diy solar

diy solar

Panels don’t seem to produce much

Solarcabin Channel said:
That doesn't appear to be a true deep cycle battery and either a starter battery or maybe a marine trolling battery?

A starter battery will be killed fast with any deep cycling and it eats up the lead plates and can damage them even in 6 months.

I would suggest better batteries if they are not holding a charge and get true deep cycle not marine deep cycle.
Click to expand...
How do I know I’m getting true deep cycle?
 
Tiagoo said:
How do I know I’m getting true deep cycle?
Click to expand...
In the UK you will have to pay over £300 for a deep cycle leisure 100Ah lead battery. The best option is a Fogstar lithium battery,
www.fogstar.co.uk

Lithium Leisure Battery - Fogstar Drift 12v 280Ah

280ah 12v Fogstar Drift Lithium Leisure Battery | Grade A LiFePO4 cells, JBD BMS, Bluetooth, Heating | Lowest Prices in the UK. 10 Year Warranty.
www.fogstar.co.uk www.fogstar.co.uk
 
Btw, if we did change to lithium. Do I need some sort of controller for the batteries or would the victron mppt together with the battery sense be enough?

Just seen this online, it’s pretty cheap. I wouldn’t mind changing to it
 

Attachments

  • EB4FD211-9682-4620-A7D4-37FC17C39B07.png
    EB4FD211-9682-4620-A7D4-37FC17C39B07.png
    197.3 KB · Views: 4
Tiagoo said:
How do I know I’m getting true deep cycle?
Click to expand...
Most are known by their brand name and it won't say marine cranking deep cycle.

Trojan, Vmax, Sok etc.

You might consider the LFP Lithium Iron Phosphate for a replacement as half the weight and twice the capacity and cycles.
 
Tiagoo said:
Btw, if we did change to lithium. Do I need some sort of controller for the batteries or would the victron mppt together with the battery sense be enough?

Just seen this online, it’s pretty cheap. I wouldn’t mind changing to it
Click to expand...
You'll need a BMS if you build your own from cells. Your charge controller can be set to the right charging settings.
 
Tiagoo said:
Haha thank you. We do love the lifestyle. It comes with its own issues but it’s nice to wake up and see the ducks swimming about…

Would tilting the panels make that huge a difference? I can build the stands and tilt them but if it’s to increase 10 or 20% doesn’t seem ideal.
Also lithium apart from expensive, the boat can get pretty cold where the batteries are stored, and I’m just thinking they might not like it..
Click to expand...

1) Your batteries are not ruined. Give them a good charge with shore or generator power and pencil some lithium replacements into the budget. If your batteries won't charge off shore or gen, only then will you know if they are bad. At 6 months old, I guarantee they are fine.

2) Tilting can help but when its cloudy and raining, you don't really have any direct sunlight to tilt to so I wouldn't worry about that right now. If the sun pops out, tilting them will make a huge difference but when you're down in the shadowed canal and it's overcast and raining etc, I would get more panels first.
 
Tiagoo said:
Btw, if we did change to lithium. Do I need some sort of controller for the batteries or would the victron mppt together with the battery sense be enough?

Just seen this online, it’s pretty cheap. I wouldn’t mind changing to it
Click to expand...
You would need a dedicated BMS to manage the cells.

This might help to get an idea on DIY LifePO4 battery;
 
Last edited:
Tiagoo said:
So it would work out even more expensive then..?
Click to expand...
Making your own batteries from cells is not for inexperienced people.

They make ready to use drop in Lifepo4 batteries that are deep cycle and weigh less and have more cycles and capacity.

I don't know what you can get there on Amazon but look at Li Time, Enjoybot or many other brands.
 
SamG340 said:
No they're about £80, maybe more if you want a good one

www.ebay.co.uk

Deep Cycle Leisure Battery 12V 110AH (100AH) HL400 Caravan Motorhome Marine Boat | eBay

Part Number:HL400. Leisure & Marine Deep Cycle Battery. Perfect for Leisure & Marine Auxiliary Use. This is a high performance Wet Cell Flooded Lead Acid Battery with Advance Calcium+ alloy Technology.
www.ebay.co.uk
Click to expand...
This is roughly what I have and paid for but the internet says they’re “fake”. I think they’re starter batteries with a sticker to fool us, the poor..
 
Tiagoo said:
So it would work out even more expensive then..?
Click to expand...

Yea lithium works out a LOT more expensive than lead acid up front ,

BUT... lithium will does work out a good bit cheaper over the long run if it does actually survive it's rated cycle lifespan
 
Tiagoo said:
This is roughly what I have and paid for but the internet says they’re “fake”. I think they’re starter batteries with a sticker to fool us, the poor..
Click to expand...

Boats are a hungry mistress. They'll bankrupt the best of men.

Also, you have good panels and good charging equipment.

Those batteries are the equivalent of putting wagon wheels on a ferrari. They'll get you by for now but find an extra $800.00 down the road for a couple lithiums.
 
Last edited:
Tiagoo said:
This is roughly what I have and paid for but the internet says they’re “fake”. I think they’re starter batteries with a sticker to fool us, the poor..
Click to expand...

Yea they're definitely not the best , lots of stuff available

www.alpha-batteries.co.uk

12v 115AH Expedition Plus AGM Deep Cycle Leisure Battery (EXP12-115) - Alpha Batteries

12V 115Ah fit-and-forget AGM lead-acid battery for leisure,marine & many other deep cycle applications – from Expedition’s exclusive battery range […]
www.alpha-batteries.co.uk www.alpha-batteries.co.uk
 
SamG340 said:
Yea they're definitely not the best , lots of stuff available

www.alpha-batteries.co.uk

12v 115AH Expedition Plus AGM Deep Cycle Leisure Battery (EXP12-115) - Alpha Batteries

12V 115Ah fit-and-forget AGM lead-acid battery for leisure,marine & many other deep cycle applications – from Expedition’s exclusive battery range […]
www.alpha-batteries.co.uk www.alpha-batteries.co.uk
Click to expand...

Yeah are you in the UK?

If you are, you're in the best position to steer him to a source of brand/type of lithium battery to purchase in the future when his budget permits.
 
OP, I have weather/conditions similar to yours.

Here the current cloudy day output @ 9:00 AM from my 2430 watt array.

109 watts. The clouds are beginning to thin so this will go up but if it starts raining i might get .2Kwh total for the day.

If it's a sunny summer day I have seen 5kwh max but that's only because the batteries are full and input is obviously cut when that happens.


Screenshot_20231112_085330_Chrome.jpg
 
Checkthisout said:
OP, I have weather/conditions similar to yours.

Here the current cloudy day output @ 9:00 AM from my 2430 watt array.

109 watts. The clouds are beginning to thin so this will go up but if it starts raining i might get .2Kwh total for the day.

If it's a sunny summer day I have seen 5kwh max but that's only because the batteries are full and input is obviously cut when that happens.


View attachment 177381
Click to expand...
Now this is demoralising! Why are governments investing so much money on solar then? Unless we get a solar farm on the Sahara desert, I don’t see how solar can be useful in the winter..
 
Checkthisout said:
If you are, you're in the best position to steer him to a source of brand/type of lithium battery to purchase in the future when his budget permits.
Click to expand...

Sadly not ? , the closest I've been to LiFePo4 was a DeWalt power drill


littleharbor2 said:
Latest one over 15 kwh for less than 1500 usd.
Click to expand...

I've just done 26kwh of sonnenchein gel traction for £1350 delivered . light use, 6 months old

I know we are sort of comparing apples and oranges here, but shows lead acids are still a viable option if budget does not allow for lithium
 
Tiagoo said:
Now this is demoralising! Why are governments investing so much money on solar then? Unless we get a solar farm on the Sahara desert, I don’t see how solar can be useful in the winter..
Click to expand...
Follow the money.........
 
SamG340 said:
Sadly not ? , the closest I've been to LiFePo4 was a DeWalt power drill




I've just done 26kwh of sonnenchein gel traction for £1350 delivered . light use, 6 months old

I know we are sort of comparing apples and oranges here, but shows lead acids are still a viable option if budget does not allow for lithium
Click to expand...
Lead acid batteries have spiked in cost over the last couple years in the USA.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

W
Solar problems and choosing AC
Replies
7
Views
236
sunshine_eggo
sunshine_eggo
M
Where to Store Solar Components and Batteries in Cold Climates
2
Replies
40
Views
2K
NYCsolar
NYCsolar
D
I don’t understand the behaviour of my Hybrid inverter. Please help.
Replies
11
Views
567
SeaGal
SeaGal
B
Where to buy panels
Replies
9
Views
654
Hedges
Hedges
I
Small solar straight to bank
Replies
13
Views
351
cs1234
cs1234

diy solar

diy solar
Back
Top