Recent content by LordGarak

I'm installing an array of ten panels in series and the short circuit current for the panels is only 11.3A. It seems excessive to use 10 gauge wire for such low currents but I'm not seeing any suitable 14 or 12 gauge wire with tough high voltage insulation and UV protection. I'm totally off the...

I'm working on programming a microcontroller(Arduino likely) to poll an EG4 3000EHV inverter for the battery state and PV input. When the battery is above something like 95% and the PV input is above something like 2000W(of a 4360W array) it will then turn on a SSR that powers the 1500w water...

That is the old system that I installed in 2020. I couldn't get LiFePO4 batteries here for a reasonable price then, little lone the cheaper than lead that I can get them now. It is only 1100Ah at the 100hr rate, with real world draw and not discharging over 50% it's only about 400Ah useable...

Lithium Iron batteries are fine to discharge when cold, it's only charging that needs to be done warm. So if you turn your batteries off when you leave they will be nearly at the same state of charge as when you left. They don't self discharge quickly like lead batteries. You will only have...

I strongly disagree. It's not hard to keep Lithium Iron batteries above freezing. But caring for flooded cells is a PITA and the just the power loss of charging lead batteries is enough reason not to use them. These days the Lithium Iron batteries are significantly cheaper per useable kWh. I...

I'm able to get them for around 50 cents a watt here in Dartmouth now and they will ship via freight. I just got a quote for ~$400 to ship 8 panels to our property in Doyles. I was going to bring them over on the roof of my minivan but they are a bit on the heavy side so I'd only be able to take...

With my first system I went 12v and went with a 12v water pump, lighting and fridge. I have mixed feelings on if I'd do it again. The lighting is fine and we likely saved quite a bit on wiring. It does mean I'm stuck running a 12v system that is expensive and difficult to grow. Originally I...

That generator plug is an L5-30 which means Locking 120v 30A. So you don't need a split phase inverter. A 3000 or better yet a 3500watt inverter will run everything that generator can. The panel is capable of split phase and much bigger inverters if you wanted. The main concern would be the...

Lithium Iron Phosphate(LiFePO4) are much safer than Lithium Ion and Lithium Polymer batteries that have the thermal runaway problems that cause major fires. That said messing with high current is a major fire risk. Running lead acid batteries at the wrong voltages, without the right fuses and...

Yes, you can generally just replace the generator with a solar system. You just need to make sure the wire is big enough to handle the full output of the inverter. What size plug are you plugging into the generator? A regular house hold u ground plug or Is it a larger 3 pin or 4 pin? Sizing...

Finally figured this out when I read somewhere else that the EG4 3000EHV-48 was made by Voltronic. The battery manual list Voltronic protocol. On the first battery I have dip switch 6 turned on and the left most RJ45 port connect to the "USB" style RS485 port on the inverter using the cable...

It's winter that has been the issue. In the summer the 1200watts of panels has the batteries on float by 11am. In the late fall/early winter it doesn't reach float. We didn't plan on using this system in the winter, so the panels are poorly placed and there is no temperature sensor. I've...

The comment is more to how difficult it is to grow the system larger. At 12v charge controllers get expensive. An 80A charge controller cost about the same at 12v or 48v but the 48v one can handle 4x the power. Similar story for inverters and AC chargers. The 48v all in one I just bought cost...

My first system I installed at the family cabin back in 2020 was a 12v system and I almost immediately regretted going with 12v. Originally I had planned on going 24v with 4x6v S550 batteries and an outback charge controller. But couldn't find a good deal on a 24v inverter or water pump at the...

It might work ok for a little while, provided you disconnect it before the sun goes down or when it clouds over. It's going to be over discharged in a very short amount of time and repeated over discharging will give you a life span of days rather than months.