Please I need a new lightning protection system installed for my house.

I welcome contacts from people who can help do the job.

I am looking for an industrial grade system - Indelec or similar type spike, kwarrect copper tape and rods, FurseCem or equivalent material for backfill instead of lumps of charcoal and salt.

This is one area where I have some knowledge but happier to pay for a pro to do it for me.

Please reach out - 0 8 0 8 1 1 4 4 4 4 2 - SMS/Phone Call/WhatsApp.

NiyiOmoIyunade:
Hmmmmmm boss.

Please think of your batteries as a tank of water of which you have only one tank.

The tank water level is the amount of charge in the batteries.

If the amount of water leaving the tank is higher than that the rate of filling the tank, then the tank of water (battery) will go empty and can no longer supply water.

The amount of water leaving the tank is what your house loads/appliances are consuming.

The amount of solar panels and/or the available PHCN hours taken with your inverter charge capability is the fill rate of the tank.

In your case the fill rate is very likely lower than your consumption so your water tank is not getting full leaving you stranded at the end of the day.

You really must get some basic knowledge of your back up power system otherwise installers will be using you to eat - there are many more charlatans than honest professionals so the odds are stacked against you if you do not arm yourself with knowledge.

If I were to continue the analogy, your solar panels and/or charge controller are undersized or not optimally deployed to meet your needs - this is why you see some roofs with just 4 panels on their roof while the next house has 24 panels mounted - varying needs - it is not just enough to have solar panels mounted - are they of sufficient capacity If you have just 4 panels where your house needed 12 panels, you will come up very short!!!

I fear I preach too much, I will let a better qualified member of the house give you specific actionable steps.

The only appliances that were on was a 55 inches TV, one LED light, a celling fan and a small table top fridge

The inverter was on from 10AM in the morning to 4pm in the afternoon, then PHCN light was returned by 4pm till about 6pm, then after they took the light by 6pm, I switched to inverter again from 6pm, but it started beeping low battery by 11pm in the night

The loads on it was not much, only what I mentioned above. Tv, small fridge, one led light, and ceiling fan.

Meanwhile, solar panels was charging the system throughout the morning, afternoon and evening.

And when it started beeping low battery by 11pm, I checked the charge controller and it was showing BAT 22.5 V

And from what my installer said BAT 28.4 V means battery is fully charged

So if the charge controller was showing BAT 22.5 V, doesn’t that indicate I still got a lot of battery juice left

At 22.5v your batteries are practically empty - zero to very little charge left hence the inverter safety cutoff was invoked.

The charge voltage scale is not from 0v to 28.4v but rather from about 23v to 29.6v for most common lead acid batteries.

Apart from charge rate issues, it appears you may also have a undersized water tank (battery bank) as well.

A member of the house will reach out soon to you - you will likely need a full system audit and them progress it from there.

If you gave details like number and size of solar panels you have, type and brand of charge controller, number and capacity and age of batteries, what watts all the appliances you mentioned you use at home consume, it would make it easier for anyone to help you.

JaySterling:


The only appliances that were on was a 55 inches TV, one LED light, a celling fan and a small table top fridge

The inverter was on from 10AM in the morning to 4pm in the afternoon, then PHCN light was returned by 4pm till about 6pm, then after they took the light by 6pm, I switched to inverter again from 6pm, but it started beeping low battery by 11pm in the night

The loads on it was not much, only what I mentioned above. Tv, small fridge, one led light, and ceiling fan.

Meanwhile, solar panels was charging the system throughout the morning, afternoon and evening.

And when it started beeping low battery by 11pm, I checked the charge controller and it was showing BAT 22.5 V

And from what my installer said BAT 28.4 V means battery is fully charged

So if the charge controller was showing BAT 22.5 V, doesn’t that indicate I still got a lot of battery juice left

JaySterling:


The only appliances that were on was a 55 inches TV, one LED light, a celling fan and a small table top fridge

The inverter was on from 10AM in the morning to 4pm in the afternoon, then PHCN light was returned by 4pm till about 6pm, then after they took the light by 6pm, I switched to inverter again from 6pm, but it started beeping low battery by 11pm in the night

The loads on it was not much, only what I mentioned above. Tv, small fridge, one led light, and ceiling fan.

Meanwhile, solar panels was charging the system throughout the morning, afternoon and evening.

And when it started beeping low battery by 11pm, I checked the charge controller and it was showing BAT 22.5 V

And from what my installer said BAT 28.4 V means battery is fully charged

So if the charge controller was showing BAT 22.5 V, doesn’t that indicate I still got a lot of battery juice left

Your battery showing 22.5v means its voltage is very low

Penuelseun:
Your battery showing 22.5v means its voltage is very low

Wow really

I thought the scale was from 0 V to 29v

Thanks for the explanation

NiyiOmoIyunade:
At 22.5v your batteries are practically empty - zero to very little charge left hence the inverter safety cutoff was invoked.

The charge voltage scale is not from 0v to 28.4v but rather from about 23v to 29.6v for most common lead acid batteries.

Apart from charge rate issues, it appears you may also have a undersized water tank (battery bank) as well.

A member of the house will reach out soon to you - you will likely need a full system audit and them progress it from there.

If you gave details like number and size of solar panels you have, type and brand of charge controller, number and capacity and age of batteries, what watts all the appliances you mentioned you use at home consume, it would make it easier for anyone to help you.

So if 22.5V is very low

Then how about 24v, 25v, 26v and 27v

I need to understand the scale properly

JaySterling:


But my inverter, a microtek 2.3 kva was beeping red light and saying low battery yesterday night

But my Zedix battery must have not been low, because solar charged it in the morning afternoon

So why was it beeping low battery ?

A lot of things could cause this, a few below:

1. The battery did not fully charge or did not charge at all by solar, what's your current reading on your solar charging system

2. Your load demand is more than what is generated by solar

3. Your load demand was high enough to exhaust the current that has been put into the battery by solar after sunset

4. Your battery is bad and no longer accepting charge.

You will need to provide more information about your set-up in other to advice better.

Edit: looks like this has been dealt with above already

Hey friends...
I have a peculiar situation at hand. My system goes into float as early as 10/11 AM these days.
I'm thinking what can I do with this excess output.?

My thoughts:
1. Extend power to my neighbour's flat
2. Fence lights
.
.
.…any other ideas is welcomed.

Gracias

kadorzy:
Hey friends...
I have a peculiar situation at hand. My system goes into float as early as 10/11 AM these days.
I'm thinking what can I do with this excess output.?

My thoughts:
1. Extend power to my neighbour's flat
2. Fence lights
.
.
.…any other ideas is welcomed.

Gracias

Option 1 is okay. You don't need fence lights during the day.
Or
You can pump and make water available for your neighborhood.
You can run ac with the excess power.
You can boil water for later use.
You can increase your storage capacity.

kadorzy:
Hey friends...
I have a peculiar situation at hand. My system goes into float as early as 10/11 AM these days.
I'm thinking what can I do with this excess output.?

My thoughts:
1. Extend power to my neighbour's flat
2. Fence lights
.
.
.…any other ideas is welcomed.

Gracias

Run those heavy equipment at that time: washing machine, freezers, a/c (if your system can handle that) etc during that period or get larger battery bank to keep those solar panels really busy

kadorzy:
Hey friends...
I have a peculiar situation at hand. My system goes into float as early as 10/11 AM these days.
I'm thinking what can I do with this excess output.?

My thoughts:
1. Extend power to my neighbour's flat
2. Fence lights
.
.
.…any other ideas is welcomed.

Gracias

Option 1 is not a bad idea so long as your neighbor will see value in it and ofcourse your fence light for security is good but won't be useful during the day.
Other options is to add to your battery bank and Run your cooling systems

mank1234:


Option 1 is okay. You don't need fence lights during the day.
Or
You can pump and make water available for your neighborhood.
You can run ac with the excess power.
You can boil water for later use.
You can increase your storage capacity.

*The option to pump won't be achievable without major overheads on plumbing & all.
*I literally run AC throughout the day already.
*Will really appreciate tips on this option to hear water.

Thanks for your inputs.

mctfopt:


Run those heavy equipment at that time: washing machine, freezers, a/c (if your system can handle that) etc during that period or get larger battery bank to keep those solar panels really busy

Walahi all the heavy and light loads in my house are already on - 1x1hpAC, Refrigerator, Upright freezer, 2xFans, TVs*2 et al all run from 7am ~ 6pm before we switch to conservation mode again.

ojeysky:


Option 1 is not a bad idea so long as your neighbor will see value in it and ofcourse your fence light for security is good but won't be useful during the day.
Other options is to add to your battery bank and Run your cooling systems

I concur with you on the security lights, as it will be on the batteries at night.
As regards the option 1, my wife has hinted them & they agree to the terms but can't execute yet due to the lock down.

Do you have tips on waterheating option also?

Thanks for your input

kadorzy:


I concur with you on the security lights, as it will be on the batteries at night.
As regards the option 1, my wife has hinted them & they agree to the terms but can't execute yet due to the lock down.

Do you have tips on waterheating option also?

Thanks for your input

Try solar water heater.
It's not advisable to put your water heater on inverter whether they charge fast or not. Just my 2 kobo.

ojeysky:


A lot of things could cause this, a few below:

1. The battery did not fully charge or did not charge at all by solar, what's your current reading on your solar charging system

2. Your load demand is more than what is generated by solar

3. Your load demand was high enough to exhaust the current that has been put into the battery by solar after sunset

4. Your battery is bad and no longer accepting charge.

You will need to provide more information about your set-up in other to advice better.

Edit: looks like this has been dealt with above already

Thanks

My battery was showing 22.5V on the charge controller

I thought the scale was from 0-29

Didn’t know it was 23V-29V


So if 22.5V is very low

Then how about 24v, 25v, 26v and 27v

I need to understand the scale properly

Which one is low and which one is average

JaySterling:
Thanks

My battery was showing 22.5V on the charge controller

I thought the scale was from 0-29

Didn’t know it was 23V-29V


So if 22.5V is very low

Then how about 24v, 25v, 26v and 27v

I need to understand the scale properly

Which one is low and which one is average

This image could guide
(This is for a rested battery)

essegis:


Try solar water heater.
It's not advisable to put your water heater on inverter whether they charge fast or not. Just my 2 kobo.

I really would want to try this out.
If not on my existing Inverter, how do I go about this?Would it require added infrastructure or with the existing one?

mank1234:
Can one mix Lithium from different brands: say pylontech with other China brands?

One Chinese brand with other Chinese brands, maybe. And of course preferably in parallel in such situation as long as they are of similar capacity. If they are of the same brand and the BMS supports series connection, they can be connected in series.

Two of the 12v packs I have are LFP from different manufacturers but of the same 120ah. I have them connected in parallel. Although one of the two supports series connection but the other, according to the supplier does not support series connection.

As for the pylontech, those stuff according to the licenced user Omolyunade has bells and whistles that makes it complex and I think more intelligent. Na like say make Dangote pikin marry one local star guy from the village in Adamawa, e no dey easily work laidat.

kadorzy:



This image could guide
(This is for a rested battery)

what do you mean by rested?

By the way, the chart stops at 25V

I thought it was 23-29V

kadorzy:


I really would want to try this out.
If not on my existing Inverter, how do I go about this?Would it require added infrastructure or with the existing one?

It is not an electrical set up. Has nothing to do with your inverter. You just buy, mount and link up with your existing water line.

Saves you cash on hot water bills.

JaySterling:
what do you mean by rested?

By the way, the chart stops at 25V

I thought it was 23-29V

This chart is for Lead Acid batteries which I want to believe yours are too. 28v for Lead Acid is a big fallacy.

Sorry, your installer don deceive you.

essegis:


This chart is for Lead Acid batteries which I want to believe yours are too. 28v for Lead Acid is a big fallacy.

Sorry, your installer don deceive you.

What I don’t get is what he gains from giving me wrong info?

I don’t think he will do that

because I just checked my charge controller and it’s showing 28.4 V, meaning the battery is full.

JaySterling:
What I don’t get is what he gains from giving me wrong info?

I don’t think he will do that

because I just checked my charge controller and it’s showing 28.4 V, meaning the battery is full.

Don't trust voltage readings while charge is going on. The current passing through the batteries actually distorts this. Once you disconnect and allow to settle (that's the rested state the other guy with the chart talked about) you'll see they will drop to their real level. And I can guarantee you it won't be more than what the chart says.

kadorzy:
Hey friends...
I have a peculiar situation at hand. My system goes into float as early as 10/11 AM these days.
I'm thinking what can I do with this excess output.?

My thoughts:
1. Extend power to my neighbour's flat
2. Fence lights
.
.…any other ideas is welcomed.
Gracias

you gotta list your full system specs, to get good advice,
batt bank, solar panel size, CC,......and loads if possible

essegis:


Don't trust voltage readings while charge is going on. The current passing through the batteries actually distorts this. Once you disconnect and allow to settle (that's the rested state the other guy with the chart talked about) you'll see they will drop to their real level. And I can guarantee you it won't be more than what the chart says.

please how can I disconnect, so I can view the rested voltage of the battery to ascertain if it’s fully charged

JaySterling:
please how can I disconnect, so I can view the rested voltage of the battery to ascertain if it’s fully charged

Oga pls don't disconnect o wait till evening time when the sun has gone to 0amp then check the resting state of your battery.

Provided there is no main grid charging(no nepa light)

JaySterling:
please how can I disconnect, so I can view the rested voltage of the battery to ascertain if it’s fully charged

Please and please never disconnect your battery from the charge controller while it is still connected to solar panels. This is the only place I see where they it will not fry your controller. From my small knowledge it will fry it sharp sharp.

Wait till night fall and go view your voltage then, at least no normal charge from solar. Also ensure you do it when electric charging too is not ongoing, meaning when there is no light.

I hope this helps. For now just save the chart and refer back to it from time to time to draw up your own battery profile.