My build thread

[robbob2112]

All the same voltage at the same time. I.e. no. of panels, with shading, facing the same direction and angle/tilt.

That is helpful.

GT string inverter MPPTs have a minimum operating voltage. If you have a roof facet which can fit some but not enough panels to generate sufficient voltage for the MPPT, then that roof space is not suitable to be used by a string inverter unless there is another section of roof with the same orientation onto which more panels can be installed.

As is this

Any others?

Originally 6 months ago when I started looking at solar I thought microinverters were tha answer for max output. And then I started reading and my circumstances have changed. On my current house I was going to do roof mount with 3 strings, south, east, and west. The east and west would get shading from a few trees.

Now I am moving to Cortez, Co, building a house, and will be doing a ground mount. Looking hard at the fence panel frameless or more traditional panels, but on a motorized mount where I can do automated east/west tracking and manual tilt by season. I think I can build the mounts for less than the cost of the microinverters if I do it myself.

My eta is 1.5 years to start so I have lots of time to figure things out.

 

[timselectric]

Please keep in mind that this is my build thread.
Not the place for general discussions.
Thanks

 

[robbob2112]

Sorry, ill stop

 

[JWilliams]

Nice set up!

 

[timselectric]

I've got a little job coming up to install a parking lot light pole.
And there's no electricity nearby.
I need to mix concrete on site.
(Challenge accepted)

 

[timselectric]

And I figured out how to youtube. lol

 

[B-Mod]

And I figured out how to youtube. lol

I am your first subscriber. I am getting in on the ground level, lol.

 

[timselectric]

I am your first subscriber. I am getting in on the ground level, lol.

I'm afraid that it's going to be a lonely place. lol

 

[Zwy]

And I figured out how to youtube. lol

Are you planning on wearing suspenders or a belt in your videos?

 

[Zwy]

I am your first subscriber. I am getting in on the ground level, lol.

I'm #3, we should get an award.

 

[42OhmsPA]

I might have to make a utube account to join the party...

So you're feeding the mixer motor direct PV? 3S ~130VDC under load?

 

[littleharbor2]

Are you planning on wearing suspenders or a belt in your videos?

May I suggest this sharp outfit?

 

[timselectric]

Are you planning on wearing suspenders or a belt in your videos?

Why do I have to choose?
Can't I wear both? lol

 

[timselectric]

I might have to make a utube account to join the party...

So you're feeding the mixer motor direct PV? 3S ~130VDC under load?

No
There's an ecoflow river 2 between the solar and mixer.
Downside is that it only accepts 200w of solar and I'm pulling 500w with the mixer.
So the solar is just a "range extender" kind of.
It was a cloudy day, so I modified two panels for the voltage.
The 3rd panel was just to verify the limit.

Panels are in parallel.
25v limit on the input.

 

[Danke]

 

[Dave911]

And I figured out how to youtube. lol

Its the first step towards being an influencer!
That video appears to be a blipvert! If you remember Max Headroom, you know what Im talking about.

 

[42OhmsPA]

View attachment 208297

Ahh now I see it.
Good thing that's not ecoflow magic smoke

 

[timselectric]

Good thing that's not ecoflow magic smoke

That's an expensive habit that needs its funds converted to solar. lol

 

[Hedges]

5.5 kw solar
Growatt SPF-5000-ES
Auto transformer
One server rack battery (so far)
Peak solar output so far was 4k.

Growatt and auto-transformer! You don't say!

Now that I think we have agreement on how to protect an auto-transformer, is that how you did it way back when?

Live Ground Shocked 5 Year Old

Hmm.... I better move on for now, but I'm thinking now that @Hedges is right on that 12.5A input to the autotransformer.... Now this will bug me until I get to the test tomorrow! 😆 I'll report back with numbers, pictures..... and idk what else. But all the data that I can easily and quickly...

diysolarforum.com

 

[timselectric]

Now that I think we have agreement on how to protect an auto-transformer, is that how you did it way back when?

Nope
That one was "T" tapped in the loads panel.
Only has short protection. But loads are well balanced.
Never more than 3a on the neutral.

The screen under the transformer is monitoring the neutral current.