Recent content by 2strokeforever

I made a pcb that measures MPPT and outputs a 0-5v or PWM signal, it controls a VFD drive to use excess solar to run my AC. Works good, but currently runs thru the charge controller and inverter. In the process of making it send HV DC directly from the panels to the VFD, skipping the steps of...

You need to set them both to primary. Secondary will only start charging after a while of the primary not keeping up. I have a 60v power supply plugged into the grid, its feeding a 60-150mppt set to secondary, it only charges after the solar cant keep up, its not instant.

I figured the potting would be a pain, but never thought about the solenoids being run off of ac. That combined with the ease of being able to run any appliance without half a day of monkeying makes your way quite attractive.

There is no way to do what you want and save money. If you were grid tied and got credits you could save money, but thats the only way.

Thats pretty clever to use the panels to power the inverter HVDC directly, its a little less efficient than powering the HVDC of the washer itself, but much more convenient and less risky to the washer. Its also better suited to adding a battery as you did. Why not run the water heating...

There is no way to tell if the solar can support your load, even if there was are you going to switch back and forth for each and every cloud that goes by? What diyrich and I mentioned is the only way: Server powered off of inverter and battery bank battery bank charged by solar, and when...

Use as much smt components as you can, its much easier to put them in place and cook them in a toaster oven than to hand solder. that being said dont get any parts smaller than a 0805 or you are going to need a microscope to see them. I use altium, its a pain to learn, but works good once its...

Are you powering the Dc bus of an inverter dishwasher and clothes washer directly off of panel voltage ? Or are you just talking about heating the water for them? Once my big buck converter is fully tuned up I will have a 350vdc system that is hooked to my heat pump, washer dryer, inverter...

2x tristar 60a pwm charge controllers, installed, but never had any power going into them. 2x battery temperature sensors 1 screen for them 900 canadian wattnode, hooked up for a few days until I figured out the xw pro only talks to a very specific model of wattnode. (not this one...

All of the above except the part about batteries is true, I already have the oversized inverter and while not the perfect 99% efficiency the other option is to not use the power at all for a zero percent efficiency. (or turn on my in floor heating in the summer) My setup will not divert any...

Probably not the most efficient option, but its simple and minimal monkeying to make it work well. I run offgrid with a twist. all schneider equipment, Im sure other brands have the option to prioritize which power to use first. 2x 100-600 mppt hooked to panels, charging mode set to primary...

Eventually thats the plan, but being a one man operation running a separate business that pays the bills I can only work on this in my spare time. I dont really want to sell it unless its 100 percent, If I am going to build a brand I want to earn the reputation of being rock solid.

voltage and panel temperature, like anything electrical, more load = voltage sag.

Looks like my idea isnt too unique... I like the way you silkscreened the capacitors negative, I might start doing it that way if running the load on the AC side its nice to know battery voltage so if the mppt is off and array volts are high it dosent drain the batteries

My contraption monitors the panels directly, it dosent talk to the mppt, it doesn't matter where you take the load from. I have tested it by: taking the load from the panels directly. taking the load from the 48vdc (its not drawing from the battery, just the charge controller). taking the load...