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Could you please give up a close up of the back of the array so we can see how its mounted? Can you also tell us the items you used to make that mount?Progress!
Everything is running great.
Could you please give up a close up of the back of the array so we can see how its mounted? Can you also tell us the items you used to make that mount?Progress!
Everything is running great.
Could you please give up a close up of the back of the array so we can see how its mounted? Can you also tell us the items you used to make that mount?
What would be causing the 30amp circuit breaker to trip? Its only happened twice since the system has been up and running (1 month).Glad to hear it. Unfortunately, I have to burst your bubble. Even if that's a 8x8 pole, it may not be adequate for peak winds in your area. A 30 mph wind perpendicular to your panels will put about an 800# load on your array. Even if the panel center is only 5' above ground, that would be a 4000ft-lb moment trying to snap your pole at the base.
You have a lot of trees, so hopefully, you get negligible wind. If you've ever had storms with high winds, I would encourage you to use a steel pipe.
Wood posts can be fine as panel mounts, just not single pole cantilevered-type.
What would cause the 30amp circuit breaker to trip? Its only happened twice since the system has been up and running (1 month).Glad to hear it. Unfortunately, I have to burst your bubble. Even if that's a 8x8 pole, it may not be adequate for peak winds in your area. A 30 mph wind perpendicular to your panels will put about an 800# load on your array. Even if the panel center is only 5' above ground, that would be a 4000ft-lb moment trying to snap your pole at the base.
You have a lot of trees, so hopefully, you get negligible wind. If you've ever had storms with high winds, I would encourage you to use a steel pipe.
Wood posts can be fine as panel mounts, just not single pole cantilevered-type.
So everything has been running great since I swapped for the 60amp breaker until yesterday. Batteries were 100% drained and everything was off. We haven't had much sun so I'm thinking that's the issue but I want to make sure. I disconnected each battery and tested them individually and each is reading out 11.3v or 11.4v...is this common? We have a little sun today and when the panels are receiving direct sunlight the battery capacity spikes to 50 or 60% but as soon as the sun goes behind a cloud, the capacity instantly drops back to the 10-15% range. I've noticed this in the past on sunny days when the sun sets, the battery capacity will go from 100% to 60% really quickly.2awg is overkill and would suggest a higher breaker, but 75A works fine. Note that cheap Amazon breakers may be fine or they may be junk.
Today I had full sun all day. Went to the cabin early and made sure everything was off except the small refrigerator. Around noon, I checked the system again and the battery capacity was at 76% so I decided I'd turn the inverter off and left everything off (no draw on system) to see if i could get to 100%. I just returned to the cabin after sunset and the batteries are only reading 41% after a few hours of full sun and no draw....battery issue I'm assuming?So everything has been running great since I swapped for the 60amp breaker until yesterday. Batteries were 100% drained and everything was off. We haven't had much sun so I'm thinking that's the issue but I want to make sure. I disconnected each battery and tested them individually and each is reading out 11.3v or 11.4v...is this common? We have a little sun today and when the panels are receiving direct sunlight the battery capacity spikes to 50 or 60% but as soon as the sun goes behind a cloud, the capacity instantly drops back to the 10-15% range. I've noticed this in the past on sunny days when the sun sets, the battery capacity will go from 100% to 60% really quickly.
Are my batteries bad?
I'm getting the % from the readout on my SCC. I do also have a battery monitor that displays the voltage.... both were reading 11.3-11.4v.Batteries at 11.3-11.4 are completely discharged. "haven't had much sun" + using power + "we have a little sun" all equates to you using more power than your are collecting.
Where are you getting these % numbers? If they are not based on a programmable battery monitor, they are likely meaningless and based on voltage alone, which is consistent with the rapid changes in % capacity you describe.
"Full sun all day" from 750W of panels means AT MOST you're going to get 5*750W = 3750Wh assuming you have excellent panel orientation and tilt with full charging. Your 6X 110Ah, 12V will need AT LEAST 7920Wh of input to fully charge them. Taking inefficiencies into account, you will need the better part of 3 days of charging to ensure they are fully charged.
Any time you're talking about a % charge, please include the actual battery voltage.
I have thought of using a battery charger as well when we are running our generator if using heavy tools/saws etc. during the day. While we're running the generator it makes sense to charge our bank if it's not fully charged. It is a gas generator that we start manually. There is no grid-tie whatsoever.The converter is at its heart an AC powered battery charger, so probably.
Link charger to confirm?