diy solar

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  • Post in thread: First Build, Wood Frame 5.2kW Pergola, Q-Cells & APSystems QS1's

    Hi, This was my first solar build, My goal is to double this and I should be more than set. Be gentle on me, but let me know what you think, good or bad. https://notallmine-net.blogspot.com/2019/11/solar-install.html
  • Post in thread: The 220 vs 110 massive debate rages on ...

    Not true... You do not need a ground for a GFCI to work... The GFCI makes assumptions that current is going "somewhere" its assumed to ground through a person. GFCI's do much like the utility monitoring does, it monitors the current supplied on the HOT leg and it should see exactly the...
  • Post in thread: First Build, Wood Frame 5.2kW Pergola, Q-Cells & APSystems QS1's

    Yes most of the digital meters are set up for AMI which is at least updated within 30 mins some systems poll the meter more or less often. Some digital meters are remotely read by trucks (AMR) that drive around with antennas, those are read monthly. Either way what I did was not a bright...
  • Post in thread: The 220 vs 110 massive debate rages on ...

    Where is the high voltage from a tesla coil going when it whizzes through the air? Shouldn't it be trying to complete the circuit? why does this guy need a metal suit to cover all of his skin, (other than it would not feel nice), where is the voltage going when the guy makes contact with...
  • Post in thread: The 220 vs 110 massive debate rages on ...

    I am seeing on my sense app right now each leg bouncing between 120.x and 122.8. so yea that would come out to 244 or so. But it should be 120 and 240 in a perfect world. Texas is the only state not tied to the rest of the grid in the US. they bounce around quite a bit because they dont...
  • Post in thread: First Build, Wood Frame 5.2kW Pergola, Q-Cells & APSystems QS1's

    Thanks, Still open to comments bad or good... It's always nice to have a second set of eyes to see if I missed anything. I have included one picture here, in case anyone is afraid to click my blog link in the first post... It's safe, not loaded with AD's! The picture below shows signs of...
  • Post in thread: Better plate connection

    I would include some info on the batteries. Maybe someone is familiar. Or just go for it... I would imagine you are good for at least 1/4 inch then tap them (fine thread) rather than using self tapping screws, just because they have the wasted non threaded space at the tip you want as much...
  • Post in thread: First Build, Wood Frame 5.2kW Pergola, Q-Cells & APSystems QS1's

    Indiana about 1hr from Chicago
  • Post in thread: Tiny mobile offgrid cabin system.

    Looks Nice. Good job.
  • Post in thread: 12 volt wiring.

    I would just wire like you would for 120vac. Leave the 12vdc runs of romex or whatever coiled up for "future use" to be inspected, or just go ahead and run the 12vdc romex circuits to a dc distribution panel to get inspected as well, and use 12vdc bulbs like these...
  • Post in thread: Sungold Power 48V 100AH Server Rack LiFePo4 Battery

  • Post in thread: It is easy and inexpensive to make home wiring into extension cords! Is this code compliant?

    As others said I personally wouldn't do this, but you can make it code compliant by changing the cables that run into the panel to SJ type cable and removing the male plugs that run to your loads, and run them into single gang outlet boxes and use a male plug face like the picture below. The SJ...
  • Post in thread: First Build, Wood Frame 5.2kW Pergola, Q-Cells & APSystems QS1's

    Thanks for all of the comments and ideas guys, this is what I was looking for, keep them coming! Yea... I do have bracing actually you can only see it in one of the pictures, I took most of them before I was 100% complete. You can see one 4x6 knee brace here they are on the 6x6 posts. Again...
  • Post in thread: First Build, Wood Frame 5.2kW Pergola, Q-Cells & APSystems QS1's

    Looks like this may be an option. https://usa.apsystems.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/APsystems_YC500_Victron-MultiPlus_2018_WP-1.pdf I was looking to add batteries at a later date, the victron's are what I was looking into, you can parallel them to cover your full load.
  • Post in thread: First Build, Wood Frame 5.2kW Pergola, Q-Cells & APSystems QS1's

    Yes but if your micro inverter doesn’t support variable frequency shifting you can set the victron just shift to the point your micro inverters shut down until it needs them again Then it shifts frequency back into the acceptable range of the microinverters so they kick back in. Yes the...
  • Post in thread: The 220 vs 110 massive debate rages on ...

    You hear about the 220v phone chargers arcing over to the 5vdc side, killing kids who have their wired headphones plugged into the phone the same time as the failure? Voltage right across the brain. None of these were on 120v systems.. But we have 240v as well, just not to the little...
  • Post in thread: First Build, Wood Frame 5.2kW Pergola, Q-Cells & APSystems QS1's

    Yea I’m well aware lol, but a very good point for others to Do not do what I did. It might have helped a little that I’m an engineer for the power company that supplies my local REMC (them) with their power. I think they understood that I did all of the pre-testing, and then some, that they...
  • Post in thread: First Build, Wood Frame 5.2kW Pergola, Q-Cells & APSystems QS1's

    Yea it’s pretty neat how they do it. If your inverter doesn’t support the frequency shifting to lower your PV output you can still use the inverter/charger it will just shift the output frequency to the point your microinverters shut off, preventing over-voltage (only when off-grid) pretty neat.
  • Post in thread: The 220 vs 110 massive debate rages on ...

    Often people think the ground is what is needed for a circuit to trip.. It's not, its the current on the line loop (hot to return) that does the tripping.. Think of your automobile, how do fuses blow? No ground. I mean the car frame is a - bus but there is a hot wire and a return. Same with...
  • Post in thread: First Build, Wood Frame 5.2kW Pergola, Q-Cells & APSystems QS1's

    I have not tried. But I would imagine they would kick on with a generator running, possibly a low wattage pure sine inverter can trick them, assuming you disconnect from the utility. There are grid tie battery systems that do not require solar, I was going to look into one once battery...
  • Post in thread: Has anyone used this drop in lIFEPO4 or taken apart?

    Looks interesting... The "Don't use lead acid battery charger" warning sticker on the battery has me questioning if it's really LiFePO. If its a direct drop in replacement for lead acid batteries in a car... How does it get charged? A cars charging system is geared toward lead acid/AGM...
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