Very new to solar but started purchasing items, not sure of the final specs of the whole system.
- Thread starter kromc5
- Start date
Very simple hookup, .77amps on the cables, all cell groups were 3.336/3.337 before connecting.
I followed the printed layout on the pins for connections.
Also reached out to Heltec for the latest docs and they responded quickly.
diysolarforum.com
I followed the printed layout on the pins for connections.
Also reached out to Heltec for the latest docs and they responded quickly.
Heltec Capacitive active equalization/Active Balancer
Manuals for the Active Balancer.
diysolarforum.com
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Purchased previous version of Eve's from Hayley and when they arrive, I will report back with a full test and logging.
She has been very helpful and has no issues refunding my payment. I had an issue with linking and it went to the wrong funding source. I asked for her to refund so I could relink my account and did that quickly for me.
shandian.en.alibaba.com
She has been very helpful and has no issues refunding my payment. I had an issue with linking and it went to the wrong funding source. I asked for her to refund so I could relink my account and did that quickly for me.
Dongguan Lightning New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. - 12V 24V Battery/ 48V Home Energy Storage/ Portable Power Station/ Lithium ion Batteries, Battery Accessories
Dongguan Lightning New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., Experts in Manufacturing and Exporting 12V 24V Battery/ 48V Home Energy Storage/ Portable Power Station/ Lithium ion Batteries, Battery Accessories and 0 more Products.
shandian.en.alibaba.com
coolwaterxii
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- Mar 12, 2021
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@kromc5, are you running the Heltec Active Balancer with Batrium's passive balancer on? I will have the same setup as you, so it will be interesting how this will work and at what voltage will the Heltec Active Balancer starts working and also at what point will it stop. And curious what Batrium also during the time Heltec's doing its thing.Very simple hookup, .77amps on the cables, all cell groups were 3.336/3.337 before connecting.
I followed the printed layout on the pins for connections.
Also reached out to Heltec for the latest docs and they responded quickly.
Heltec Capacitive active equalization/Active Balancer
Manuals for the Active Balancer.
At the moment I have the batrium off and just testing the heltec, I'm hoping to be able to just use the heltec. Since it has a higher rate and will hopefully not have the high temps. The batrium at 1.84amps discharge can easily hit 50c/122f. Since the heltec allows for an on/off switch it could be possible to control it with the batrium.
coolwaterxii
New Member
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- Mar 12, 2021
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Interesting, you’re the second person in this forum who has a Batrium and thinking about using Heltec because of its active balancing capabilities.
If it has an off on switch, maybe the Batrium software has logic to turn on a relay to turn on the Heltec system when it thinks it needs to balance the batteries and then turn it off when it thinks it doesn’t need active balancing anymore.
That is what I'm hoping to do, while the m8 does excellent capabilities it comes up a little short though when its having to manage 4 batteries. I will update when I get a chance to set that up.
Still working on batteries, now have 7.4 pounds of copper shavings surprised by the weight. Finally order the rails, since I had to go to 3 panels instead of two, I have some pull panels down so I can make sure each array has 15. Not sure if needed but I thought about protecting the 4p16s that will be tied together and I ordered 175amp class t fuses to be installed on all the cables between them. Made the cables and will then cut them for the fuse blocks. Going to try and get holes dug tomorrow to finish the final 36 panels. Finished all the wiring for the second watchmon and got it ready for the 3rd battery.
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Got 10 holes dug so far before it became a lighting extravaganza. Working on the watchmon core and was giving me wifi issues. Maxine sent version 2.17.7 toolkit which also updated the firmware appears to have resolved the issue, I will report back after moving to the batteries.
The spare batteries were supposed to hit the port today and that would allow me to complete everything and bring both inverters online. This area is much steeper than it appears and I can only go down fowards and backup in 4wd.
I really like the heltec so far and have kept the bypass for the m8's off.
The spare batteries were supposed to hit the port today and that would allow me to complete everything and bring both inverters online. This area is much steeper than it appears and I can only go down fowards and backup in 4wd.
I really like the heltec so far and have kept the bypass for the m8's off.
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Spare batteries are now showing the 17th, plus I got an email from signature about further port delays.
Will be testing the new 15 amp heltec, /j, working on pre-wring everything so its ready to go.
Adding the cables for the combined battery bank and waiting on the fuses and blocks to splice those in.
Got 6 poles in before the storms rolled in again.
Will be testing the new 15 amp heltec, /j, working on pre-wring everything so its ready to go.
Adding the cables for the combined battery bank and waiting on the fuses and blocks to splice those in.
Got 6 poles in before the storms rolled in again.
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Got the breaker mounted and shunt is tested and working. I read so many issues about putting banks in parallel so this final part worries me. Will the work together or have issues? But I have a backup plan if does not. The batrium is connected to two 4p breakers with shunts so it can turn off the load and break the connection between the banks. I'm waiting for the t class fuses and holders which will be bolted to the top of the breaker and then connected to the top bank. This provides me with bms monitoring for both banks, fuses between them, two shunts for load and breaking the banks apart. Still researching to see what else could be beneficial.
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I highly recommend santansolar for solar panels they shipped the two replacements out which saved me so much.
I had to order more rails due to having to change all the panels from 2 to 3 and those arrived today. I still worry greatly since after calculating the voltage could indeed go over 150v but I do not have much of a choice. The inverters will not function on two panels. I have to take down the rows of 4 and make them into 5. I have been trying to research if there is a way to limit the pv input voltage but not found an easy solution.
I had to order more rails due to having to change all the panels from 2 to 3 and those arrived today. I still worry greatly since after calculating the voltage could indeed go over 150v but I do not have much of a choice. The inverters will not function on two panels. I have to take down the rows of 4 and make them into 5. I have been trying to research if there is a way to limit the pv input voltage but not found an easy solution.
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Making progress on the last arrays, most of the posts are done and leveled.
Most of the poles had developed a nice surface rust so started putting on the Corroseal. This is my favorite rust inhibitor, dries so quickly and creates just a long lasting barrier. Soon as its dry you cannot get any rust etc on you hands from touching the steel.
Most of the poles had developed a nice surface rust so started putting on the Corroseal. This is my favorite rust inhibitor, dries so quickly and creates just a long lasting barrier. Soon as its dry you cannot get any rust etc on you hands from touching the steel.
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This is an interesting video that shows what I wondered about with charging and SOC:
When I pulled the bank apart to test the runners, I took two batteries and tested them. My charge settings were 53.60, both batteries only had 222ah which worried me. If they were charged to 80% but missing so much capacity, I had wondered about the amperage vs soc. After fully charging and testing they all showed the full 280ah+ capacity. After rebuilding I limited the inverter and charge controller to a 40amps. I based on his research it seems that I should lower it more but will have to see how low it could go and still get a full charge especially in winter. My goal was 80-20 so this was a great video.
When I pulled the bank apart to test the runners, I took two batteries and tested them. My charge settings were 53.60, both batteries only had 222ah which worried me. If they were charged to 80% but missing so much capacity, I had wondered about the amperage vs soc. After fully charging and testing they all showed the full 280ah+ capacity. After rebuilding I limited the inverter and charge controller to a 40amps. I based on his research it seems that I should lower it more but will have to see how low it could go and still get a full charge especially in winter. My goal was 80-20 so this was a great video.
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Making progress she has agreed to keep the bears out of the backyard and keep the birds off the panels for clover.
Santan is awsome panels showed up broken again, I unloaded the pallet and saw all the nails embeded through the cardboard going down. We then proceeded to loaded them right back on the truck. They were completely busted up and even the driver said it look like they drop a pallet on them during shipping.
Santan is awsome panels showed up broken again, I unloaded the pallet and saw all the nails embeded through the cardboard going down. We then proceeded to loaded them right back on the truck. They were completely busted up and even the driver said it look like they drop a pallet on them during shipping.
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Hedges
I See Electromagnetic Fields!
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- Mar 28, 2020
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How tall were your stacks of panels?
I got four pallets, each 4' or 5' high. Less likely to suffer stacking.
Most of my stuff came before the pandemic, could be the shipping company employees these days are less experienced.
I go to freight terminal where they forklift into my pickup, which reduces the handling.
SanTan takes care of us. Bet they learn after a while which trucking companies are best.
I got four pallets, each 4' or 5' high. Less likely to suffer stacking.
Most of my stuff came before the pandemic, could be the shipping company employees these days are less experienced.
I go to freight terminal where they forklift into my pickup, which reduces the handling.
SanTan takes care of us. Bet they learn after a while which trucking companies are best.
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