Dam5reey:


I don't understand why you should allow that in the first, in this age, if you are able to Comment on Nairaland, I feel you should be able to do simple research about Charge controller and why you should not Connect panels to batteries directly.. make use of Google my friend..

Dam5reey:


I don't understand why you should allow that in the first, in this age, if you are able to Comment on Nairaland, I feel you should be able to do simple research about Charge controller and why you should not Connect panels to batteries directly.. make use of Google my friend..

Lol

Dam5reey:


I don't understand why you should allow that in the first, in this age, if you are able to Comment on Nairaland, I feel you should be able to do simple research about Charge controller and why you should not Connect panels to batteries directly.. make use of Google my friend..

Haaaa

Please I need advice or review on this brand. @Niyi, GeorgeD, Ojesky, and others; your input would be appreciated. Thanks

mrmachine:
Gurus in the house, please someone introduced me to a new brand Xtrapower; they have inverters, lithium batteries , charge controllers and other renewable solar products. Please has anybody used any of their products or have a review of them . Please help me before I enter one chance. Thanks

mrmachine:
Gurus in the house, please someone introduced me to a new brand Xtrapower; they have inverters, lithium batteries , charge controllers and other renewable solar products. Please has anybody used any of their products or have a review of them . Please help me before I enter one chance. Thanks

The MPPT charge controller appear to be iPanda or POWMR or whatever name the seller wants it to answer You can see it is also XTRA Power.

The MPPT is not a bad one. But as for the solar panels and lithium batteries, I can't really tell of their quality, but going by the seller slapping their name on generic brand of an MPPT, the solar panel and lithium battery could likely be just another generic Chinese brand whose seller is willing to slap any name you want on it.

mrmachine:
Please I need advice or review on this brand. @Niyi, GeorgeD, Ojesky, and others; your input would be appreciated. Thanks

Not used it before but spec looks good on paper

Dam5reey:


I don't understand why you should allow that in the first, in this age, if you are able to Comment on Nairaland, I feel you should be able to do simple research about Charge controller and why you should not Connect panels to batteries directly.. make use of Google my friend..

I'm sorry Sir

I wasn't aware of this thread and just left it all to the supposed expert.

This thread has opened my eyes to a lot of things

Mustiboy:


I'm sorry Sir

I wasn't aware of this thread and just left it all to the supposed expert.

This thread has opened my eyes to a lot of things

I can understand now, it's good you have seen the light..
Some installer sha..

mrmachine:
Please I need advice or review on this brand. @Niyi, GeorgeD, Ojesky, and others; your input would be appreciated. Thanks

the 'xtrapower' brand doesn't seem to be among the regular brands we are familiar with.
it might be a new kid on the block trying to gain market share or might just be a white label.
either way, i'd be careful if i were you because given its obviously unknown history it would
be acting in blind faith to throw hard earned money at such product range.

Thanks. The man boast of their MPPT charge controller as its almost priced like some of the premium ones I used to know. The 100A goes for as much as 200k. And he is also willing to stake a good warranty on the products. I am just being careful not to make mistake. I would give their panels a trial and update the house

mctfopt:



The MPPT charge controller appear to be iPanda or POWMR or whatever name the seller wants it to answer You can see it is also XTRA Power.

The MPPT is not a bad one. But as for the solar panels and lithium batteries, I can't really tell of their quality, but going by the seller slapping their name on generic brand of an MPPT, the solar panel and lithium battery could likely be just another generic Chinese brand whose seller is willing to slap any name you want on it.

I appreciate my Brother.

GeorgeD1:


the 'xtrapower' brand doesn't seem to be among the regular brands we are familiar with.
it might be a new kid on the block trying to gain market share or might just be a white label.
either way, i'd be careful if i were you because given its obviously unknown history it would
be acting in blind faith to throw hard earned money at such product range.

Mustiboy:
Good evening, experts and experienced users in the house. Please I need help.

I was on a budget and needed a setup that could power just a few appliances; namely, bulbs (25 wtts total), two fans ( 100 watts), and 55wtts TV once in a while. I didn't necessarily need to have the inverter on all the time. Just about 12hrs of usage was okay for me.

The Solar expert got two 260 watts panel, a 1.5kva inverter, and a 100amps battery, a pwm charge controller, totalling around 220k.

I wasn't impressed with the battery performance, but, I just needed to be able to charge my laptop and phones.

Now the problem is Nepa light charges the battery full, but the panels can't charge it. A really sunny day would barely give you an hour of usage at night with just the bulbs on and phones plugged in.

I complained and noticed he was dodging my observations that the panels might be bad. He later came and connected the panels directly to the battery and not through the charge controller. This didn't improve or fix the solar charging ish.

I've been depending on Nepa to charge the battery ever since. You can't even on the inverter when the battery had run down and the sun eventually rises. It'll scream battery low in no time.

Now, I just need a panel that can charge a 100amps battery full in the mean time. I just need to be able to charge my phones, laptop, and maybe on one 50w fan.

Will a 160w panel suffice, if yes, which?

Lest I forget, the battery lasts around 3 hours with 150w+ load. Surely, I'm upgrading to a better battery soon. Just need a panel to charge the current one in the meantime and allow usage during the day.

The 260w panels are literally useless for now. It was a scorching sunlight today, yet I couldn't even charge my phones

Please what panel can I manage in the meantime?

The first comedic act of your installer was the 260w panel for all the listed loads.

Then boom, another one. Dude connected the solar panels directly to the battery, bypassing the CC. OMG! . Your battery is at risk of an explosion if the panel isn't disconnected immediately.

Bro, you gat yourself a "solar expert" o. And one with American wonder for that matter.

Your 260 watts panels x 2 should do a fair job at fully charging the battery since you do not have loads on it while charging. Your 3 hours backup on your 100ah battery of 150 watts load is also expected more so with the likelihood that such a "solar expert" may have used suboptimal battery in your installation.

So with the problem of inadequate power from the panels, you should do the following:

Be sure that the 260 watts rating on the nameplate of the panels is indeed the real rating and that he got you new panels as you required and not used ones. Even used tier 1 panels will give good power output in the first instance.

The guy may have excised the MC4 connectors of the panels and do a direct (wire twist) connection for the whole process. Long term viability of such connections when exposed to the elements can not be guaranteed. So one of the panels may have disconnected, or the contacts grossly inadequate to pass current.

Check the direction of the panels for adequate insolation. I would wager that a "solar expert" that for a moment considered "connecting panels directly to batteries" will likely not know that there is a concept like "proper panel orientation" to be considered.

For all you care, your guy may also have connected both panels in series and sent that output to the PWM CC like that. 260 watts panel has a nominal of 24 volts and can only be used with a single 12v battery when you have an MPPT controller (not PWM controller) or at worst a buck converter between the two (panels and battery). So either parallel panel connection o or series connection o, the use of PWM with your single battery on a 260w panel (if the panel is truly 260w and not rebranded 150w) will bring up problems like you're experiencing.

Review your cabling too. Your guy may have also used terrible gauge wires for cabling at every stage of the installation.

Having said all that, it seems your battery is still viable (if the direct connection to the solar panel has not fried it yet). Then let's assume your panels are as true as rated and that connection on the roof is adequate. Then your best bet may be getting an MPPT as opposed to "downgrading" to new 150w panels or as opposed to getting another 160w panel that will still be connected to an already faulty mix.

There are inexpensive but reliable MPPTs like PowMr that @ Odimanbadi listed here for around 52k.

I think a picture of your set up uploaded here to give guys an rough idea about your system will be of some help.

Mustiboy:


I'm sorry Sir

I wasn't aware of this thread and just left it all to the supposed expert.

This thread has opened my eyes to a lot of things

The summary of what everyone is saying is that your installer has shown poor knowledge which has resulted to a poor job. However it could be easily fixed by someone who knows what they are doing.

My advice is you try and reachout to the guy here who offered to help you earlier.

Penuelseun:
It will be better to get another installer to check the installation for you, where is your location by the way?

ceaser:


The first comedic act of your installer was the 260w panel for all the listed loads.

Then boom, another one. Dude connected the solar panels directly to the battery, bypassing the CC. OMG! . Your battery is at risk of an explosion if the panel isn't disconnected immediately.

Bro, you gat yourself a "solar expert" o. And one with American wonder for that matter.

Your 260 watts panels x 2 should do a fair job at fully charging the battery since you do not have loads on it while charging. Your 3 hours backup on your 100ah battery of 150 watts load is also expected more so with the likelihood that such a "solar expert" may have used suboptimal battery in your installation.

So with the problem of inadequate power from the panels, you should do the following:

Be sure that the 260 watts rating on the nameplate of the panels is indeed the real rating and that he got you new panels as you required and not used ones. Even used tier 1 panels will give good power output in the first instance.

The guy may have excised the MC4 connectors of the panels and do a direct (wire twist) connection for the whole process. Long term viability of such connections when exposed to the elements can not be guaranteed. So one of the panels may have disconnected, or the contacts grossly inadequate to pass current.

Check the direction of the panels for adequate insolation. I would wager that a "solar expert" that for a moment considered "connecting panels directly to batteries" will likely not know that there is a concept like "proper panel orientation" to be considered.

For all you care, your guy may also have connected both panels in series and sent that output to the PWM CC like that. 260 watts panel has a nominal of 24 volts and can only be used with a single 12v battery when you have an MPPT controller (not PWM controller) or at worst a buck converter between the two (panels and battery). So either parallel panel connection o or series connection o, the use of PWM with your single battery on a 260w panel (if the panel is truly 260w and not rebranded 150w) will bring up problems like you're experiencing.

Review your cabling too. Your guy may have also used terrible gauge wires for cabling at every stage of the installation.

Having said all that, it seems your battery is still viable (if the direct connection to the solar panel has not fried it yet). Then let's assume your panels are as true as rated and that connection on the roof is adequate. Then your best bet may be getting an MPPT as opposed to "downgrading" to new 150w panels or as opposed to getting another 160w panel that will still be connected to an already faulty mix.

There are inexpensive but reliable MPPTs like PowMr that @ Odimanbadi listed here for around 52k.

I think a picture of your set up uploaded here to give guys an rough idea about your system will be of some help.

You wouldn't know how much I appreciate your detailed explanation, Sir. Thank you very much.

Yes, it's sad that I didn't know about this thread when doing the whole thing. I've heard and seen peeps get longer hours on a 100a battery. Don't know why mine is different.


When I complained about the panels to the installer, what I told him was that I don't expect two panels to perform miracles, but I expect it to be able to keep the battery charged when it's sunny if it had been charged fully with NEPA overnight.

Also, I don't have any load on the inverter most of the time. Just bulbs, charging of my gadgets, a single fan, and 50w TV once in a while. That's not too much to ask from two panels, and it should be able to charge the battery fully with 6 hrs of sunlight.

A Nairalander even called me yesterday to explain things in details to me. I was shocked about how much I had been living in the dark. Yes, I've removed the panels connected to the battery as people have instructed.


I've been told what the panels need is resolution or reorientation, don't know the right term for it. Will get on with that by Monday.

I'd appreciate further input from you Sir.

AndroBlaze:


The summary of what everyone is saying is that your installer has shown poor knowledge which has resulted to a poor job. However it could be easily fixed by someone who knows what they are doing.

My advice is you try and reachout to the guy here who offered to help you earlier.

Will do. Thank you Sir

dollarnaira:

My little experience here with a first time
190w panel(used Canadian solar) and 30A cc pwm.
First time I got just 1.2a charging current despite the downside of just 1pv and cc type, I was still convinced that I should still get sth better. Days passed by without improvement. Panel facing south with good Sun. Na so I carry panel put from fence to ground in order to open it up. I replaced all 3 diodes without improvement.

Since it is a DIY test project, I stood d the panel again on the floor but this time vertically in order to adjust its orientation while checking decrease and increase in voltage. To my amazement voltage shut up to 39.5v above spec. That was when it was clear that ORIENTATION was the problem. I do not like d idea of pv being on the roof though in case of cleaning and adjustments.

Right now my pv is resting on a fence. The rest position was tilted till I got 4.3A. I was shocked to see this and any further attempt to adjust its orientation with d mind to get above d 4.3A, it dropped again. Na so i quietly set am back to d original position.

If pwm can push me 4.3a, then mppt should do better i guess. Will definitely upgrade with mppt and 1 or 2 more pv to crown it all.


Pwm is a pulse cc, current no dey stable.
N.B :To OP, Pwm is bad for any set up above 400w.

Thanks very much. I'll bring the panels down to be sure of the specs

[quote author=isangjohnson post=108715291]Does anyone have TriStar Mppt External Meter for sale?
I need it urgently.

Please, I'm still in need of this.
Price and picture needed

We assemble LFP cells into small banks and Battery that are portable and efficient. They are suitable for powering you Tv, Laptop, Router, dc Fan, lights etc. We are reachable on 0806.531...630..7

Mustiboy:


Thanks very much. I'll bring the panels down to be sure of the specs

When brought down,run the set up while down yourself.

*No two terminals must touch
*Battery to cc first
*Pv to cc
*Then support d panels at different angles
*Check results especially if your cc can display amp.
* Get a friend or family member to check.

Your set up is small, try do it yourself.

dollarnaira:

When brought down,run the set up while down yourself.

*No two terminals must touch
*Battery to cc first
*Pv to cc
*Then support d panels at different angles
*Check results especially if your cc can display amp.
* Get a friend or family member to check.

Your set up is small, try do it yourself.

In addition he can use a cylindrical container, like cup, Malt can etc.. around 12 noon tilt until there is no shadow.

Mustiboy:


Thanks, Chief. I really appreciate your prompt response

1. By 12v system, do you mean the 1.5kva inverter I'm using? However, for me, MPTT is an overkill, since I have just two panels and a 100amps battery.
Moreover, the installer already connected the panels directly to the battery. So the PWM charge controller is not connected.
2. I'm not adept at this. Do you suggest I call another installer?

3. I'm don't the size of cables either. In conclusion, are you saying my panels might be good, and the problem is coming from somewhere else? I'd be happy if this is the case

I tried commenting on your massage but I was suspended throughout yesterday.
From all indications the installer does not know is onions. Call me with (zero, eight, zero, six, seven, six, five, two, six, three, nine) let call you on video calls to access your setup and guide you.

Dishtech:

I tried commenting on your massage but I was suspended throughout yesterday.
From all indications the installer does not know is onions. Call me with (zero, eight, zero, six, seven, six, five, two, six, three, nine) let call you on video calls to access your setup and guide you.

Good morning. Merry Xmas to all solar enthusiasts!!!
Please what will make a two 100AH batteries connected in parallel last less than 4 hours with load of 16% {i.e 160watts) on a 1kva inverter. Though it was up and running since morning when the sun was up and turn off by 5pm to conserve battery for usage at night when the charge controller read 12.8v.doesn’t that show that the battery is full for usage at night? Why then less than 4 hours with inverter red light blinking after 3hrs 55mins?

Charge fully and test again

Michaelondon53:


Good morning. Merry Xmas to all solar enthusiasts!!!
Please what will make a two 100AH batteries connected in parallel last less than 4 hours with load of 16% {i.e 160watts) on a 1kva inverter. Though it was up and running since morning when the sun was up and turn off by 5pm to conserve battery for usage at night when the charge controller read 12.8v.doesn’t that show that the battery is full for usage at night? Why then less than 4 hours with inverter red light blinking after 3hrs 55mins?

Michaelondon53:


Good morning. Merry Xmas to all solar enthusiasts!!!
Please what will make a two 100AH batteries connected in parallel last less than 4 hours with load of 16% {i.e 160watts) on a 1kva inverter. Though it was up and running since morning when the sun was up and turn off by 5pm to conserve battery for usage at night when the charge controller read 12.8v.doesn’t that show that the battery is full for usage at night? Why then less than 4 hours with inverter red light blinking after 3hrs 55mins?

Also I don’t know which component is lying maybe the inverter that doesn’t know how to calculate simply or the lonton company with all their crazy nos of watts inscription on their bulbs. My inverter load last night red 16% I.e 160 watts of a 1kva with just tv of 70watts, one 12watts bulb and one 5watts bulb. Inverter took 30watts running on the battery. Calculating that should amount to

70+12+5+30= 117watts!!! Why then is the inverter reading 16% (160watts) where did the 43watts come from??�

Michaelondon53:


Good morning. Merry Xmas to all solar enthusiasts!!!
Please what will make a two 100AH batteries connected in parallel last less than 4 hours with load of 16% {i.e 160watts) on a 1kva inverter. Though it was up and running since morning when the sun was up and turn off by 5pm to conserve battery for usage at night when the charge controller read
12.8v.doesn’t that show that the battery is full for usage at night? Why then less than 4 hours with inverter red light blinking after 3hrs 55mins?

1. How many panels do you have?
2. Depending on your panel position by 5pm you may not be getting much current to charge them and if pwm charge controller.
3. Charge well without using it or with NEPA to see whether they will be difference
4. Check the battery individually whether one of the two is bad. That is why you would have used a single 12v/200AH to avoid balancing or wrong connections.

Michaelondon53:


Also I don’t know which component is lying maybe the inverter that doesn’t know how to calculate simply or the lonton company with all their crazy nos of watts inscription on their bulbs. My inverter load last night red 16% I.e 160 watts of a 1kva with just tv of 70watts, one 12watts bulb and one 5watts bulb. Inverter took 30watts running on the battery. Calculating that should amount to

70+12+5+30= 117watts!!! Why then is the inverter reading 16% (160watts) where did the 43watts come from??�

Note that your appliances are rated in watts not VA, dividing by power factor to get approximate VA or convert the 1kva to wattage is around 750-850w depending on the inverter power factor.

Good morning and Happy holidays to all members of this forum, I personally want to thank those that believed in us and those that help us along the way

The year was plagued with a lot of up's and down's, from global pandemic to insecurity but we all still going strong

Happy holiday and a prosperous new year

From Me to you and our team at Rendezvous Solar

Thank you

Michaelondon53:


Good morning. Merry Xmas to all solar enthusiasts!!!
Please what will make a two 100AH batteries connected in parallel last less than 4 hours with load of 16% {i.e 160watts) on a 1kva inverter. Though it was up and running since morning when the sun was up and turn off by 5pm to conserve battery for usage at night when the charge controller read 12.8v.doesn’t that show that the battery is full for usage at night? Why then less than 4 hours with inverter red light blinking after 3hrs 55mins?

I suspect your batteries may be half dead already, are the brand new?..brand new?. top tier battery?.
has the performance always been like this?

if you have a digital voltmeter....connect a 400w to 600w on the inverter for like 2mins..and quickly use the voltmeter to read the voltage of the batteries. do this after the batteries are charged full.............

Michaelondon53:


Good morning. Merry Xmas to all solar enthusiasts!!!
Please what will make a two 100AH batteries connected in parallel last less than 4 hours with load of 16% {i.e 160watts) on a 1kva inverter. Though it was up and running since morning when the sun was up and turn off by 5pm to conserve battery for usage at night when the charge controller read 12.8v.doesn’t that show that the battery is full for usage at night? Why then less than 4 hours with inverter red light blinking after 3hrs 55mins?

Charge ur batteries full without any load connected. See d difference!

Whatever is beautiful.. Whatever is meaningful. Whatever brings you happiness. May it be yours this holiday season and throughout the coming year.
Happy Christmas to our numerous customers.

Coutesy: Smartcellglobal

Michaelondon53:


Also I don’t know which component is lying maybe the inverter that doesn’t know how to calculate simply or the lonton company with all their crazy nos of watts inscription on their bulbs. My inverter load last night red 16% I.e 160 watts of a 1kva with just tv of 70watts, one 12watts bulb and one 5watts bulb. Inverter took 30watts running on the battery. Calculating that should amount to

70+12+5+30= 117watts!!! Why then is the inverter reading 16% (160watts) where did the 43watts come from??�

The problem I noticed here is that you don't know
1. Your inverter Idle consumption
2. Load consumption.

First step when going Inverter Route is KYC (Know your Consumption Energy)
Get a DC Energy meter to calculate your energy usage directly from the Battery..
They are not Cheap, Around 10k plus shunt with this you will know the consumption as well as the Battery capacity... Your 100AH might not be 100AH too.. or used cell
Also those Inverter 16% or load are not Accurate....

Hello,
Didn't know about this thread. Was searching for some stuff and it came up. I just setup my own with a 200a battery and a 1.2k inverter. Though I am yet to get panel as I intend to be using nepa for the main time.
My load is TV, decoder, laptop and 28w for bulbs. No fan yet, hope to add DC fan and fridge soonest In Sha Allahu.
My question is that my TV does not power/boot completely with the inverter stuff but work well with NEPA. Is there any suggestion to solve it?

Earlier this year, my TV capacitor got burnt from power surge before I put stabilizer in the house. I haven't replace it as I intend to use company warranty stuff for the repair and the procedure/period of repair might be long.