diy solar

diy solar

Midnite Solar Announced their new 10kw AIO at Intersolar Today

1201 said:
You said "we are there now". Maybe you meant to say "I am there now" because "WE" certainly are not at a price point where we can just choose not to tie in with the grid.
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OK, so you have switched context from Global to DIY. Good!
In this context "many" are there now. If you are not, wait a few years and then you will likely be there as well. Utilities are jacking up the rates to invest in renewables so they can sell their cheap power back to us. Just a few years ago I could export back to the utility at the same rate I purchase it. The utilities did not like that so now they credit back just over 3 cents per KWHR. So the rules that apply to you now, may very well be different in a year or two. It happened here. I had plans to install grid tie system so I would be grandfathered in with the original rules, but the utility was able to change that as well. Best not to deal with a sanctioned monopoly. I know several people who work for the utility and they are great people, but the utility itself sucks. They have bought off the Indiana state government.
 
Robbert said:
It is my understanding that some Voltronic inverters (like mpp solar pipMax) do deliver back very small amounts, even if not reported in de app/SA.
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I'm not sure. I was running a TP6048 / LV6048 with no issues and none still on the SRNE. I do have a smart meter.
Dave911 said:
I know you have the SRNE inverter. What voltronic inverter do you have?
That SRNE inverter is definitely on my list. However I may be willing to spend more for warranty and support.
The EG4 stuff continues to fail to impress me.
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It was an axpert series iirc, model above.
I've had limited experience with SRNE support but they did reply quickly with solutions and explanations for a random fault that occurred.
Other members have reported great support, even new inverters shipped to try and figure out issues.

I wouldn't hesitate to pay more either, especially knowing I'm supporting a US business.
I'm hoping the new Midnite is worth the extra. So far I've only seen others give a fancy name, change some specs and tack on a big markup.
 
42OhmsPA said:
I'm not sure. I was running a TP6048 / LV6048 with no issues and none still on the SRNE. I do have a smart meter.

It was an axpert series iirc, model above.
I've had limited experience with SRNE support but they did reply quickly with solutions and explanations for a random fault that occurred.
Other members have reported great support, even new inverters shipped to try and figure out issues.

I wouldn't hesitate to pay more either, especially knowing I'm supporting a US business.
I'm hoping the new Midnite is worth the extra. So far I've only seen others give a fancy name, change some specs and tack on a big markup.
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Do you have your inverter set to always draw a certain amount of watts from the grid to prevent small backfeeding? If so, how many watts do you use to achieve this?
 
ImAnIdiotPleaseBePatient said:
Do you have your inverter set to always draw a certain amount of watts from the grid to prevent small backfeeding? If so, how many watts do you use to achieve this?
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No. I don't have that option.
All I have is this menu option disabled.
Screenshot_20240205-142520.jpg

Interestingly I see it is pulling a miniscule amount from the grid when the sun isn't shining.
Screenshot_20240205-142919.jpg
Screenshot_20240205-142833.jpg
I hope someone is able to check their usage when Midnite is in the wild.

I'd also be interested to see the same data from someone with a tier 1 unit set to 0 back feed.
 
Robbert said:
It is my understanding that some Voltronic inverters (like mpp solar pipMax) do deliver back very small amounts, even if not reported in de app/SA.
Click to expand...
Pretty much all inverters do. But then again, even some motors "export to the grid" small amounts, since meters can't tell the difference between real and reactive power.
 
NC_hydro said:
Curious why the 6,500ft max altitude? Thinner air less effective cooling?
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Seems many seem to have similar restrictions. I’d be curious as to “why” as well.
I’d also be willing to prove it’s efficacy at 7,000ft 😃
 
We probably all thought "cooling".
But a significant issue is voltage breakdown of air. Paschen curve. Creepage and clearance.

If it isn't vented, you could backfill with another gas. Optimum would be SF6, and that would counterbalance any greenhouse gas reduction your PV system might represent.
 
JRH said:
Build your systems now , while you can… like everything else we see today in our life , the solar window will not stay as free and cheap as now…
We are such a minority presently we don’t have their full attention…but that will change soon.
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Winter is coming ;)
 
Hedges said:
We probably all thought "cooling".
But a significant issue is voltage breakdown of air. Paschen curve. Creepage and clearance.

If it isn't vented, you could backfill with another gas. Optimum would be SF6, and that would counterbalance any greenhouse gas reduction your PV system might represent.
Click to expand...

Now that makes more sence than cooling..Hell it’s always cool on top of Mt Mitchell ..it can snow in any month of the year.. how could it be too warm when it’s already chilly in July.

leave it to Hedges to arrive at some Startrekian truth that most of us never heard of.👍

J.
 
JRH said:
Now that makes more sence than cooling..Hell it’s always cool on top of Mt Mitchell ..it can snow in any month of the year.. how could it be too warm when it’s already chilly in July.

leave it to Hedges to arrive at some Startrekian truth that most of us never heard of.👍

J.
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You must be a Tarheel? 😁
 
I wish I could claim credit. I deal with Creepage and Clearance, and have reverse-engineered the dimensions of defects in aerospace components that caused test failures due to Paschen curve breakdowns.

But it was somebody else who brought up the dielectric strength issue regarding electronics which can't handle altitude that humans take in stride.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: JRH
Hedges said:
We probably all thought "cooling".
But a significant issue is voltage breakdown of air. Paschen curve. Creepage and clearance.

If it isn't vented, you could backfill with another gas. Optimum would be SF6, and that would counterbalance any greenhouse gas reduction your PV system might represent.
Click to expand...
Prob easier to just keep the equipment in a vacuum with a heat exchanger, that way those green freaks won’t get so upset.
 
We were discussing Zero Export and how that might trigger issues with the utility. I was surfing and found this;

Zero export system without interconnection agreement

I've been told by a few people that there is no need for POCO interconnection agreement/PTO if the grid-tied solar system ensures zero export. That doesn't seem correct to me but I can't find any explicit POCO rules or local/federal laws/codes that address this situation. Can anyone point to...
forums.mikeholt.com

This is a lengthy discussion that took place in 2022.
This is worth the read. There are a number of Utility folks in this discussion. They talk about how some plug in solar power units can export kwhrs to the grid and how the utilities ignore that. Very interesting. My takeaway is that while it may be against the utilities rules, some small unintentional exports likely won't trigger issues with the utility in much of the USA.
 
There are anti-backfeed devices. I think utility documents mention them. If a meter can detect it, a device can disconnect for it.
Perhaps a UL-listed anti-backfeed device would enable parallel operation without utility permission.

Personally, I wouldn't trust inverters to operate in parallel safely unless they were UL listed.
 
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