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

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Think first I will test dual 12VDC inputs to the two FET inverter and test one of the 4 transformers I have that is center tapped on the 12volt inputs the output is 120VAC.

Have been simulating how the Project system will react to disconnecting grid powered ISO transformer in full sun and how it is going to work, Have two voltage controlled relays not doing anything with the outputs monitoring the system output voltage will likely devote one to just removing the latch on the ISO transformer lock out.

Simulation going well

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Remember the large transformer I was using in the two FET testing 14VAC to 120VAC ?

It started life as a 120VAC to 12VDC power supply for CB radios, 8 track tape decks and other car related items.

In the process of returning it to it's original 12VDC function to power one half of the two FET inverter at 12VDC, other side will be battery powered.

I will be testing the center tapped 12VAC to 120VAC transformers I have.

More soon ️

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Transformer has been restored to original function 12VDC power supply 8Amps.

Going to play a big role in dual 12VDC testing.

Added 15 amp new diode bridge, capacitor, ceramic resistor, screws for cover.

Not a ISO transformer but has always passed the isolation testing.

Dates back to the early 80's.

Passed testing

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Two FET inverter with split operation and 60Hz sync has passed dual 12VDC bench testing. Next comes the center tapped input transformers.

More soon ️

Transformer hooked up with safety 12VDC replacement headlight bulbs on each side verification that the power is flowing into the center tapped 12-0-12 transformer, Problem right now is zero output on what is supposed to be 120VAC 60Hz.

Taking a break need to fix 555timer power regulated to 12VDC, nasty 5Hz or lower on a 9volt battery.

Maybe a bad transformer glad I have at least 3 more to test.

Big energy at dual 12VDC (like a welder didn't damage anything), so darn close now.

More later

 

[SunDave]

This all like mad scientist stuff to me since I don't dabble in board level electronics unless it's a simple single component swap.

However, congrats on your progress. I have been following for a while. Your ability to keep at it is impressive.

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Found all 6 transformers

This all like mad scientist stuff to me since I don't dabble in board level electronics unless it's a simple single component swap.

However, congrats on your progress. I have been following for a while. Your ability to keep at it is impressive.

Not super complicated, nothing digital just electrical switches and output transformers.

Right now every coil on 6 transformers reads zero ohms shorted, got out other small transformers and tested to make sure I wasn't losing my mind, need different transformers regardless these come from a blown cube inverter and surely could be damaged.

Thanks for your interest, Best wishes

More soon

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Started the day ripping apart one of the mysterious transformers, See the white strip it is a solid copper strip with a center tap. (No wonder zero ohms reading )

The 120VAC output coil is just above the white strip (So far have not seen any output from these transformers)

Not cooked,not shorted, very strange transformers, need more testing or different type transformer.

No wonder it was acting like a welder when powering the copper strip.

Both input legs are fused at 40Amps on the transformers the problem is the diodes and fuses for the two FET inverter are 15Amps maximum.

The test bulbs saved the inverter again, my best defense in saving FETs,diodes and fuses.️
In the past light bulbs were commonly used in tube radios,TVs,amplifiers to aid in finding shorts/open circuits.

I know how transformers are supposed to work but feeding all the output from the boost FETs to 6 transformers that contains a copper metal bar is nuts, In defense of the company the cube inverter performed well till I damaged it.

Kinda confirms my suspicion that when loading a modern inverter near its limit the input current shoots through the roof on the batteries/solar like feeding a short circuit because you are.
Once the magnetic flux is used up in normal inverter operation the inverter is powering not coils but 6 metal copper bars. Common sense tells me direct drive solar through a Mosfet inverter is way more efficient.

More later

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Ordered two new transformers 120VAC input to 12-0-12 VAC center tap output or 120VAC to 24VAC Transformer.

Will be gentlely used in reverse as a step up transformer to 120VAC the previous testing as P channel driver is connected to a 12VAC coil the N netural between the dual power sources will be connected to the center tap and the output from the N FET will connect to the other 12 volt coil. Only need one transformer but Ordered two because they are only 40VA transformers once again.

Today was beautiful for full solar on the Project system 27 standerd 12VDC panels 180VDC to the inverter, High heat in the living room and lighting,fans in the whole house, mini fridge. Low heat generation and efficient power from the four FET 40N65 MOSFETs.

I don't believe the 90% efficiency bull of modern inverters, suggests getting one of the four FET 40N65 boards and test for yourself.

more real testing soon

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Transformers are due in Tuesday ready for gently bringing the two halfs of the inverter together with one transformer, The pure sine choke/capacitor circuit will be put on the center tap on the 12-0-12 input.

If this works there will be no need for the more expensive P FET and two 40N65 MOSFETs will run the inverter.

More soon️

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Can't get rid of the P FET anytime soon glad I have 10 of them.

While waiting on parts in the mail:

Project system: Just finished soldering up the 5VDC latch relay, check marks meaning it is already done what remains is 5vdc power and bringing it all together with the two inputs.

Excited as long the safety bulbs are in place you can try most anything on the two FET inverter

More real soon

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Not sure the best LC circuit configuration for improvements on transformer throughput. My plan is to test everything with safety bulbs till I find something noticeably better.

Transformers due in tomorrow.

Ideas from Jorby last pictures.

More real soon ️

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

N FET half of a V1.0 board new 40N60 from another board. Building it up for testing.

Two FET inverter will soon be tested as a double N MOSFETs 40N60 inverter, if you build one, do yourself a favor and go with the premium 40N65 FET. Transformer output to 120VAC 60Hz.

My favorite part is single feed 12or24VDC input, Thanks for the help Jorby, took me awhile to see the dash dash line as the negative side feed around the left hand side of the drawing

Thanks again

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Hip deep in making the double N FET configuration work, main power path is good (manually triggered FETs), having issues with the 60Hz signal right now.

Both FETs electrically triggered with 3vdc battery.

More real soon

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

New transformers have arrived ️

Both N channels responding to 555timer signal, next need dual trace scope to determine if the phase is correct.

Bad news see picture dual trace scope, let the fun begin.

More real testing soon.

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Having to review my notes where the stereo phasing issues were solved the first time around, also have good circuit boards to reference.

Three resistors accross the 12VDC power input for the 555 allows forward and reverse flow to light the optic coupler LEDs.

Should have already fixed this issue but still not a stereo signal, third time now.

More soon ️

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Restored the purple two FET board to get the logic for the phase correct again and tapped into the output of the optic coupler what normally triggers the P FET now triggers the N FET on the satellite board.

Nasty bias accross the dual scope took out a 5 amp fuse and no other damage done.

I will have to get heat sinks on the two N FETs to continue, also capacitor needs changing on timer circuit, trashy output and a little more frequency drift than I like.

Going to assume I got it right and gently start transformer testing and LC circuit testing.

Dim glow first sign the double N FET inverter lives, running on single feed 12VDC for everything ️

More tomorrow

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

After much study this is what will be tested with a safety bulb on the positive side of the power source.

Nice and simple as it should be, Hope it works ️

More soon ️

Mounted heat sinks to N FETs, starting configuration on the new transformers.

Updated drawing ️

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Working the first time, 12VDC feeding the 555timer directly,N FETs running with a safety bulb still several adjustments to be made before amp up testing the smaller transformer. Both FET adjustments are maxed out for this test, single source input erases overlap short.

Big thing is not to kill what I have working, A big thank you to Jorby.

More testing ahead

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

This is a different ball game, with single feed 140VDC on the double N FET inverter no overlap short,no problem with my 200volt rule, and not tested yet but will bet you I just found the path to big solar power/amperage

Much work ahead to discover the good stuff

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Forum has been down for awhile, Safety bulb replaced with 5 amp fuse, inverter running good at full power transformer is pulling under 2amps off the inverter, LC works beautiful on the 120VAC output transformer not much help at the lower voltage input to the transformer, Transformer is rated for 30 watts, Have seen 17 watts output around 15 everything is happy wish the voltage was a touch higher think solar panel operation will fix that one.

Mostly great results from this day, Thanks again to Jorby second time in a row with outstanding results

Spikes are LC before the transformer first picture LC on the output transformer.

More soon

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

What I need but cannot afford is a large 15amp center tapped transformer 120-0-120 to 120VAC and retest at solar 140VDC single feed to the New double N FET inverter.

Impressive early results, transformer is running smooth and cool, only a slight hum. through put seems better than previous test.

Updated drawing this is what is working now

More soon ️

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Using the 12VDC battery to power the 555timer 60Hz on the two N FET inverter, Using the newly restored 13.5VDC 8amp power supply to run the FETs.

Check out the no load voltage of the two N FET inverter now.️

More soon

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Restored the two transformer power strip station and tested no load 114.2 VAC, different this time with a built in pure sine choke/capacitor LC inside the power strip.

Focus on getting 60Hz signal tomorrow on the double N FET, once I started using the satellite board N FET I could not go higher that 55Hz so what happened today is the frequency was lowered to 50Hz and I pretended it did not matter.

Many steps forward today and the inverter is still running great, more soon

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Went with fixed resistors for 60Hz, about to replace the potentiometers for the N gate triggers with the correct resistors.

Making progress but see the trash on the scope trace the correct ceramic capacitor will fix that and cycle drift issues. In other words not done yet.

More very soon ️

 

[GridWorks Green Solar]

Took the 555 timer capacitor from the main P&N inverter, better than previous capacitor but still some trash on the square wave signal and some drift, added the power regulated board 12VDC to the 555timer and everything instantly stabilized no drift and no trash in the wave form.

Have no clue what the regulated 12VDC VS 12VDC battery offers but the difference is stunning

Now that is what the 555timer output should look like to run the inverter.

More testing shortly taking a lunch break.