₦airaland Forum

durodee:
I eventually delved to the realm of thin film panels............14 pieces of 100W DuPont Apollo Panels, all in series to a 60amp iTracer MPPT CC............averages 50-59 amps by noon, got as high as 1646.2W or higher as spikes! So far so good!!!!
Trying but unable to load pics

Thin film are awesome if you have the room for them. They are not as sensitive to shading or heat. They also perform better in low light conditions relative to your mono or poly.

You are maxing out your controller. 1646 divided by 24 Volts is about 66 amps. You might want to go to a bigger controller.

http://www.freesunpower.com/designtools.php

http://www.altestore.com/store/calculators/off_grid_calculator/

The link above will take you to a free design and sizing tool

kennyman2000:
can u tell me places where such happens? Go to local govt for an advert u want to place on ur own vehicle... Thats impossible.

U dont need anyone's permission to do that. No charges is attached to it as well..

Maybe there's something i dont know though.

A car I purchased in Lagos had all the little stickers from the different LGA. I was stopped going to Omole phase ! and asked for my clearance. If you drive a vehicle that has advertising on it you are likely to be harrassed by the LGA thugs

spinola:
He can charge his battery using Solar Panels. In Nigeria quality 200 Watts Solar Panels are available for N27,000. You can do a lot even with a 500W Inverter

Impressive and very clean work. Why did you need the shunt on such a small system? What measurements are you getting from it?

How do you get around all the local government that require that you pay a fee for bringing a business vehicle through their territories?

socialmediaman:
Era of impunity is over. That's why you're seeing these reforms. Now government can take care of its citizens and provide services. This man shot up Lagos IGR from 1 billion to 20 billion, imagine what Nigeria's IGR will shoot up to from about 2 trillion! Government has been shortchanging us all these years with lousy tax systems, things have to change, that's the only way out nation can grow

To make up for the deficit in the budget from falling oil, taxes have to rise. Nigeria has one of the lowest tax collection rates. The economist and FT had predicted that tax collections needed to improve to help Nigeria diversify her revenue base from oil. This is potentially a welcome development.

Sunymoore:
Thanks Bro

You are welcome. Once you have a buy in. You have ownership and the experience is richer as a result.

A company that does solar boreholes are they the same as someone that does solar powered houses?

Jobaye1:
I am very surprised to hear about the gas crisis. My friend was just telling me that there was scarcity of gas alongside the fuel scarcity that almost paralysed our economy. You guys wont blame me for not being up to date with the gas situation as its been long i refilled my gas cylinder. I now use Biogas to cook at home, Biogas is gotten from the decomposition of my food leftovers. I am also happy to tell you all that the rate at which Lawma visits my compound has reduced as a sizable portion of my wastes is being recycled to gas. I have also designed a couple of Domestic biogas digesters for my neighbors and they wont stop thanking me. Biogas has all the attributes of LPG gas, only that one is way cheaper than the other. My dream is to make it start running on cars here in Nigeria so we all can be our own government.

Awesome business to be in. Feedstock exists in abundance in Nigeria. We have a culture that generates biodegradables.

izuagbe:
Make money by selling your dead inverter batteries, dead solar power batteries, dead telecom mast batteries,

What happened to the no ads request?

Passionate04040:
Do your research very well and stop advertising your ignorance

He is from Anambra state. His father died in Onitsha. Both parents were Ibo's. The father was a nationalist and named his children after the different regions to show that religion and tribe did not matter

thewarrior72:
Please I have no comment on his removal or whatever, however, I want to ask one question....Is this guy in question(MUSTAFA CHIKE OBI) a Muslim or a Christian?, because there're no practicing muslim of IGBO extraction

It would help for us to know our history. Professor Chike Obi gave his children names representative of the different groups of Nigeria. He had a dislike for religion and ethnic extremism

If you wiring looks like this it can fail. Another reason your cable can get hurt when you run some high amperage devices.

This is something we hear a lot.

I installed an Inverter or solar and it worked well the first few months and now it barely last 2 hour.

It can't power my AC or my fridge anymore.

I was told I needed new batteries. I installed it less than 1 year ago.

The inverter is running too hot.

The cables are hot.

The Inverter trips.

Has this happened to you or anyone you know?

It has happened to a lot of the customers that we conquered. They had installations that stopped working and they went back to using a generator.

What could have gone wrong? MANY THINGS.

Batteries are energy storage devices. They also have a cycle life. You can only charge and discharge them so many times. If you repeatedly fully discharge the batteries you reduce the life of that battery by more than 50%. Batteries need a proper charge every day. A proper charge is not determined by hours but by a cycle that your charger must perform. Under charging your batteries is as bad as overcharging them. If your batteries are constantly deeply discharged, you either did not purchase enough capacity for your loads or you have a charger that can't do the job.

In a later post I will talk about proper charging of your batteries and how long they should charge for.

The Inverter is hot.
This is not unusual if the inverter is running at full capacity or if it is charging your batteries. They have built in cooling fans. There should be warning labels warning you of this. It is important to install them in an area with more than adequate air flow. There should be a minimum of 30 MM of space between your inverter and the object next to it. Keep them away from heat sources or direct sunlight. If the inverter is burning hot and you can see heat escaping from it. Turn the unit off and call a service person.

The cables are hot.
This is unusual. A hot cable indicates energy loss and is a potential fire hazard. Check the cable size relative to your load or the inverter size. The owners manual usually tells you the minimum cable size for each situation. Check the connections are they tight enough. Check the crimps on the lugs are they properly done? These three items are the source of hot cables in 9 out of 10 situations that we have encountered.

The Inverter Trips.
Refer to hot cable. An overload or a short will force the inverter to trip. Most people will tell you that they have minimal loads and the inverter will trip. If the inverter is not defective, I usually go to the DB turn all the breakers off and then turn them back on 1 at a time till I find the culprit.

What experiences have you had with solar positive or negative. Please share with everyone. (No ads please just the facts)

Sunymoore:
Thanks..
The fans are normal ceiling fans, but the one in the living room is quiet a big fan.. The TV is 32 inches...
Well during the day, the TV and the fans might be used but not the bulbs... While in the the whole set might used all together... So basically we are talking about using TV and maybe two fans during the day.. And using four fans, TV and 10 energy saving bulbs in the night...

You can do some basic calculations yourself. TV is rated at about 130 W, The ceiling fan is about 70 watts and the Big fan is about 150 Watts. The energy savings bulbs you can look at the bulb and figure out how many watts.
If you will watch you TV for 8 hours to calculate watt hours will be 130 x 8
Add up the watts of each item and add an extra 20% and that will be the size Inverter you need.
Multiply each appliance by how many hours you intend to run them. Add up the totals and that will give the watt hours.
Divide the watts hours by 24 or 48 (system Voltage) and that will determine how much you consume in AH. Multiply that number by 2. This will double the capacity to make sure you don't discharge the batteries below 50%. To determine what you need in solar panels. You can look at the irradiance chart. Or you can make an educated guess. I use 6 hours of sunshine because I anticipate that I will have NEPA for 2 hours a day and that will assist me in charging the batteries. So divide the Watt hours by 6. If you are off grid divide by 4.5.
After you have done all that calculation, you will know how much in batteries, panels and inverter you need.
Good luck

jpphilips:
110v/230v same same?
secondly, after doing a thorough research where you were required to prove that a 1A rated refrigerator can start with as much as 5Amps current.
You decided to show me a claptrap that the initial current rating was not specified.
You lifted from a charge and bail web site of a fridge manufactured in 1986 and mid 70's respectively. I think it is time to knock you closer to reality.
Gentlemen, If you need a solar system of the 70's technology, feel free to contact this Man who refused to grow with time.
I am done with you, I thought there was something new, little did i know that my curiosity will land me in the stone age.
RIP to your victims in advance. I am done with you.

There is an old saying that I am sorry I ignored. It says "Do not argue with f00ls, for they will bring you down to their level and beat you with experience". I apologize for following you down that path. You won. I admit defeat.

jaymichael:
The pictures you posted are from the village. That is the Jetty with NNPC and Atlas cove in the background.

Okun Ayo

jpphilips:
I hate long irrelevant stories designed to obfuscate people show me a circuit diagram or spec plate/tag behind a refridgerator with the specification you claimed, in case you have forgotten, you said you have seen a 1A rated fridge with starting current of 5A. I want to see it, is it too much to ask?

You claimed to have practical knowledge, I hope my demand is practical enough.

We can lead a horse to water but we can't make it drink. You know what you know and I am happy for you. I don't have to go beyond what I have shown you. The burden is on you to prove me wrong. At least I quoted Wikepedia. What are you quoting to back up yours?
I have field experience. What do you have?
Here is a link for people who are open minded enough. It is 110 V, I live in the US but the concept is the same for 220/230.
http://www.nooutage.com/start.htm

jaymichael:
I was there on Friday 17th, Tarkwa bay still has it's blend of the Good, bad and ugly. But as a visitor, you will witness mostly the good.
The beach is still clean. Its my favorite beach in Lagos. The breakwater is fascinating. peaceful and serene atmosphere. Most of the houses and shops run "generators"
Tarkwa bay is just like any other town in Lagos except that the roads are not tarred.
When you visit, take time to walk around the village. If you appreciate history, you will love those old European houses left standing, very quality structures some of which are still in excellent condition. It has the ambience of a well planned European suburban settlement long abandoned. Black people don't know how to maintain facilities.
The op is wrong, there is a police station there, by the side of the old rail track that leads directly to the beach. the track intersects the path that leads to the light house. I have some pictures that I can send to you if you want or I can still post them here.
I may visit there again on Monday which is a public holiday as an Islander myself, I only have to trek (though it's an hour walk through bush path) to Tarkwa bay from my house. Passing through Tomaro, Iko-ata, pass the bush path that leads to Ajala, Abagbo, lighthouse then Tarkwa bay.
I love Tarkwa bay, not necessarily for the water, as I have nice waters all around me. There is even a small lake behind my house. I can see the taller of the two Eko Atlantic towers from my window. I spent my time on the rocks (breakwater).
The pictures I have were taken with my phone camera but the ones I intend taking on Monday will be with my e compass camera complete with location bearings and GPS coordinates so you can look up on google maps.

I was there last year in May. Beautiful island and beautiful people. There are quite a few churches. I still don't understand why they had a rail road on the Island. I did visit the police station and drank coco nut water that was offered to me by the locals.

jpphilips:
Not to worry a lot of people with 1kva stabilizer have used it with their mid size fridge of 1A, surge or not it works perfect.

Please can you show us a pictorial evidence where a 1A fridge surge to 5Amps, guy, you are not talking to a m0r0n, look at the handle once again and I hope you will choose your evidence carefully.

1hp AC starts with 5.2A (starting current) runs on 4.6A (running current ), then you say an ordinary fridge of 1A will surge to 5A at start ? bros is the fridge made in Aba?


Bros you are a technician who knows the truth if you have no ulterior motive, you would have agreed a long time ago.
Don't hide behind learning to cheat people we expect that before you come to this platform, you would have done your home work properly.


How do you expect people to entrust you with a solar project when you can hardly calculate their actual load, does it make any sense to you?
After spending good money and it fails, you will say it is the work of the devil or we are all learning. crap!!

Jpphilips

Nobody called you a "m0r0n". You said you were not. I have no clue what the devil has to do with this conversation. You are not as informed as you claim.

"Inrush current, input surge current or switch-on surge is the maximum, instantaneous input current drawn by an electrical device when first turned on. Alternating current electric motors and transformers may draw several times their normal full-load current when first energized, for a few cycles of the input waveform" Wikipedia This information is a mouse click away. Your AC and your fridge and freezer have motors in them. People withe generators notice the change in engine sound when these devices kick in. That is the surge. Ignore it at your peril.

Your quip about Aba made is rather unfortunate considering that you have not manufactured anything. You might be good at book knowledge, but that is no substitute for real life experience. The picture is of a 1.5 kw system that would shut down (overload) when a fridge was turned on. If the fridge was on when it came on it carried it. It had no surge ability. And it was a mid sized fridge. The fridge consumes about 220 / 230 watts. We installed them and quickly replaced them with units that could surge. Hence a 2 kw low frequency inverter can surge up to 6 kw.
Leave the practical knowledge to people who actually do this for a living. My company has installed 23 clients in Ghana and Nigeria, since June of last year. How many have you installed?

jpphilips:
A man goes to an appliance shop to buy a generator, he asks the generator seller to calculate his load for him, the seller asks, what do you have? ignorant client would answer;
1 mid size fridge, 1 deep freezer, 2 nos 42" flat screen TV,
the seller goes thus;
1 fridge is 1000w, 1 deep freezer is 1,200w then 2nos 42" flat screen TV are 200w each.
your total load is 2,600w therefore you need a 3kva generator. price 175k(Japan ).

In reality;

A modern mid size fridge is rated 1A, A modern deep freezer is rated 2.5A, 2 nos 40" flat screen are rated 0.9A each so total load is 5.2A.

The appropriate Generator for this victim is a 2.2kva generator of 8A. price 110k (Japan), because of his ignorance, he will have to pay 175k plus the extra fuel consumption throughout the life of a generator he doesn't need. Who profits? the same seller who mis calculated his load.

The same old trick you guys want to use here, I dey laugh!!

power = current × voltage.

DC voltage is 12/24v
Ac voltage is 110/220/240.

Voltage is treated as a constant so the only variable is the current measured in Amps.
Power can not be the load but current who is the only variable in the equation.

Using power to calculate load is wrong use current. Except there is an ulterior motive, for the records, I can not be your client because I am not a mugu!!

Your calculation for the generator is wrong. I don't know why you choose to ignore the surge. Your 1A refrigerator can surge up to to 5A. I have seen it happen. You can imagine what can happen with your 2.5A freezer. It will surge to more than your generators capacity. Your 2 kw inverter will power the loads you mention. A 2.2 kva generator will not work. I know from experience.
I am not sure why you find it necessary to go the route you have elected to prove that you are more knowledgeable than anyone else. We all are students and we are all learning.
We can disagree without being disagreeable.

spinola:
Installing a good quality 2 KVA Solar System in one’s home in this day and age should not cost more than N300, 000, in fact it can be done for much less depending on configuration and intended usage, for example one can use Rechargeable fans like the Lontor 16 Inches Rechargeable Standing Fan with Remote – (Maximum 16 Hours running time) to reduce the load on the system.

konga.com/mercury-2-4kva-inverter-1695372
konga.com/16-inches-rechargeable-standing-fan-with-remote-maximum-16-hours-running-time-1691969

Are you basing this comment on experience?

onelife97:
@geesampower,thanks a lot.I appreciate ur skill in this field.
Do u have any company of ur own or working for one?
ll like to install a solar power in my house when I ll back in the country comes next year.
Of course,my daily usage ll not be up to that I stipulated in my earlier post but just like to have the maximum just in case as there r still some family members around in the house.

For solar power it is not cost effective to buy what you don't use.

jpphilips:
Since you agree, my next question goes thus;

When you connect a 950w Airconditioner to a 1000w voltage regulator (stabilizer) what happens?

when you connect the 1000w fridge to a 1000w voltage regulator, what happens?

What are you trying to prove with your questions. He educated people on Solar power. If you have any issues with what he has written voice it.
These questions that you are asking don't contribute to what he posted.

jpphilips:
Do you agree that some 1hp airconditioners are rated 950watts??
And some refridgerators are rated 1000w?
do you agree with any of the above?

The norm when translating HP to watts is 745 or there about. However your 1 hp AC can surge up to 3 times that number on start up. And if it is not properly maintained or repaired can use more than that rating.
While we can all hypothesize it is easier to look on the back or side of the unit and you can calculate what the number is. Manufacturers are making equipment with much more efficient motors.
1000 W refrigerator or Freezer. It has to be a commercial unit. I have seen home refrigerators repaired by Baba Seun (you know him) that pulled over 1000 W. Can't run those on Solar or an Inverter. Waste of energy

Put a website and duration. Do you offer weekly and monthly rates

zeestone99:
A desktop cannot use 720watts sir it's 250watts maximum sir... U can Correct me if I'm wrong

Look at the picture. It is right there amps x volts. I simply multiplied what he supplied. I want to agree with you. We have always used 250 Watts including the monitor for our calculations. However the picture that was presented says something different. Thank you for your observation. The sticker put the maximum power output at 275 watts

uvalued:
hope you see this post.

I have 10 desktop computers with flat screen monitor and a projector with an energy saving bulb.

I need to know what capacity of, number of batteries and the inverter will be required to power them for like 6-12hrs and other required things for the above.

Furthermore, i want to know does the fluctuation of light (caused by iron wielders nearby) affect the charging and life of the batteries during the day but at night the light is good and stable for charging.

attached is the image of the power pack specification which is for all the 10 system.

From the image that device uses 720 watts multiply x 10 hours 7200 Watt hours. You have ten of them 72000 Watt hours. I need to see the information on your flat screen and projector. Just for the desktops alone you need 3000 ah in batteries . For a 50 state of discharge
You need new computers. They should consume 1/3 what yours consumes. You could elect not to have all of them on at the same time for ten hours.
, *******Correction*****.
I read the bottom and the maximum output power is 275 x 10 =2750. Times ten computers 27500. 1400 ah in batteries at 50 %.

DUNKA:
Reliability and efficiency. The real practical application and not d hype. Thanks

We have one business and three residences on the Axpert. They are a bit finicky but a good value for the money. They work best with an external charge controller in my opinion. One has had a failed fan we did not do the fan software update and the fan ran all the time. It is still working. Our oldest unit was installed June of last year. Search for our YouTube video 3 Kva in Magodo.

melakes:
thnx for all the info on ds thread OP. low consumers having only a room&parlour with only tv, a small fridge, energy bulbs, & few other low energy consuming tinz. do u think solar is ideal? if yes, plz like hw mch will complete d set up wch shuld last 24hrs.
thnx again.

Solar works for everyone. The smaller you usage the less expensive it is to deploy. My smallest system starts at N800k. I am sure there are others that have lower priced systems

globatop:
Thx, all. I followed this thread all through, do I still need either of PWM or MPPT controller if I don't intend to use solar panels, just inverter and batteries and PHCN to charge batteries.

You only need a controller if you use panels to charge your batteries.

honeycrown:
Thanks for your post, please how many 200watts solar panel will I use to power my 1.5kva luminous inverter of 2 of 12VDC,200AH batteries

That is not a question anyone can answer but you. Go back to the comments that we have made on this thread and you can do the calculation yourself. Why are assuming that they have to be 200 W panels?