JAndle
Mad Scientist
A year ago I was researching and planning. I settled on Wisdom/BSL 10kWh 51.2V LFP (6 total), Jinko Tiger Pro 530W (pallet of 31), Sigineer 230V single phase 5kW off grid inverters (4), Victron auto transformers (2), and various glue parts and mechanicals.
In September I got Belize PUC approval and started the order, which shipped around Christmas. I used An Yun Logistics, which is who BSL uses, to aggregate the order. It reached Panama in a timely manner, where it hung out a little longer than planned. It then did a loop around the Caribbean, reaching port March 23.
A really poor choice of customs brokers jackknifed the shipment and I had to involve a new broker/trucker to get them... this week (June 13th).
Yesterday I mounted 6 panels (300V) on rails on top of the 20' container and ran 4mm cable into the shed next to it. I had already wired breaker/midnight solar surge arrestor/fuse/small surge arrestor block but identified a polarity inversion and fixed it. Issue one arose - Sigineer defaults to SLA so no BMS cable... Wisdom was supposed to send BMS cable but only sent battery to battery jumpers. PV to AC worked with 267V actual (cloudy) at no load. Battery wouldn't even try.
Odd things were battery read 17.5V dsconnected and 0V connected. Turns out a good voltmeter will read leakage current of the BMS in OFF state but the battery terminal protection circuit of the inverter is enough load to see it as 0V. Tried the rest button a few times, but it was hot and 1000% RH so I was too impatient to hold it long enough...
Today I took an Ethernet cable and the Sigineer manual and... nope. still no... decided to sit on the battery reset button and... it's alive!
Will take photos of the very kludgy wiring (cable trays to be added) and the panel rail mounts later today.
This is the backup system for the house, still under construction. Mid July I will put three strings of 7 panels (350V/) feeding three paralleled inverters sharing 5x 10kWh batteries. BSL made me a custom combiner for 5 batteries and 4 inverters and shipped (most of the) cables for the rack.
The main system will feed 230V to shedable loads (AirCon, 230V appliances if we ever convert from gas stove and dryer) and to a Victron autotransformer. Autotransformer and remote system will feed an ATS and that will feed a 'standard' 115V split phase distribution box for the main loads of the house.
Sigineer support and documentation are top notch.
Wisdom/BSL workmanship is great but I am neutral on their support or clarity of communications. The combiner box and cabling system exceeded expectations.
Getting the panels I wanted was like pulling teeth and every company that took the order then tried to substitute. Lost two panels (they were spares) just due to horrid road conditions here even in the factory crating.
Ordering spools of PV cable and ATS was easy on Alibaba...
... pics over the rest of the project duration.
In September I got Belize PUC approval and started the order, which shipped around Christmas. I used An Yun Logistics, which is who BSL uses, to aggregate the order. It reached Panama in a timely manner, where it hung out a little longer than planned. It then did a loop around the Caribbean, reaching port March 23.
A really poor choice of customs brokers jackknifed the shipment and I had to involve a new broker/trucker to get them... this week (June 13th).
Yesterday I mounted 6 panels (300V) on rails on top of the 20' container and ran 4mm cable into the shed next to it. I had already wired breaker/midnight solar surge arrestor/fuse/small surge arrestor block but identified a polarity inversion and fixed it. Issue one arose - Sigineer defaults to SLA so no BMS cable... Wisdom was supposed to send BMS cable but only sent battery to battery jumpers. PV to AC worked with 267V actual (cloudy) at no load. Battery wouldn't even try.
Odd things were battery read 17.5V dsconnected and 0V connected. Turns out a good voltmeter will read leakage current of the BMS in OFF state but the battery terminal protection circuit of the inverter is enough load to see it as 0V. Tried the rest button a few times, but it was hot and 1000% RH so I was too impatient to hold it long enough...
Today I took an Ethernet cable and the Sigineer manual and... nope. still no... decided to sit on the battery reset button and... it's alive!
Will take photos of the very kludgy wiring (cable trays to be added) and the panel rail mounts later today.
This is the backup system for the house, still under construction. Mid July I will put three strings of 7 panels (350V/) feeding three paralleled inverters sharing 5x 10kWh batteries. BSL made me a custom combiner for 5 batteries and 4 inverters and shipped (most of the) cables for the rack.
The main system will feed 230V to shedable loads (AirCon, 230V appliances if we ever convert from gas stove and dryer) and to a Victron autotransformer. Autotransformer and remote system will feed an ATS and that will feed a 'standard' 115V split phase distribution box for the main loads of the house.
Sigineer support and documentation are top notch.
Wisdom/BSL workmanship is great but I am neutral on their support or clarity of communications. The combiner box and cabling system exceeded expectations.
Getting the panels I wanted was like pulling teeth and every company that took the order then tried to substitute. Lost two panels (they were spares) just due to horrid road conditions here even in the factory crating.
Ordering spools of PV cable and ATS was easy on Alibaba...
... pics over the rest of the project duration.