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Some of us can no longer pick up 100# batteries or handle 4ft x 4ft 50# panels.

Tested the inverter yesterday and the smart shunt reported 3420 watts for 5 minutes. Guess I'll call this a 3000 watt inverter. Last October we were given a quote of $40k installed for a 25 kWh system. So far I've got about $3k in a 5kWh system and really only need 15kWh max. Now to drag it...

HOA that could kill the project right there.

4 AOLITHIUM, $987 plus tax with free shipping thru Amazon. These are 12 volt, 100Ah with Bluetooth and low temperature cutoff.

For breakers I like Midnight Solar (debated cbi), rated for 150 vdc

W=V*I*costheta, for dc the costheta is 1. When theta is 45 degrees the cos is .707 which is where rms ac voltage values come from......ie 120 vac. Easier to just say VA=WATTS

This is what happens when the K.I.S.S. isn't followed. I'll keep my stupid refrigerator.

The order arrived today so I tacked in 2 panels and 100/20 to 1 of the aolithium batts. Vin was at 32 volts and 1.5 amp. Air temp 69 deg F Not to bad as panels are almost flat and not in the direct sun. Rain tomorrow so won't see much then either. Cells were getting close to 3.4 volts for the...

Laundromat 2 miles from the desert nest. One trip a week, done in an hour and half and get showers at time same time. Unlimited hot water. 2 more miles to the transfer station and done for the week.

Haven't pulled the trigger yet but the Sungold Power 6kW 48 volt split phase inverter is $10 more then 24 volt. https://www.amazon.com/SUNGOLDPOWER-Inverter-Charger-Converter-Control/dp/B00CBAUZAM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 And today's snow pic.

He had a few nuggets among all the rants

Dug into the existing solar on the new nest. What a mess, 10 awg from cc minus goes to some kind of terminal I never seen before. 2 - 22 awg leave and go somewhere. CC was showing 7 amps to batteries but there was a good 2/10 volt drop. Disconnected panel input, corrected battery wiring and...

If your going to use dc breakers my preference is Midnight Solar. Got some in service since 2012.

Been there done that and yes I have the tee shirt.

Yea it did northern states likely to see Aurora tonight.

I agree from personal experience 50 feet does not prevent ground loops. We had to watch this all the time at a power plant I use to work at. Ground loops screwed with the controls. Very important to use shielded wire and ground only at the control source. Definitely against code if that is a...

Had this discussion back in 1981 with another college student. She wanted to replace FPL's Sanford plant with solar. At panel efficiency of 14% back then I calculated the number of square miles required. Big solar projects are good for parking lots and business roofs, just don't belong on...

Another morning star fan, my ts 45 pwm is still in use since 2012. No firm ware upgrades, I may have an old Packard bell laptop with rs232 that may still work, just not worth the effort.

The quick and dirty hit 910wH today. Worked on mounting the Midnight Solar mini baby box and 2 Victron 100/20 mppt's. Mounted to a 1/4 inch thick sheet of aluminum. Since I haven't decided whether to mount the plate flush to wall I went ahead and counter sunk flat head screws. The mini baby box...

I went the carport route. Mounted each panel with Z brackets made from 1 1/2 x 1/8 thick aluminum angle. So far they have survived 130 mph winds. Some of the trees nearby didn't.

Just because it lays on the ground doesn't mean it won't become a Frisbee. Had that happen once. Panel survived.

Survive the trip from Fl to AZ along with all the solar parts for the nest out there

I'm going the 100 watt panel route, no way can I lift a 47# panel onto a roof. No neighbor to help and $40k for an installed system.

While testing a 3000w inverter with the 1/0 6 foot cable that came with it. At 270 amps after 5 minutes it was almost hot enough to burn you. Get 4/0 105C cable.

Small off grid systems that us old f**t's can pick up the parts. My back can't do 90# server rack batteries. As for hybrid inverters can't pick them up either. Going to be tough picking up a 24vdc 4kw inverter as it is. Maybe my 60 year old son in law with the bum shoulder can do it.

Going in a smaller direction then Goose. Our nest is 1 acre at 6400 feet, bought it already fenced, with a shed and water storage tank. Also had septic system the size Goose is planning. RV has 500 watts of solar and there were 2 240 watt Trina panels in the shed. Since the RV only needs 200...

and don't forget the neighborhood snitches.

That video is a law suit in the making. Do We Cheat them and How's love that stuff.

Had a 100 ft extension cord once between porch and car port. Neither end plugged in. The strike blew holes in the cord, the carport, and porch wall. Also shattered the school house globe when the fan light shattered in one bedroom. The path may have been from the carport to the concrete pad...

We have 5 100 watt panels with Imp = 5.5 amps each . Have only seen this once on a bright sunny day at 40 degrees F. The 2 panels on the roof can be tilted. The 3 have pvc frames and can be placed in the sun and tilted as needed. 10 awg from the roof panels. 8 awg for the 3 portables with the...