Will my system survive winter?

[Bhilton]

Hi All!

I built a small cabin 16x22' this summer and insulated the walls with R20, floor with R28 and ceiling with R28.

I installed a Growatt 3500 US with an SOK 48v 100ah. I insulated the battery with 1" rigid foam (R6 I believe) but I did not insulate the Growatt, it's hanging on the wall temporarily for now. I couldn't get the cabin interior done and it's boat access so right now I'm stuck waiting for the lake to freeze before I can get back to it (6 hour drive away).

System is fed by 5x 405W Canadian Solar all-black panels in series. I left their angle set for that region's winter sun and they are pointing due south with direct sun most of the day (excluding ~first hour in the morning and ~last hour in the evening)

All summer the system worked great, running my medium size fridge 24/7.

I have not been there since October 20th and temperatures have stayed above freezing until now. Temperatures next week: Daily highs around -6C/21F and lows -16C/3F.

I left the system connected and running, I'm hoping the constant ~1Amp the Growatt draws and the insulated battery inside an insulated cabin will keep the battery above zero and functioning. All appliances are off, including the fridge.

As soon as the ice freezes, I plan on going to check the cabin and system out.

What do you all think is it going to be working when I go there next?

Anyone with a similar experience, can you share how it worked out for you?


Thank you!

-Bill

 

[Daddy Tanuki]

Has it snowed in the area of the Cabin? (covered panels). The SOK has low temp shutdown so worse case you have to warm up the battery before it can charge. nothing should be damaged at worse you have a low temp/low voltage shutdown.

do you have a method to heat the cabin other than via electricity? as long as you can warm it up it will accept charge form the panels.

I bet you arrive and its sitting around 75% with no issues but have no proof, just my thoughts after watching my DIY system for a couple of years

 

[seneysolar]

Hi All!

I built a small cabin 16x22' this summer and insulated the walls with R20, floor with R28 and ceiling with R28.

I installed a Growatt 3500 US with an SOK 48v 100ah. I insulated the battery with 1" rigid foam (R6 I believe) but I did not insulate the Growatt, it's hanging on the wall temporarily for now. I couldn't get the cabin interior done and it's boat access so right now I'm stuck waiting for the lake to freeze before I can get back to it (6 hour drive away).

System is fed by 5x 405W Canadian Solar all-black panels in series. I left their angle set for that region's winter sun and they are pointing due south with direct sun most of the day (excluding ~first hour in the morning and ~last hour in the evening)

All summer the system worked great, running my medium size fridge 24/7.

I have not been there since October 20th and temperatures have stayed above freezing until now. Temperatures next week: Daily highs around -6C/21F and lows -16C/3F.

I left the system connected and running, I'm hoping the constant ~1Amp the Growatt draws and the insulated battery inside an insulated cabin will keep the battery above zero and functioning. All appliances are off, including the fridge.

As soon as the ice freezes, I plan on going to check the cabin and system out.

What do you all think is it going to be working when I go there next?

Anyone with a similar experience, can you share how it worked out for you?


Thank you!

-Bill

I suspect you will return to a shut down system. Not enough sun, nobody to brush snow off the panels, temps below the bms cutoff, and cumulative inverter idle consumption.

Black frames do shed snow pretty good when theres sun. Ultimately my bet is mother nature wins.

When you go back, bring a small generator and a 48v battery charger.

 

[Daddy Tanuki]

I suspect you will return to a shut down system. Not enough sun, nobody to brush snow off the panels, temps below the bms cutoff, and cumulative inverter idle consumption.

Black frames do shed snow pretty good when theres sun. Ultimately my bet is mother nature wins.

When you go back, bring a small generator and a 48v battery charger.

he should have his inverter LBCO set high enough that it will shut down prior to the BMS shutting down if he set it up correctly.