1st home DIY - off-grid 14 panels on shingles, 6000xp, and EG4 pro heated battery in the cold northeast
- Thread starter thomBangor
- Start date
ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
Gotta be a better way. Glad I live here, don't want to be out in a parka shoveling snow (or leaves) 
. A shame you can't easily lay a big tarp or something over the array whenever it snows, then just drag it off. Need an easy way to pull it up over and secure it.
. A shame you can't easily lay a big tarp or something over the array whenever it snows, then just drag it off. Need an easy way to pull it up over and secure it.thomBangor
Solar Enthusiast
yep. being way up high on the roof makes everything ten times harder.Gotta be a better way. Glad I live here, don't want to be out in a parka shoveling snow (or leaves)
Howdy neighbor. The only "better way" I've found for snow removal is a steep tilt (65 degrees or more). That both lessens the amount of snow that can land, and allows it to slide off quickly once the panels start to generate heat. Otherwise, hello snow removal tool. Clever tool creation, btw!
thomBangor
Solar Enthusiast
Shed temperature update:
Outdoor temperature 0 deg F
Shed temperature on top of battery: 34 deg F
Battery and Inverter operating nominally.
Looks like negative temps are coming next week. will update again then to see if the insulated shed can handle the worst weather we get.
Outdoor temperature 0 deg F
Shed temperature on top of battery: 34 deg F
Battery and Inverter operating nominally.
Looks like negative temps are coming next week. will update again then to see if the insulated shed can handle the worst weather we get.
thomBangor
Solar Enthusiast
2nd Temperature update:
Overnight temps dropped to negative 10 deg F. Battery still functional, but will not charge due to temperature. I feel fortunate in retrospect to have hooked this up to the grid so that power continues during the one or two days we will have extremely cold temps.
Chart of outdoor temp vs shed temp nighttime/no sun heat:
Outdoor Shed
16 48
-4 27
-6 21
-8 17
pasting this as an image in case the text gets mangled:
Here's what the battery looks like when it can't/won't charge:
Outdoor temp above 15 deg F today and battery is now operating normally again:
Overnight temps dropped to negative 10 deg F. Battery still functional, but will not charge due to temperature. I feel fortunate in retrospect to have hooked this up to the grid so that power continues during the one or two days we will have extremely cold temps.
Chart of outdoor temp vs shed temp nighttime/no sun heat:
Outdoor Shed
16 48
-4 27
-6 21
-8 17
pasting this as an image in case the text gets mangled:
Here's what the battery looks like when it can't/won't charge:
Outdoor temp above 15 deg F today and battery is now operating normally again:
ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
Interesting, the inside/outside T-gap closes as it gets colder. RE: Power from the grid... You wuss, you should just suck it up, and wear heavier clothes, stamp your feet. Sheesh 
.
Something to be said for city power. I find it amazing they are able to accomplish what they do for the money in most places.
.Something to be said for city power. I find it amazing they are able to accomplish what they do for the money in most places.
thomBangor
Solar Enthusiast
Notes to self:
Nix plan to install 2nd lifepo and 2nd 6000xp indoors. Stick to shed model. See:
Magnetic roof mount first test (thin sheet metal around the house e.g. fridge, boxfan, shelves, etc):
the brackets seem to be the same everywhere. holes are 6mm/M6/1/4"
SUNMAK 16 Units per Set Solar Panel Mounting Z Brackets, Solar Panel Mounting Brackets Lightweight Aluminum Corrosion-Free for RVs, Trailers, Boats, Yachts, Wall and Other Off Gird Roof
THCMagorilla Neodymium Rectangular Pot Magnets 73 lbs Pulling Force 80x13.5x5mm Pack of 8 with Countersunk Hole,Mounting Screws,Strong,Industrial Strength Rare Earth Magnets for Home,Workplace
TRYMAG Neodymium Bar Magnets with Countersunk Hole, 80 Lbs Rectangular Pot Magnets Heavy Duty with Screws for Wall Mounting, 15 Pack Rare Earth Magnets Strips for Home, Garage, Wokplace - 60x13.5x5mm
Neodymium Round Magnet with M6 Male Thread Nuts Bolts 150 lb Corrosion-Resistant Mounting Magnet for Lighting Camera and Other Brackets Outdoor Tools 36mm D - 8 Packs
Flutesan Magnet Rubber Coated Mounting Magnets Small Scratch Safe Stud Magnet Painted Surface Waterproof Magnets Threaded Magnet with Bolts Nuts for Lighting Camera (4 Packs, Black, 2.6 Inch)
24Pack Rubber Coated Magnets, 30LBS Rubber Coated Neodymium Magnets with M6 Magnetic Assembly Base for Light Bar Mirror Camera Tool(1.69 Inch)
Initial test results:Winner: M6 silver dense neodymium pulled the hardest, and also had nearly the best price. Also comes with M6 thread so no modification to bracket necessary. Handles torques well due to higher pull force, but comes runner up in the torque category. In an "am-I-dreaming" fasion, these also come with what appear to be stainless hardware (lock washer & nut) so it is very convenient.
Best torque was the largest radius magnet.
Rubber coated magnets were easier to remove and would seemingly prevent water from entering underneath. I'm thinking if I use the silver magnets perhaps I should consider an agent to keep water from sitting between the magnet and the metal roofing.
long bar magnets would concievably have best price point, but the M6 version was too small (too little pull and torque) and the larger version was considerably more expensive. Both require drilling your own holes in EVERY bracket.
May want to install an emergency tether for each panel? Something that would prevent liftoff in the event hurricane winds can pull harder than magnets? Needs more thought.
EDIT: found a guy doing something similar on youtube:
looks like youtuber is using similar magnets. If you assume 1 inch to knuckle, it looks (1:29) like magnet is somewhere between 1.25 and 1.375". Magnets I refer to above are 1.4" / 36mm. So, I think same magnets (edit: not quite the same with hole in the center-- need to test as price point is considerably lower). Presumably this tests to at least 60mph winds on road.
Interesting that the airspace here is smaller than what has been recommended in specs and on this forum. Curious if youtuber can tell us whether that airspace was sufficient to prevent degradation of panels.
solar panels appear to have 8 prefab holes for mounting. 150lb magnets mentioned above are $3 each. 100lb in youtube vid are $1.5 each. Could double the number of brackets? screw size is M10. 1400mm-1150mm = 250mm. 250/2 = 125mm. 12.5cm brackets are 10cm. magnets are 36cm. Assembly length = 10cm + 2*36cm/2 (32mm for donut magnet) - 2*holeInsetDistance. holeInsetDistance must be >5.5mm for side-by-side brackets.
Nix plan to install 2nd lifepo and 2nd 6000xp indoors. Stick to shed model. See:
Magnetic roof mount first test (thin sheet metal around the house e.g. fridge, boxfan, shelves, etc):
the brackets seem to be the same everywhere. holes are 6mm/M6/1/4"
testing larger (rubber-coated) magnets to see if spreading out the magnetic field lines helps with more pull in thinner metal.
SUNMAK 16 Units per Set Solar Panel Mounting Z Brackets, Solar Panel Mounting Brackets Lightweight Aluminum Corrosion-Free for RVs, Trailers, Boats, Yachts, Wall and Other Off Gird Roof
THCMagorilla Neodymium Rectangular Pot Magnets 73 lbs Pulling Force 80x13.5x5mm Pack of 8 with Countersunk Hole,Mounting Screws,Strong,Industrial Strength Rare Earth Magnets for Home,Workplace
TRYMAG Neodymium Bar Magnets with Countersunk Hole, 80 Lbs Rectangular Pot Magnets Heavy Duty with Screws for Wall Mounting, 15 Pack Rare Earth Magnets Strips for Home, Garage, Wokplace - 60x13.5x5mm
Neodymium Round Magnet with M6 Male Thread Nuts Bolts 150 lb Corrosion-Resistant Mounting Magnet for Lighting Camera and Other Brackets Outdoor Tools 36mm D - 8 Packs
Flutesan Magnet Rubber Coated Mounting Magnets Small Scratch Safe Stud Magnet Painted Surface Waterproof Magnets Threaded Magnet with Bolts Nuts for Lighting Camera (4 Packs, Black, 2.6 Inch)
24Pack Rubber Coated Magnets, 30LBS Rubber Coated Neodymium Magnets with M6 Magnetic Assembly Base for Light Bar Mirror Camera Tool(1.69 Inch)
Initial test results:Winner: M6 silver dense neodymium pulled the hardest, and also had nearly the best price. Also comes with M6 thread so no modification to bracket necessary. Handles torques well due to higher pull force, but comes runner up in the torque category. In an "am-I-dreaming" fasion, these also come with what appear to be stainless hardware (lock washer & nut) so it is very convenient.
Best torque was the largest radius magnet.
Rubber coated magnets were easier to remove and would seemingly prevent water from entering underneath. I'm thinking if I use the silver magnets perhaps I should consider an agent to keep water from sitting between the magnet and the metal roofing.
long bar magnets would concievably have best price point, but the M6 version was too small (too little pull and torque) and the larger version was considerably more expensive. Both require drilling your own holes in EVERY bracket.
May want to install an emergency tether for each panel? Something that would prevent liftoff in the event hurricane winds can pull harder than magnets? Needs more thought.
EDIT: found a guy doing something similar on youtube:
looks like youtuber is using similar magnets. If you assume 1 inch to knuckle, it looks (1:29) like magnet is somewhere between 1.25 and 1.375". Magnets I refer to above are 1.4" / 36mm. So, I think same magnets (edit: not quite the same with hole in the center-- need to test as price point is considerably lower). Presumably this tests to at least 60mph winds on road.
Interesting that the airspace here is smaller than what has been recommended in specs and on this forum. Curious if youtuber can tell us whether that airspace was sufficient to prevent degradation of panels.
solar panels appear to have 8 prefab holes for mounting. 150lb magnets mentioned above are $3 each. 100lb in youtube vid are $1.5 each. Could double the number of brackets? screw size is M10. 1400mm-1150mm = 250mm. 250/2 = 125mm. 12.5cm brackets are 10cm. magnets are 36cm. Assembly length = 10cm + 2*36cm/2 (32mm for donut magnet) - 2*holeInsetDistance. holeInsetDistance must be >5.5mm for side-by-side brackets.
Last edited:
thomBangor
Solar Enthusiast
End-of-winter update:
For much of December/January my battery would charge from the grid every 2-3 days due to poor sunlight. That appears to have ended a the start of February. Battery is charging itself again. I did modify the parameters (after watching Prowse's video) so that the battery could drain to a lower level before charging. Previously it charged at 20% and stopped at 100%. Now it charges at 7% and stops at 70%.
Also of note: The solar panels on the west side seem to be capable of self-removing snow. There was a massive snowstorm a few days ago and (see image below) they are already pulling significant watts in and appear to be clear of snow. No brushing has been done. The east-facing panels have about 1/2 inch of snow still coating them.
Last note: another set of magnets tested.
Used stainless washer/nut with a #6 and #8 screw. #6 screwhead fits flush to magnet face; #8 protrudes, which may reduce pull force. #6 has slop in the bracket hole; #8 fits well.
These magnets are not as strong as the slightly larger version with the protruding threaded stud. Their strength is similar in feel to the rubber-coated magnets. If I were to use these, I would definitely need 8 brackets/panel instead of 4.
User https://diysolarforum.com/threads/magnetic-panel-mounts.98087/post-1324932 suggested using s-5 brackets for standing seam roof. I think my roof is exposed-fastener. They also have brackets for taht. The brackets are mounted above where liquid water would run, so perhaps they could be used without creating roof leaks. I like that they ship with an EPDM gasket between the bracket and the roof metal. This is important to me and I worked with tar to create something similar when mounting on the garage. Tar sucks to work with. Brackets appear to be $10 each.
www.s-5.com
www.s-5.com
For much of December/January my battery would charge from the grid every 2-3 days due to poor sunlight. That appears to have ended a the start of February. Battery is charging itself again. I did modify the parameters (after watching Prowse's video) so that the battery could drain to a lower level before charging. Previously it charged at 20% and stopped at 100%. Now it charges at 7% and stops at 70%.
Also of note: The solar panels on the west side seem to be capable of self-removing snow. There was a massive snowstorm a few days ago and (see image below) they are already pulling significant watts in and appear to be clear of snow. No brushing has been done. The east-facing panels have about 1/2 inch of snow still coating them.
Last note: another set of magnets tested.
Used stainless washer/nut with a #6 and #8 screw. #6 screwhead fits flush to magnet face; #8 protrudes, which may reduce pull force. #6 has slop in the bracket hole; #8 fits well.
These magnets are not as strong as the slightly larger version with the protruding threaded stud. Their strength is similar in feel to the rubber-coated magnets. If I were to use these, I would definitely need 8 brackets/panel instead of 4.
User https://diysolarforum.com/threads/magnetic-panel-mounts.98087/post-1324932 suggested using s-5 brackets for standing seam roof. I think my roof is exposed-fastener. They also have brackets for taht. The brackets are mounted above where liquid water would run, so perhaps they could be used without creating roof leaks. I like that they ship with an EPDM gasket between the bracket and the roof metal. This is important to me and I worked with tar to create something similar when mounting on the garage. Tar sucks to work with. Brackets appear to be $10 each.
RibBracket™ Exposed Fastener Metal Roof Brackets | S-5!
The RibBracket mounts HVAC, solar PV, snow guards, and more to common North American the exposed fastener trapezoidal rib metal roof panel.
www.s-5.com
RibBracket I-V™ Exposed Fastener Metal Roof Brackets | S-5!
The RibBracket I-V series features flexible legs to fit various dimensions of the exposed fastener trapezoidal rib metal roof panel.
www.s-5.com
Last edited:
I've used S-5 brackets with the "adhesive sticker" on a corrugated roof and they work great. No leaks from the screws and much neater than sealant around the bracket (which you can also add if you wish). Their PV Kit hardware for mounting panels, which can be attached to either the corrugated roof or standing seam brackets, are my preferred mounting system. Used on three buildings without a problem.
thomBangor
Solar Enthusiast
Duplicate of another post, but I want it in this thread so I can keep a whole history:
I take back what I said about the wheels being stupid. Yes, they're dangerous, but they were so helpful when I installed this thing.
First: I'm not very happy with the eco-worthy staff. Delivery was handled very badly. The manual isn't great for interconnecting to inverters (but at least there is a manual). I'm using an EG4 6000xp and I set the Eco-worthy to the luxpower communication and plugged into the RS485, which is what I thought the manual wanted. That didn't work so I switched to the CAN port and it seems happy now doing whatever "Pylon" is.
I'm happy with the wheels because I had to get this thing with my loader, and then drive it half a mile. I finally got it to the container where I wanted to install it, and was getting pretty tired from trying to move that 300 lbs. around in the mud. It made me really happy when I got it open, tipped it up, and basically rolled it out and then rolled it 40' to the back of the container.
So in the end, I'm grateful for the wheels, even though they're dangerous to use.
Note: once it is in position, there are feet that screw down so it doesn't roll.
System appears to be functional now, other than the fact that I used very broken solar panels that were sitting around and I think one of them is current limiting the string. Battery arrived charged to about 30%.
If anybody out there is spectating my other threads: as a 2nd phase experiment these solar panels are held up by magnets of various kinds. The one with the block under it has the weakest set of magnets (and they didn't align well with the container corrugation). Two others are held up (but I wouldn't bet my life on) with these. I put in an alibaba order and bought 100 more of the magnets that work really well: D36 M6 potted screw, chrome. The 6000XP is stuck to the inside container wall with expensive big fat rubber coated magnets, and I needed 4 (2 was not nearly enough).
View attachment 289494
View attachment 289495
View attachment 289496
View attachment 289497
I take back what I said about the wheels being stupid. Yes, they're dangerous, but they were so helpful when I installed this thing.
First: I'm not very happy with the eco-worthy staff. Delivery was handled very badly. The manual isn't great for interconnecting to inverters (but at least there is a manual). I'm using an EG4 6000xp and I set the Eco-worthy to the luxpower communication and plugged into the RS485, which is what I thought the manual wanted. That didn't work so I switched to the CAN port and it seems happy now doing whatever "Pylon" is.
I'm happy with the wheels because I had to get this thing with my loader, and then drive it half a mile. I finally got it to the container where I wanted to install it, and was getting pretty tired from trying to move that 300 lbs. around in the mud. It made me really happy when I got it open, tipped it up, and basically rolled it out and then rolled it 40' to the back of the container.
So in the end, I'm grateful for the wheels, even though they're dangerous to use.
Note: once it is in position, there are feet that screw down so it doesn't roll.
System appears to be functional now, other than the fact that I used very broken solar panels that were sitting around and I think one of them is current limiting the string. Battery arrived charged to about 30%.
If anybody out there is spectating my other threads: as a 2nd phase experiment these solar panels are held up by magnets of various kinds. The one with the block under it has the weakest set of magnets (and they didn't align well with the container corrugation). Two others are held up (but I wouldn't bet my life on) with these. I put in an alibaba order and bought 100 more of the magnets that work really well: D36 M6 potted screw, chrome. The 6000XP is stuck to the inside container wall with expensive big fat rubber coated magnets, and I needed 4 (2 was not nearly enough).
View attachment 289494
View attachment 289495
View attachment 289496
View attachment 289497
Last edited:
Similar threads
