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Topic: final solar upgrad. (Read 1887 times) previous topic - next topic

final solar upgrad.

I skipped the 1740 watt upgrade and went straight to 2030 watt. It made sense as I would have to run wires and drill an access hole anyway. Thanks to Roger for selling me his 150/70 Victron and dongle .With his leading me the way on the first panels, it went fairly easy. Now I have to hope having 2 seperate controllers, that they will play together. Have 4 panels on the 150/85 and 3 panels on the 150/70

Re: final solar upgrad.

Reply #1 –
Last 2 pics, controllers.

Re: final solar upgrad.

Reply #2 –
😳. Holy crap!!!  Looks nice!!,!

One question, do you have to get on the roof to angle them every time you move??

Re: final solar upgrad.

Reply #3 –
Quote from: hdff –
😳. Holy crap!!!  Looks nice!!,!

One question, do you have to get on the roof to angle them every time you move??
I only angled them to work on them. I have no intention of angling them to get more power.

Re: final solar upgrad.

Reply #4 –
Do the controllers communicate with each other or are they just hooked in parallel to each other?

see ya
ken 

Re: final solar upgrad.

Reply #5 –
Quote from: kenhat –
Do the controllers communicate with each other or are they just hooked in parallel to each other?

see ya
ken
They are just hooked in parallel. Talked to Justin at Bay Marine and he said an update is a couple of months away that will simplify the 2 controllers, Not sure how this firmware update will work.

Re: final solar upgrad.

Reply #6 –
Quote from: craneman –
They are just hooked in parallel. Talked to Justin at Bay Marine and he said an update is a couple of months away that will simplify the 2 controllers, Not sure how this firmware update will work.
If you are using the bluetooth app on a cell or wifi tablet, it will inform you when you open app and download new firmware to controller automatically, otherwise a physical connection to laptop connected to net, I have had 4 or 5 updates  to solar controllers and battery monitor in the last 2 years.

Re: final solar upgrad.

Reply #7 –
Do you have a way to monitor the 2 controllers to see what they are outputting? I'd be a little worried that one controller would see the output of the other and go to absorption or float before it should. Keep us updated on how it works out.

You guys are really making my 720w look pretty puny. :)

see ya
ken

Re: final solar upgrad.

Reply #8 –
Quote from: jcus –
If you are using the bluetooth app on a cell or wifi tablet, it will inform you when you open app and download new firmware to controller automatically, otherwise a physical connection to laptop connected to net, I have had 4 or 5 updates  to solar controllers and battery monitor in the last 2 years.
I have the app on 2 phones for the controllers. Received 2 firmware updates in the last 2 days. I can watch one controller on one phone and the other on the second phone. They are set for automatic updates.

Re: final solar upgrad.

Reply #9 –
Quote from: craneman –
I have the app on 2 phones for the controllers. Received 2 firmware updates in the last 2 days. I can watch one controller on one phone and the other on the second phone.
I have 5 different devices, would be nice to open them all on one screen though instead of one at a time.

Re: final solar upgrad.

Reply #10 –
Quote from: jcus –
I have 5 different devices, would be nice to open them all on one screen though instead of one at a time.
I'll be dealing with another Victon bluetooth when I return from Phoenix, I see your point on wishing for one screen.

Re: final solar upgrad.

Reply #11 –
Quote from: kenhat –
Do you have a way to monitor the 2 controllers to see what they are outputting? I'd be a little worried that one controller would see the output of the other and go to absorption or float before it should. Keep us updated on how it works out.

You guys are really making my 720w look pretty puny. :)

see ya
ken
That's what the bluetooth monitor on your phone or tablet does. Voltage input and output, watts/amps, history, production, and the ability to change values, turn on and off. With LI, no absorb, so one controller may go back to float a few minutes  before the other, but controllers are basically reading battery voltage, so both react similarly. They will stay in float and pick up any loads until battery voltages falls enough to go back to bulk mode.  Different with Lead Acid though, have to use absorption.

Re: final solar upgrad.

Reply #13 –
Looks great Chuck,  You might want to look at the Color Control GX. 

Re: final solar upgrad.

Reply #15 –
These recently reported monster solar installs are giving me PV Envy.  :'(

(Notice I said "PV" envy - not "Pee Pee" envy)

Re: final solar upgrad.

Reply #16 –
24/24-17 - Google Search(400W)&rlz=1C1ASUC_enUS665US665&ei=JZm5XeP9Ko3Y-wT-y6XgDg&start=10&sa=N&ved=0ahUKEwijpN6IlMTlAhUN7J4KHf5lCewQ8NMDCLoB&biw=1280&bih=580

looks like a new alternator charge controller for lithium/lead acid.. might need to look into it.

Re: final solar upgrad.

Reply #17 –
2030 watts on the roof should generate about 5Kw per day on average.  Maybe half of that in the dead of winter, maybe twice that on a good summer day.  Solar power either gets used in real time or stored.  Once your storage capacity is reached the charge controllers limit what gets to the batteries so excess power is just that excess, neither used or stored.

Battery capacity is what gets you through those long cold winter nights in early January without running your generator. 

In any of these big installations or yours it seems to me the trick is to balance average use with battery capacity and average solar recovery. 

At the far ends of this would be maximum daily use balanced with battery capacity and solar recovery in the middle of the winter.  This pushes solar and battery capacity way up.  If all you are trying to do is maintain battery charge in the winter during storage with minimum use then the balance is different.  And if you want to run an AC on battery through an inverter for any length of time without using your generator then max battery capacity and solar recovery come into play.  And if you are OK with an hour or two of generator use to supplement solar then the balance changes again.

If you are considering solar or a change in batteries or a residential refrigerator or an electric conversion kit for your LP refrigerator do  some planning. Be realistic with the use side of the equation.  Consider Lithium batteries as a long term solution.  Use a practical solar solution.  The right solution for you is the one that fits your needs, your use lifestyle, your budget and timeline.

What we found when we added solar and more battery capacity is that we can go to many more places and stay as long as water and waste tanks allow and rarely if ever need to use the generator.  We will if it is really hot or cloudy for a long stretch. A week or two in a National Park or a State Park without hook ups (and no generator) is now possible.  Same with BLM land, other remote places, COE parks.  We plug in when we can, more than half of the time.  When we are plugged in to a metered socket and have a good solar exposure we usually use significantly less power from the meter.

Adding a solar power source gives us way more options.

Re: final solar upgrad.

Reply #18 –
Batteries are my weak link right now. The Lifeline 8D agm's are 6 years old and lithium is out of my budget because of all the equipment needed to not ruin them. I keep watching installations like David's with lower cost batteries and maybe the Lifelines will last until systems like his are tested. My only other choice is one you suggested the 335 agm's

Re: final solar upgrad.

Reply #19 –
Quote from: jcus –
I have 5 different devices, would be nice to open them all on one screen though instead of one at a time.

I have batteries, two inverters, solar charge control, two BMVs and landline that all integrate on the Color Control GX.  It is internet connected and data is recorded in the cloud somewhere to check on from anywhere in real time.