Most reacted posts

One day I will post something meaningful into Show and tell that has more meat to it. This is just a fluff piece to introduce myself and to give a big picture view of stuff. Thanks to Will and the very helpful folks here. I feel like I've learned a lot on my own, but if I remember to listen...

For current best practices on top balancing cells, please watch the video and download the PDF at the following page: Top Balancing Cells Using a Low Cost Benchtop Power Supply If you are interested in a more general tutorial of what balancing is about and *Why* to balance, check this out...

One can have as many independent charging sources running concurrently as they like provided they are programmed properly for the voltage of one's battery bank. Examples (some or all at once, even multiples of a single type, different brands, etc.): Solar PV via MPPT Solar PV via PWM AC-DC...

MPPT will (almost) always gather more power. PWM operates by shorting the panels to the battery, forcing them down to battery voltage. If a panel's Vmp is at 17, and you force it to 13.5, it's going to take a 3.5/17 = 20.5% hit to performance. In general, you'll NEVER get more than 80% of...

@Steve_S, Please accept my apologies for so aggressively challenging you with regards to voltage "settling" of LFP cells. My experience with rapid settling of 40Ah CALB cells did not translate to the 280Ah Eve cells. My Eve cells obtained from Amy experienced dramatically lower settling...

IMHO, it happens because they knowingly do it until they get caught.

Hate to argue with you, but there needs to be some qualifiers. You've cited what amounts to marketing material. https://www.orionbms.com/manuals/pdf/orionbms2_operational_manual.pdf, page 40. Context matters. Orion is speaking to its customer base - folks willing to spend several $100s on a...

Results are in. Cells were paralleled for 7 days and 14 hours and sat for about 36 hours disconnected before they were tested. The cells remain separated by almost 2 Ah. This is approximately 10% of the capacity of the cells, which is a mile in the context of "balance." Cell 1 (11.5Ah total)...

Just helped someone configure two of these in parallel 120/240V operation, and he experienced something similar. Prior to final configuration, the unit behaved as the OP described. After reconfiguration and the complete hard "reboot" necessitated by wiring changes that completely disconnected...

Your understanding is incorrect. Load ports are battery voltage. They vary with the battery. If there is solar available, then the device's load on the battery, and the subsequent drop in voltage will be compensated for by the solar. This behavior is IDENTICAL if the load is attached AT the...

Liked then unliked. Hmmm. This is kinda rubbish. This really feels like just a bunch of distraction from, "you can't charge our batteries when it's cold.' Read the page. WAY more marketing than meaningful science, and I can't say I learned anything at all. Read the white paper in the process...

I pray Will has no such notion. Ever. Never Ever Ever. A Prius battery or any other hybrid/EV NiMH-based battery is essentially worthless for off-grid storage unless you want to build an absurdly complex and inefficient charging system. NiMH can't be paralleled due to the full charge voltage...

Unless I'm missing something, that's single phase 230VAC, 50Hz only. Not intended for US markets. 60Hz and 240V split phase, and I'm in.

Just a quick note about fatties... I'm 90# overweight. I have an Aerospace Engineering degree. I have a job as an engineer in aviation. I have a second job that I do for fun that earns me a very respectable side income, and I'm the top post whore on a solar forum. I just wanted to give the...

Too many times folks purchase panels from something like Wish or from anonymous on eBay, and they later realize they were sold LIES. Sanity check your purchase in the following two ways: Panel Length, L, in meters Panel Width, W, in meters. 1000W/m^2 * L * W * 0.2 = absolute maximum possible...

I WOULDN'T OBJECT. :p

Welcome to the forum. Panasonic is getting out of the solar panel business by 2022 I believe. Your solar and batteries are dictated by: 1) your solar availability (link #5 in my signature). 2) your usage (link #1 in my signature for an energy audit). If you neglect either of those details...

EVERYTHING ON WISH IS PURE SHIT

Just heard from a friend. Victron just had an educational session, and introduced the subject product. Key features: 12V inverter/charger (120A charging) Will accept 30A or 50A input and adjust accordingly. 30A input or in inverter-only mode will provide 120VAC to each leg. Power Assist...

OMG Victron. They just updated VRM so that the dashboard is updated real time, and it looks a lot like a CCGX display: I had my usual knee-jerk, "things were better back in the 'old days'" change-resistant reaction, but as my eyes lingered yet danced across the image, I soon became unable to...

Charge to max of 14.6V Float to a max of 13.6V for regular use. If it is going to be on float for a long time, 13.2V, as you don't want to store them at a high state of charge for extended periods. NO equalization. Ever. NO temperature compensation. Ever. Avoid discharging below 12V Get a...

Please direct me to an American battery manufacturer.

Received the promotional email: https://www.santansolar.com/suntech-285w-sale/ Online prices shows $80. Called to place an order to get the $70. Jason indicated it should be fixed on the website soon. Why did I buy 36 of them? My name is Steve, and I'm a solarholic. Srsly tho, I've been...

How did I miss this? It's like someone smeared poo all over the room, and I just walked through without noticing. Thread is locked for the political BS and "free-energy" stupidity.

...keep us in suspense? :)

I watched it. I have mixed feelings. For those who don't care for Mr. Moore, I don't recall seeing him or hearing his voice a single time in the film, but I might have missed him. The underlying message is, "use less." That's it. It manages to paint all efforts at carbon reduction as...

300W of solar input is pretty crippling for that battery capacity. Solar input becomes the limiting factor, i.e., 2kWh of battery capacity has a good chance of providing indefinite running of a typical residential refrigerator. Unfortunately, unless you live in an area with exceptional sun...

The poo poo list exists for a reason. Wind is poor in most parts of the U.S, the industry is rife with misleading marketing, and getting a straight answer from an installer/seller is often a struggle. They will happily take more of your money for a 2kW 2m turbine over a 1000W 2m turbine knowing...

Try a different meter or replace its battery. I see the battery illuminated at the top left. The PSU is still reading 3.65.