So you had not isolated the panels whilst tinkering? My brother, it could have been worse. Thank your lucky stars.

TotalGreen:
........... i dont like a breaker between the battery and controller, cause if the breaker is activated and the panels are still producing power, it might fry the controller........

Ironically, most controllers may have in-built protection for the scenario you described (tripped breaker).

Ideally you should have a breaker between panels and charge controller, controller and batteries and batteries and inverter that way you can isolate any 'section'. Pele.

okay

wow this is a big loss, for us newbies venturing into the solar mmpt stuff...fear don catch me...pls some1 shud post a pic of a breaker, am about ordering my solar panels, mppt charger from amazon...would like to include the breaker..so guys pls help

earthrealm: wow this is a big loss, for us newbies venturing into the solar mmpt stuff...fear don catch me...pls some1 shud post a pic of a breaker, am about ordering my solar panels, mppt charger from amazon...would like to include the breaker..so guys pls help

just get a simple cut out, between the controller and battery u need just a mechanical disconnect, just like the oga at the top George_D pic will do.

if you want to be fashionable u can get
http://www.amazon.com/BATTERY-DISCONNECT-CUT-OFF-KILL-SWITCH/dp/B00425NBRI/ref=pd_sbs_auto_5 - this is for 12V system
http://www.amazon.com/HELLA-002843011-Series-Rating-Battery/dp/B0000AYAFE/ref=pd_sbs_auto_16 - this is for 24V system


i just added it on my wishlist on amazon.

ok, thanks..whats this one for?
http://www.amazon.com/Scosche-EWFH-Single-Fuse-Holder/dp/B000KIR8M0/ref=pd_sim_sg_7

earthrealm: ok, thanks..whats this one for?
http://www.amazon.com/Scosche-EWFH-Single-Fuse-Holder/dp/B000KIR8M0/ref=pd_sim_sg_7

hi,
as the name implies, its a fuse holder meaning that you can buy any fuse type you require, depending on the amps you need, just nut it round the two nuts and there you go, you have a fuse, like i call it fashionable that's it. but i like it.

if you are getting it make sure you get the fuse you require.

example fuse http://www.amazon.com/Absolute-ANL100-2-Pack-Fuses-Plated/dp/B005EUTA3E/ref=pd_sim_e_2

i always stand to be corrected

thanks

TotalGreen:

Just to show u why its very important to put a breaker or cut of switch between ur charge controller and the battery and solar panels, I fried my Morningstar mppt 60amps just cause of my carelessness.

thanks

Does this mean high current from the batteries might fry the controller?

Hi everyone, just completed my solar power installation with enuf advise from oga at the top..GeorgeD and other solar, inverter gurus..
I have been enjoying it since January, though I had a lot of problems with the unprofessional attitude of the installer..
See some pictures

Hi everyone, just completed my solar power installation with enuf advise from oga at the top..GeorgeD and other solar, inverter gurus..
I have been enjoying it since January, though I had a lot of problems with the unprofessional attitude of the installer..
See some pictures.

Powersafe batteries and trip lite inverter..48volts configuration

DaLover: Hi everyone, just completed my solar power installation with enuf advise from oga at the top..GeorgeD and other solar, inverter gurus..
I have been enjoying it since January, though I had a lot of problems with the unprofessional attitude of the installer..
See some pictures

Looking, looking...
Can't see any picture

DaLover:
Does this mean high current from the batteries might fry the controller?

yes, correct.

bodejohn:

Looking, looking...
Can't see any picture

Can't load the pictures from m iPad, will load them later

March was a very good month although the Sun's irradiance dropped deeply towards the end.
I had a total of 2336Ah as measured by my charge controller. An all time high harvest of 56.064kW hr. I am not resetting the charge controller but will like to relish these moments and talk of the thousands.

Happy new month folks.

bodejohn: March was a very good month although the Sun's irradiance dropped deeply towards the end.
I had a total of 2336Ah as measured by my charge controller. An all time high harvest of 56.064kW hr. I am not resetting the charge controller but will like to relish these moments and talk of the thousands.

Happy new month folks.

nice one

hi,

is anyone in this forum using flooded batteries like the Trojan T105?

thanks

bodejohn: March was a very good month although the Sun's irradiance dropped deeply towards the end.
I had a total of 2336Ah as measured by my charge controller. An all time high harvest of 56.064kW hr. I am not resetting the charge controller but will like to relish these moments and talk of the thousands.

Happy new month folks.

Haven't really been taken note of mine, I will reset mine today

DaLover:
Haven't really been taken note of mine, I will reset mine today

You need to take note of this data. It will help you to know how your system is performing.

Battery installation with a 10kva stabiliser

MPPT Charge controller

Triplite inverter 48volts/ powerfull 90amps charger

The supplier based in PH was able to organise 12 units of 280watt panels,
we had to use flat bars to lay them flat on the roof

The batteries are specially designed for rapid charge and discharge, a must if you leave in an area with very unpredictable power supply,
The battries spec sheet says the charging current is 0.25I₁₀ for a 6 hour charge(i.e from 0 to full)
The batteries are 190ah each, so they can take a charging current 190/4 or 45amps,
total charging current for the three banks is 135Amps

auto phase selector, built using 3 types of relays, relevany when nepa keeps changing the phase of power supply to the house...these has been serving me for a while but in the last few days I observed that the low voltage supply to the house has distroyed 2 the contactor coils..I now need to incorporate a funcationality to handle the low voltage.

I was able to convince the installer to use a simple Change Over Switch for simplified isolation of the battery bank, while connecting the house load directly to nepa or gen

hello dalover,
congrats on your installation. i'm especially impressed with your battery rack design.
very compact and neat. did you consider installing a cut-out fuse between the battery
bank and charge controller and also between the solar array and controller? very important
for safety.

wow nice one @ da lover!!!....how much did u get the 280watts solar panels?
@ georger d....what type of cutout do u recommend?..i learnt the normal ac cutout isnt good?..so which one do u recommend?..u hv an amazon link?

George_D: hello dalover,
congrats on your installation. i'm especially impressed with your battery rack design.
very compact and neat. did you consider installing a cut-out fuse between the battery
bank and charge controller and also between the solar array and controller? very important
for safety.

Thanks, I got a near by welder to construct the battery rack, it was some learning though, he was able to achieve this after two attempts...
I use a 60amps breaker between the battery bank and controller and also another 60amps breaker between the controller and the panels.

shithapuns: wow nice one @ da lover!!!....how much did u get the 280watts solar panels?
@ georger d....what type of cutout do u recommend?..i learnt the normal ac cutout isnt good?..so which one do u recommend?..u hv an amazon link?

The installer based in ph imported it from USA, they are suntech

shithapuns: wow nice one @ da lover!!!....how much did u get the 280watts solar panels?
@ georger d....what type of cutout do u recommend?..i learnt the normal ac cutout isnt good?..so which one do u recommend?..u hv an amazon link?

shithapuns,

you can use normal phcn cut-out fuses for your solar installation. however, the problem lies with
circuit breakers mainly due to their design and mode of operation. normal ac circuit breakers should
not be used on solar installations. always use special dc rated types so as to avoid arching and fire
outbreak.

George_D:


shithapuns,

you can use normal phcn cut-out fuses for your solar installation. however, the problem lies with
circuit breakers mainly due to their design and mode of operation. normal ac circuit breakers should
not be used on solar installations. always use special dc rated types so as to avoid arching and fire
outbreak.

@George_D: Correct!
@DaLover: nice one, send us snap shots of the mppt readings at very high current
thanks

TotalGreen:

@George_D: Correct!
@DaLover: nice one, send us snap shots of the mppt readings at very high current
thanks

Ok will do, but it will have to be weekend when I am at home.
Thanks

nice...would also want to know the the price of 1 unit of the solar panel