₦airaland Forum

9yrs later, the difference is stark

so, 9yrs ago to the day, i installed and commissioned my protek solar water heater.
for those who were on the thread back then, recall my review after 1yr on may 17th 2018.

it has really been a bittersweet experience and finally in march of this year i decided to bite the bullet and do an outright system replacement.
this is coming 6yrs short of the promised 15yr lifespan of the solar water heater.

did it serve its purpose? will i do it all over again? the answer is a resounding yes! but not with protek, which happened to be only a white
label product manufactured in china without after sales support.

dollarnaira:
Is this Northern part of Nigeria?

Nope bro. It's in the south-south

Elect1neAtegun:
Custard with Rocky Bites ChinChin and Hollandia evaporated milk with small groundnut.

Take some Capuchino instead. U will never want to taste anything else

Probz:
Ijebu for asoki and ofe-egusi. Yellow garri for other soups (especially okra).

White garri all the way bro!

It does get very hot - even without the aid of the optional electric heating element

Truly, the sun is the answer!

UchmanUboy:
Which one fills the tummy more?

Both of the above

Seriously

eepeepook:
My new girl’s kpekus.

Well done to folks like you for keeping the thread active.
My 5M is presently hooked on 7E ever since 13E decided to bid our shores goodbye

ASAS still very strong but I now augment with hippeetevee

Dlee1:
Good to see you here again brother and my fellow ASAS patient. Though I don't know if you have been cured of ASAS disease.

Really, Seun never cared to improve this site. A whole lots of folks was complained then that he need to do something to improve this site from various thread but he never cared. What a pity!!!

I really missed those old days when this thread was blazing hot. I wish could turn back the hands of time...

I salute you GeorgeD1, Odilibe, Badaru, Dejsam, Obnelly, Kungu, Sammu, Twinskenny, Olofofo, Townjuju, Jujuchemist, Life707, Freshp, Newton, Olenyi, Auch, Pidzo, Ogoojohn, Nzeval, Microgiant and whole lots of others that I couldn't mention their names. Not forgetting some folks that still make some contributions here like Adubam and others.

Dam5reey1:
Cause this Boss, Give us update on your Batteries na..
@GeorgeD1

Bro, my Sonnenschein battery bank still firing steady as we speak.
I'm about doing my first major turnaround and will post updates at the right time.
For those who think lead acid is a lost cause, sorry to disappoint but my batts have proven more resilient than would have been imagined.
Break the MYTH, dispel the BELIEF! You know you CAN!!

O boy, this your new moniker get as e be oo
From "contease" to "fakeisfake"

Anyway, congratulations my brother. Indeed, you have come a long way, and you deserve your big success.
Welcome to the club of energy sufficiency.
It's been a while I visited the thread but make no mistake, SOLAR lives on.
I have quite a lot to offload on here but I will take my time to do so.
Once again, BIG UP!

The SUN indeed is the answer!!!

Fakeisfake:
I want to express great appreciation to everyone who have supported my journey to power sufficiency.

As being said here, "na person wey get sense dey use inverter" lol. Years back, I started with 2 then 4 and then 6 pcs of car batteries including my car battery and the others from my "Kazeem"lol and a MSW inverter then Tubular Batteries...

Yesterday I journeed further with an 8kwh 25.6v pack from Mr Reed. I must say, even when I could not see or touch his sample earlier sent to a client of his in my visinity, Port Harcourt, I kept faith and gave him the benefit of doubt.

After 2days,i got my pack from Kaduna to port harcourt via waybill and I can say, it feels great.

To Georged1, Trippledot, Nnamdi, Mr Reed and one other moniker I can't remember now, really, you guys are more human than humble, just my choice of words here.

I highly appreciate all of you. I pick my phone, call all the names above at will and it's always almost unending conversation. TRIPPLEDOT, REED, Georged1. How do I appreciate you guys. Now friends for life I must say.

Mr CuteMaro, thanks for your last words to me against all odds and or fear. I understand and can relate when you think I am new on the page so not sure. I lost control of my old account of 2006 recently so no worries brother. I can relate. ...

Please let's not hesitate to patronize Mr Reed. His humility, willing to explain to the simplest of details is out of the normal Nigeria business person. He takes, atleast my call just anytime at will calling me Oga, bros, I am no be Oga just as struggling fellow as you.. Lol thank you for your commitment, sincerity, dedication, will to go far out to support when reached out to also as confirmed from one of the names mentioned above. Thank you to everyone for the ideas, knowledge sharing.

Dlee1:
I can see you GeorgeD

Well said. However, you failed to mention the fact that Seun has refused to change with the times. NL has fallen far behind in terms of innovation and most peeps simply moved on after waiting for ages to see the changes reflected on the site which hasn't been forthcoming.
As we all know, the only constant thing in life is change and if you refuse to move with the times, you risk being left behind.
For instance, in this age of social media and smart phones, what is Seun waiting for before launching an app to make for better access to the site?
Is it rocket science? Even if he can't write codes, he's rich enough to commission others to do it for him. But I guess he's very much comfortable with how things are presently, so why bother?

Dlee1:
Yeah. Whatsapp group chat and Telegram have really affected this thread. In the past, we use to rub mind here on a lot of issues but not anymore. Update on hunting of fringe satellite is no longer discussed.

By the way, I hunted badr and Es' hail 1&2 on 26 degrees east this past weekend but I could get bein sport and other channels on Es' hail 1&2. It was flashing but other fta channels on badr 7 and 8 was tracked down with 2.4m offset fiber dish (Vsat dish). Location is Anambra. Couldn't lay my hands on a better LNBFs. Maybe I would have gotten that Es' hail satellites.

In the past, signal strength on 26 degrees east is stronger and better than signal strength on 7 degrees west. Probably because of a lot of bein sports channels on 26 degrees east maybe they decided to reduced the signal strength on 26 degrees east.

contease:
Yes you are absolutely correct. But whether the tester has a wide range scan for hydrogen, I may not have a prove for that but I can tell u, am on a project where we are rehabilitating a hydrocarbon plant and each time a hydrocarbon line is aired/opened, the testers triggers and am I usef same tester on my project... Which means this tester is of the industrial standard and approved by the appropriate body for use... So I have got a great level of confidence on this.

On the issue of the period the batteries bubbles, again, yes, I have set my equalization for once every month, so if this is happening and my fan is active, I sure be safe at this period... My major fear was not so much of explosion but the harzard, if any, it poses to life... So with this test result, I think am safe with my batteries in the long corridor within the house as yours..

So I think from your comment, this Concept is safe and it helps... Tha k you for the perimeter provided too anyway!

brother,
it's actually bad practice installing flooded lead acid within your living space. if you have a
verandah, consider moving the batteries there. just build a metal cubicle to shield them from rain.
you can leave the inverter itself within the house. the only downside will be your long cable run from
battery to inverter. better safe than sorry. besides, the corrosive effect of h2 gas may be unnoticeable
initially but over time, your electronics may suffer for it. just my thoughts.

here's wishing everyone on this thread a prosperous new year!

samnaija:
This is very very wrong , and untrue.
Nothing wrong with flooded batteries running pumping machines. I will always say it , if you are currently not using flooded batteries stop trying to make it look has if it is a diseased patient.. stop lying. . period.

my brother, just relax and take it easy. allow them to keep dissing lead acid like it's the most evil
battery chemistry on earth. the fact that somebody used lead acid and got his fingers burnt either due
to ignorance or laxity does not warrant discouraging others from using it.
some of us are still jejely enjoying our lead acid battery banks without stress. if you know, you know.

isangjohnson:
If the specification sheet is unknown, I think a good CC can help to keep the charging within the limits.
I set my Morningstar Mppt CC absorption at 14.7 but the CC always dropped the limits (target voltage) to 58.07, 58.19 at most with charging current of 19.0A to 20.3A.
I also set float at 53.40 but CC would indicate battery voltage 53.28, target voltage 53.28 as well.

the above charging algorithm is just one out of many salient features that sets morningstar (tristar) cc
head and shoulders above the pack. you can't go wrong with that charge controller. it may appear to
be pricey but it pays off in the long run when you keep using your batteries year after year while others
have changed their battery banks 3x in a row.

merry christmas to all men (and women) of goodwill in the house!

mahkanjuh:
Thanks, does that mean all these binatone plug in AVR is not advisable Kindly suggest then

the plug-ins have their limit. if you really want peace of mind, go for standard avrs that you can see input
and output voltage clearly displayed. that way you'll be sure your electronic equipment is getting the
right voltage needed to function properly.

isangjohnson:
With all the rules duely observed, if lead acid battery can last for 5 to 6 years with lifecycle of about 500 to 800, then lifepo4 may get to 15 years under the same condition with lifecycle of about 2000 to 2500.
I'm waiting to see how many years my tubular will stay alive too. The highest power drawn from my battery is 30%. It's about a year now and I've never top water before.

i got more than 8yrs from my 260ah zenith batteries before replacing them in 2019.
it all boils down to paying attention to the little details. once you get it right abinitio,
every other thing falls into place.

mahkanjuh:
Please house, kindly recommend cheapest AVR for freezer and TV, low budget and efficient. Thanks

be careful bro. in solar as in life, you get what you pay for. that 'cheapest avr' that you're looking for may well be the
reason you will start looking to replace your electronics in no time when the unthinkable happens.
think wise and think smart. just my 2 kobo.

obinnanelson4:
yes boss, i just did...we are on it. Tracking hotbird according to him.

You can't get hotbird with a 60cm dish bro.
At least not in this this part of the globe.

Spy360:
That's what he is saying @ the bolded

Besides what does GeorgeD need Nigconsat for when he uses BUDs

Lolz. You got it bro

Rqw1:
You need to climb up and set your dish correctly. Mine hasn’t shifted for almost a year. Only thing is satview may show sometimes and not show sometimes but you need to always rescan atleast once a week


For those on astra tvc news and tvc entertainment are now on astra 28 maybe temporarily maybe permanently

Brother, i use my motorised 3.2m to track and always finetune for max signals.
Anyway, tanx for the info.
Break the myth!

TOWNJUJU:
Hy guys longest tym
Wow!
Pls is Nicomsat still on?
Or have they changed frequency?

Bros, I hail ooh
NIgcomsat is still available though with unreliable signal at times.

i don't have an idea of current prices but as you know prices of
almost everything has gone up including dishes.

Depending on the construction and materials used, pan can be more rugged than fiber.
It's more resistant to distortion in shape that comes with pulling or pushing during installation and tracking
and is less prone to maintenance.
On the other hand, fiber has better surface finish hence better performance in terms of fringe reception.
However, it is less rugged and prone to shape distortion which results from push and pull (if not handled carefully).
Also, it requires more frequent maintenance like refoiling and surface painting.

tivta:
Silent boss, i hail oh. Do you get hellsat on your 5m dish and like how much would it cost now?

Lolz.
Yeah, I do receive hellasat.
For cost, it depends on the type of dish you want, whether it is pan or fiber.

ceaser:
I'm sorry for reading this message late. Have been away from the site for a while. Also I usually can't access this nairaland mail thingy.

How about proper email on smartintelle at gmail dot com.

thanks. check your email

Spy360:
Welcome home guru. Still waiting for George D and Olenyi

Lolz my brother. I've always been around oh
I only just decided to watch on the side lines while the young ones run the show.
I still have my 5m dish, 3.2m dish and couple of 90cm dishes installed and firing
well. Viva FTA!!!

ceaser:
Sincerely, I can't tell. That's because I have not encountered such CC. But I want to assume that because the light intensity and power directed to the CC from the panels will be gradual as daylight gradually intestifies in the morning, then there is ample time for the CC to adjust itself and probably initiate a protect function.

But perhaps if a large current input is suddenly put on it from a hot midday sun while it is not connected to a battery, then that blue smoke may be produced.

hello bro. kindly check dm. u got mail!

isangjohnson:
Please, maximum of how many months can one mix old LA batteries with the new one?
I know the battery must come from the same manufacturer and must also be the same amps.

my brother,
it's not really advisable to mix old and new lead acid batteries but if you must
(either because of financial constraints or other reasons), it shouldn't be more than
six (6) months apart. and they must be of same spec, same brand (ideally) and try let
them be same year of manufacture.