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diy solar

diy solar

WHY??? $1,000 ---> Schneider Conext XW PRO 6.8KW Hybrid Inverter/Charger | 48V 120/240V

I have a Victron 250/100 in addition to the two 100/600 in the garage - so in theory 300amps possible... of course I need to install stuff and still buy panels and batteries. I will get there, just slowly.... and today it was 9 degrees F inside the garage so not exactly working weather.... got 6 inches of snow and had to run the blower in the driveway, that took an hour.

A victron 450/100 would seem to be a viable alternative to the 100/600 as well.
Depends on if he needs ul1741 approval.

Best bang for buck imo for Victron is multiple 250/100s and a ton of parallel strings but that could get costly on the pv wiring side.
 
Depends on if he needs ul1741 approval.

Best bang for buck imo for Victron is multiple 250/100s and a ton of parallel strings but that could get costly on the pv wiring side.
I don't need approvals. My poco doesn't care what I do behind the meter. I will have to do a building permit for some stuff later this year, but all they care about is solar panel UL listing; why, I do not know.

Having played around with Victron's MPPT sizing calculator, I agree, from a pure output / price perspective, it's hard to beat the 250/100. I haven't, however, done a lot of thinking on wiring implications.
 
I don't need approvals. My poco doesn't care what I do behind the meter. I will have to do a building permit for some stuff later this year, but all they care about is solar panel UL listing; why, I do not know.

Having played around with Victron's MPPT sizing calculator, I agree, from a pure output / price perspective, it's hard to beat the 250/100. I haven't, however, done a lot of thinking on wiring implications.
If you compare it to say a 450/100, the key is the Voc and temp coefficient of your chosen panels. Basically you want to keep your voc at 42V or below. That gets you a string of five at 210V with 40V of buffer for cold temps. And then parallel a second string of five. Two Y adaptors out at the array maybe a bit more pv wire.

With a 450/100 you can run the ten panels in a single string. I'm not sure how cold it gets where you are 5s/10s may be too much.
 
My new charge controller is a 250/70. I did the math with the temp coefficient on my new Hyundai panels. While the VOC is 45.3 volts, the VOC temp Coef. is just -0.268% per degree. I plan to run 5 panels in series. 5 x 45.3 = 226.5 volts. 250 / 226.5 = 1.1038 or only a 10.4% margin. It is a bit closer than I want to go, but with the -0.268 temp coef. it does not look too bad. 10.4 / -0.268 = -38.7 degrees from 25C = -13.7 C (about 7 F) to hit 250 volts. It has never gotten that cold here in Santa Clarita Valley. Our bigger issue is the 120 F (49 C) days in summer baking everything to death. My VMP voltage falls to 37.7 per panel x 5 = 188.5 volts. And at 5S2P for 4,000 watts, the IMP current is just 10.61 amps x 2 = 21.22 amps. Makes the loss on my huge run of #10 right about 3%.

If I keep jamming the system into float, I may still pull 2 panels from the string, drop it to 4S2P and put 2 panels on microinverters.
 
If you compare it to say a 450/100, the key is the Voc and temp coefficient of your chosen panels. Basically you want to keep your voc at 42V or below. That gets you a string of five at 210V with 40V of buffer for cold temps. And then parallel a second string of five. Two Y adaptors out at the array maybe a bit more pv wire.

With a 450/100 you can run the ten panels in a single string. I'm not sure how cold it gets where you are 5s/10s may be too much.
We've had 5F ambient here this winter. I punched the panels I have in waiting into the calculator; 8s is the max on the Victron 450/100. I think the 100/600 would be able to do 10s however, definitely 9.

On the smaller side, I could run 5s2p on a 250/70 per the calculator and stay with 10awg.

All the options.
 
Can you please help me with my 18Kpv problem. SS said they could not do anything until I had a warning or a fault. EG4 tech said “Oh, that is not normal at all” then never got a reply after 4 attempts to them by myself. I will email my information to you thanks.
This is not normal. Please send us a DM with your inverter's serial number so we can look into this for you.
 
The XW inverters were designed as DIY off grid, low frequency inverters. As they evolved they added grid tied capability. The Pro works with the requirements of most electric companies to sell power back to the grid.

Most of the problems reported with the XWs are with the grid tied features. I won:t be grid tied.

I am building an off grid system. The XW Pro 6848 will power up anything I want to run including the compressor and welder. I can hook my generator to it to charge the batteries when there hasn't been enough sun or add the Genny's output to the Pro's if needed. It's built like a tank.

Looks like the Pro will do all I ask of it. I have ordered it.
 
The XW inverters were designed as DIY off grid, low frequency inverters. As they evolved they added grid tied capability. The Pro works with the requirements of most electric companies to sell power back to the grid.

Most of the problems reported with the XWs are with the grid tied features. I won:t be grid tied.

I am building an off grid system. The XW Pro 6848 will power up anything I want to run including the compressor and welder. I can hook my generator to it to charge the batteries when there hasn't been enough sun or add the Genny's output to the Pro's if needed. It's built like a tank.

Looks like the Pro will do all I ask of it. I have ordered it.
Remember one is none…two is bare minimum…. Three is best. Especially at the price they are offering them
 
Remember one is none…two is bare minimum…. Three is best. Especially at the price they are offering them
I need one bad i may have to redouble my Uber efforts my fear is they'll run of stock soon.

I have the 40 lb Rosie, I still want the 6848 that requires a three man lift.... maybe the best low frequency inverter along with the best high frequency? :)
 
I need one bad i may have to redouble my Uber efforts my fear is they'll run of stock soon.

I have the 40 lb Rosie, I still want the 6848 that requires a three man lift.... maybe the best low frequency inverter along with the best high frequency? :)
I think a 6848 will definitely take you along ways on powering a house i know nothing about how they stack but am pretty sure they stack similiarly to a magnum... 13.6kw of LF goodness... thing of the surge capacity on something like that.... you litterally could make your own electric chair to roast the local drug dealers, rapist murderers and lowlifes with... put some snap crackle pop into their last morning...100% renewable powered so the hippies should not have an issue with it.
 
The Rosie is sufficient for my house with propane water heater, stove and dryer. But the 6848 might be a nice add to the in-laws house, solid foundation to a decent system.
 
The XW inverters were designed as DIY off grid, low frequency inverters. As they evolved they added grid tied capability. The Pro works with the requirements of most electric companies to sell power back to the grid.

Most of the problems reported with the XWs are with the grid tied features. I won:t be grid tied.

I am building an off grid system. The XW Pro 6848 will power up anything I want to run including the compressor and welder. I can hook my generator to it to charge the batteries when there hasn't been enough sun or add the Genny's output to the Pro's if needed. It's built like a tank.

Looks like the Pro will do all I ask of it. I have ordered it.



There is a list of the extra components - the Insight home is all that is really required - but the PDP (mini - 1 inverter, or full - 2 or more) makes for a much easier install.

You would have to get the extra stuff from NAX solar electric since SS doesn't carry it.

If you just want 240 split-phase and FLA batteries you can just use it. If you want to adjust the charge specs or battery type you need the Insight home.
 
I need one bad i may have to redouble my Uber efforts my fear is they'll run of stock soon.

I have the 40 lb Rosie, I still want the 6848 that requires a three man lift.... maybe the best low frequency inverter along with the best high frequency? :)


I am using an electric winch to lift them into place. There is a $40 block and tackle off Amazon that has an 880lb lift capacity and works if you have 2 people - one to lift and one to bolt it down.
 

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