dollarnaira:
Some pv go don gather heavy dust turning sand covering full surfaces. Yield would probably be 30%.

na true talk, looking forward to nature doing the washing

sathob:
Well, great people of FTA, I think I should start this on behalf of George_D because of the request made by others who have expressed interest in alternate electricity, especially solar energy. Our FTA independence is not complete if we are to suffer frequent power outages and been dependant on the nation’s electricity grid system always. I have read in this house many times, from members “PHCN don go off, so I will track later when they come back”. No one can run away from power outages in the main electricity grid – not even the west, it happens. Hence, we all should have alternate electricity and using renewable energy is, to me, the best. This means one can enjoy their FTA fully by being totally free and not “dom” (dominated).

Look at some advantages
• Lower or no electricity bills
• Compared to generator users, there is no fuel cost and stress of getting it and no fumes.
• People living in the remote locations where power is unavailable or too expensive to hook-up too can have electricity.
Just to mention but a few.

Without going into detail, one can enjoy electricity by means of using solar energy (energy from the sun), wind mill (using energy from the wind). Don’t forget, where there is frequent electricity supply from the utility company, you can store some energy for back up.

You will need the following to complete a solar project or back up.

1. Solar panels
2. Power Inverter
3. Charge controller
4. Batteries to store energy
5. wires and cables
6. Monitors/meters

The solar panel consists of cells called photo voltaic cells and these, covert the energy received from the sun to electricity in simple terms (this electricity is a direct current
d.c). The panels can last up to 20 years plus. The panels can be fixed, adjustable or of the tracking type. You can decide to go for a complete panel from manufacturers (already made) or build panels by yourself using solar cells- the latter is for the hobbyist. The panels are rated in watts eg 80w solar panel supplying 12v continuous at a given time

The inverter
Power Inverters are available in 3 basic designs, two of which I remember very well now – the one that out sinusoidal waves and those that are modified sign wave type (meaning not pure sine waves and do have limits when it comes to its application) . The power inverter converts your storage battery power into the 240 volts AC that runs your appliances. It is the heart of your solar energy system. Unless you only run 12 volt DC appliances you will need a power inverter to supply your AC. This is just the basics.

The Charge Controller
A Charge Controller is necessary to protect the batteries from over charging and supply them with the proper amount of energy to promote long battery life.

Batteries
Without Storage Batteries to store energy you would only have power when the sun was shining. There is a lot more to batteries than just the ordinary car battery. Yo may need to change batteries over the years.

Wires and Cables
Without the right size of cables, you are likely to experience inefficient transfer of power (greater losses) and overheating.

Meters
This is required to monitor the performance of your solar system.

Firstly, it is very necessary to know what gadgets you will be using (eg.tv, sat. receiver) and how long you will use how long you would have them on the solar power and how much energy your battery can store and which solar panel (rating in power) will supply the required energy.

A lot goes into calculating the cost of setting up a solar system. First one has to consider the period of usable sunlight available at their location to do this calculation. For us here close to the equator, we get about 7 to 8 hours or more of sunlight during dry season, just a rough estimate.

How do I know I need 100w or 80w or 300 watts solar panel for my project?

The power consumption of appliances is given in Watts. To calculate the energy you will use over time, just multiply the power consumption by the hours of use.

Eg. If I have 90W tv set which I want to use for 6hrs, 25W satellite receiver for the same period, and a 50W fan for 3 hours. What will be the energy required from the solar panels for the period?

1. the energy for each appliance is Watts x time (hours) = Wh

So, the watt hours for the tv = 90 x 6 = 540 Wh (watt hours)

Watt hours for sat. receiver = 25 x 6 = 150 Wh

Watt hours for fan will be = 50 x 3 = 150 Wh

2. sum the watt hours for the individual appliances ie. 540 + 150 + 150 = 840 Wh (watt hours)

This means that the solar panel will need to supply 840 watt hours of energy to the battery each day to cover the total power required by these appliances.

3. since there are bound to be losses in the system However, to account for natural losses, we multiply the result by 1.2 (this factor allows for natural system losses, assuming 85% efficiency). Therefore, we will assume the panels will actually need to be able to supply a total of
840 x 1.2 = 1008Wh

4. so, to supply 1008Wh of energy the panel we assume to receive 7 hours of sunlight will be rated at 1008 Wh / 7 h = 144W
So, I will need 144W solar panel to supply energy to my appliances above at the given time.

Regarding point 3, it also means, if I have a solar panel rated at 100W receiving sunlight for 7 hours a day, the total energy supplied considering 85% efficiency will be 100x7x0.85= 595Wh and not 700Wh

5. Your battery should be able to store 1008Wh of energy. Since batteries capacities are rated in Ah (Ampere Hours) you need to multiply Ah by the Volt rating to know the Watt Hour. Power(W) = Voltage (V) x Current (I) ; Watt hour = VxIxHour

Therefore Ah (which is I x h) = Wh / V = 1008 / 12 (the number 12 represents a 12v battery)
= 84 Ah

So it means you will need not less than a 84Ah, 12V battery (deep-cycle batteries, not ordinary car batteries) to do the job.

NB. Another way of calculating battery capacity is explained in this example. Should my battery be rated at 84Ah, 12V the watt hour (energy) will be 84Ah x 12 V = 1008Ah

It implies that the battery can supply a 150watt appliance for 1008/70 = 14hours

Pls don’t just play around with batteries they are dangerous.

Best thread ever


Please can I use car battery too?
Because I only have laptop and a small LED TV

MGDIMA4:


Best thread ever


Please can I use car battery too?
Because I only have laptop and a small LED TV

You didn't read what you quoted!

A line in there stated you'll need "(deep cycle batteries not ordinary car battery)..."

JoeSef0:
That's about 80k.
I'll be getting the CC out of my own pocket. That's too much for me to cover

You see this statement. This is what gets me angry. This is why a lot of Nigerians have such a high distrust for anything inverter/solar and Kazeem installers adding to it with poor service. After quoting and charging a client for labor and materials. You install a product that suddenly develops a fault NOT due to any user error, and yet are unwilling to go the extra mile to support the client. Most installers have this attitude of once i install anything for a client and i collect my money they can go to hell. Not knowing that an installation is an entry point to continuous patronage and good will that can last for years and bring even bigger rewards down the line. As an installer, you should ensure that materials you buy are original and comes with guarantee/warranty from the suppliers for their products. No client wants to hear that they are on their own when it comes repairs and warranty claims. As e dey pain you now to remove money to resolve this issue, so did it pain the client to cough out his hard earned money to pay you for a quality service. In business some days you win some days you lose. But always try to treat your customers better and try to resolve their issues.

Please, let's put Valto in prayers. He is seriously sick and has little access his phones

Meanwhile, I got one of Valto's battery (12v 135ah with Bluetooth enabled BMS) for a friend last year, and the guy has really been enjoying the battery.

But for about a week, there has been an issue. Previously, it was cutting off power supply at 30%, probably to protect the battery, and our expectation was that the cut-off period would reduce with more usage. It did reduce to 20-something, but recently it cuts off at 62%, giving just a few hours of use. Below are screenshots of the BMS interface on his phone.

Is anyone experiencing this? And how did you resolve it? The guy really needs an update

Theflint1:
Hello house, looking to get an inverter, stuck between the 24V 3KWH Growatt, 24V 3KWH tbb and the 24V 3.3KWH SRNE.

Based on personal experience, which of these three is recommended?

Tbb

odimbannamdi:
Please, let's put Valto in prayers. He is seriously sick and has little access his phones

Meanwhile, I got one of Valto's battery (12v 135ah with Bluetooth enabled BMS) for a friend last year, and the guy has really been enjoying the battery.

But for about a week, there has been an issue. Previously, it was cutting off power supply at 30%, probably to protect the battery, and our expectation was that the cut-off period would reduce with more usage. It did reduce to 20-something, but recently it cuts off at 62%, giving just a few hours of use. Below are screenshots of the BMS interface on his phone.

Is anyone experiencing this? And how did you resolve it? The guy really needs an update

Check the cell voltages, probably one of them is low and the cell protection is kicking in.

ojeysky:
3 years+ on this one and still counting. Performance still great.

Which BMS is this?

sharks776:


As a professional installer, you just don't look at the monetary amount/value alone. Consider the customers satisfaction also. Trust me, both you and the customer will be more happier in the future if you deliver a more satisfactory work today. That's how you get more recommendations.

You have said it all!

God will surely heal @Valto in Jesus name. Amen. Pls can we get details of hospital so if any member close by may decide to visit. Let's show love. Thanks

samir101ng:


You see this statement. This is what gets me angry. This is why a lot of Nigerians have such a high distrust for anything inverter/solar and Kazeem installers adding to it with poor service. After quoting and charging a client for labor and materials. You install a product that suddenly develops a fault NOT due to any user error, and yet are unwilling to go the extra mile to support the client. Most installers have this attitude of once i install anything for a client and i collect my money they can go to hell. Not knowing that an installation is an entry point to continuous patronage and good will that can last for years and bring even bigger rewards down the line. As an installer, you should ensure that materials you buy are original and comes with guarantee/warranty from the suppliers for their products. No client wants to hear that they are on their own when it comes repairs and warranty claims. As e dey pain you now to remove money to resolve this issue, so did it pain the client to cough out his hard earned money to pay you for a quality service. In business some days you win some days you lose. But always try to treat your customers better and try to resolve their issues.

Boss, Nigerians want to win everyday and put the blame on dollars and bad government.

Any happy client will ALWAYS return with more jobs/recommendations.

Them no want agree with anybody na the problem wey dey this country be that!

odimbannamdi:
Please, let's put Valto in prayers. He is seriously sick and has little access his phones

Meanwhile, I got one of Valto's battery (12v 135ah with Bluetooth enabled BMS) for a friend last year, and the guy has really been enjoying the battery.

But for about a week, there has been an issue. Previously, it was cutting off power supply at 30%, probably to protect the battery, and our expectation was that the cut-off period would reduce with more usage. It did reduce to 20-something, but recently it cuts off at 62%, giving just a few hours of use. Below are screenshots of the BMS interface on his phone.

Is anyone experiencing this? And how did you resolve it? The guy really needs an update

May God grant him speedy recovery!

samir101ng:


You see this statement. This is what gets me angry. This is why a lot of Nigerians have such a high distrust for anything inverter/solar and Kazeem installers adding to it with poor service. After quoting and charging a client for labor and materials. You install a product that suddenly develops a fault NOT due to any user error, and yet are unwilling to go the extra mile to support the client. Most installers have this attitude of once i install anything for a client and i collect my money they can go to hell. Not knowing that an installation is an entry point to continuous patronage and good will that can last for years and bring even bigger rewards down the line. As an installer, you should ensure that materials you buy are original and comes with guarantee/warranty from the suppliers for their products. No client wants to hear that they are on their own when it comes repairs and warranty claims. As e dey pain you now to remove money to resolve this issue, so did it pain the client to cough out his hard earned money to pay you for a quality service. In business some days you win some days you lose. But always try to treat your customers better and try to resolve their issues.

I think you may be overreacting here, the vendors have said he should bring in the item for a checkup, and I believe he has agreed to do so but the client wants him to put an external CC, at whose cost should that be?
You don't even know how much was paid or how much was earned, and it's also a 12V installation.

It would be unfair to say he should bear the cost solely? Especially immediately too, when there's still the option of returning the inverter for a check to see if it is faulty or that's how it was designed to work.

idsolar:
God will surely heal @Valto in Jesus name. Amen. Pls can we get details of hospital so if any member close by may decide to visit. Let's show love. Thanks

Amen

odimbannamdi:
Please, let's put Valto in prayers. He is seriously sick and has little access his phones

Meanwhile, I got one of Valto's battery (12v 135ah with Bluetooth enabled BMS) for a friend last year, and the guy has really been enjoying the battery.

But for about a week, there has been an issue. Previously, it was cutting off power supply at 30%, probably to protect the battery, and our expectation was that the cut-off period would reduce with more usage. It did reduce to 20-something, but recently it cuts off at 62%, giving just a few hours of use. Below are screenshots of the BMS interface on his phone.

Is anyone experiencing this? And how did you resolve it? The guy really needs an update

He is healed in Jesus name. What are the individual cell voltages, cell voltages imbalance should be the main culprit

Juror:

I think you may be overreacting here, the vendors have said he should bring in the item for a checkup, and I believe he has agreed to do so but the client wants him to put an external CC, at whose cost should that be?
You don't even know how much was paid or how much was earned, and it's also a 12V installation.

It would be unfair to say he should bear the cost solely? Especially immediately too, when there's still the option of returning the inverter for a check to see if it is faulty or that's how it was designed to work.

I think my reaction is not out of hand seeing the "excuses" that are already beginning to be formed. My take is that once you agree to accept somebody's money to offer a service even if it is N1, then you are obligated to deliver on that service. I can already infer where you are heading with statements like "You don't even know how much, how much was earned, its a 12v installation". You decided to accept somebody's money, why shame them on top for not delivering a quality service. Can't we demand for excellent service in Nigeria for our hard earned money again. Arrrrrg. Nigeria. I apologize if it seems like i am overreacting but seriously cases like these do not augur well for us as a nation and that is why the solar industry is full of issues. All i am saying is that let's manage our clients well and offer better support. People are more when you make efforts and show care towards resolving their issues rather than this attitude of your on your own.

odimbannamdi:
Please, let's put Valto in prayers. He is seriously sick and has little access his phones

Meanwhile, I got one of Valto's battery (12v 135ah with Bluetooth enabled BMS) for a friend last year, and the guy has really been enjoying the battery.

But for about a week, there has been an issue. Previously, it was cutting off power supply at 30%, probably to protect the battery, and our expectation was that the cut-off period would reduce with more usage. It did reduce to 20-something, but recently it cuts off at 62%, giving just a few hours of use. Below are screenshots of the BMS interface on his phone.

Is anyone experiencing this? And how did you resolve it? The guy really needs an update

Wishing @Valto a speedy recovery and good health. Guy has been making huge impacts in the LifeP04 DIY pack game for a while now.

samir101ng:


I think my reaction is not out of hand seeing the "excuses" that are already beginning to be formed. My take is that once you agree to accept somebody's money to offer a service even if it is N1, then you are obligated to deliver on that service. I can already infer where you are heading with statements like "You don't even know how much, how much was earned, its a 12v installation". You decided to accept somebody's money, why shame them on top for not delivering a quality service. Can't we demand for excellent service in Nigeria for our hard earned money again. Arrrrrg. Nigeria. I apologize if it seems like i am overreacting but seriously cases like these do not augur well for us as a nation and that is why the solar industry is full of issues. All i am saying is that let's manage our clients well and offer better support. People are more when you make efforts and show care towards resolving their issues rather than this attitude of your on your own.

You don't seem to be considering many things and are just saying the installer should pay for the inadequacy.
I said the setup is 12V which could imply that it was done with budget funds thereby limiting the options of products available, if the budget could only afford a Modified sine wave inverter and the client's appliance react appropriately, are you saying the installer must go and replace the inverter with a pure sine wave out of his pocket?

In this particular case, the installer has taken steps to find a solution, he has come to the forum for opinions, he has contacted the manufacturer and reported the issue to them and they have requested a return.
The installer has not left the client "on your own" yet, rather, he has even mulled using a PWM and bearing cost.
I believe the better thing to do is to let that process run it's course first, to know if the inverter is faulty or working as designed rather than blaming the installer for not wanting to spend 100k for something which could have not been his fault and also be beyond his control.

odimbannamdi:
Please, let's put Valto in prayers. He is seriously sick and has little access his phones

Meanwhile, I got one of Valto's battery (12v 135ah with Bluetooth enabled BMS) for a friend last year, and the guy has really been enjoying the battery.

But for about a week, there has been an issue. Previously, it was cutting off power supply at 30%, probably to protect the battery, and our expectation was that the cut-off period would reduce with more usage. It did reduce to 20-something, but recently it cuts off at 62%, giving just a few hours of use. Below are screenshots of the BMS interface on his phone.

Is anyone experiencing this? And how did you resolve it? The guy really needs an update

Install the Overkill Solar app on android

use it to reset the BMS to defaults.

I'm sure you can figure your way around the app. Load the correct default preset for the pack (number of cells) and write it to the BMS

JoeSef0:
Seires issue.
Like all the socket in the house still have smalls
Current even when the socket is off, and it's making devices like phone and laptop misbehave when plgged in while using.
I discovered this only happens when solar is charging, (the inverter is an hybrid) it works well if Solar breaker is off or it's night already . I know getting an external charge controller will fix the issue. But I'd like to get to the root of this issue at hand

Please take an experienced and professional electrician to that site to troubleshoot for you.


you are having current leakage, and clearly unable to trace the issue.

Also consider the presence or absence of grounding and how it affects that install.

and if you had included breakers and SPDs in that installation it would have made your tracing far easier.


get help from someone more experienced than you.

Lol
Every expenses after installation has been covered by me, all the troubleshooting, calling electirician and what not has been covered by me. I'd be going to akure tomorrow from Lagos to install another charge controller, money for charge controller and even my tfare which is roughly 20k is all covered from my pocket. Not tell me I'm not doing enough. Nobody wants to make an installation and then start having issues with it, not the installer not the customer.
The actual reason I won't be going for the mppt cc out of my pocket is because right from the beginning... The CC i included on the quotation was a 60a PWM CC not Mppt to save cost. But because i was going to get a 2kva Karter 12v inverter which i was unable to get in the market, and customer insisted he didn't want anything below 2kva, we came to an agreement to get this hybrid inverter for him which was kind of a + for him cos of the inbuilt Mppt cc (on paper)..
So why i go carry my own money buy Mppt?
He's definately not interested in spending any money.. all he wants is for me to come and get it fixed.

I'm just trying to please my customer..

samir101ng:


You see this statement. This is what gets me angry. This is why a lot of Nigerians have such a high distrust for anything inverter/solar and Kazeem installers adding to it with poor service. After quoting and charging a client for labor and materials. You install a product that suddenly develops a fault NOT due to any user error, and yet are unwilling to go the extra mile to support the client. Most installers have this attitude of once i install anything for a client and i collect my money they can go to hell. Not knowing that an installation is an entry point to continuous patronage and good will that can last for years and bring even bigger rewards down the line. As an installer, you should ensure that materials you buy are original and comes with guarantee/warranty from the suppliers for their products. No client wants to hear that they are on their own when it comes repairs and warranty claims. As e dey pain you now to remove money to resolve this issue, so did it pain the client to cough out his hard earned money to pay you for a quality service. In business some days you win some days you lose. But always try to treat your customers better and try to resolve their issues.

Hello everyone. Please my installer just installed this solar charge controller. It is a 60A controller. But I am kind of confused with the PV current reading. Is the current meant to be zero. Please I need help.

finebois:
Hello everyone. Please my installer just installed this solar charge controller. It is a 60A controller. But I am kind of confused with the PV current reading. Is the current meant to be zero. Please I need help.

Srne?

bbally:


Please, what actually cause the bolded effect when inverter is in use?

There is leakages in the circuit.
An easy fix is to swap your output (L to N and N to L)

Obnoxious2001:


Srne?

no sunfield

For the Inverter output right?

Obnoxious2001:

There is leakages in the circuit.
An easy fix is to swap your output (L to N and N to L)

Juror:

Which BMS is this?

Ant BMS the older version

JoeSef0:
For the Inverter output right?

Yes.

I'll give it a try tomorrow

If I understand you well
You mean i should swap the wire that's connected to L to N
And VIce Versa

Obnoxious2001:

Yes.

Obnoxious2001:

There is leakages in the circuit.
An easy fix is to swap your output (L to N and N to L)

Thanks 👍

odimbannamdi:
Please, let's put Valto in prayers. He is seriously sick and has little access his phones

Here's wishing him a speedy recovery.

May God heal you valto