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Update: See Will's Video on the topic. MPPTs and String inverters can be quite perplexing at first as you try to figure out what the panel configuration should be. If you're not sure what's meant by serial and parallel in regards to solar panels check this link out first. Easiest of course...

Posted a question, but no one has responded... how can I get help? Members typically don't respond to questions for a few reasons, avoiding those pitfalls can greatly increase the odds of getting a response. Did you need to post a Question? If a question is asked frequently readers may be...

Links to commonly asked questions with long explanations: Beginner Video Playlist How much power does my device consume? Energy Audit How much Solar Energy should I expect where I live? What does it mean to have solar panels in parallel and series? How to figure out how much Solar and inverter...

Solar is befuddling enough! Why use acronyms? Well, we're lazy typists.... :LOL: xSyP - e.g., 2S2P, shorthand for how many cells in Series (S) and Parallel (P). A - Amperes or amps. A measure of current. See warning. AC - Air Conditioning, sometimes A/C. AC - Alternating Current, a waveform...

Wagos Note: The spirit of the thread is to talk about new technologies (or new spins on old technologies) that folks might not otherwise know about.

When solar panels are hooked up in series you connect the minus of one panel to the plus of the next panel. The voltages are summed, but the current remains the same: Putting panels in series is desirable as it keeps the amperage low, and amperage is the key factor in cost of the wire. Now...

Efficiency is only relative to the physical size of a solar panel; that is a 200W panel produces 200W at STC regardless of its efficiency or size. So, if all panels of an equal wattage produce the same power... how do you compare solar panels other than price, warranty, & physical size...

These steps will help you to figure out how much solar you need to recharge batteries. Say, for example, you're going hiking for a few days and want to know how much solar you'll need to charge your critical devices. Measure how much power your devices use under actual conditions with a watt...

Selecting the proper wire gauge can be tricky. In the US, the National Electrode Code (NEC) specifies the rules around wiring including gauge, grounding, and even color. For the most part when you need wire for inside or to be buried underground you'll figure out the distance and number of...

Amy Beaudet, our very own Solar Queen, has passed away. AltE has a notice at https://www.altestore.com/blog/2021/05/it-is-with-a-very-heavy-heart-that-we-share-the-news-of-the-passing-of-our-beloved-solar-queen/#.YJRQA7VKiUk She was a great educator and I'll miss her wit and charm. I didn't...

Hi all! It's not too uncommon to see people get into "arguments" on the forums, occasionally it makes great discussion, clears the air, and I absolutely love those threads. Sometimes a moderator has to step in. That's what this post is about. As you probably guessed from the click-baity...

What did the pirate say on his 80th birthday?

You can get a slick looking solar generator for pretty cheap, work those biceps, and have your first DIY Battery build project in a few years! Here's how Head on down to your a HomeDepot or similar store and walk right by the over-priced solar generators. Instead, get a Jump Starter as if you...

Probably shouldn't joke about this, but it might make a humorous gift for those always talking about their panels. Got the idea from @ghostwriter66's sweet/complementary post towards all the members.

While posting in @Kathymel's thread Upgrading system thread I advised her not to use Flexible panels. But I had to eat my words and wanted to repost here to make it more visible ... take a look at the current Renogy warranty (click the link, scroll down, then click the Specification tab) for...

Kudos to Jim for putting this list together: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRSdaMe-QIMjm-ZcfX8mdjY1srdCeJUg2m-IwjSWPKoRhzW5bWos35RGQ-YMR4iZA-iWB68wKegptex/pubhtml If you're not familiar, Project farm is a you tube channel that tests products (like which "no welder" aluminum...

You'd have to look at the deleted/edited posts and quantity both before and after the initial warnings to decide if I made the right call or not. But I would appreciate an up or down vote with no ambiguity .... otherwise I'll be worse than useless to you as moderator from this point forward...

Hey All! I retired as a moderator this morning! Basically I don't have enough time for it and told Will from the start this was a temporary gig. But just wanted to send a huge thanks out to everyone that's been supporting this wonderful forum Will put together! I know it's not always easy...

Recently replaced the PC power supply with one that comes from China. It converts AC to DC, but I find myself wondering if they use a transformer, a full bridge rectifier, or a combination? It's important. If there's a transformer in there then the American electrons are only creating a...

In most U.S. states, grid-tied Solar PV is less expensive than paying the grid for power, and unlike your power bill the prices won't rise due to inflation. But in order to save money and go green, you need to spend money. What do you do if you don't have it? (The idea for this thread was...

Fair warning before you start, this is the highly comedic and entertaining section despite this being a true tale of woe & sadness. It's offered as a bit of puzzle so you can test your diagnostic skill and expertise while having a good laugh at my expense. My sister-in-law calls in the...

My power output has dropped to zero! All the panels are suddenly and catastrophically affected! I literally have Dihydrogen Monoxide dripping off the panels onto the roof ... I don't know what to do! This is going to get into the yard and affect plants and animals! This is dangerous stuff...

So, did you add on of these guys to your installation? The idea is they short-circuit any stray voltage so those voltages don't add to the wear and tear on your more expensive electronics. Obviously the one in the image is lot more sophisticated than the power strips, but the same basic idea...

Panels are up, final inspection today hopefully and net-meter should get installed soon. Still about a month away from the batteries. I'll start blogging in this thread all the stuff I learn and a full description of the system as I have time. If there are specific questions you have just...

Time for a discharge test of my 400Wh test pack! Yep, it’s housed in that old Peak Jump Start. It was dead in the garage collecting dust… but 20 new 32700 cells in a 4s5p configuration replaced the old 18 Ah (216 Wh) LA battery and has brought it to life again. It sure is lighter with...

An 8 kW array with January insolation of 2 = 16 kWh/d generation. At 90% efficiency and 8.5¢ / kWh, a total value of ~$1.23/d. Average Emergency Room Cost? $3,000. Economically speaking it's better to stay in and relax, let the solar power melt them clean.

Construction details before the timestamp, at about 10 min he raises the panel-trailer higher. Not bad for 3x100W panels.