Solar house generator I started DIY back in 2000 - My path from Trace to Xantrex (on FLA battery) to XW Pro inverters on Tesla Model S batteries
- Thread starter dougbert
- Start date
dougbert
Solar Addict
ah, I didn't get a shirt........................love it. lol
someone is staying up late tonite.............
system had to connect to the grid late on the sat and through sun, until the sun charged the battery to 46v
24 days and only that one connect, as clouds, rain and snow occurred the end of last week.
So I NEED more modules. 30 kwh is great, but I need to get to 50kwh
so congratulations
someone is staying up late tonite.............
system had to connect to the grid late on the sat and through sun, until the sun charged the battery to 46v
24 days and only that one connect, as clouds, rain and snow occurred the end of last week.
So I NEED more modules. 30 kwh is great, but I need to get to 50kwh
so congratulations
dougbert
Solar Addict
Below is the current configuration of Array 1.
4 black panels are 310w NEA panels ($240 each) 2S2P
4 20 yo Siemens panels, 100w 12v wired 4S1P
and the panels for my 12v HAM radio supply:
2 Photowatt 100w panels 12v wired 1S2P
(both Siemens and Photowatt were bought out or went out of business 18 years ago)
time to replace the old Siemen panels and the Photowatts
Tomorrow, going down in the valley and do a will-call local pickup of 3 new NEA 320w panels ($240 each)
Two of the NEA panels will replace the 4 siemens ones
and the third will replace the Photowatts
Today the 4 NEAs and 4 Siemens output 1500+ watts
My expectation is that the 6 NEAs will output 1800+ watts
The 200w of Photowatts will be replaced with 320w at 24v and feed into an EPEVER 40a controller;
The EPEVER controls a 100ah AGM battery.
I will also be picking up 4 Fortune 100ah batteries to play with LiFePO4 12v battery - no need to pay shipping
Will's favorite
more progress
4 black panels are 310w NEA panels ($240 each) 2S2P
4 20 yo Siemens panels, 100w 12v wired 4S1P
and the panels for my 12v HAM radio supply:
2 Photowatt 100w panels 12v wired 1S2P
(both Siemens and Photowatt were bought out or went out of business 18 years ago)
time to replace the old Siemen panels and the Photowatts
Tomorrow, going down in the valley and do a will-call local pickup of 3 new NEA 320w panels ($240 each)
Two of the NEA panels will replace the 4 siemens ones
and the third will replace the Photowatts
Today the 4 NEAs and 4 Siemens output 1500+ watts
My expectation is that the 6 NEAs will output 1800+ watts
The 200w of Photowatts will be replaced with 320w at 24v and feed into an EPEVER 40a controller;
The EPEVER controls a 100ah AGM battery.
I will also be picking up 4 Fortune 100ah batteries to play with LiFePO4 12v battery - no need to pay shipping
Will's favorite
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more progress
Roswell Bob
Solar Enthusiast
Thank you for taking the time and telling us your story.
dougbert
Solar Addict
I am sharing but it is ALSO my build thread/log. I post here and I 'save' the pages locally in case we lose this website.
It is my memory of what and how I did it
and you are welcome - hope it helps others
dougbert
Solar Addict
Just ordered Module #7 from a seller I have bought before in New York for $899 - price has come down
Shipping was $150, and tax some $57.
Lowest price I have paid so far.
Now saving more for Module #8, so I will have a pair to insert into the pack. 40kwh worth
1x Tesla Model S 85 battery module block , 24V, 250Ah,5.2kWh 3200mAh cell | eBay
For sale is an Clean good Condition Tesla S 85 1x modules with pigtail and bms and wiring plug if asked for. All listed amp hours, volts, KWh, are Tesla ra tings and will slightly be different depending on actual battery usage and conditions, load, ect .
www.ebay.com
Shipping was $150, and tax some $57.
Lowest price I have paid so far.
Now saving more for Module #8, so I will have a pair to insert into the pack. 40kwh worth
dougbert
Solar Addict
took down the old 4 100 watt panels and installed the 2 new 320 watt NEA panels.
Measured the old panels' production and they produce 60 percent of their original rating, 23 years old
so was getting like 240 watts from those 400
640 watts now in the replacement, 400 watts more
This puts my arrays at 7200 watts of generation
now a rating of 1880 watts on that roof.
Also took down the 2 old Photowatt panels and will modify those 2 mounts on the right to fit their new panels.
Will replace the rails with longer ones. Will cut and lower the stand off to have the bottom of the panels lower towards the roof
Below are the new 320 watt NEA 24v panel AND a new 200 watt 24v RICH panel for a total of 520 watts, which is the max for the EPEVER 40 controller, on a 12v battery system
Measured the old panels' production and they produce 60 percent of their original rating, 23 years old
so was getting like 240 watts from those 400
640 watts now in the replacement, 400 watts more
This puts my arrays at 7200 watts of generation
now a rating of 1880 watts on that roof.
Also took down the 2 old Photowatt panels and will modify those 2 mounts on the right to fit their new panels.
Will replace the rails with longer ones. Will cut and lower the stand off to have the bottom of the panels lower towards the roof
Below are the new 320 watt NEA 24v panel AND a new 200 watt 24v RICH panel for a total of 520 watts, which is the max for the EPEVER 40 controller, on a 12v battery system
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dougbert
Solar Addict
Thought to capture today's production information. It is 12:30PM, and near production maxium
The controllers just switched from BULK to ADSORPTION phase
Had some clouds a few hours ago, but clear skies now
In the image below, on the voltage blue line, that first peak, is when the water heater diversion kicked in, 2000 watts to the water heater.
Now the system will slowly charge to 49.9volts, which I have programmed to be MAX battery level (abt 94% of totally full for the Tesla batteries - 4.15 volts per cell, 4.2 volts is full)
today, this image shows 5.1kw total production
when the days are cooler and the battery more empty, 6.1kw is the norm
Here I am showing the individual arrays output as per the Schneider display
array 1 ( MPPT 11) above, is just below 1500 watts (update: now outputting 1650 watts) which is highest output I have seen on that, now that the new panels are installed
1880 watts rated
array 2, has 2540 watts rated
array 3, has 1420 watts rated
array 4, has 1420 watts rated, 710w south and 710 west
6520 watts, mmm, my earlier math was too high.
At the moment, the system is producing UNDER it's capacity, even with 2000 watts going to the water heater.
Which means, I "could" be powering SOMETHING else as well, like AC or fans, or something else with that UNDERUTILIZED generation
That is where Netmetering would 'push' the excess power into the grid and I wouldn't loose it, but as I have mentioned I am not going that route.
Technically, I can't due to the grid's local circuit is over max'ed - the transmission line/circuit is at max, it is the one tied to the local hydro power plant. A second transmission line is in construction phase now - and I don't want to be playing the grid's games. My array is actually TOO BIG. The rule here is that I an only have arrays as large as 90% of my past 2 years of electric usage- doh! I have reduced my loads and can't push too much more than I use - see, a weird rule
The water heater will turn off in 3-4 hours, or sooner - I am working on getting the 2nd water heater ready
Wish there was a 2500 or 3000 watt heater coil for 120v, but can't find any - 2500 watt and above are all 240v. Will have to wait for another inverter upgrade to 240v then I can install 4000/4500 coils to really heat the water heaters faster.
Another issue is my inverter is 5500w. with the h2o heater at 2000w, house at 1000w - then other devices come on which the wife might turn on, I would be hitting the 5500w ceiling
I am finding the water tank to maintain good heat content overnight for a good shower in the morning
Why so big? I want to get an EV someday and charge it from here
The controllers just switched from BULK to ADSORPTION phase
Had some clouds a few hours ago, but clear skies now
In the image below, on the voltage blue line, that first peak, is when the water heater diversion kicked in, 2000 watts to the water heater.
Now the system will slowly charge to 49.9volts, which I have programmed to be MAX battery level (abt 94% of totally full for the Tesla batteries - 4.15 volts per cell, 4.2 volts is full)
today, this image shows 5.1kw total production
when the days are cooler and the battery more empty, 6.1kw is the norm
Here I am showing the individual arrays output as per the Schneider display
array 1 ( MPPT 11) above, is just below 1500 watts (update: now outputting 1650 watts) which is highest output I have seen on that, now that the new panels are installed
1880 watts rated
array 2, has 2540 watts rated
array 3, has 1420 watts rated
array 4, has 1420 watts rated, 710w south and 710 west
6520 watts, mmm, my earlier math was too high.
At the moment, the system is producing UNDER it's capacity, even with 2000 watts going to the water heater.
Which means, I "could" be powering SOMETHING else as well, like AC or fans, or something else with that UNDERUTILIZED generation
That is where Netmetering would 'push' the excess power into the grid and I wouldn't loose it, but as I have mentioned I am not going that route.
Technically, I can't due to the grid's local circuit is over max'ed - the transmission line/circuit is at max, it is the one tied to the local hydro power plant. A second transmission line is in construction phase now - and I don't want to be playing the grid's games. My array is actually TOO BIG. The rule here is that I an only have arrays as large as 90% of my past 2 years of electric usage- doh! I have reduced my loads and can't push too much more than I use - see, a weird rule
The water heater will turn off in 3-4 hours, or sooner - I am working on getting the 2nd water heater ready
Wish there was a 2500 or 3000 watt heater coil for 120v, but can't find any - 2500 watt and above are all 240v. Will have to wait for another inverter upgrade to 240v then I can install 4000/4500 coils to really heat the water heaters faster.
Another issue is my inverter is 5500w. with the h2o heater at 2000w, house at 1000w - then other devices come on which the wife might turn on, I would be hitting the 5500w ceiling
I am finding the water tank to maintain good heat content overnight for a good shower in the morning
Why so big? I want to get an EV someday and charge it from here
Last edited:
Hedges
I See Electromagnetic Fields!
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2020
- Messages
- 20,631
120/240V transformer, relay to switch 240V heating element between those voltages.
But that's a 4:1 change in power. You might want a different transformer ratio, like 240 to 120 & 120. You could wire that for 50% boost or 33% boost. Actually, multiple different ratios, using SPDT relay for where your 120VAC is applied and SPDT for what taps go to water heater.
Did your latest battery come in, is it a good seller?Just ordered Module #7 from a seller I have bought before in New York for $899 - price has come down
1x Tesla Model S 85 battery module block , 24V, 250Ah,5.2kWh 3200mAh cell | eBay
For sale is an Clean good Condition Tesla S 85 1x modules with pigtail and bms and wiring plug if asked for. All listed amp hours, volts, KWh, are Tesla ra tings and will slightly be different depending on actual battery usage and conditions, load, ect .www.ebay.com
Shipping was $150, and tax some $57.
Lowest price I have paid so far.
Now saving more for Module #8, so I will have a pair to insert into the pack. 40kwh worth
Jen
dougbert
Solar Addict
should be here tomorrow, and prior ones were good so I expect good as well for this one
That's excellent, he seems like a good source, I may have to pick up a couple, are they coming truck or UPS?
received the ESP32 V2 Battery controller today, in a 33lb box
dougbert
I was just re-reading some of your posts.... I like the keyboard they sent you better, the one they sent me is super small...cute but tiny (cord is charging it via usb).
dougbert
Solar Addict
coming UPS
and my keyboard was very small as well, exactly like the one in their video
and my keyboard was very small as well, exactly like the one in their video
dougbert
Solar Addict
module arrived safely and now stored awaiting sibling. It's voltage was 24.75, good charge.
packed in rigid foam and wrapped in cardboard - pretty good packing
Also, this past month's grid cycle (8th of month to the 7th) came in: 96.2% sun generated power to run the house
Generated 814kwh, bought 33kwh
That 33kwh is ALL consumed by the 240v range/oven
More is generated than normal use, due to the Water heater diversion load, which would not run without solar
Redid my math on how much panel generation I have. Came up with:
7260 watts rated system
feeling: Priceless
packed in rigid foam and wrapped in cardboard - pretty good packing
Also, this past month's grid cycle (8th of month to the 7th) came in: 96.2% sun generated power to run the house
Generated 814kwh, bought 33kwh
That 33kwh is ALL consumed by the 240v range/oven
More is generated than normal use, due to the Water heater diversion load, which would not run without solar
Redid my math on how much panel generation I have. Came up with:
| Array 1 | 1880 |
| Array 2 | 2540 |
| Array 3 | 1420 |
| Array 4 | 1420 |
7260 watts rated system
feeling: Priceless
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dougbert
Solar Addict
my son recently moved back into town and bought a 2016 Nissan leaf with the 24kwh battery pack
Since then I have been researching info on Leafs and watching youtube vids on it
I am forming a plan
2011 Leaf with a 24kwh battery local cost $5000.
Such a car is 10 years old and still in good condition. the only problem is, is the degraded battery pack
Nissan charges $8500 for a new pack plus R&R costs - not going that route
I can buy a 40kwh salvaged battery pack (like the teslas) and DIY replace it - some $4000-$5000 and keep a perfectly good EV on the road.
From a travel distance of some 70 miles to some 130 miles. My work is 32 miles away
Then charge it with my excess power - I have some 2000 watts of solar power being un-utilized, even with the 2000watts water heater
With 7200 watts of panels now and only 5500 watts of inverter, there are 1700 watts I CANNOT use after the battery fills up if I use all the inverter capacity. Long term plan is to get the 15,000 watt Sigeneer inverter - that will provide 240v. At that point, I can wire my oven/range into the inverter and upgrade the 2000 watt water coils to 4000 watts, or even 4500 watts.
Not counting the future 3400 watts of panels to be installed over the pegola/deck in the backyard
Also watched Will's 3 videos on the golf cart project - I like that one. Another choice project. Will's projects and videos are so inspiring and generate many ideas
Considering these possibilities and options
Since then I have been researching info on Leafs and watching youtube vids on it
I am forming a plan
2011 Leaf with a 24kwh battery local cost $5000.
Such a car is 10 years old and still in good condition. the only problem is, is the degraded battery pack
Nissan charges $8500 for a new pack plus R&R costs - not going that route
I can buy a 40kwh salvaged battery pack (like the teslas) and DIY replace it - some $4000-$5000 and keep a perfectly good EV on the road.
From a travel distance of some 70 miles to some 130 miles. My work is 32 miles away
Then charge it with my excess power - I have some 2000 watts of solar power being un-utilized, even with the 2000watts water heater
With 7200 watts of panels now and only 5500 watts of inverter, there are 1700 watts I CANNOT use after the battery fills up if I use all the inverter capacity. Long term plan is to get the 15,000 watt Sigeneer inverter - that will provide 240v. At that point, I can wire my oven/range into the inverter and upgrade the 2000 watt water coils to 4000 watts, or even 4500 watts.
Not counting the future 3400 watts of panels to be installed over the pegola/deck in the backyard
Also watched Will's 3 videos on the golf cart project - I like that one. Another choice project. Will's projects and videos are so inspiring and generate many ideas
Considering these possibilities and options
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dougbert
Solar Addict
The start of my billing cycle - below are just 2 days of the current cycle, yesterday and today:
$16.10 is the LOWEST bill I could ever pay, even if I generated ALL of own electricity and turned off the grid.
The $14.70 is the standard monthly connection fee, while the $1.40 is the taxes on that monthly fee
I now use the grid for backup to my battery
700 amp-hr @48v of battery storage
Full battery is 50v
last night at midnite, battery was 47.74 volts
this morning at 8:00am battery was 45.34 volts when the sun started charging
bulk charging switched to absorption at 49.8 volts at 12:15pm - 4 hours 15 minutes
grid kicks in and takes over house loads at 38.4 volts
$16.10 is the LOWEST bill I could ever pay, even if I generated ALL of own electricity and turned off the grid.
The $14.70 is the standard monthly connection fee, while the $1.40 is the taxes on that monthly fee
I now use the grid for backup to my battery
700 amp-hr @48v of battery storage
Full battery is 50v
last night at midnite, battery was 47.74 volts
this morning at 8:00am battery was 45.34 volts when the sun started charging
bulk charging switched to absorption at 49.8 volts at 12:15pm - 4 hours 15 minutes
grid kicks in and takes over house loads at 38.4 volts
| Bought | Generated |
| 0 | 63.57 |
kwh cost | 0.0868 | |
Elec cost | $0.00 | $5.52 |
HLP Fee | $14.70 | |
Total Cost | $14.70 | $20.22 |
UT Tax | $0.29 | $0.40 |
Wasco Tax | $0.04 | $0.05 |
Heber Tax | $0.15 | $0.20 |
Fran tax | $0.88 | $1.21 |
Hwy Tax | $0.04 | $0.06 |
Total Taxes | $1.40 | $1.93 |
Total Bill | $16.10 | $21.62 |
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Are you selling back?
