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Which one will work before I purchase cables? MK3-USB from MP II to Raspberry and VE.Direct-USB from MPPT to Raspberry OR VE.Direct from MPPT to MP II and MK3-USB from MP II to Raspberry (no need for VE.Direct to USB ) What cable is needed for Pylontech monitoring? How to connect Pylontech to Pi or MP II? Thank you in advance

Hi Guyz, Came across this : https://cbi-lowvoltage.co.za/media-gallery/detail/98/1055 Any thoughts on how it would be connected in on DB? Drawing would be nice As always appreciate, thanks for sharing the wealth (knowledge) FYI I think would be useful for both teams😉

Hi Everyone I came across this document explaining tripping curves in a language I could, more or less, understand. Corné Understanding Trip Curves.pdf

I'm finally getting around to installing my LFP's (almost a year late!) Finally got a nice 42u rack, and can move out the dead acid, yay! Onto my question - I need to put some bus bars up for + and - to/from inverter and batteries and put a fuse disconnect in. Any suggestions on what to use for bus bars, and where to buy in/around CPT? For fuse disconnects - I was looking at the KETO's - do I need one or two? eg https://thepowerstore.co.za/products/keto-battery-disconnector-with-160a-fuses Thanks!

Hi all, This isn't a PROBLEM, but it is a PUZZLE (to me at any rate). It was necessary to install a modified cable between the BMS and inverter. This was initially achieved by taking a regular ethernet cable and cutting all wires except those connecting pins 4 and 5. Easily done. Worked well. Was untidy. Then time came to tidy up. A neighbour who had an RJ45 crimping tool helped me. We took the same cable, removed one head, threaded it through the correct strain reliever/grommet on the inverter and replaced the head with just pins 4 and 5 connected. (I had a temporary cable in place whilst this was going on). Neighbour says he has a test kit ( https://tinyurl…

I would like to measure the DC current from by solar panels. I will have 3 string in different orientations and would like to measure them individually. Measuring the battery current would be a bonus (It is a new installation, it should be for permanent monitoring, I am willing to write my own software on an Arduino or pi if needed) Any recommendations and where I can find sensor? Any opinions on Hall sensors or resistance sensors?

Hi, 1) When does one need to put a fuse in on battery cables? Is it even when using 1 battery, or only 2 batteries and higher etc? Doesn't an inverter have sufficient protection to stop as soon as there is an overload? 2) I know it has been asked before, but haven't seen any recommendation of what/where to buy fuses from? Thanks!

Some of you may recall that I had a problem with my batteries shutting down which was solved by the installation of a 2nd BMU and a cable between BMU and inverter. This initially didn't work. It turned out that the cable had to be modified. I did a temporary fix myself after the installer had told me which connections to cut. I left that cable simply hanging down from the inverter and and running into the open back of the battery cabinet. The installer then came to tidy up, left the original cable in place and rerouted mine so that it now goes through the wrong hole in the bottom of the Goodwe (IE it is now mislabelled) and also is trunked as far as possible until i…

Good day all, I have done some searches, both here on the forum, and with Google University. A lot of info available, but some parts of info seems pretty illusive. I am looking for a Power meter capable of reporting Import and Export power values, Live is good, Live and Logging better, and Live, Logging and Comms interface 1st prize. The general that popped up here on the forum is the likes of the Victron energy meter et112 ( @Elbow ), and the Eastron SDM630 (Mostly @Nicholas ), and a few 100 more comment from the Blue team, and some opposing forces 😉 I am wondering about the Eastron SDM220/230, since being single fase, should perform equally. My …

Has anyone put into service a motorised MCB type Automatic Transfer Switch as found here on eBay? Do they work as required? I'm thinking of employing one to automatically switch from 3-phase mains supply to single phase inverter output (looped on all 3 phases) during grid loss events. These are open transition (break before make) and don't see the possibility of shorting the phases on the load side.

Hi All, I am fairly new to the forum and for the short period i have been reading the posts have managed to pick up alot was even able to question my electrician as to why he did not have a breaker installed between my inverter and Batteries. Before i continue just so all on the forum can get an understanding of my setup here is my build. I need to know what would be the ideal size breaker between the Inverter and Batteries. Note the install is not yet complete but want to ensure every possible measure is taken to make the install safe. 9 x Canadian Solar Panels ( 3 Strings ) 1 x Voltex Inverter (5000/4000) 2 x Pylontech 3.5 kva Batteries Th…

Hi I need a bit of assistance. I have an Axpert inverter set up as a battery back up solution. I only run the lights and the plugs off the system and ignore the geyser and the stove. It runs off the system constantly for the fail over, so no manually switching. I have attached the wiring from the invertor alone. So have not included the 'normal' grid power circuit. The issue I have is that when on the grid and earth is triggered the invertor kicks in automatically and power is restored to the plugs and lights. Obviously I need it to stay earthed and not restore power in this scenario, when load shedding kicks in, different story. The key also…

Please could someone let me know what is the purpose of the RS 485 cable between the Mecer Inverter and Dyness 4874? What info flows on this line. Is this just to monitor the battery via the inverter or to control charge rates, voltages, temps etc. Help needed. Regards George

Hi all, Yesterday I acquired one of these for a fraction of the usual cost. Ignore the otherwise very-deurmekaar garage. It's a 42u linkbasic server cabinet with three shelves. It's 800mm deep, and the usual 19 inches across. It weighs a lot. Since I am also moving house soon, I plan on redoing my installation into this cabinet. There is enough space to put my two 300Ah lithium batteries side by side in the bottom, with the inverter and solar chargers mounted so that the blinking lights show through the glass door. That is the plan. So now I want to ask the practical guys here, any advice on such an endeavour? For connection to the grid…

Hi guys, After playing around with WatchPower and another cloud based app to monitor my Axpert/Pylontech setup, it seems that ICC is the way to go. The cost of just the ICC software is not bad and I already have the Pi, but cannot understand what is so special about the ICC cable that some companies charge around R850 for it. Is there anyone here that have been able to convert a standard USB to RS232 (DB9 connector) cable to work with the Pylontech or at least know where one could buy an ICC cable that is not gold-plated?

Hi all, I have an old DB that used to have old breakers in it. When my solar system was installed the installing electrician removed most of the old breakers and replaced them. I'm sure it is safe and so on, but it looks butt ugly. I can't find a replacement cover. I also don't want to fit a new, smaller DB and end up with some left over space in the wall which would have to be filled and then require the whole kitchen to be retiled. But those old DBs must have been made to standard sizes, right? They didn't make one that size just for the house that I now own. So are there new DBs made to fill the same size aperture? Or even half that aperture so that …

Does anyone know where I can get a new LCD display for a Devel 6000w inverter? There are two lines missing that make it difficult to read.

Hi, has anyone used these Wago 221 wire connectors, was thinking of using them for splicing a cable in a db board

Hi guys, I'm looking for RS-232 to Ethernet converter, if possible in Cape town side. I need to test something before buying one. It's for my inverter and the normal RS-232 to usb isn't connecting to it. The one MLT sold for the MLT powerstar years ago was a Connect-One IL-2128-232 Sucure iLAN but they don't sell it anymore, it's been replace by a Pi2 with software they call the BRIDGE. I first want to check if i can connect with a RS-232 to Ethernet with the MLT Coms v1.52 SCADA Software. If someone maybe have one that I can borrow for a day or two, that will help Thanks Something like this:

Hi I am looking at replacing very old circuit breakers in my DB, I looked online and see that Major Tech Circuit breakers are much cheaper than say CBI. Is Major Tech okay to use or rather stick with CBI or another brand? Any problems with Major Tech quality?

I see that Hager gives DC tripping thresholds for most of their breakers on their website. Has anyone tried to get more information about their DC ratings? They're only giving their AC voltage ratings. These might make for a cheaper and simpler option for string protection if they're DC rated. The fact that they're listing DC thresholds at all is making me hold thumbs.

Hi, Does anyone have an editable version of the "Warning: on-site embedded generation" warning label required per NRS097-2-1 ? Need to make some and would like to make them neat. Similar to this (without the typo) Thanks!

Hi All Has anyone got experience with these switches. I am keen to use them in my DB to allow me to switch loads between Grid and Inverter...? Quoted price at the moment is: R434 ex postage. for the 63A Regards Mark

So just connected my system and no power from mppt. There is a voltage 105v measured top of breaker from inputs of panels. Concern that positive and negative seen to swop sides through breaker. I.e. positive is right at top of breaker and left on the bottom. Little diagram on breaker seems to agree with this. Am I missing something here. Running ess everything else working fine

Hi All What type of manual switch would you recommend that i use to switch between my 2 battery banks so that i can use one bank and switch to another if the first banks voltage drops to 48v from 52v, then switch back to both banks before morning charging begins ? My system consists out of 2 strings of 4 12v 105amp deltec batteries. Thanks.