue them for my time and damages installing their jk bms.? Wait are you a lawyer? Or a unlicensed lawyer as we called ppl in Military with no law degree. Any lawyers here?
I’m retired got plenty of time . The chinese do not need location services turned on for bluetooth to work. We are as you say either in range or not in range. Right? It is password app protected. My vip bms were not password - app protected anyone with app could log in if in bluetooth range. Then with vip factory passwords listed online could make vital changes that could cause problems . VIP used location services too.
Our private Information is a prized possession or so many agreements would not be seeking it to exploit us by our own agreement.
A BMS Privacy statement policy should say “even though you purchased our product with your money when you use it we own you.”
I guess you could say a bms is an isolator so guess it is still within scope of this post. Right?
I learned last night on chit chat some ppl are running click post score cards here. Is their a monetary return like youtube videos? If so: Where is my check? Entertainment is all in the power of reading. We skip right over terms and such …. Right?
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hwy17
Anti-Solar Enthusiast
I have no PV disconnect so I win the thread.
No. I don't have a JK BMS. In fact I really don't have any dog in this fight at all. Just asked a few questions and tried to answer about the bluetooth location stuff.
Because that's how Bluetooth LE works? Turn it off and the bluetooth function isn't going to work right anymore.
I've had my misgivings about some of these permissions requested by these apps, to the point where I've considered using an old "junk" device to configure them just so if they did try something nefarious they can't get very far (nothing really to harvest at all on an otherwise empty device). I haven't actually set up my JBD BMS yet lol so I still have time to decide.
I'm not placing myself between you and him. You're right I don't know exactly what is in that metal box, I can only guess based on what I see running to it, but why does it matter so much? I asked you because in one post you demanded to know what was in there several times. It came across as rather antagonistic to me, so I was simply asking you why.
I didn't know you were desiring some semi-private-yet-in-public-view fight with zwy. I guess you have an axe to grind or something?
You got it wrong he posted in my thread. Get it right. Actually no fight…. I think it is funny. He needs to get that solar chicken and enjoy life.No. I don't have a JK BMS. In fact I really don't have any dog in this fight at all. Just asked a few questions and tried to answer about the bluetooth location stuff.
Because that's how Bluetooth LE works? Turn it off and the bluetooth function isn't going to work right anymore.
I've had my misgivings about some of these permissions requested by these apps, to the point where I've considered using an old "junk" device to configure them just so if they did try something nefarious they can't get very far (nothing really to harvest at all on an otherwise empty device). I haven't actually set up my JBD BMS yet lol so I still have time to decide.
I'm not placing myself between you and him. You're right I don't know exactly what is in that metal box, I can only guess based on what I see running to it, but why does it matter so much? I asked you because in one post you demanded to know what was in there several times. It came across as rather antagonistic to me, so I was simply asking you why.
I didn't know you were desiring some semi-private-yet-in-public-view fight with zwy. I guess you have an axe to grind or something?
They Chinese are intrusive by our own hand and agreement. They need to be sued. It should be stated before purchase.
Someone cried to mod. Who?
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Everyone is suppose be 18 years or older here . Who cried to mods.?
robbob2112
Doing more research, mosty harmless
I've been wondering - where did the first post go? The only place I can find it is in my quoted reply to it.
Imitation not allowed Copy right
I’m still waiting on someone to man up.
Who reported post to mods
You have to custom order them from Shoals and they are expensive as they are meant for commercial use. I am lucky enough to work at a commercial site that uses them and we had one that had some damage to several fuse holders in such a way that it was no longer useable at site. So instead of just scrapping it I repurposed it. Most residential inverters can't handle the load these can carry anyway so I just removed the damaged fuse holders and instead of the usual 14 circuits they come with mine only has 4 circuits, but each circuit can use up to a 45 Amp fuse. Currently I only use two of the circuits with 20 Amp fuses. This box can switch 40 Amps total all day long.
Wow at 115pounds it has some weight to it …. Lot of circuits.
Is this the same as you have?
Quattrohead
Emperor Of Solar
So getting back to the original intent of this thread, I believe that headline came from Australia and is due to the ultra UV that these disconnects were getting over the years and they just eventually started to crumble and were causing fires. They assumed that no one uses them anyway and they were more of a hazard than a safety device so they have stopped recommending them.
Plus we now have better technology like RSD modules.
Plus we now have better technology like RSD modules.
Are you using one? Does it cut out when power is lost?
Example:
Quattrohead
Emperor Of Solar
I am using Tigo 2FA and they work well.
Daddy Tanuki
Emperor Of Solar
I think there is more to it then that. the Neely blanceers I bought (four of the damned things) are not accessible via the bluetooth app unless your phone has signal. It says no GPS something or another... I gave up on them all 11 or 1200 dollars worth of them when I could not get them to work in my shop.@D71 what are you going on about that Vevor box so much? It is a standard steel NEMA electrical enclosure box. Given the fact it is attached to a PV array, and has electrical conduit running to it, I'm going to hazard a guess that it has a bunch of wires in it
And you do realize BMSes don't have GPSes in them, right? Not sure where that one came from... You have to enable location services when using your phone to connect to the BMS because of the bluetooth connection. I think it uses Bluetooth Low Energy so that for the NEARBY device (your phone) it can say "I'm right here." It can't call home to China or anything like that. It can't reach outside of a couple hundred feet in theory, let alone in practice (which is less in my experience).
My battery packs are inside my shop which is a 40' container, that is inside a building which is made of 4" square pipe with sheet metal cladding. so two layers of metal. you walk into the shop your cell phone reception goes to one bar and the 4g/5g indicator dies and you can barely get a text let alone a call. walk form there into the container and all phone cellular service is lost completely. with the DALY bms's the blue tooth connection still works even though occasionally the no GPS signal does come up on the display for the app, it still works. the Neely balancers will not work at all.
so there is something going on, either form the App's that they use or something.
jzampieron
Solar Enthusiast
I'm using a Midnight Solar fused "DC Isolator". It was expensive, but with 11+kW of panels I want something that's going to actually break the arc if I need to open it hot.
I also have RS so hopefully that will never happen... but its there if I need it.
I also have RS so hopefully that will never happen... but its there if I need it.
Koyaanisqatsi
Electron addict
It's not the hardware. It's the apps. The hardware will work just fine, in some cases, without the app. But the apps you have to download from some random server in China are what are harvesting your data. The BMS is no more capable of ratting on you than a brick. However, the tracking device you carry in your pocket most hours of your life is tracking every single movement and detail about your life. The phone itself does, if it's an Android (Apple is slightly less obnoxious, but not totally.). And the apps are siphoning off everything they can get away with - some all the time, whether they are "running" or not. I quit my last job over this. Effing creepy. You know Google can tell what EXACTLY you are doing with your phone, just from the inertia sensors?
This is also why I hate IoT. Not only is it stupid as all getup that a device that turns your light on and off needs to send its data across the country - if not around the world - to do it, but all that data is stored somewhere and the company is making more money off of it than the product they sold you. This is why you can't buy a non-smart TV for anywhere near the price of a smart TV.
I run home automation, and will only run devices I can reflash with a known local-only firmware (usually Tasmota). Don't even get me started on the Amazon, Google and Apple smarthome systems. Talk about data mines.
This is also why I hate IoT. Not only is it stupid as all getup that a device that turns your light on and off needs to send its data across the country - if not around the world - to do it, but all that data is stored somewhere and the company is making more money off of it than the product they sold you. This is why you can't buy a non-smart TV for anywhere near the price of a smart TV.
I run home automation, and will only run devices I can reflash with a known local-only firmware (usually Tasmota). Don't even get me started on the Amazon, Google and Apple smarthome systems. Talk about data mines.
davefromlondon
New Member
I'm considering building a solar system, Texas. was there any conclusion to the discussion here that UK insurance companies recommend DC.isolation integrated into the inverter and no external DC isolator to be used based on fire risk ?
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