My build thread

[timselectric]

Lorex
I have two systems at the house. And have installed several systems for customers.

 

[GRMRC]

Lorex
I have two systems at the house. And have installed several systems for customers.

Other security camera NVR options include Ubiquiti Unifi. These are IP cameras powered with POE. Integrates seamlessly into your network and wifi access points. It’s all standard RJ-45 UTP wiring. Have used these for several years.

 

[42OhmsPA]

Lorex

I read great things about them years ago.
Can they be monitored locally with no interwebs?
I want a system that works like SA, ideally with wireless solar cameras.
I've setup a couple Reolink systems for friends but you are stuck using their cloud software for the solar cams.

Ubiquiti Unifi.

I'm guessing these would definitely work like I want?
Years ago I had setup a PI and a cheap ONVIF / RTSP camera, it worked well enough but I ended up repurposing the PI and conduit for solar...

 

[timselectric]

Can they be monitored locally with no interwebs?

Yes, the dvr has a hdmi output.
Not sure about wireless cameras. I prefer hardwired, for myself and my customers.

 

[ricardocello]

GRMRC said:
Ubiquiti Unifi.

I'm guessing these would definitely work like I want?
Years ago I had setup a PI and a cheap ONVIF / RTSP camera, it worked well enough but I ended up repurposing the PI and conduit for solar...

Ubiquiti Unifi is great, but like Victron, once you go down their road, you are sucked in for life.
I’ve got 22 UniFi cameras running PoE. NVR keeps the video storage local on my drives, in my house.
But their cloud authentication crap irritates me.

 

[Crowz]

I use Ezviz. They can be used offline but can do online. No monthly fees required to monitor them via internet from anywhere. They have a monthly cloud fee if you want them to store the videos for you.

 

[GRMRC]

Ubiquiti Unifi is great, but like Victron, once you go down their road, you are sucked in for life.
I’ve got 22 UniFi cameras running PoE. NVR keeps the video storage local on my drives, in my house.
But their cloud authentication crap irritates me.

That’s why I use a throw away email account just for Unifi.

 

[ricardocello]

That’s why I use a throw away email account just for Unifi.

I wish I had done that!

 

[Wessss77]

temporary ground array is dealing with the house shadow.

Just throw em out there... Love it.

 

[timselectric]

Hurry up and get here, February.

 

[Crowz]

So close but yet so far.

I so want spring to get here.

 

[dougbert]

geez, we are now, all primitive SUN worshipers! And I love it

at least we are PAST the armpit of winter - days are getting longer now

at 4:33am my battery voltage hit the Chargeverter turn on trigger: 40.1 v
3.5 hours later, voltage at 43v

So just now turned on 130 amps from the 2 Chargeverters with voltage target of 48.5v (90% SOC)
we have 4 or so more days of storms coming in from California, heavy overcast. So thought
to fully charge battery, which will give 4-5 days of operation
cost should be 45 kwh, about $5 of grid to fill batter plus house loads

Btw, Merry Christmas

Automatic Chargeverter kicks on for the first time this winter, followed by manual full charge due to overcast for days to come

Manual charge terminated at 9PM, 62 kwh for battery charging and house loads for today, $6.50 for this event

 

[timselectric]

Finally settled on the layout. One location locked in.


Now I can just work my way around the room.

 

[hwy17]

Hurry up and get here, February.


View attachment 265490View attachment 265491

Is there any SOC correction happening over the course of that time or is it really tracking for almost two months just based on current monitoring? Mine could not do that it loses track at least about a percent per day luckily always in the safe direction, towards an underestimate of the true SOC. Mine starts correcting upwards when it sees the battery hit 54.8v.

 

[timselectric]

Is there any SOC correction happening over the course of that time or is it really tracking for almost two months just based on current monitoring? Mine could not do that it loses track at least about a percent per day luckily always in the safe direction, towards an underestimate of the true SOC. Mine starts correcting upwards when it sees the battery hit 54.8v.

Based on the voltage, the SOC reading is drifting from reality a little. I'm guessing that it's off by about 4% after 2 months (indicating higher than reality). That's from the victron smart shunt. The BMS SOC readings are way off (reporting 40% higher) . I raised the reserve floor around the end of November, twice (noticeable in the chart). Just to keep a little more reserve in case the grid goes down.

 

[hwy17]

That's from the victron smart shunt.

I see where those get their good reputation now. That's impressive accuracy. Although I wonder if the error bias can be tuned because I do enjoy that my SOC only goes off towards the safe direction of underestimation.

 

[timselectric]

I see where those get their good reputation now. That's impressive accuracy. Although I wonder if the error bias can be tuned because I do enjoy that my SOC only goes off towards the safe direction of underestimation.

I'm sure it could be adjusted in either direction. By either changing the "charge efficiency factor" , or "Peukert exponent" settings. But I'm fine with it as is. It's been two years since I set it up. If I try changing something now, I'm sure that I would just screw everything up. lol

 

[sunshine_eggo]

Since I'm running NMC, and I only charge to true full 1-3 times per year (normally 75%), I get some pretty significant drift. 2-4%/month on both the Batrium and the BMV-702.

If the .5A passive balancers activate, they'll throw it off as well 4 total hours of balancing a month is a full 1% error. I normally have them off, but sometimes, I get OCD and force them on to squash my dV to .01.

Luscious!



OH NOEZ!

 

[timselectric]

Looks like I'm going to cut my long term battery balance test short.
With the inbound storm threatening grid outages and the fact that the solar panels are probably going to be covered in ice. I'm probably gonna have to fully charge the battery banks, to be on the safe side. Saturday will be 60 days without reaching a full charge. I guess that will be good enough for the test.

Storm arrives Sunday.

 

[NCislander]

Looks like I'm going to cut my long term battery balance test short.
With the inbound storm threatening grid outages and the fact that the solar panels are probably going to be covered in ice. I'm probably gonna have to fully charge the battery banks, to be on the safe side. Saturday will be 60 days without reaching a full charge. I guess that will be good enough for the test.

Storm arrives Sunday.

Charge'Em up while its possible. No sense risking a bad situation. Hence LOTS of Battery strorage.

 

[NCislander]

Charge'Em up while its possible. No sense risking a bad situation. Hence LOTS of Battery strorage.

Are you using a Chargeverter for the Non-PV Battery charge? If so how many Chargeverter units?

 

[timselectric]

I'll be charging Saturday, so that I can monitor the conclusion of the test.

 

[timselectric]

Are you using a Chargeverter for the Non-PV Battery charge? If so how many Chargeverter units?

Yes
I have 3, but will probably only use 1, for a slower charge.

 

[timselectric]

Actually that would take about 24 hours.
Maybe I will use 2. lol

 

[Zwy]

Looks like I'm going to cut my long term battery balance test short.
With the inbound storm threatening grid outages and the fact that the solar panels are probably going to be covered in ice. I'm probably gonna have to fully charge the battery banks, to be on the safe side. Saturday will be 60 days without reaching a full charge. I guess that will be good enough for the test.

Storm arrives Sunday.

I feel for you if you get into the pattern we had all December. One could have 1.2 GWH of battery and you would still run out of power with weather like that. My grid tied neighbor stopped by today and first thing he said, "It's been 3 weeks of no sun just fog."