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    • Poll: Super capacitors as reliable battery storage

      Backbone Energy posted a topic in Backbone Energy,

      This poll is designed to generate useful and engaged information from both consumer and installer. With the developing hype of super capacitors, we want to investigate and determine the right conclusion as to where its role is in South Africa presently and potentially in the next 4 years.

      Please take the poll and share so we can all benefit from the results.
      • 0 replies
      Energy-Jason

      Picked By

      Energy-Jason,

    • I want to buy my first solar panel and I have some questions

      Alexander12 posted a topic in Solar Power,

      Hello guys, I am a Swiss highschool student and I would like to buy a solar panel 100W, 12v.



      I am very curious about this field and I really would like to use in the future 100% renewable energy.😊<br style="background-color:#fefefe;color:#000000;font-size:15px;"><br style="background-color:#fefefe;color:#000000;font-size:15px;">So I need to go step by step and my first step is to buy a 100W/ 12v solar panel to can charge my laptop and my phone.So this solar panel is enough to charge a laptop right?




      Here are my other questions:
      For a 100W, 12V solar panel, do we need a charge regulator, a 12V battery, as well as a 300W voltage converter, from 12V to 230V (for example), to be able to charge a laptop ?

      If the solar panel produces less than 12V due to little sunlight, does the battery not store anything anymore because it is a 12V battery or can it still store? If it does not store, that would mean in this case, that I should take a battery with a lower voltage such as 6V for example? Can it then store enough energy or is it “full” very quickly?
      In this case, would that mean that the charge regulator and the voltage converter must also be able to accept 6V? How can I mesure the voltage of a battery?

      How long does it take ~ for a 12v battery to be fully full without using it at all?



      <br style="background-color:#fefefe;color:#000000;font-size:15px;">Also, I am not sure I understood everything about the inverter, which kind of inverter should I use for a 100W/ 12v solar panel? (I prefer the inverter than the DC power supply because it seems easier). Can it be like that if I want to charge my laptop? (Sorry it is written in french...)<br style="background-color:#fefefe;color:#000000;font-size:15px;"><br style="background-color:#fefefe;color:#000000;font-size:15px;"><br style="background-color:#fefefe;color:#000000;font-size:15px;">Also, so for the battery I have better to choose a 6v battery for my solar panel like this one?<br style="background-color:#fefefe;color:#000000;font-size:15px;"><br style="background-color:#fefefe;color:#000000;font-size:15px;">Or it isn't a good idea?<br style="background-color:#fefefe;color:#000000;font-size:15px;">( I would like an inverter and a battery cheap but which work quite well even if they are not expensive, if it is possible)
      Last question: How do you link several batteries together?
      These are my main questions and I apologize for bothering you with them.



       



      Have a nice day!🙂
      • 26 replies
      Energy-Jason

      Picked By

      Energy-Jason,

    • How deep do you draw your lithiums?

      Hagu13 posted a topic in Batteries,

      I'm new to lithiums after recently replacing my lead acids. I have 2 x 3.5kW Pylontechs.

      I'm looking for the sweet spot where I will get good battery life as well as maximum utilisation of the bank at night. I do understand the technology is new so there's no real data out there.

      Currently I'm drawing down to 25% before switching to grid, but the Axpert powers itself from the batteries so this causes a further slow drop of a few %. Never goes below 20% which is my personal comfort zone limit. I'll likely modify this strategy for load shedding to leave a little more in should I need to go back to battery at 4am.

      What's the feeling on this? Am I cycling too deep, or not maximising ROI?
      • 19 replies
      Energy-Jason

      Picked By

      Energy-Jason,

    • Starting out

      PhilFM posted a topic in Starting In Solar? Feel free to introduce yourself,

      I am new here, been building up my system for some time now.

      Started with the following a bit more than a year ago purely for loadshedding backup. System started as follows:

      1. Axpert 5KVA (Mecer)
      2. 4 x Vision 200ah AGM's

      After a year I started having problems with the batteries and decided to upgrade to Pylontech and also at the same time bit the bullet and ordered the panels to start producing own power. Connecting the Pylontech's to the Axpert I realized that communication between batteries and inverter was not going to work, so also ordered the Raspberry PI with ICC software

      System currently as follows:

      1. Axpert 5KVA (Mecer)
      2. 2 x Pylontech US3000
      3. 6 x Canadian Solar 365W Poly KuMax
      4. Raspberry PI with ICC software

      Will be adding two more Pylontech US3000's (for total battery backup of 14 Kwh) as well as 6 more 365W panels in the next month or two

      I will probably be asking a lot of questions as I have been lurking these forums as a guest for a long time looking for answers to all of life's power questions

      Attached a few photos of my setup
      • 12 replies
      Energy-Jason

      Picked By

      Energy-Jason,

    • Sunsynk 8kw Inverter

      Leshen posted a topic in Member Installations Showcase,

      Hi Guys. My new installation. 24 x 390w JA Mono solar panels with an 8kw Sunsynk inverter and 2 x 5kwh Bull Lithium batteries.  More pics to follow soon...
      • 55 replies
      Energy-Jason

      Picked By

      Energy-Jason,
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