bookrabbit
doorkeeper
The power station that I bought this panel for failed and is hopefully being refunded. It was a 1048wh Hopwinn ApolloF with a 1000w inverter and I should have known that the half price offer was too good to be true
The inverter seems to have shorted and turns the unit off after a few seconds even without a load. (Any suggestions to fix it would still be welcome before it goes back, clumsy and quirky as it is I got quite fond of it.)
The panel with a VOC of 45v is an awkward fit to most power stations which have been my solar solution up to this point. Plug and play is about as challenging as I am fit for. My poor panels are just sitting on the roof as fixing them down is beyond me. I was pleased with myself that I managed to tidy up the cables with a few hooks. Luckily it is very sheltered here! Picture clearing in a wood with roof shallowly pitched towards the southwest. Not ideal especially now the leaves are open but the days are long and low values add up and there are four good hours of reasonably high sun during the day. So it works for now. I have been fully off grid for about 6 weeks now despite my lack of skill. Winter will be a challenge however.
Anyway back on track ... I need to use this panel to power my radiator for the winter. 85w for as long as possible. A big ask I know. I suspect I will need another panel at least and I am running out of roof space already with the 6, including this one, that are up there already. In total there is 700w in panels so far. Any more will have to go flat. Which apparently isn't too bad in cloudy weather? We get a lot of that...
Actually I think just writing this has convinced me that it is time to buy parts rather than another power station. Then I can expand it can't I. But it is out of my comfort zone so I don't know. The trouble is the cheapest power station that would accept that panel is the poweroak 1200 but it is more money than I will get back on the Hopwinn. And I don't like the way it is laid out or that it has the older type of Li battery. I would really like another eb70 because they charge really quickly and I am happy with the two I already have. But the voltage is too high for it. I would need to step that 45v voc down to 24v and I am very unsure about how to do it and what to buy. Would this do it?https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Blackr-Converter-Voltage-Changer-Regulator/dp/B07MQZJGND/ref=mp_s_a_1_46?keywords=36/48+to+24v+buck+converter&pscroll=1&qid=1654098322&sr=8-46&wIndexMainSlot=53
that would take me a step closer to a warm winter but not all the way. it would power the fridge for the summer anyway. it only stores vegetables so I am content just to power it at night and charge during the day because it is in a different outbuilding with nowhere to put a panel. maybe one day I will move it, but the only place I could put it closer has animals living in it for now who might chew the cables. so for now I take what I need for the day and an iceblock or two and keep it cool that way. It is actually useful that I am a vegetarian who is allergic to dairy as nothing I eat needs to stay particularly cold.
If I decide to buy parts I am looking at a 30a mppt, a 1000w inverter and a 100ah li battery. I don't know what else I would need? Renology stuff is the plan so far:
Renogy 12V 100Ah LifePO4 Smart Lithium with Built-in Bluetooth module 5.0, Over 2000 cycles, Deep Cycle Battery with IP65 Waterproof, Ideal Backup Power for RV, Marine, Off-Grid System https://amzn.eu/3YVf8JT
Renogy Rover 30 Amp 12V/24V DC Input MPPT Solar Charge Controller Auto Parameter Adjustable LCD Display Solar Panel Regulator fit for Gel Sealed Flooded and Lithium Battery https://amzn.eu/eaYXHm7
Renogy 1000W 12V to 240V Pure Sine Wave Inverter & UPS Function 1000 Watt Solar Power Battery Converter 12VDC to 230VAC ETL Listed w/Cables for Off-Grid https://amzn.eu/ccYPJgX
That should be expandable when I have more money but doesn't cost much more than I hopefully have coming back on the other one. Does it look ok? The panel I want it for is this one
200W Photonic Universe monocrystalline solar panel for charging 12V or 24V batteries in a motorhome, boat or yacht, or off-grid household/backup/emergency/CCTV/lighting solar systems 200 watt https://amzn.eu/ia7JliY
The prices are of course shocking compared to American ones
Would that stuff be fairly easy to put together? Do I need anything else? Or would my work around with the bluetti eb70 be a decent option.
Input will be greatly appreciated.
TIA
Louise
The inverter seems to have shorted and turns the unit off after a few seconds even without a load. (Any suggestions to fix it would still be welcome before it goes back, clumsy and quirky as it is I got quite fond of it.)The panel with a VOC of 45v is an awkward fit to most power stations which have been my solar solution up to this point. Plug and play is about as challenging as I am fit for. My poor panels are just sitting on the roof as fixing them down is beyond me. I was pleased with myself that I managed to tidy up the cables with a few hooks. Luckily it is very sheltered here! Picture clearing in a wood with roof shallowly pitched towards the southwest. Not ideal especially now the leaves are open but the days are long and low values add up and there are four good hours of reasonably high sun during the day. So it works for now. I have been fully off grid for about 6 weeks now despite my lack of skill. Winter will be a challenge however.
Anyway back on track ... I need to use this panel to power my radiator for the winter. 85w for as long as possible. A big ask I know. I suspect I will need another panel at least and I am running out of roof space already with the 6, including this one, that are up there already. In total there is 700w in panels so far. Any more will have to go flat. Which apparently isn't too bad in cloudy weather? We get a lot of that...
Actually I think just writing this has convinced me that it is time to buy parts rather than another power station. Then I can expand it can't I. But it is out of my comfort zone so I don't know. The trouble is the cheapest power station that would accept that panel is the poweroak 1200 but it is more money than I will get back on the Hopwinn. And I don't like the way it is laid out or that it has the older type of Li battery. I would really like another eb70 because they charge really quickly and I am happy with the two I already have. But the voltage is too high for it. I would need to step that 45v voc down to 24v and I am very unsure about how to do it and what to buy. Would this do it?https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Blackr-Converter-Voltage-Changer-Regulator/dp/B07MQZJGND/ref=mp_s_a_1_46?keywords=36/48+to+24v+buck+converter&pscroll=1&qid=1654098322&sr=8-46&wIndexMainSlot=53
that would take me a step closer to a warm winter but not all the way. it would power the fridge for the summer anyway. it only stores vegetables so I am content just to power it at night and charge during the day because it is in a different outbuilding with nowhere to put a panel. maybe one day I will move it, but the only place I could put it closer has animals living in it for now who might chew the cables. so for now I take what I need for the day and an iceblock or two and keep it cool that way. It is actually useful that I am a vegetarian who is allergic to dairy as nothing I eat needs to stay particularly cold.
If I decide to buy parts I am looking at a 30a mppt, a 1000w inverter and a 100ah li battery. I don't know what else I would need? Renology stuff is the plan so far:
Renogy 12V 100Ah LifePO4 Smart Lithium with Built-in Bluetooth module 5.0, Over 2000 cycles, Deep Cycle Battery with IP65 Waterproof, Ideal Backup Power for RV, Marine, Off-Grid System https://amzn.eu/3YVf8JT
Renogy Rover 30 Amp 12V/24V DC Input MPPT Solar Charge Controller Auto Parameter Adjustable LCD Display Solar Panel Regulator fit for Gel Sealed Flooded and Lithium Battery https://amzn.eu/eaYXHm7
Renogy 1000W 12V to 240V Pure Sine Wave Inverter & UPS Function 1000 Watt Solar Power Battery Converter 12VDC to 230VAC ETL Listed w/Cables for Off-Grid https://amzn.eu/ccYPJgX
That should be expandable when I have more money but doesn't cost much more than I hopefully have coming back on the other one. Does it look ok? The panel I want it for is this one
200W Photonic Universe monocrystalline solar panel for charging 12V or 24V batteries in a motorhome, boat or yacht, or off-grid household/backup/emergency/CCTV/lighting solar systems 200 watt https://amzn.eu/ia7JliY
The prices are of course shocking compared to American ones
Would that stuff be fairly easy to put together? Do I need anything else? Or would my work around with the bluetti eb70 be a decent option.
Input will be greatly appreciated.
TIA
Louise
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