Warlok

Thanks. The Dyness looks pretty good right now.

Thanks Calvin. As I posted the above reply, yours came in. Now where did I put my balaclava again? 🙂

Thanks for the input. Could you perhaps tell me what warranty we are getting?. I see there's anadditional3 year warranty upon registering. But I would like to know about the initial warranty as well. You can now register the Pylon US2000 for an additional 3 years of manufacturer warranty for free. Go to http://www.pylontech.com.cn/service/support and complete the information in the 'sign up battery' page. Found this at the Bundu Power website. Looks like 7years + 3 years if I register. That alone could be worth the R5000 in savings vs. DIY Sorry, just maybe answered my own question. Correct me if I'm wrong

Hi again. Explored allot of options, but getting a reliable battery bank is very expensive. So this is what I found on the internet. This is a result of my AGM battery bank going south. Did not expect this so soon, so $$$ is a big deciding factor. Option #1 (R10400,00) Looks like I need 16 of these to get to 51.2v and they are rated @ 160wh. Please help me if I'm wrong with what I'll be getting. 160wh x16 = 2560wh So, if I draw a constant 500w they should last about 5 hours until 0% SOC? Right? Or should it be 50ah? Draw 10 amps an hour and this also comes to 5 hours? This looks like it's the same thing. Realistically, how many cycles should I expect to get if I discharge them to 50%? This will only happen when the grid goes down. Option #2 (R16400,00) Same setup, but with 120ah batteries 10amp draw for 6 hours= 50% SOC? How does the 2.4kw Pylontech battery (R15000.00) compare to option #1 and #2 performance and price wise? I have a raspberry pi connected to the inverter running solpiplog This is quite urgent because the run time on my agm batteries are only 10 minutes now at 70% SOC (500w draw) and load-shedding usually lasts for about 2-2.5 hours. Thanks to @Coulomb for his advice to try and save my battery bank. I will try different ways to try and revive it. And in the meantime lets hope load-shedding only happens during the day when the sun is shining. Thank you and good night.

Believe me, since I installed my system, I've been to many solar suppliers/installers. As this is corruptus maximus South Africa, if you walk into a store and agm is all they have, that will be the best battery ever, just to get rid of his stock. Had one guy tell me truck batteries are the best... (because they are big). Rather listen carefully to the guys on the forum. They offer their knowledge for free and that is priceless. You could put the big loads (Hair dryer, kettle, microwave etc... on eskom (or gas for kettle) It will cost less to pay eskom for that than the damage to your batteries. You didn't mention the geyser. Again, go for a gas geyser. (if not already) I'm not sure if I can link a website to the forum, but here goes... https://www.takealot.com/all?_sb=1&_r=1&_si=38ae2bbb4ff87715e5c2d2b5d9d795cb&qsearch=gas geyser

Thanks Coulomd. Actually an Axpert clone. when I bought it, I never knew that there was clones. As I said before, the salesman was there to make money. Searching the internet for inverters, no where were stated that "this is a clone" and "that's the genuine thing". Another guy at Solarmid (small solar shop where I live) told me that it's fine, but I should never use more that 50% load, otherwise it will pop the mosfets. Highest it goes is 35% load for my needs. This Node Red screenshot is at 10:00 in the morning with everything I need running, (including air-con @ 24 degrees) I have noticed that all my batteries are a bit round at the short side (about a 1 mm curve). I don't know if this was the design, but overcharging could cause swollen batteries, but I never took them above 56.8v. I will change the absorb time to see what happens. The inverter uses your and Weber's firmware and I'm working off the Aussieview manual. Thank you Coloumb.

Hi Barryv. No, not with battery balancers. Actually never knew they existed until you mentioned it. Only thought they were used for lithium cells.

Hi again, I have 4 of these batteries. (Series 48v) As far as I know I have been looking after them. (lately). Only discharged them to 42 volts maybe 4 times. The other times I don't let them go below 80% SOC. Lately I have noticed that they drop very quickly. (70% after 30 min drawing 350-500w) Usually the could last through load shedding (2.5 hours) to reach 70% My inverter settings are as follows: The bulk and float charge settings are right according to the spec sheet. It's only after I started looking at the graphs carefully I've noticed that the batteries never stay long at 56.8v, maybe 20 minutes and then goes back to float Could this be my problem? I would do anything to try and save them as a lithium battery is $$$$$ out of my reach (for now). If it is, how can I increase the time it stays on bulk and is it safe to do so? Last question. I've read about equalization somewhere, I think someone said not to do that to these type of batteries. Is it true? I will try that as well to try and save my batteries. If all else fails i will have to save up for a lithium battery. ps... Just finished my new dash in node red. Got switching on SOC and change to sbu / uti on a timer working.

Thanks, I'll check them out. On the plus side, we need the rain more than power

Finally got all up and running and this happens..........

Hi. Sorry, I can't find "Bian" anywhere on the internet

PS. https://lithiumbatteriessa.co.za/collections/built-units That's second life batteries. They were used in Teslas and Chevvy volts etc... not good enough for Ev's but according to them still ok for home use.

Thanks again. You've bee a great help Bought 1 more panel today. So tomorrow morning 5 o clock I'm installing it. Got the combiner box. (better be safe) So at 10 past 5 I should be up and running again Just a thought. I told my wife we must run this system like Eskom ran their power grid in the 80's and early 90's otherwise we to will be having load shedding on our own system. My next step now is to save up for lithium batteries. Will have to start with either the 2.4 or the 3.5, but I think the 3.5 will be cheaper in the long run. Thank you again and have a great weekend

Thanks allot Calvin. So that could be a Voc of 94,4v and 1600w?. (not calculating losses). Just saw today that my batteries are not so well anymore. Used to get about 3 hours @ 500w 30% DOD and now it's only running 1 hour and 80% DOD. I have been looking at them very nicely but after 1.5 years this is it. (Allgrand 6-cnfj-100). The supplier promised me this was the best batteries ever. I was stupid and wont make the same mistake again. Suppose a Pylon battery is the next move. How good has your batteries been?

Good day to all. Currently I have 3 Canadian solar panels connected in series. (1.5 years old). Want to upgrade to 6 panels eventually, but can only do 1 panel every three months Now. If I add one more panel, can I connect the first two in series, the second two in series and then in parallel to the inverter? I know the voltage will drop, but the watts should increase with +- 400w. The first picture of my dashboard in node red shows my average usage fridge, freezer, tv, internet, security systems and cameras all on The second one is with the aircon on. It was still early in the morning, but from 10:00 in the morning It can generate about 1150w So, adding 1 more panel should (maybe give me a bit more headroom)? Thanks for all the help in the past. I have attached pictures of my inverter specs (clone), but still working, panels and node red Just added the flow in node red (in case someone wants to comment on how I can change all the parameters for charging etc... (it's a work in progress)

This is the latest version. ....and it doesn't need a license. just right-click the url and open in new tab. ...or go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Product-Service/Solar-Patrol-301289323841598/

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sillanumsoft.org%2Fsolarpatrol.exe&h=AT2kCEsBLJned4Nq7lBXMhgQahXXI4rJJOMQKsm5YM0nn42Bx0Qi1VbTWdehLu4LR1vLFN3cLX9dv7KMWPNNJPpJbS_KUM1K92mUFzReP_NfPxjW_Fe3XtFRIRhysbNPiXyPXb4XkA4TMmsAlQWuOgytJpxJknt2usmsIW3_IdFIoCiUhuGLAIU8Z_Fn4e4qeyBjfpiromHIyusRVHA2VZOlL0w_E9RlPYyRIlbbnvOktAmWcJ_aS2zv0BbQyM2GjJPfQOr73jz5DQ2dx19LI_aLGmxXHIKL0KfygwC0RRA4kGVSYIwc-t49wlPMrcxbMl4dMqTsOEx9Q-K9cUcHt9P9-d4wxAMAulDrHaiOdeMpywj2O9NZfa0niPdRyfF7luyVLnT_BNe5ShT7MZWxvQfOoVtGNCoex810B6twBswjOuWur0Vt0YPvpup_CxM3MsqmsIpWsxmzGQ-9NjFTr3HkYTq3KMhqh4_jmeBDdTt6SJOKrlT5T8b4mF2tu0LtklgHAjZOGxZxgOTcf7C2GktQbcgF5lcvxNsnOnB1j3OuGX7dJSykmQIBbjnGOqdmS7IfGHQ86fUrI_Mae1kyOQ_0-cAPXl0cKH-atPFVYpo5XzDyMCYv4eXp-dZeLbetstF-TGW7iKQrJQCPzTwA-S1n

Thanks Justin. Will take a look, but I would really like to support the power-forum store. https://powerforum-store.co.za/ Suppose it all depends on price...

Yip, what you said is right. I've looked on pvout.org and it could only generate 1.2kw between 11am and 2pm on a good day in the middle of summer. Looks like I really need another string of panels.

Sorry. The 3mb file upload limit made it a bit difficult. This was before the storm

No physical damage on the panels. But we are on our way to Winter, and my panels need to be adjusted.

No. Middelburg MP This was last week. Same size hail. It came down very hard. Hit the paint off some vehicles.

Good day to all, I had 3 Canadian solar panels (CS3W-400P), but now only have 2 due to a hail storm. Pmax=400W Vmp=38.7V Imp=10.34A Voc=47.2V They were connected in series giving me about 1.2kW and 115V, give or take. Now with 2 panels connected in series I only get +/- 500W and 70V. Max input to the inverter is 145V. I was expecting 800W, but is the lower voltage responsible for the lower wattage? I'm totally buggered at the moment due to the lock-down. Is there a way to get more watts out of the panels as they are? or could it be that the hail impact on the 2 remaining panels caused something. They have no physical damage and the voltages seem right. On a more or less similar note. My brother has a Growatt 3kw inv paired to 3x330w panels connected in parallel. PV voltage it can handle is 100v and max pv watts is 1000w. He too is only getting about 500w at 32v on a good day, so I told him to connect it in series, but he told me the mppt controller should work things out. I have checked the Voc on the sticker and its just below 100v. Did I just answer my own stupid question or is there more to it? If Coulomb is reading this, thank you very much for all the input you have given on this forum. Thanks for a great forum ps. Anybody want a good second hand slightly used hail damaged solar panel? Willing to swop for toilet paper.

Thank you for the reply. Everything is on hold now anyway due to the lock-down. Wishing you and your family well.