January 16, 20179 yr 5 hours ago, Energy said: Amazing. GREAT WORK! How about reposting this in the member installation showcase thread, im sure the new commers would love to see. Great work once again! Very neat, good to see what people can do themselves
January 16, 20179 yr nicely done! I like how you mounted the fuses, but guess that DB box was quite expensive for the job?
January 16, 20179 yr 8 hours ago, Chris Rossouw said: Hi Guys, I have just completed the installation and just can't believe its done! Unfortunately it is already dark and I will thus only be able to switch on tomorrow morning. I can't wait and just had to share this with all you wonderful oaks out there. I have attached a few pictures to give you an idea of what I have done with the installation. I also have to thank everyone on the forum for all your assistance and support, all the good advice and just for being available at all times!!!! Without the forum I really don't think I would have been able to do it alone! THANKS GUYS !!!!!!!! Very Nice Chris!! Can you update your signature to add the installation details... always good to refer to when you post a message Thanks Mark
January 16, 20179 yr Very neat installation. Just check your roof, looks like 2 panels have already been stolen.
January 16, 20179 yr Author Hi Superdiy, Luckily so far nothing stolen. 2 x strings of 19 panels each was the maximum panels the inverter could take without exceeding specified limits, therefore one missing on both strings. It looks like I will have to remove another panel on each, as I am generating more power than expected so far. I started the system at 7h45 this morning and the attached screenshot was taken 40 minutes later. The system is fully functional and as you can see I am off the grid !!!! (Ps. And I have 3 spare fans in stock, just for in case ! )
January 16, 20179 yr Is that the best way to wire the panels? To try and push as many volts as possible? I used to be under the impression that was the best way to do it, until I read the manual for my MPPT (Microcare) a bit more closely and it says the following: The MPPT (all step down MPPT battery chargers) uses a Buck regulator circuit to do the power conversion. These circuits do not operate at max efficiency when the input output voltage ratio is very high. Try to not exceed a ratio of 1:4, this is especially true on 12v systems Although I see on the Imeon specs it needs high voltages: Description Technical Specifications Warranty Downloads SOLAR INSTALLATION Maximum input power 4 500 Wp to 12 000 Wp** Start-up voltage 350 V Number of MPPT inputs 2 MPPT voltage range 380V – 750V Maximum input current 2 x 18A Maximum input voltage 850V
January 16, 20179 yr Author I see where you are coming from and would think that one has to investigate this to further extend. I am sending a guy to Imeon in France in the next few weeks, and will definitely try and get the correct answers on this one. Although I am a strong believer in doing things right from the start, I also do not believe that we should waste unnecessarily. Thanks Deepbass9.
January 16, 20179 yr 15 minutes ago, Chris Rossouw said: I see where you are coming from and would think that one has to investigate this to further extend. I am sending a guy to Imeon in France in the next few weeks, and will definitely try and get the correct answers on this one. Although I am a strong believer in doing things right from the start, I also do not believe that we should waste unnecessarily. Thanks Deepbass9. Reading your reply to @DeepBass9's post, you should be able to get 20 x 36Voc panels on tha 750V MPPT
January 16, 20179 yr Author One has to also allow for the start-up voltage spikes during especially winter months. In Bloem it sometimes goes as low as -7 C and according to Canadian solar the voltage can go as high as 44v in these conditions. 20 x 44v = 880 exceeding the max 0f 850v. Should one be rather safe than sorry?
January 16, 20179 yr 1 hour ago, Chris Rossouw said: One has to also allow for the start-up voltage spikes during especially winter months. In Bloem it sometimes goes as low as -7 C and according to Canadian solar the voltage can go as high as 44v in these conditions. 20 x 44v = 880 exceeding the max 0f 850v. Should one be rather safe than sorry? This is something many DIY'ers never check. Glad to see you calculated it Chris! Removing one panel should do the trick. Keep them as spares or use them for another system.
January 16, 20179 yr 5 hours ago, Chris Rossouw said: One has to also allow for the start-up voltage spikes during especially winter months. In Bloem it sometimes goes as low as -7 C and according to Canadian solar the voltage can go as high as 44v in these conditions. 20 x 44v = 880 exceeding the max 0f 850v. Should one be rather safe than sorry? I haven't seen that happen, yet. Does the temperature stay -7 at say 8am - 9am? Here in Gauteng it hardly ever get that cold and if it does, it's very early in the morning when it's still dark. Perhaps in Bloem it's different?
January 16, 20179 yr Author It apparently only happens during the first few seconds after sunrise, the voltage shoots up whilst virtually no current is available and then settles down.
January 17, 20179 yr 8 hours ago, Chris Rossouw said: It apparently only happens during the first few seconds after sunrise, the voltage shoots up whilst virtually no current is available and then settles down. Ok, but under what exact conditions? I've only ever installed high voltage systems in warm areas so I've never seen this. Maybe Mike can chip in? If they say it happens at -7 degrees, just after sun rise, then I need to ask, has it ever been -7 degree just after sunrise, even in Bloemfontein? I'm not disputing the problem that may occur, but will it happen in South Africa? BUT, yes, if you want to be safe, stick to 2x 19 panel strings.
January 17, 20179 yr 4 hours ago, SilverNodashi said: has it ever been -7 degree just after sunrise, even in Bloemfontein? Forget Bloemfontein. Look towards Namibia. I remember during my school years we had a -12 Celsius at Seëis one morning. The very cold part of the day is ALWAYS just as the sun rises. So yes, yes and yes. You should be safe rather than sorry.
January 17, 20179 yr 10 hours ago, SilverNodashi said: Ok, but under what exact conditions? I've only ever installed high voltage systems in warm areas so I've never seen this. Maybe Mike can chip in? If they say it happens at -7 degrees, just after sun rise, then I need to ask, has it ever been -7 degree just after sunrise, even in Bloemfontein? I'm not disputing the problem that may occur, but will it happen in South Africa? BUT, yes, if you want to be safe, stick to 2x 19 panel strings. Panel temp is probably even lower than -7c in winter, nevermind ambient temp.
January 17, 20179 yr Author Just a quick feedback on the first full day of trading on the Imeon. Since yesterday 14h00 when we connected the grid I have not used a single unit from Centlec, I am actually in credit with 2 units. This morning my first 140w was generated at 05h52 and at 18h22 tonight she was still going at about 400w. Herewith a screenshot at about 17h00. I noticed that the batteries does not charge higher than 54.4v per bank. Is this normal. I checked all the batteries separately, all of them exactly the same except for one being .1v less than the rest . As for the spike in the panel voltage. I checked the speck sheet of the Canadian Solar panels. It specifically states the variance per /C lower or higher than a certain C value. It differs between different suppliers but is always shown on the spec sheet. Anybody can thus calculate according to his brand and the area he/she stays. One should therefore use the lowest possible temperature for that area and do the calculation accordingly. This only happens for a split second period during the very first sunrays in the morning. I spoke to a guy in Cape Town this afternoon, who did his doctors degree in solar energy, and he explained the scenario to me. I asked him to do a short write-up for the forum on this aspect and will post it in due time.
January 18, 20179 yr 9 hours ago, Chris Rossouw said: I spoke to a guy in Cape Town this afternoon, who did his doctors degree in solar energy, and he explained the scenario to me. I asked him to do a short write-up for the forum on this aspect and will post it in due time. Thank-you that will be a valuable contribution.
January 19, 20179 yr Author On 2017/01/16 at 7:48 AM, SilverNodashi said: nicely done! I like how you mounted the fuses, but guess that DB box was quite expensive for the job? We have a small DB manufacturer in Bloem and he was busy building special DB's for FNB when I visited him one day. I never liked the idea of having a few small control boxes all over the solar room and setting my eyes on these FNB boxes triggered the idea. He had a 2nd hand box and we modified it a bit to house everything. We are now designing a smaller box, that will still house the battery dept, pv goodies and the breakers required for AC, which we will typically mount next to or near the existing DB and nice and clean. I am sure there will be a market for it?
January 19, 20179 yr 17 minutes ago, Chris Rossouw said: I am sure there will be a market for it? Picture of how the FNB boxes look like?
January 19, 20179 yr Author Just now, The Terrible Triplett said: Picture of how the FNB boxes look like? I will try and post tomorrow.
January 19, 20179 yr Author Hi Guys, is anybody aware of a data dashboard \ data collector for the Imeon inverters, other than the Imeon application manager?
January 19, 20179 yr 37 minutes ago, Chris Rossouw said: We have a small DB manufacturer in Bloem and he was busy building special DB's for FNB when I visited him one day. I never liked the idea of having a few small control boxes all over the solar room and setting my eyes on these FNB boxes triggered the idea. He had a 2nd hand box and we modified it a bit to house everything. We are now designing a smaller box, that will still house the battery dept, pv goodies and the breakers required for AC, which we will typically mount next to or near the existing DB and nice and clean. I am sure there will be a market for it? please send me more details of these boxes? I'm sure there would be a market for it.
January 19, 20179 yr Author Very similar to the box I used, but smaller. Still 2 doors and the whiteboards will have inspection holes fitted with Perspex for security reasons. This is to check your fuses and the condition of the busbars, fuses and cable connections. I am also thinking to install led indicators between the 2 doors to indicate the presence of grid, battery and pv power as well as showing whether you are currently on the grid or on inverter power. My idea is to use these boxes for small retail outlets and even houses to have eyeball control on a distance. I also need to keep the cost very low and to make it really affordable!
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