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  • Post in thread: The ground is not "The Ground" and the pathology of NEC code.

    Although this is probably not a directly useful contribution, perhaps it'll be of interest and provide a bit of a basis for the discussion that followed: As geophysicists we image things underground in 3d based on the variation in resistivity of earth materials down there. Electrical...
  • Post in thread: RE+ solar conference is fast approaching! What new products or booths are you interested in?

    Anything relevant to off-grid is interesting because if often get's ignored in the rush for the general grid tied PV market! Thanks !!
  • Post in thread: The ground is not "The Ground" and the pathology of NEC code.

    As others have said - our idea of "the ground" as a uniform grounding reference isn't really the real world situation. For our geophysical surveys we often have to monitor the variations in the background reading between two electrodes. For surveys like self potential and other sensitive work...
  • Post in thread: How does a cable lug maintain the cable's capacity?

    It's just that the length of the small cross section lug is usually so short compared to the length of the cable itself that the small resistance introduced doesn't really matter (unless huge currents are involved and in that case lugs of this style aren't typically used
  • Post in thread: Best adhesives for “gluing” down aluminum racking mounts to shipping containers.

    One of the problems with gluing aluminum to steel is that they have different thermal expansion coefficients. As temperature varies this will create strain in the joint. Not so much an issue with small joints, more with larger joints. Have you considered gluing short pieces of stainless steel...
  • Post in thread: Honda 30IS — “indoors”? Exhaust extension?

    Some details of our "temporary" open sided generator shed with Honda Eu2200 enclosed for sound reduction and protection from the elements. Hopefully this info will help others dealing with the same issues. Both the Eu2200 and the Eu3000 have home fabricated aluminum "snouts" on the combined...
  • Post in thread: Sound proofing Schneider XW Pro

    Auto shops sell boxes of stick on sound dampening sheets (often 1 square ft size) that are great for quietening down resonating sheet metal. I’ve used them inside generator housings. They are 1/8” think heavy loaded rubbery material that you can cut with scissors.
  • Post in thread: Honda 30IS — “indoors”? Exhaust extension?

    Way too small an exhaust pipe !!! Instead of routing exhaust in a little pipe, for my Honda 3000Eu and 2200Eu generators I built custom aluminum adaptors to transition the cooling air flow with the contained exhaust into a square heating duct to that adapts the air outlet to a 6" pipe...
  • Post in thread: Charging with suitcase generator?

    Our Honda 2200Eui is approaching 6000 hrs (hour meter gave out at almost 5700 hrs. Changed oil every 100 hrs (thats what I added the hr meter for), used synthetic Mobil 1. We are also on the edge of the Salish sea on a rocky island so not much dust. If area was dusty, I'd change every 50 hrs.
  • Post in thread: Questions about portable generators.

    Best way to change generator oil is with one of those hand pumped vacuum oil changers they sell in marine stores for sucking oil out of boat engines through the dipstick. No fuss, no muss - takes about 10 seconds to suck oil out of our Honda. Best is that it stores up to 6L of used oil with...
  • Post in thread: Inverter recognizes generator but won't accept charge

    Have you tried turning the Eco switch off on the H2000 so that it revs up to full power before starting charging? What are the symptom when you connect to the inverter/charger - does the generator blip or bog down at all? If so you might need to clean the exhaust screen (easily removed from...
  • Post in thread: Sound proofing Schneider XW Pro

    Both mounting the inverter on compliant soft supports (rubber standoffs) and putting sound sheets on the inside of sheet metal covers will help. Also, remember to twist both DC and AC power cabling attached to the inverter to reduce magnetic coupling to metal surfaces. Even the DC cables...
  • Post in thread: Do smoke detectors work at 0.5c

    Ahh, improving safety monitoring on the bridge of the Enterprise!
  • Post in thread: Generator gods, purchase advice sought.

    Just as a safety note - Although the 1" metal tubing for diesel heaters is the right size, it is not really designed for the vibration from a small engine, please be aware of the possibility of it breaking from vibration fatigue. Diesel heaters don't really vibrate that much. While thinking...
  • Post in thread: Adding Schneider XW Pro

    Yes - we have one of these Rheem Hybrid heaters and it works great. You need to think about ducting, meaning where you are getting inlet and outlet air as they need to be separated to avoid short circuiting inlet and outlet air, either that or have it installed in an open space. Ours is in a...
  • Post in thread: source for 120v efficient refrigerators

    Our LG Inverter fridge is extremely un-fussy about running off of our Honda inverter generators which we shut down at night. Have run this way for about 4 years now.
  • Post in thread: Honda 30IS — “indoors”? Exhaust extension?

    Note that it is a 4 foot deep open sided shelter covering an enclosure - not inside!!! And it's on top of a cliff next to the sea with a constant sea breeze too!
  • Post in thread: Schneider XW pro 6k vs. Eg4 18k - need help deciding

    There is a new Schneider All-In-One solar power and smart house system coming out this fall that updates their lineup. Schneider All-In-One
  • Post in thread: small quiet generators

    Most small generators that output DC don't allow AC output at the same time. The DC output is typically only about 4 amps - mainly because it is the field current for the generator. As others have mentioned you can get much more DC current from an AC battery charger. By the way, we have the...
  • Post in thread: Need "Ignition Protection" on T-fuses in room with Honda 7000 generator in it?

    The gasoline sitting in the tank has a vapor pressure which causes gasoline vapor to flow out the vent hole in the tank cap. That vapor will gradually accumulate in the shed potentially to the ignition concentration, unless positively ventilated.
  • Post in thread: 600VDC PV Disconnect - Switching of both +ive and -ive required ?

    Present day mining world is moving to electric / autonomous quickly - much faster than construction industry for example. I keep reflecting on how much rechargeable tools have accelerated my carpentry projects. Granddad built his house out of lumber he salvaged from a collapsed exhibition hall...
  • Post in thread: Refrigerator-low draw options

    There are LG Inverter fridges that don't draw too much, we have a 20 cu ft side by side bottom drawer LG Inverter fridge that draws something like 450 Kwhrs/yr. It typically draws an average of about 30 to 40 watts, has no significant surge and appears to adjust run speed to current need for...
  • Post in thread: source for 120v efficient refrigerators

    Umm - There is a wee bit of confusion swirling around here regarding Amp-Hrs. Amp-Hrs is the product of the number of Amps times number hrs operating with that current ( so we multiply the two ). Dividing the two (as proposed below) is incorrect: "Guys, the original numbers are totals of amps...
  • Post in thread: Off-grid residential sizing: size for min production months or min excess?

    You need to consider the daily statistics behind your estimates of "average monthly" January production. In other words, in your climate (like ours here in the cloudy PNW) are there stretches of 5 days without any meaningful solar gain? If so, even if the monthly average meets your needs...
  • Post in thread: Suggestions on Moving a Large Cliff? Or, Sizing of Off-Grid camps on cliffside to SE.

    Well, LiFePO4 batteries would have to be disconnected during the winter if subjected to below freezing temperatures (you can't charge them in the cold). However many of them are not damaged by cold storage and they prefer to sit only partially full anyways, and don't need to be kept regularly...
  • Post in thread: 600VDC PV Disconnect - Switching of both +ive and -ive required ?

    Yes - Electric battery locis! A bit bigger than the ones I worked on. I've driven old ore battery powered ore trains underground many moons ago - lotsa fun when they derail in the muck ...... Not much solar underground though. We were remediating the old abandoned Tulsequah mine in...
  • Post in thread: source for 120v efficient refrigerators

    One can't meaningfully say "5.4 A used total" and have anyone understand. It's confusing unless you include the A-hr distinction. For example: 5.4 A-hr (equivalent of 5.4 Amps for 1 hour or 2.7 Amps for 2 hrs etc.). It's like the difference between speed (miles per hour) and distance (miles =...
  • Post in thread: Generator gods, purchase advice sought.

    Can you try and direct some of the cooling air flow from the generator towards the exhaust pipes? Silica based muffler cement resists high heat and would seal threads but is brittle and rigid exhaust pipes tend to vibrate off and break. Flexible metal exhaust pipe is the solution even if...
  • Post in thread: Generator not playing nicely with off-grid system

    Probably an incandescent light bulb or other purely resistive load of equivalent power rating to your chainsaw charger would help stabilize the generator. Do you have some kind of voltage / frequency meter that you can check your generator with?
  • Post in thread: Need "Ignition Protection" on T-fuses in room with Honda 7000 generator in it?

    Hmm, I gather you are concerned about potential ignition of gasoline vapors? That could happen, especially if the generator starts into a short circuit load after lying inactive while gas fumes accumulate. Boats deal with this by use of a mandatory fan that must run before starting the engine...
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