LouisT Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 Hi Everybody In 2019 we've decided to go completely off-grid. This realized on 23 Dec 2019 after months of preparation (You will understand if you look at the photos below). In short, I had an outbuilding that was already at roof height and I've decided to do the installation in one of the rooms. It was possible to have all cabling inside of the wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouisT Posted March 1, 2020 Author Share Posted March 1, 2020 In the next picture the generator in and 220V out from the inverter was installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouisT Posted March 1, 2020 Author Share Posted March 1, 2020 Preparation for the condutes for the cables from the PV panels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouisT Posted March 1, 2020 Author Share Posted March 1, 2020 Entry of solar cables - outside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouisT Posted March 1, 2020 Author Share Posted March 1, 2020 Close up of cables going through wall and earth cable. There is enough space to double up on solar panels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouisT Posted March 1, 2020 Author Share Posted March 1, 2020 Everything covered up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouisT Posted March 1, 2020 Author Share Posted March 1, 2020 24X Renewsys PV Panels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouisT Posted March 1, 2020 Author Share Posted March 1, 2020 The current system 24X Renewsys 250W panels 2X 60A MicroCare MPPT's 1X 10kW MicroCare intvertor 2X SolarMD LiFePO4 7.4kW batteries Expansion possiblity 24X more PV Panels 2X more 60A MPPT's 1X more SolarMD LiFePO4 7.4kW battery Gerrie, Gerlach and Clint 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix752 Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 I hope your site security is very good, because the ground mount is not elevated and is easy to access. What size is that Microcare Inverter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouisT Posted March 1, 2020 Author Share Posted March 1, 2020 58 minutes ago, phoenix752 said: I hope your site security is very good, because the ground mount is not elevated and is easy to access. What size is that Microcare Inverter Site security is good. Temporary setup. Cannot decide whether I want to play with sun tracking or build an afdak. 10kW inverter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix752 Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 Ok...I like these low frequency inverters (transformer based). They last long and its a good investment Clint and Gerlach 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerlach Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 On 2020/03/02 at 9:43 PM, phoenix752 said: Ok...I like these low frequency inverters (transformer based). They last long and its a good investment Try to tell this to the guys on the 4x4 forum. uuurrrggggg!!! ibiza 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
___ Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 11 hours ago, Gerlach said: Try to tell this to the guys on the 4x4 forum. uuurrrggggg!!! 4x4 guys are another species. They live in 12V land, they think National Luna makes the greatest stuff, and it's amazing how much stuff they'll put onto a single 100W module... at least until day two Clint, PJJ, Blowdart18 and 1 other 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerlach Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 (edited) 5 hours ago, plonkster said: 4x4 guys are another species. They live in 12V land, they think National Luna makes the greatest stuff, and it's amazing how much stuff they'll put onto a single 100W module... at least until day two You can say that again @plonkster . Me and TTT are fighting for our lifes there. Hahahahahaha. We had a guy "wit warm" yesterday, i think he started beading his keyboard. Oooooooo yes, and don't forget ther 105ah camping batteries. @LouisT seen it yesterday. Hahahahaah Edited March 5, 2020 by Gerlach ___ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaBz0r Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 I have also seen that you guys are busy there.. fun and games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJJ Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 5 hours ago, plonkster said: 4x4 guys are another species. I am not a member on any of the 4x4 forums, but I remember stumbling onto a thread one day on some SA 4x4 forum, and the one guy had the perfect idea for a perpetual motion machine, other members tried to explain to him that it wasn't possible, to him the law of thermodynamics was just a annoying law soon to be legislated away IIRC he also drove a Land Rover, make with that what you will . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouisT Posted March 5, 2020 Author Share Posted March 5, 2020 3 hours ago, Gerlach said: You can say that again @plonkster . Me and TTT are fighting for our lifes there. Hahahahahaha. We had a guy "wit warm" yesterday, i think he started beading his keyboard. Oooooooo yes, and don't forget ther 105ah camping batteries. @LouisT seen it yesterday. Hahahahaah You caught me out Gerlach and ___ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix752 Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 3 hours ago, Gerlach said: You can say that again @plonkster . Me and TTT are fighting for our lifes there. Hahahahahaha. We had a guy "wit warm" yesterday, i think he started beading his keyboard. Oooooooo yes, and don't forget ther 105ah camping batteries. @LouisT seen it yesterday. Hahahahaah It will take years for them to understand what a deep cycle battery mean Gerlach 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20VT Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 Great installation. I have also have a similar MPPT from Microcare. What settings are you using on it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouisT Posted March 9, 2020 Author Share Posted March 9, 2020 12 hours ago, 20VT said: Great installation. I have also have a similar MPPT from Microcare. What settings are you using on it ? It is for the SolarMD battery, but I will check for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20VT Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 21 hours ago, LouisT said: It is for the SolarMD battery, but I will check for you. Yes understood but its for a LiFePO4 battery correct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouisT Posted March 11, 2020 Author Share Posted March 11, 2020 On 2020/03/10 at 5:16 PM, 20VT said: Yes understood but its for a LiFePO4 battery correct Correct LiFePO4. I assume you have the manual. Below my settings: 8.1) Float Voltage = 13.4V (X4) 8.2) Boost Voltage = 13.6V (X4) 8.3) Boost to Float Voltage interval = 1 hour 8.4) Boost to Float Current = 15A 8.5) Equalise Charge Mode = Manual 8.6) Battery set Voltage = Auto 8.7) Charge limit = 80% 8.9) Set operation Mode = fmode0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20VT Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 (edited) On 2020/03/11 at 6:50 PM, LouisT said: Correct LiFePO4. I assume you have the manual. Below my settings: 8.1) Float Voltage = 13.4V (X4) 8.2) Boost Voltage = 13.6V (X4) 8.3) Boost to Float Voltage interval = 1 hour 8.4) Boost to Float Current = 15A 8.5) Equalise Charge Mode = Manual 8.6) Battery set Voltage = Auto 8.7) Charge limit = 80% 8.9) Set operation Mode = fmode0 Thanks for sending this. I do have the MPPT manual but there is no specific settings for different chemistry batteries. For interest sake how long does it take for your batteries to go to charge ? I should have been clear that I don't have a solarmd battery but other LiFePO4 Edited March 12, 2020 by 20VT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouisT Posted March 12, 2020 Author Share Posted March 12, 2020 34 minutes ago, 20VT said: Thanks for sending this. 1) I do have the MPPT manual but there is no specific settings for different chemistry batteries. 2) For interest sake how long does it take for your batteries to go to charge ? 3) I should have been clear that I don't have a solarmd battery but other LiFePO4 My pleasure 1) The settings should come from your battery supplier. The settings above is from SolarMD. 2) Not too sure what you mean, but as soon as I have sunlight on my panels the MPPT's start charging. My batteries are charged by 11:30 to 12:30. 3) Understood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20VT Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 24 minutes ago, LouisT said: My pleasure 1) The settings should come from your battery supplier. The settings above is from SolarMD. 2) Not too sure what you mean, but as soon as I have sunlight on my panels the MPPT's start charging. My batteries are charged by 11:30 to 12:30. 3) Understood Thanks for the info LouisT 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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