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The Sol-Ark website lists all batteries that are supported as closed loop and those supported that are open loop. There are many to choose from a great prices.

I have an array consisting of 8 340 watt panels connected in series to a Sol-Ark 15k. No problems noted in past 6 weeks. After shutting down the Sol-Ark to do panel maintenance, then restarting the Sol-Ark, one of three arrays is no longer putting out power, just voltage. To start trouble...

On your 200 amp subpanel with a 100 amp buss bar, I believe the max input is a 50 amp double pole breaker and a derate of the main to 175A. It may be that your 40 amp also requires a derate of your mains. You are right that for what you say the 18k PV and Sol-Ark 15K are too large. But a 12K...

Well, since the CPUC just enacted a fixed monthly charge of a little over $24 on top of your other charges in exchange for a supposed 5-7 cents per kWh rate, the future of residential solar is again changed. Any export value will now be reduced, whether NEM 1.0, 2.0 and maybe ?3.0. The cost to...

Sounds like paranoia?

Panel label is for laboratory conditions of 77 degrees and a certain radiance on the panel. then there is another rating like NOC. Put them outdoors, you may see brighter sun and temps lower than 77 and your panel output will be above the label. Same with edge effect. In edge effect, high...

During this time of the year, from like 11 AM until about 1:30 PM the angle of the sun on the panels is near optimal and so you are not going to get a sharp peak or spike, more of that continuous flatter power output you are showing. That's fine. In direct sun at ambient 80 degrees, I suspect...

That might work. Just remember, while I am not an engineer, I know that wind load created by panels is very large and it can bend steel in ways you and I thought would never be possible.

I suppose Midnite could have gone to Germany or Austria for their contract manufacturing. After all, SMA and Fronius are very reputable companies. But final pricing and margins could be an issue. That leaves Japan and South Korea.

I think you are trying. But here is a tip that I think is worthwhile: When building custom mounts like this one where different materials are in use and different designs are used, a very good resource is to think it through and take advantage of a local ironworks or welding shop. tThey are...

As I posted, many different manufacturer's of MC4 connectors are not exactly the same spec as the Staubli (which is the original, real creator of the MC4). In that case, buy some Staubli or a brand like I mentioned in the post above, cut off the old one and install a new one. Fussing around...

Why not just get a molded body wheel barrel and fill it with aggregate and attach a panel to that? It seems to me if the wheel barrel can hold the 5 cu ft of aggregate, the ballast would be equal. They can be angles too and its easy to change directions for different seasons.

In looking at this photo more carefully, it seems to me that the wooden posts supply height. The bracket is attached to the cross rails forming a triangle that is bolted to a piece of hardware with screws into the top of the wooden post. Just looking at this, any wind load on these panels...

I am in San Diego. You can send me a PM if so inclined and maybe we can talk on phone and solve issue.

If you hire a contract manufacturer like Foxconn, etc., you shop around the marketplace and do your research. Then you make your best decision. The same way you found them and contracted with them to build your product, just like Apple with it's Iphone other companies and start ups will find...

I just used these to put new connectors on 28 panels and combiner box connections: BougeRV 100PCS Solar Connector with Spanners IP67 Waterproof Solar Panel Cable Connectors Male/Female 50 Pairs(10AWG) haisstronica Crimping Tool for Solar Connectors - AWG 14 12 10 Ratchet Wire Crimper Tool...

Your system is improperly sized. Your solar panels are connected to a charge controller. The charge controller is connected to a battery. The battery is connected to an inverter. The loads are connected to the inverter and receive power from the inverter. PV OUTPUT WILL BECOME ZERO IN DAYLIGHT...

It stands up against a wall with a cleat to keep it from tipping over, but the weight bearing is on the floor. Imagine a tall dresser up against the wall and you pull out the top drawers filled with heavier contents or a child climbs up the drawers and the dresser tips forward on them and...

It's not just Florida. Carbon Monoxide kills and modern models include CO detectors built in and with automatic shut offs so as not to kill people. Remember, Florida is one of the last states in the Union to adopt any kind of consumer protection laws.

Well, I read your post and some of it is very good. I think it is important to remember, that some folks with solar can rely on daily PV to charge their batteries and supply their loads. For those folks, the situation is not that dire. They only need batteries to support them from say 5-7 PM...

Before my Sol-Ark system, I was running an Outback Radian and supporting pieces and Flexmax charge controllers. The hardware was flawless. However, the lack of Outback is designing a model greater than 8k was a factor in my decision to let it go. I understand they can parallel. Also, the...

What makes California special is there is a large population of do gooders. They just never use their own money, instead the tax payer's money.

10 years required in California for CEC and grid tie.

There are 2-3 ways to go about your project. First, do it on the cheap and purchase used parts where you can like panels and inverters, maybe even batteries. Second, buy new products, but not the highest quality and not CSA or UL listed. This route often provides equipment of a lower quality...

PATSCHKE "She's been patshkeying around with that model airplane all day."

Build it once. Do it properly and it will last many years. And it will add to your property value.

I am going to say this again over and over on this web site. If you want a steel and extremely strong ground mount that will last for many, many years then do this: I have added some photos below. One or 2 persons can complete this construction with all easily found tools and materials. Plan...

In California, the state has embarked along with the utility owners and investors to build massive lithium battery storage facilities. the state has an excess of daytime PV energy production, but without battery storage, needs to burn gas to generate electricity, ergo the battery storage...

On the Sol-Ark 15k there is a neutral to ground wire connected when you receive the unit. This is for off grid use of your load panel if powering with PV and batteries. If you make a grid tie connection, you remove the Sol-Ark neutral to ground wire connection as the grid already has this...

Just to be a party pooper, for about $110 you can purchase an all steel shelving rack with 4 shelves that can be all stacked or just 2 shelves x two. Plus they are rated to each hold over 1,000 pounds. That's a good starting point for placing batteries you are cobbling together. Question...

I think this is a very good thread. I think the best things to take away from the comments if you are going to ground mount are: Know what the wind load is going to be in your area. In my area, I believe it is 110 mph. This is going to allow you to calculate exactly how much ballast the...

Blue Sea systems has 600 amp switches, but I couldn't find 60+ volts. But you may want to speak to their sales or look in their area for industrial switches. maybe zoro.com or grainger.com.

I put in an amazon chinese non-ul bypass breaker. shorted out under load and cost me a lot of money. For what its worth, stick to UL listed and certified products unless you know how to repair lots of items around your home.

Option 1 is incorrect. Option 2 is correct. Again, the double pole 600VDC breaker is UL489 and will protect to 600VDC. Not 300 as is being claimed by others on this thread. they are not looking at the UL489 testing which applied to this breaker. In fact, Midnite sells a 150VDC, 300VDC and...

I spoke with Scott in tech support at Midnite Solar. Just as I said. Their breaker is tested to UL489 and provides 600 volts of DC protection on the PV+ and PV- poles. What you were looking at was a different testing and concluded the protection was only 300 volts. They sell a 150 VDC...