I built and installed over 50 of these 12 module large racks, (plus doing general alt energy work for 20+ years) and delivered them to the most remote areas and all over 3 different states. Their size was perfect for working with stock angle iron lengths: very little scrap left over. Just under...
Heliodyne panels, some approaching 30 years old. Closed loop glycol system with stainless plate heat exchangers, and PV pumped as a controller and a power source for the circ pump all in one. The hot water panels were attached to steel backframes, using "HelioClips" that slide into the edge...
Trouble free, zero maintenance for 16 years, too bad they don't make them anymore. No obstructions to slow down or create turbulence. A great performer in light winds, while alsobeing bullet proof in high winds,.Self furling about 28 MPH winds, with a large dump load control box if the grid...
My last circ 12 VDC circ pump was a Hartell, and was in use for about 20 years here in the Idaho mountains, powered by a 30 watt PV panel. It gave it up last week (started to make a screeching noise) and I see they no longer make them. March used to make 12 v pumps, no more also. Ivan Labs also...
Here's how I did a few remote area Idaho off grid systems in the past: all needed equipment mounted and wired, the battery bank in a steel framework , and the whole enchilada designed to be picked and transported via 17 ton boom truck. Minutes after my arrival, we'd have power, this approach...
I've installed about a dozen Fronius inverters of various sizes, when I was a dealer/installer, this was my first Sunny Boy. Not quite as intuitive as the Fronius, I actually had to read the instructions that came with it! This is in my crane yard building, and replaces the 2 KW Fronius that...
As it's all I have paid for the last 18 years, I guess I can say my electrical costs have doubled! They raised it from $5.00, to $10.00! It's a still a great deal of course, to have a "battery" of infinite capacity, that never needs replacement, takes up no room, and is 100% efficient, as my...
I love the stuff...., I use 2.5" schedule 40 pipe for my main crosstube (for smaller arrays, up to about 1 KY), and then triangulated/strutted 1 1/4" angle off the pipe for the panels to mount to, the triangulation makes the small angle think it's 2.5" pipe in stiffness. This array was going to...
I should know this....but I am coming up blank. My system, 24 VDC, currently (pun intended I guess) uses a dump load, a 1000 watt bank of resistors, and a 60 amp MorningStar PWM controller/ load divertor that decides when to divert incoming power to the dump load. and has for years, mainly to...
My Harris hydro (grid tied 24 VDC, 900 watts) has been in operation for 17 years, with no issues. This spring when I put it back in operation, the 3" HDPE fusion welded 1/4 mile long line appears to restricting the flow. Over this weekend I inspected every inch of it (it is not buried, too...
Since getting my electric snowbike a week ago, I've been riding down my property to where my solar arrays are, and for the first time in 2 or 3 months, I hiked thru the almost waist deep snow to eyeball my Fronius's output display, expecting that warm fuzzy feeling of getting "free" power. To my...
I bought it about 2 weeks ago from NAZ Solar, and paid $1376.94 for it. I will sell it for $850.00, firm. Buyer pays shipping, it's still in it's original factory shipping carton. I will also be putting it on EBAY and Craig's List shortly.
Why so cheap? I had thought to use it to revive my...
I have what seems to be a common issue, after just adding an additional 1000 watt array and a MorningStar controller to my grid tied battery based Outback inverter system (the batteries are small as possible, and provide no useable storage, they just keep the inverter "happy"), that shunts...
My Primo Fronius, 3.8 KW, showed a 308 error code, in pushing a random button, (in the field, no manual, no phone) this happened :. And it kept happening for 10 minutes....., so I cycled the solar input, and it still continued. Then I shut the AC grid tie breaker off and back on, that brought...
It's 16 years old, has been in continuous use (well, only during the day) and in doing some other work on the system I briefly stupidly swapped the polarity on the DC wiring. Long story short, I decided to move on, as I couldn't get it to boot up, and a few tips from inverter repair experts...
I'll cut right to the chase: I stupidly (I was in a hurry is my only defense (?)) briefly (10 minutes) reversed polarity on the DC feed on my 15 year old IG 2000. This system was put together by me and has always worked flawlessly. When I discovered my screwup, I of course got the polarity...
The largest I've seen anyway, seen flying back from Nevada the other day. What puzzled me at first was their sheer size, which I first took to mean they were grid tying the closest farm house, but that farm house was quite modest for an array this size. Maybe for the irrigation pumps..., but...
I've had wind power since before solar panels were commonly available, over 40 years anyway, and solar also more recently. My current machine is about 17 years old and has performed like a champ, with ZERO maintenance. But the other day, I noticed the Windy Boy inverter (made by SMA) was...
This NOT a wind turbine post, well sort of, more a grid tie inverter post.
Although the name would lead one to believe it was specifically designed for wind turbines, it's specs show otherwise? Picture attached, I see nothing to make me thing it wouldn't work with the variable power produced...
I bought back the wind turbine I installed from a guy about 20 years ago, (the same former customer whose inverter I "borrowed") it's a predecessor to my A.R.E and is complete with the controller, dump load, and grid tie inverter. THIS is the way wind turbines that last are built, HEAVY! The...
With a 72 volt 70 AH battery (HUGE for an ebike ride, my e fatbike has one larger than most, and it's only 17 AH, and 52 V) but then again snow is much draggier to ride on, takes more power. Part of my justification for buying it was to be able to run own to the 1040 watt grid tied array and...
This would be for remote control of my Flex pump in my spring box I installed late last fall. I can either try to use all the water it will pump in a day (3 to 5,000 gallons,) plus the 2,000 gallon storage tank has an overflow to safely direct it wherever, or from time to time I may choose to...
Used by me for a total of about 50 hours while inside my Prius, for charging my first ebike while on the road. I got a different e bike that has a much larger battery so also a larger inverter, thus the sale. MorningStar has long been considered the best in long term reliability and efficiency...