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Somebody needs to write a starter raspberry pi article for beginners, what it is, what you need to make it work, and benefits. All great info, but there's a knowledge gap for many people.

I use a card with protection through paypal. If you go direct via credit card for large purchases, alliexpress expects you to send a photo of your driver's license. I am not particularly happy with the idea of sending a copy of my identification, there is more you need to protect than just your...

With an open voltage of 37.6, you will be leaving a lot of watts on the table. PWM controllers work best on nominal "12v" panels (around 18 or so volts) on a 12v battery bank. I would personally go with a 40a mppt. Fair warning... eBay and amazon do not police their listings and many controllers...

I don't know, I was never the best at fire investigation. You can tell some by the depth of char and sometimes what isn't there as much as what is. I know a fire investigator who was very talented, a scene would look like a mess but would read like a book to him. The use of extension cords, for...

Yes, have the same charger and am leaving it. Some of the lithium charger hold the batteries at a high state of charge... Might be better than some 'lifepo4' charger options.

They are essentially the old renogy battery. No Bluetooth but do have low temp charging protection.

Don't know where you are at, but look at building a 280ah battery to put in it. I completed a very similar build. It is in a toolbox system and the inverter part is in a separate box that connects to the main one via high amp Anderson power pole connections.

Yes. Host doesn't have to live for virus to spread, just has to live long enough. Pretend covid burns out typically in 10 days before you get well. If the host lives a while, still moving around fairly well for at least ten days, and then goes downhill, mission still successful. We don't know...

I would put the third panel is the same area as the other panels they go with and seperate the two arrays a bit (my thought path is that if shade is on one area the other might still have good sun?).

Don't risk your LiFePO4 battery on harbor freight. Old tech and the plastic panels get brittle over time and break. They are also somewhat overpriced. Look at facebook marketplace and see what excess panels solar installers have in your area. If you have a cheaper battery without low temp...

You can do it cheaper if you gather your own components, don't let that scare you off. SanTan Solar for a kit or affordable panels if you are in AZ area. I started with the existing battery, a 200 watt panel and a renogy pmw under $250.

I feel dumped on. This used to be a fun hobby, mentally stimulating with good support communities. Will Prowse has a living due to the support of people watching utube videos. Bash it if you want, I get utube video quantity varies, but there is a lot of content to be gained. An electrical...

Using thin plexiglass. It actually works fairly well and is thin enough it isn't interfering with the stock busbars at all.

SanTan Solar in in AZ, they will ship to you via freight or you can pick up.

I took a different approach. I used two JBD BMSes (same as overkill) on one battery. Seems to split current fairly evenly. YYMV.

If you have a disconnect from panels, I might use that just in case. But honestly most of the concern is leaving the panels connected when you disconnect the battery, not disconnecting the panels themselves. I think you'll be fine. Make sure your fusing is rated for the total with the additional...

It looks like you have them in series? I don't believe they can be used this way (I think I read parallel only?). Hoping others will chime in.

One benefit of the renogy combined mppt DC to DC chargers is that on the lifepo4 setting (if you have them), using the temp probe on lifepo4 setting, the charging will be cut off at low temps. Had a gentleman give up on it because of glitchy user setting issues and limitations on voltage, but...

Budget is king in small systems. Infinite budget, small roof space MPPT. Very limited budget and economics per watt comes into play. You may be better off getting a pwm controller (if on a very bare bones budget) and using money saved to put towards an extra panel or briefcase that can be ground...

Open for voltage limits.

But still doesn't account for other charging sources, only solar. Converter and alternator can still fry the batteries.

At $308, still cheaper than chins. IF they pan out.

Interesting. I think mine went up to somewhere around 14.2 to 14.4 ish?

Looking into charge controllers because there are reports with some setting off the high voltage alarm. I read an answer to a similar question on amazon where the seller recommended a "real mppt" solar charge controller. Perhaps an mppt lowers the voltage that goes into the system to charge it...

I also ran a small discharge test. I had used about 96ahs at 11.77v, running about 900 watts. Called it good, feel like it will hit 100ah. Noticed BMS will cut it off somewhere around 105a. Battery charges to somewhere in range of 14.2 to 14.4v on a 20a LifFePO4 charger.

That looks like a heck of a lot more than just not packaged well. Something bad happened enroute. Not the best packaging, maybe, but that level of damage to the packaging is extreme.

Disagree. 12v panels typically run around 18 to 20 volts, it has to be higher otherwise no battery charging would occur.

It shouldn't (not going to get into using dissimilar batteries, you can ask that in a different question if it applies). Buy one or two and start learning. In some ways maybe better to learn on, not out as much. Sometimes your short term budget forces you into less than ideal options that can...

Are we sure these are even LiFePO4? Is there another lithium chemistry that comes in similar cells? In any case, I love my BMSes. Safety factor is ? worth it.

12v panel is a nominal label, meaning industry lingo for panels that go with 12v system, not the actual voltage. 12v panels range anywhere from 18v to 20v. Look on the back of any solar panel sold for 12v systems.