durodee:

Thanks chris81964. I planning an upgrade mainly because my energy need will increase in the next few weeks and my current 1.4kva will not be adequate for my @1.5kwh need nor be able to charge my proposed bank of 8 200amp/c10 12V batteries. I am moving house and the new site is completely off grid. My eventual destination is solar but I want to start with something not too expensive but with the ability to rapidly charge my bank if I am using a genset. I read that Century and Bluegate have a 70amp Max charger that was why my interest. I know sukam has a 3.5kva too but being cash trapped now, I was looking for cheaper but a bit reliable inverter to use meanwhile.
The main culprit in the incessant fire incidents was NEPA!!!!! 300v surges fried my stab (Century) and the locally made inverters; seems Sukam was able to performed better - got blown once but easily repaired locally.

zenus:
Nice work is going on here.
Please i need advise.
I am using a 2 x 12v 200amp prag battery with 2.4kva 24v interver.
I'm planning to add up solar panel to my unit.
Since I'm leaving in a small apartment I'm planning buying 240watt panel x2 making 480watt.
Can someone recommend a good place to get a good solar panel and cc.
My budget is ₦100,000.00
Also how can I connect the cc to the existing setup that is using NEPA to charge.
Can solar and NEPA charge the battery at the same time?
Or one had to switch off.
I also need a simple diagram connecting 2x 240watt to a charged controller and to the inverter and to the battery.
Main while my inverter is currently charged using NEPA.
Thanks so much in advance.

chris81964:

First things first. The charge controller charges independent of NEPA. You connect the controller positive to the positive and negative to the negative terminals/ posts of the battery bank in the same manner the Inverter is connected to the battery bank.
N100,000 is a bit too low. You can get a PWM controller for about N50k, a really good one will cost more. I advise you buy known name brands. Don't skimp. The panels can be had for less but I will advise that you go for quality. You can buy smaller capacity and lower wattage. And as you get more funds you can add more to allow you to meet your N100k target.
If you get 140 or 170 Watt Solar world panels, I believe they are 18 V each. You can connect the plus of one panel thto e minus of the other panel and then run the remaining plus and minus to your charge controller. This will give you 36 V. Your controller will step it down to 24V.
We advice that you install a breaker or fuse between the panel and charge controller.

zenus:
Thanks so much for this advise.
I'm so much grateful.
Please can you link me up to where I can purchase 140 or 170watt panel.

Thanks in advance

Akanniade:
These water filler for flooded batteries, makes filling stressless. It stops water flow once cell level is reached. So far I have topped up twice in one year.

DUNKA:
gooodday please how can I get d water filler for flooded batteries?

Akanniade:



You will get it on amazon. Search for OTC 4621 Two-Liter Battery Filler.

richmon74:


You are welcome and thanks for your business.
waitting for the pictures

richmon74:
This low cost device -MNSPD300 lightning arrestor- Saved the $2500 magnum inverter below from 415V supplied by PHCN on comissioning of a new transformer.

The system below has witnessed two major hits by over voltage. This time around the Lightning Arrestor did a very good job by shutting off the inverter from the excess power supply and in the process gave up the ghost just like Jesus Christ in order to save the Inverter after struggling to cut off the excess voltage for about 45 mins. The client was so happy with the protection and called for immediate replacement of the MNSPD300.

The remains of the MNSPD300 was given a very honourable burial as it has left behind a golden legacy for it's family. May It's Soul rest in Peace.

The story continues...

tivta:
. Ok, here in lagos the temperature is very hot.

GeorgeD1:


hotwire,
when you connect batteries in series, you increase their voltage but current remains the same and when you connect them in parallel, voltage remains the same but current increases. lets say i have four 12v 200a/h batteries, in series they will be 12*4=48v with same 200ah. but in parallel those same 4 batteries will be 200ah*4=800ah but same 12v. remember however that this does not affect the power output from the batteries as the four of them will still give you 200*12=2400w for the rated period.

having said that, whether batteries are connected in series or parallel really depends on what the installer wants to achieve. it does not affect the inverter in anyway, neither does it affect the charge controller.

but there is a problem with parallel connected batteries which has to do with the way they are connected. if paralleled wrongly, some batteries in the loop will be charging better than others and over time, those batteries not receiving enough charge will drag down the rest of the good batteries. that is why from the practical point of view, series connection is always preferred over parallel connected systems.

ilenaira:
George, if you need isolators or dc breakers let me know. I can pick them up as I get mine. The same for busbars and terminal blocks.

The inverters that I've seen are from China

(here's a not so great advert for it on you tube, the guy had wired them incorrectly)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8M9A8hd62E.

They are quite easy to set up and apparently have double their stated peak power as the surge rating. They can also be used individually if you want to dismantle your set-up or sell on in going to single inverter. I am just waiting for the specs first before I commit. The only downside I can see is that there is no display panel on them from which I can get feedback on power output /dignostics/ etc. I just cannot ignore them as the price for the 2-3 pieces I need will not even buy me one Xantrex or Outback equivalent, let alone 2.

If the specs don't convince, I'll stick to one inverter.

TotalGreen:
hi,
i am new in this forum, read some of your post and would like to contribute to this topic, i have been in renewable business for some time, i would say i have a little experience about this topic. i would like to answer some questions that might be of help.

@pdozie : please you cannot equalize sealed deep batteries, only Flooded batteries can bee equalized, flooded meaning maintenance batteries(where you can open to caps and fill in distilled water).

@bodejohn : (6 panels....2pcs of 120watts and 4 pieces of 100watts., I will be buying 4 more 120watts by the weekend.
I plan to change the whole array to 120watts and rest all the 100watts panels till I get another charge, controller.)

like to ask, those that us MPPT controllers how do you connect your panels, example i guess the for you to have sukam 3.5kva you would be running 48volt dc, how did you combine "2pcs of 120watts and 4 pieces of 100watts" on your MPPT controller.

just asking to know, cause i do not think you might be maximissing your MPPT controller on the HOT days.

Hi totalgreen: can you kindly send me contact details, need install accessories. thanks. 08036812998

ilenaira:
Isolator, breakers and Charge Controller. The two green lights means good news from solar array and battery state.

richmon74:
Next stage is wiring and configuration.

our contacts still remain:

phone/whatsapp: 08023033135, 08182218868
email: contact@pbasesolar.com

plz like our facebook page 'PBASE Solar' and invites friend to like it too and help us grow.

More about the recent installations will be coming up soon on the facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/pbasesolar

richmon74:
Who cares to join us in as we round off our 20kVA Hybridg System installation today?

Location: IKOYI

Project config:

36pcs of SW255 (255W) Solarworld Sunmodule Solar Panels
Pro Solar Mount for 36 Panels
3pcs of SMA Sunny Island 8.0H Inverters
1pc of SMA 11kW Sunny Mini Central PV Inverter
1pc SMA Sunny Webbox
1pc SMA Control Panel
24pcs Hoppecke OPzS Solar.Power 3250 (3250AH 2V) Batteries

This system will be powering a data center with 6 air-conditioners.


Status:
Solar Panels mounting completed.

Akanniade:


Hello Richmond, nice project you have going on there.
But you need more than 36 pcs of the solar modules. That battery size is massive.

richmon74:
The Election wahala halted our work today. We ended up just mounting the cable trays, webbox, control panels pv & battery fuse boxs and positioned battery in place.

Few hours wiring and configuration remains.

watch and like our facebook page for more pictures soon.

temizeee:
Greetings to diy brothers in the house...thanks for encouraging us..
i have 2×90 watt off sunmodule panels,10 amp charge controller,selfmade inverter(m an eee student like building circuit), i will get battery soon, am a student n i dont av so much load just a tv,dvd,a fan n 11watt energy saving bulb.
can some of these loads be powered on during d day n ba3 still get charge via my 2×90watt solar panel ... can't afford more than does panel for now.....if it will work den i will know i need only ba3 if it won't i can hold on for ba3 n buy more panels later
i just want real life feasibility abour d panel corresponding to d loads...ideally d load can b run for 6hrs perday...

schneid:


Good job Oga Richmond. Just reading this though and I thank God the election wahala halted your installation because I would have missed out. I wish to see those SMA in action and the sunlock Mount installation. I hope to join you next week when work resumes. Cheerio bro