New no battery pure sine wave solar power system with smart switchers.

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Solar power up the new inverter this morning 60Hz signal is perfect but voltage stability is all over the place on both P and N channels. The previous board ran stable for days at a time. No damage done but unit needs to go back to bench testing to fix this issue.

First step will be to test with the 12VDC battery.

Found the FETs to restore the previous board, One way or another I will solve every issue on this circuit board for Maximum power previous green board did 500watts for a short time.

More soon

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Sorry side tracked by life, 555 timer is very happy with new regulated 12VDC power supply, as a best guess to what is causing the same voltage instability problem on both P and N channels I am upgrading both capacitors on the floating solar panel DC gate power supplies 12VDC to the pictured capacitor.

Live testing will restart in the morning, wish me luck, if it fails I will revert to the previous board

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Good news although the new grid powered transformerless 12VDC power supply supplies a good solid 60Hz signal it also is the direct cause for the P and N channel voltage instability, putting the 555timer on a 12VDC battery instantly fixed the problem.

At this moment everthing is running smooth for sun up conditions, stable and balanced 60Hz power.

Must figure out a 12VDC regulated input to the inverter signal timer that it likes. Any suggestions

Going to try soon a solar panel with 12VDC regulator.

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Update 11AM testing, slightly overcast day conditions, Unit running great heating up back hallway. 185watts 103.8 VAC 60.2 Hz using conservative settings as to avoid phase overlap. Right now not concerned with maximum amps just want to clock hours of good operation.

Previously tested 389.6 watts at 90VAC output.

With the 25watt bulb only the voltage is 122.7VAC

Approaching 200watts on the small ceramic heater at noon.

Making notes: 12VDC requirement for 555 timer signal including blue indicator LED is 50 miliampers, gate power supplies run by the solar panels, approaching 2PM and all is well.

Turning off the heater load 5.5 hours of continuous solar power, disconnected 555timer power, ready for sun up tomorrow. Battery at 12.8 volts.

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[GridWorks Green Solar]

Next day unit adjustments are as high as I feel comfortable with right now can access 300 watts of power will use it daily to run a space heater, Li-Ion battery chargers and lighting

Took unit out of service at 2PM for closing up the inverter case permanently and final touches for daily usage, working up a regulated solar panel for the 12VDC 60Hz inverter signal timer.

9.5 hours of 200 watts or more constant power usage in the past two days testing.

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[jorby]

Next day unit adjustments are as high as I feel comfortable with right now can access 300 watts of power will use it daily to run a space heater, Li-Ion battery chargers and lighting

Took unit out of service at 2PM for closing up the inverter case permanently and final touches for daily usage, working up a regulated solar panel for the 12VDC 60Hz inverter signal timer.

9.5 hours of 200 watts or more constant power usage in the past two days testing.

More soon

Interesting thread.

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Interesting thread.

Finally have a rooftop 12VDC solar panel (output 20 VDC) pushing a 12.0VDC regulated output to the 555timer on the two FET inverter. Also have a permanent shelf spot for the two FET inverter.

The triple cabinet contains three solar systems Project system 180VDC solar input 120VAC 60Hz output, 2nd system IC3000 12VDC input 120VAC 60Hz output, 3rd Two FET inverter 140VDC input and 120VAC 60Hz output.

The two FET inverter is 100 percent solar driven with no batteries but it charges Li-Ion batteries very well, using it for rechargeable green lawn equipment and more.

More long term testing as sky conditions improve. All three systems operating wonderful

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[GridWorks Green Solar]

First off bad sun conditions day, Secondly discovered the input voltage to the 555timer is critical to output level to the FETs, regulated 12.0 VDC works great but the difference between a battery input (last setting) of 12.8 VDC and 12.0 VDC from the solar power 12.0 DC regulated power supply (current setting) made for a full day of recalibration and testing in the upward direction.

Inverter started out and ran a balanced 80VAC 60Hz output for most of the day, at sunset I made basic optic coupler adjustments for higher balanced Inverter voltage output.

Still need full sun to confirm it fixed.

More soon

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Major step forward today in the stability of the two FET inverters, the input to the 555timer must be regulated 12.0 VDC.

DIY 12VDC power supply was not good enough and has cost me dearly in replacing the damaged FETs by causing unstable operation and phase overlap when pushed to a higher voltage, the difference between 12 and 14 volts DC will damage the inverters FETs.

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Totally overcast day, although the controls are a bit touchy I have achieved balanced/normal voltage output from the inverter and good 60Hz output, powered only by solar panels.

Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny

Insider tip:
High quality 80K potentiometers would probably perform best or fixed resistors once you know the needed values for P and N channel inverter output and 60Hz adjustments.

Expecting long term operations / testing this winter, experimenting with vertical solar panels and snow conditions.

Testing and initial setup start low and small steps forward, loop testing P channel voltage initial stop at 120VAC swap meter test leads and set N channel voltage 120VAC max, check inverters 60Hz/50Hz output and repeat till it is running the numbers you want,

Spikes on a scope of the AC inverter output or any voltage drop in channel output while advancing the setting is a warning the FETs are fixing to short out, reduce setting immediately and seek a sweet spot just a bit lower.


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[GridWorks Green Solar]

Two FET inverter is back on the bench for a better vent fan configuration and more study on hyper sensitive 12 VDC 60Hz timer input, need to know what the best voltage is to drive the FETs will test 9 to 14VDC in small steps looking for more amps output and best sinewave.

Just passed basic bench test dual 24VDC input, tested 9VDC battery and 12.8 VDC battery on the 60Hz 555timer, 12.8 VDC will trigger and start output on a unit adjusted just below start with a 9volt battery. more testing ahead.

Using a lower input voltage 9VDC makes the clock run slower and the square wave output smaller to trigger the FETs
May be advantages to a lower trigger signal.

More soon

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Just lost the two FET inverter both channels shorted source to drain, at the moment it went bad I was experiencing intermittent 5VDC power to the inverter 555timer likely due to alligator clip jumpers not having a good connection.

Just before that I was excited at testing very stable power in the 200watt range on the two FET inverter.

Stepping back from the two FET inverters for awhile and putting the solar panels back to 180VDC to drive the Project 15amps power system through the winter months.

Recommending Project system solar 180VDC for overall stability, have in the past seen the two FET inverters perform better, wish others with deep electrical back ground could take a look at the amp flow through the FETs.

Best wishes,more soon

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Starting: remove two FET inverter from inverter case and put in line for FET replacement.

Found a factory Project board that has the newer DY002-2 CPU and heartbeat, Found a new set of four 40N65 FETs to upgrade the older 40N60 FETs, going to build new 180VDC inverter that uses the 12VDC (20VDC actual) solar panel to drive the CPU.

All three solar arrays 9 panel 180 volt will be used to power the existing Project inverter and the new build factory board.

Expecting to show you big solar amp draw numbers from the new shelf space Inverter.

More soon

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Has four new 40N65 FETs, DY002-2 CPU.

Attaching in and output wires next.

Have no idea where this inverter board came from, New CPU, old FETs, 2,000 Watt Factory board?!?

The number 2 on the pure sine choke indicator of it being a secondary board in a combo inverter, Nice board runs smooth in bench testing.

More soon

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

New Inverter has passed 48VDC bench testing,12.8 VDC on the CPU beautiful 60Hz sinewave ️

May be a few days for full testing.

More soon.

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Just a moment of full sun, only one 9 solar panel array working right now 180 volt DC on the newest build four FET inverter. CPU, Fan also solar panel input.
Running secondary to the main Project inverter, everything looks promising for much more power/amps as soon as I add the additional two 9 panel 180VDC arrays back to the main system.

The factory made board (under $100) is rated for 2,000 watts continuous output current example 440.7 watts. The new inverter will be pushing quartz tube heating through the winter months in the back of the home , a simple voltage controlled relay providing protection for the inverter if system voltage drops below 98VAC reset at 120VAC with delay. No batteries no charge controller direct drive, low heat generation power production systems.


More soon.

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Just down from the rooftop solar panels, took two trips to swap back the two solar arrays back to 180VDC, after sun down tonight I will parallel all three into a single feed for the Inverters.

About 5 hours today of 400 +watt operation running heaters.

Update 5:30 PM parallel all three arrays 180VDC , when connecting the third array the high voltage DC neon came back on indicator tomorrow we will have full power to the Project inverter and new build factory inverter.

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[GridWorks Green Solar]

Need to remove the alligator ends on the main DC solar inputs new inverter 180VDC, Here is 531watts at 10AM.

I am very happy with results so far. Have restored solar heaters in living room and back hallway for winter

Dedicated two wire system has preformed wonderfully for two years now just be careful, need ISO transformer to interact with grounded equipment.

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[GridWorks Green Solar]

Everything working great, Running normal loads plus high quartz tube heating in the living room area.

More later

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Running full automatic daily, timers and voltage controlled relays make sure one way or another the Project system is online and working. Sunny days are especially wonderful

Got plumbing issues in 1970s home, have galvanized half inch pipes rotting in the ceiling that feed three bathrooms, first repair attempt has failed, must cut out a whole section and replace with PEX fittings, wish me luck.

More later