₦airaland Forum

Wait till you hear 13 out of those 18 goals were from the penalty spot. As much as I try to go to the statdium to support the local league, mediorce performance from the league is frustrating...

fikfik: So does this mean:

200amp/10hr = 100amp/20hr

should buyers beware of this? as many manufactures will label 200amp and people will buy because its chaeper only to find out its actually 100amp/20hours.

I read sometime ago that a C10 battery have more backup time than a C20 battery of same capacity but I had to take sometime to cross check the facts before commenting. The link below should shed more light.

http://www.revanbattery.com/technical-information.htm

From my understanding of the article, 100Ah/10hr = 125Ah/20hr

pdozie: @BodeJohn,
I've added 3 new panels. So I have in total 3 x 260W and 3 x 250W. That should be 1530W in total. Connected in strings of 2s (2 in series; 3 strings in parallel).

But it seems something is not right because from the controller meter, I didn't get beyond 720W the whole day (under load and no PHCN). I've climbed the roof countless time just to confirm the connections are OK. Besides, before joining the strings, I measured each string and they looked OK (81V).

What do you advice please?

Your connections on paper are correct and if you checked each string individual, I will advise as below

1. Connect each string individually to the charge controller and note your findings.
2. What charging mode was the controller? Bulk, Absorption or Float? If the batteries are full, the CC should ignore the excess power.
3. What was the average power in kW that you generated from the old 3 panel set?
4. Did you do this on a cloudy day or was any part of the panel covered by nearby trees?
5. If your Multimeter can measure DC current, try to measure the Isc of the panels

From my experience, if your batteries are full, your charge controller will ignore excess energy from the panels, sometimes at 2pm one of my charge controllers shuts it current to 0.0Amps even under load. You can kick in some power equipment like water pump to be and see if the power generated will increase.

earthrealm: SORRY i posted the wrong pic...this one here is the connection at the end of the solar cable i bought...as we can see the 2 connectors are different....i need another connector to be able to mate the 2...thats what am looking for.......

The second picture has MC3 connectors, all the same you can change them to MC4 or use the connectors suggested above.
I used ordinary cable connectors in my setup but I am planning to change them to MC4 because they are IP65, waterproof.

earthrealm: my panels have arrived 250w 24v renogy monocrystalline panels, i also bought an optional 30ft solar cable to use in my connections. i have attached pics of the connections at the end of my panel and at the end of my optional solar cable........
my question is on connectors....since the connectors at the ends of the panel and optional cable are different.........what is the name of the connector i need to buy so as to be able to join both cables?.

Those are called MC4 solar connectors. You can goggle it. I ordered the ones I plan to use in my next upgrade from China but do let me know if you get to find them here in Nigeria.

fikfik: My current installation:

5KVA CyberPower PRO
HIGH POWER 200 amp/10hr batts x 16
Joy Solar 260W Polycrystalline x 8
eTRACER 60 Amp MPPT Solar Charge controller

That's a massive power bank, 38kWh by my calculations.
How did you connect the fourth string of your batteries, I can only see three strings in the picture.

Darhmee: BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guys u wont believe what just happened.. i was talking to a tablet supplier i met on alibaba through their so called email address.. she kept asking me which payment method i would prefer(WU, Money gram, Transfer) but i kept waving the question and kept on talking about the product i wanna order for.

Immediately i made mention that the purchase of the 5 tablets i wanna buy will be handled by a friend there in china, she replied me and i quote "im sorry, we do not want to do business with people like you who cant pay us directly. bye!"

90% of the suppliers on alibaba are scammers.. iv talked to most of them. when i wasnt able to pay with western union at a time(before i saw this thread), a supplier even suggested that i send the money to someone in Uk or US so they can help me transfer it to her.. So desperate.

Please do not send money to any supplier on alibaba.. its better to go through a medium like this (chrisvicmall) so they can confirm for u if they are real or not.

A word is enough

While I am not trying to discourage the work the OP is doing I will like to say as a VIP buyer on aliexpress that what you put up there is not totally correct.

Aliexpress has a secure payment service that gurantees you receive your goods before funds are released to the sellers. The major issue is when someone sees a riduculous offer or a chance to pay directly into the sellers account and avoiding the mandatory aliexpress fee.

If you are honest and fair in your business transactions, you will find out not everybody is dubious.

We always like to throw the baby away with the bath water, while the 5000 notes could help some logistics, changing the lower notes to coins would have ofcourse raised inflation.

I still think the best policy for our currencies would have been redenominatiin. It is absolutely useless to be talking about billions when it is worthless.

pdozie: The 3 panels I'm getting though is not same match as the existing ones (the very ones I bought are not in stock). So I will end up having one string of 2 different panels. Based on my findings, the current of the lower rated panel will be used (for series connection) while the difference will be 'wasted' power.
I can cope with that for now till I can get raise money for another set (and hopefully find a match)

The Voc of the new panels should be a close match of the existing ones.
What size of panels in Watts are you planning to buy? I will suggest you get another 230 or 250watts panel even if it is of a different brand.
Otherwise you will be loosing power again, Do not forget about the non critical loads that you need to shed especially at night.

pdozie: Hi,
I do not the RS323 connection to PC. I have to manually note down the stat figure on the controller. Attached is 8 days data.

Obviously my batteries deplete beyond recommended threshold. But I want to confirm, for a 48V battery system, taking the DoD into consideration, are saying that the batteries should not go beyond what? [3 x 24v x 250W panels; 4 x 200AH x 12v batteries ]

From this data you have shared, two things are obvious;

1. You are draining your batteries way below acceptable limits, the batteries will die faster than you think.
2. You are not optimizing your CC, you should connect panels based on the Voc in pairs. You are presently loosing considerable power now.

My advise; reduce your load immediately, especially in the evening when the sun is down, you shouldn't be going below 49V. Get 3 more panels if you can afford it or just one panel for now of same capacity. Then change your panel connection to pairs.

pheleix: You did not reply the one from my gmail account. Subject: Charge controller

Check again, I replied both.

pheleix: Ok... That's the difference between theory and practical. Remember my calculations where based on assumptions and Nameplate spec. Am in the process of setting up mine, have been reading and consulting with George D. Need to buy ET4415N eTreacer MPPT, sent you a mail in that regards.

I have replied you.

Yeepeee!!! I have been "unbanned".

pdozie: I already decided to add 3 more panels anyway. I will search for the post on 2 x 2 configuration. May be I can still apply it with the six panels.....

As I said earlier in my first response, you need to design your system by diligent study, calculations and also taking into consideration some other site factors that are peculiar to your location, otherwise you will need professional help.

For example, where I stay, I have not received more than 3 times my solar array capacity in a day. This has helped me to plan my capacity increases and manage my expectations. Expecting 10.5kW from a 1.5kW installation will be ambitious.

pdozie: What is obtained now: On a day with full sunlight and no PHCN: From 8am to 6pm Inverter is on with about 400W of load. Load increases from 6pm to full load (850W) inverter beeps (shuts down) by 7.30 or 8pm.

Too bad, if this happens every time. You will destroy the batteries before you know it.

pdozie: I have a bank of 200AH battery x 4 in series connected to 48v Sukam with 3 x 250W x 24v solar panel in series connected to 45A MPPT controller. Total load = 850W

Your battery bank is 48V, 200Ah, this is only 9600watts. Assuming you can convert all this to AC power without any power loss, you will have power for 11hrs. But since you should only use 50% of the charge in your batteries, that is theoretically 5 or 6hrs if your batteries get fully charged. My guess is your batteries are not even getting a full charge each day since you use the inverter during the day also.

My advise, you need to do some study yourself, you should be able to calculate all your load requirements, battery bank sizing, solar array design, if you can't, please get professional help otherwise, you will be frustrated and will also loose your investment.

You need to cut down your load immediately, reduce the amount of power you use during the day so that some more juice from your panels can be stored in the batteries. You will also need to increase your solar panel array. There is little you can do about your batteries now, until your next major upgrade.

Me? give it the lot? Where will i get the money from?
Even people who you will borrow from are already subscribing to DSTv.

It is difficult to invest and make profit in Nigeria especially when it is not Oil & Gas and construction backed by government.
The case of pirates and illegitimate tapping of signals is also involved, it will take a lot to be able to compete in an environment like this.

In the news, bodejohn's genco temporarily shuts down following Sunday morning clouds and heavy down pour...

Now the full details...The power generating company belonging and solely run by bodejohn was temporarily shutdown on Sunday morning after 10days of uninterrupted power supply to the numerous customers in the bodejohn's household.

The 10days of uninterrupted power supply has been lauded by other gencos as an achievement that has only been surpassed by George D's genco, a company setup many years before the coming on board of bodejohn's genco.

This measure was necessary to protect the 8 deep cycle batteries from slipping pass the recommended 50% DOD after sun down.

More details during the full news bulletin tonight...LOL

.

I see the issue on ground from a different perspective. I will also blame all the key players in the education sector for the rot we have on our hands now.

Is it true that the government entered into an agreement in 2009 and reneged or failed to honor it? This also happen in Lagos state in the case of the medical doctors, Nigerians will continue to doubt her leaders when the go back on signed agreements.

If truly ASUU is seeking a step change in our universities, how about some sacrifice from them, can the lecturers tell the government to keep all their salaries for the period they will be on strike to show that they are selflessly pursuing advancement in our ivory towers.

I smell selfishness everywhere, from government, ASUU, students, parents and including myself.

Brilliant intellectual discussion devoid of abuses and name calling. This is the type of discussions we should be having on this forum, thumbs up for your guys.

smartchoice: My "friend" go back to bed!

Would have done so if you had made a little more sense.

Majority of the comments on this thread is dis heartening.

Is it only the cost of dstv channels that is expensive in Nigeria?

Is the cost of making 1km of road in Nigeria not the highest in the whole of Africa?

We are leaving the root cause of our problems while running after the symptoms of our issues. Every man seeks a solution for himself without checking how it affects the other people.
Are fellow Nigerians not working in Multichoice, is the company not supporting and putting food on the tables of dish installers and other installation accessory dealers?

Most of you complain of running your generators, where do you think dstv get power from? We even compound their problem by pirating their their signals and even boasting about it.

Dstv premium package is for those who can afford it, if you can't afford it, get other legitimate means of entertaining yourself.

fikfik: wow, nice one.
how many batteries you have?
whats your average load size ?
what the make/capacity of your inverter?
are you using hybrid charging or solar only?
how many panels and wattage now?

All your questions I answered with the SLD I uploaded some few pages back, kindly check it on page 54.

Yeah...sign of accomplishment!

Having gone through all the pages of the thread, I can see that the comments have been largely divided although not equally along the pro and the anti power privatisation policy.

Before I lay bare my fears about the policy, let me quickly say that privatisation is not a monster and maybe the turning point to power supply in Nigeria.

Having said that, there are some truths about the results of this privatisation process that has not been laid bare.

Firstly, from my understanding of the process, I may be wrong, I am open to correction, we have just replaced phcn with another monster. The will be no competiton, the 18 discos and 6 gencos were sold to private owners. While there could be some form of competition between the gencos, I very much doubt the discos. For example, I am under the Ibadan Disco, now owned by Abulsalam, I have nothing against him, his tribe or his company but he is in direct control of the power distribution in the whole of Ibadan, Oyo state and his environs which could include some parts of Ogun state, he is absolutely in charge, without proper legislation and monitoring, we are just in the hand of another shylock investor.

Secondly, the infrastructure required for generation, transmission and distribution of electrical power cannot be installed over night. Infact, some of the equipments are not off the shelf, meaning they have to be manufactured and shipped to Nigeria for installation with lead times ranging from between 6months and even 2years. Do Not Expect so much change in power distribution in the next one year and this is assuming that the new owners are greater than 85% efficient.

While we await the transformation that this process is about to bring, we should also not forget the attendant cost implication of a stable and steady power supply. Infact, I foresee an increase of between 600 and 1000% in the coming months.

Edits: Permit spelling errors and puntuation, I typed this on a phone.

Like I said earlier, this is my understanding of the process, I am open to constructive discussion on the points that I have tried to explain above.

Chilling with uninterrupted supply, 80hrs so far, I hope to hit 4 days autonomy and thereafter break the record of sukam after 99hrs 59mins 59secs...Pictures on the way...

...wouldn't notice it, I have been living off grid power for 9months, yes 9months, I celebrated 48hrs uninterrupted power supply like a week ago...presently on a test run of 5 days uninterrupted supply.

The best gift of nature to mankind is the sun...

macjireh: THANK GOD U KNO SAY UNA NEVA PLAY BETA MATCH YET,U STIL HAV CHELSEA & CITI ON D WAY,D DAY U SCALE THRU DZ GUYS DEN D TROPHY IS GUARANTEED

I am not really afraid of the teams, it's the time between the games that bothers me, which one be your own sef, which club you dey fight for? LOL

A wondeful run from the Gunners but the month of October is really critical, if we can remain on top by end of Oct. then surely a trouphy might becoming to the emirates afterall...

Single line diagram of my power setup...

More pictures...I made it to 48hrs.
What a weekend of uninterrupted power supply and the good thing is that, the sun will still shine tomorrow!