donmajor2:


Plenty regards to Richmon74 for the supply of 4 260W Solarworld mono panels.

I also got solar mounting rails/brackets from c0ogumo of solardepotng.

After collating the main components from the gurus of this great forum, I decided to try my hands on all I have been reading on the sideline.

The result has been impressive. The batteries reach float charge so quickly that I am beginning to think of increasing the number batteries to store the enormous energy pumped out by the 4 Solarworld panels.

This is my very first attempt at solar energy work.

As a newbie, I decided to post some images to open room for corrections.

Many thanks to all members of this thread.

RipVanWink:
@cuuogumoo.

the US flooded batts, do they need periodic topping up with water? Yes
any idea of their recharge cycles?
do the emit gases?
thus is it safe to place indoor?

donmajor2:
Gurus in the house, I will love you to share your idea/experience on the act of charging a battery bank with the National grid(PHCN) and solar energy at the same time(or stacking multiple charge controllers).
What draws my interest is the apparent difference in the charging voltages from the two charging sources. I also consider possible current backflow from PHCN to the PV array at night when there's no more sun.
For my little setup, I presently use a programmable timer switch to prevent charging from PHCN in the daytime.
Main concerns are advantages, disadvantages, risks and possible dangers one could be exposed to when charging a battery bank from dual/multiple charging souces.

Your contributions will be highly appreciated.

dezo:
Hello house. i have a brand new outback VFX3048E 230vac that is for sale. its still in the box and also comes with the mate. see below for pix. price 450k.for enquiries call 08175994663. Thanx

semitunde:


OK. Thanks.

An electrical ENGR that designed the building recommended 5kva inverter. Since we would want the inverter to be charged by solar power and for the inverter to work for at least 5hrs; I felt the supplier or someone knowledgeable in the solar panels and inverters would be able to advice on the appliances needed and the cost.

But thanks I'll look for the post.

I can help supply sharp or solar world solar panels, also we have genus deep cycle batteries in stock @ affordable prices, call 08117398294, or email Info@monzpowersolutions.com for more info. Thnk u

donmajor2:


Plenty regards to Richmon74 for the supply of 4 260W Solarworld mono panels.

I also got solar mounting rails/brackets from c0ogumo of solardepotng.

After collating the main components from the gurus of this great forum, I decided to try my hands on all I have been reading on the sideline.

The result has been impressive. The batteries reach float charge so quickly that I am beginning to think of increasing the number batteries to store the enormous energy pumped out by the 4 Solarworld panels.

This is my very first attempt at solar energy work.

As a newbie, I decided to post some images to open room for corrections.

Many thanks to all members of this thread.

pdozie:
Team,
I'm trying to figure out if my installation is giving optimal output. I tried reading the meter but I need help to decipher. I have:

10 solar panels now (average of 250W each).
4 x 12v x 200ah Batteries (48v)
Total Load x Hours = 9645WH (load = 1535W; Individual devices have different hours of run)

I get these reading on my Morning Star Controller (45A) from the logging data
Today, Battery 3490wh; battery 68.5ah
Day (-1), Battery 4560wh; battery 85ah
Day (-2), Battery 5260wh; battery 103.6ah
Day (-3), Battery 4520wh; battery 83.5ah

Then I also have these on the front reading: 1613kwh; 73112ahT; 3649kwhT; 31908ah

On a good day my battery goes beyond 49v just before midnight and I have to shut it down. Are my installation undersized for the load?

chris81964:

Your production is good. However your battery bank is undersized. Your Production will be limited by your use. You should have a battery bank that is double your load hours. At 48 V your battery AH useage is 200.9
You are covered during the day time. Your production on day two was higher because your batteries had been drawn down a bit.

pdozie:


Thanks Chris.

Previously, from my calculation I was getting 189AH as battery requirement. I was making a mistake obviously. I have 251AH as battery capacity from my recalculation. Is that correct?

If yes, how could I possibly upgrade? Can I just get two batteries of same size/age and parallel them with two existing? i.e 2 batteries in parallel + another 2 batteries parallel, then connect the 2 in series (24v) and add the other 2 in series (now 48v).

That is total of 6 batteries.

Will it work or do I have to get entirely new string of 12 x 200aH x 4 and parallel the new string with the existing string?

AkoEja:
Why would you be selling such a super duper inverter?

pdozie:
Team,
I'm trying to figure out if my installation is giving optimal output. I tried reading the meter but I need help to decipher. I have:

10 solar panels now (average of 250W each).
4 x 12v x 200ah Batteries (48v)
Total Load x Hours = 9645WH (load = 1535W; Individual devices have different hours of run)

I get these reading on my Morning Star Controller (45A) from the logging data
Today, Battery 3490wh; battery 68.5ah
Day (-1), Battery 4560wh; battery 85ah
Day (-2), Battery 5260wh; battery 103.6ah
Day (-3), Battery 4520wh; battery 83.5ah

Then I also have these on the front reading: 1613kwh; 73112ahT; 3649kwhT; 31908ah

On a good day my battery goes beyond 49v just before midnight and I have to shut it down. Are my installation undersized for the load?

chris81964:


9645 / 48 = 200.9375 is what your useage is. I multiply by two to give me that magical 50% depth of discharge.
Based on what you wrote I assumed you had a 48 V inverter.
You will need four more batteries of the same capacity to get your 400 AH.

Maybe we should take it from the beginning. What is the voltage of your inverter? I understood 48 is that incorrect? 4 batteries in series gives you 48 V assuming 12 Volts each. The AH still remains at 200.

If you buy 4 more batteries connect them in series and then parallel them. You do that by connecting the positive of one bank to the positive of the other. And then repeat the same for the negative.

pdozie:


Thanks Chris.

You are right. Its a 48v, 3.5KV SUKAM inverter. 4 x 12 x 200ah batteries connected in series. I understand the part of having another string of 4 batteries and connect in series to double capacity. I was just asking the possibility of upgrading in bits due to cost.

I.e if I buy 2 batteries now, it wont be enough to have a 48v string from it. So is it possible I take one the new batteries and parallel one of the running batteries now and do same with a second battery another running battery, till am able to get another 2 batteries to have a whole 48v string?

What will be the implication of doing that please?

I just don't to risk loosing another battery because once am not around, the people at home dont care if the battery voltage drops. I had a situation where I came home and the inverter was beeping already!!! They were still rocking the TV and other appliances

Saipro:


Impressive figures. 49V isn't bad at all. Even with minimal loads, there's a voltage drop. When boiling water on the kettle in the mornings, I get as low as 47.8V over a 30 minute to 1 hour period, if usage was extensive overnight. When I tak the loads off, I get about 48.x to 49.x (occassionally returns to 50V when I switch off the inverter off just to take readings). That's for a system that at times runs nearly 2 weeks off-grid when NEPA feels "generous".

Are you off-grid? If not, what is your night time total energy consumption like? I think you're in equilibrum. The first rule of RE is energy conservation, not energy generation. Though difficult, try cutting down on energy consumption. LED TVs CFE/LED bulbs, fans instead of A/C when dark, etc

For the record, your system is similarly sized with mine. 48V 225Ah battery bank, 240W PV panels x 9.
As advised, you can up your battery bank but please let's have your post-5pm to pre 8-am energy consumption data (the sum not breakdown).

pdozie:


Hi Saipro,
Thanks for your contribution. I've swapped most of the 'swappable' devices to the energy saving ones. Bulbs, tvs etc.

For the energy consumption at night:
5pm - 11pm = 2060WH
11pm - 8am = 390WH

Total (5pm - 8am) = 2450W

I already multiplied the loads(W) with hours of run. But like I said, I have to power off by 11pm or 12 midnight else the inverter will run out before morning

Saipro:


Run out before morning? That shouldn't be happening. My 5pm to 8am consumption varies between 1.8kWh and 2.8kWh depending on usage of fans and the number of them running. At that, I still run a 1kW kettle for 30 - 60 minutes almost every morning. Never gone below 50%, that I can recall. That's an open-circuit voltage of roughly 48.4V (estimate) and around 48.0V - 48.2V with an idling 3kW inverter.

For you ...

48V (nominal system rating) * 200Ah (bank Ah capacity) * 0.5 (anticipated DoD) * 0.85 (estimated inverter inefficiency)
= 4,080Wh bank capacity till you reach 50% DoD

If load estimates are right, (4,080 - 2,450)Wh = 1,630Wh to spare.
Granted that the CC and inverter have some self-consumption, your reserve to 50% DoD would be lesser. Unless they have quite high self-consumption (I know my PowerStar 3kW consumes nearly 100W when idling in a closed circuit and about 10W in standby mode), you shoudn't be exceeding 50% DoD, much less running out of power. Look for some rogue consumption somewhere in your system (backfeeding of panels in the dark, AVR left on, parasitic loads, etc). Give feedback. Let other members contribute their experience and data as well.

Saipro:


Run out before morning? That shouldn't be happening. My 5pm to 8am consumption varies between 1.8kWh and 2.8kWh depending on usage of fans and the number of them running. At that, I still run a 1kW kettle for 30 - 60 minutes almost every morning. Never gone below 50%, that I can recall. That's an open-circuit voltage of roughly 48.4V (estimate) and around 48.0V - 48.2V with an idling 3kW inverter.

For you ...

48V (nominal system rating) * 200Ah (bank Ah capacity) * 0.5 (anticipated DoD) * 0.85 (estimated inverter inefficiency)
= 4,080Wh bank capacity till you reach 50% DoD

If load estimates are right, (4,080 - 2,450)Wh = 1,630Wh to spare.
Granted that the CC and inverter have some self-consumption, your reserve to 50% DoD would be lesser. Unless they have quite high self-consumption (I know my PowerStar 3kW consumes nearly 100W when idling in a closed circuit and about 10W in standby mode), you shoudn't be exceeding 50% DoD, much less running out of power. Look for some rogue consumption somewhere in your system (backfeeding of panels in the dark, AVR left on, parasitic loads, etc). Give feedback. Let other members contribute their experience and data as well.

bigrovar:


What I have:
CC, Breakers, Panels,Inverter, Cables.

What am expecting:

Ordered 10 mc4 connectors from Aliexpress, a Killawatt meter, an MC4 Crimping tool and MC4 disconnect wrench.

I hope to start the setup and installation once the tools arrive.

pdozie:


Thanks again Saipro.
I do not have the manual that came with the inverter so I really can't tell what the self-consumption is. I think I may have to plan to add another string of 200aH batteries. That na another project
I really want to have 1 day autonomy without touching my Gen. I want to make the best use of the investment and enjoy it to the last.
Moreso, I will look at replacing my bulbs with the the 6W or 8w bulbs.

Thinking of batteries, I understand its not good to mix batteries. I want to go for Trojan batteries. If I have another string of 4 x 12v trojan batteries connected in parallel with existing string, is it OK?
For the guys dealing on Trojan (Frank and co) do you have flexible payment options?

I may also want to change the SUKAM inverter to PRAG and have the SUKAM as standby. The SUKAM gives me little worries. Each time I switch it on, it trips off by itself and comes back on. That happens like 3 times before it gets stable. Sometimes hours later when everything is running, it also trips off and on. Does anyone has that experience yet?
Sometime in the past when it overcharged my batteries, It was already doing this trip off thing. I took it to Symba and complained all these. They told me its all sorted. But it turns out that only the overcharging issue was fixed as the tripping continued. I have changed the DC switch at the back of the inverter yet it continues. So I need the equivalent PRAG inverter to 3.5KVA SUKAM.

Not forgetting AC and DC protection from lightening. Oh boy, this thing no easy ooo...

bigrovar:


So I have recieved all the above stated items (with the exception of the MC4 disconnect wrench) and am about to start the installation phase of the project (most likely this weekend. The only thing left is the wiring. I hope to go with an electrician friend to the electrical shop but would I appreciate advise on which type of cables / wires is recommended. (I know it has to be 100% copper wire) but generally would like to know if there is any model or brand that can be recommended as ideal for use with solar/interter/battery setup. some of the wires would[img][/img] be exposed to the elements (I though I intend to have them inside of pvc pipes) especially the ones connected to the PVs so kindly put that in mind when making this recommendation. Thanks in advance.

EDIT:

I forgot to add.. I would require to size of cables.. one is 6mm which would run for about 60ft from PV to cc the second would be 10mm wire from cc to battery about 20ft of those