DMerciful:
Led TV and fan should not be more than 70w....mine is 42inch led TV and it's 50w and fan 20w

pranil:
Anybody having experience with PSC Solar Lithium batteries

for claimed 10,000 cycles the price of less than 350 USD per kWh is not bad.

https://www.pscsolaruk.com/best-inverter-deep-cycle-batteries-in-nigeria/4.5KW-51V-90Ah-Indoor-Stackable


seems to be a Chinese brand also sold in Australia

http://www.soltaro.cn/product/index.html

blazeup:
Good day all.
Pls can any one confirm if this product is a morning star clone or rebranded CC. I am tempted to pick it up since is it cheaper 136k and has been well rated by my collegues that use it.
Specs: . Xantra 60a mppt. Imported by pscuk.

Kind regards.

dgr8truth:
Victron CC available for sale 120k, interested call or WhatsApp 08060313355.

ceaser:


My questions:
*With 12 volt system, can he go for 24 volt solar panels and have it successfully power his 12 volt? (I assume this will result in faster charging because of his own sun-hours simultaneous use?
*He may have to go for 200ah batteries as opposed to my 100ah. What size of 24volt panels would you recommend and in what config?
*Does he necessarily have to go for MPPT or he can stick with PWM like I do and still get satisfactory power supply that suits his needs?
*If MPPT, what specs would you recommend?

Thank you.

Here's an inquiry for my own use: Who has had experience with solar deep freezers? Though more expensive, how reliable and how convenient or efficient is the use above conventional deep freezer-inverter-solar panel combi?
Would you recommend the former above the latter?

Thank you once again. AC

anidat77:
So yesterday I had my HAO2 battery balancer fixed to my bank as advised. Noticed a rise in device temperature throughout yesterday's harvest period ,I had to get My car fire extinguisher nearer and handy just in case.
But today I observed the highest harvest ever at 5.86kwh .I guess it really too a longer time for my bank to hit float charge hence the continued charging. I might be wrong though but hey...that's the beauty of diy. Anyone out there noticed same temperature rise on the HAO2? Should I be worried?

Saipro:


I'm excited - something which doesn't often happen.

I was hoping to be wowed by the Midnite inverter. Indisputably, MorningStar made a bada$$ inverter back in the day. Just, the one. Let's hope not only do they replicate the feat but they actually surpass themselves.

pranil:



Victron is already in Market with 5.7KW with fanless design and 99% efficiency and Bluetooth and compatible to lithium batteries

https://www.victronenergy.com/solar-charge-controllers/smartsolar-250-85-250-100

https://www.victronenergy.com/blog/2018/06/07/video-introduction-to-the-smartsolar-mppt-250-100/

https://www.victronenergy.com/live/battery_compatibility:start

totalgreen01:
thanks for the reply,
but i guess u mixed up something there
"2 units of 12v 200w solar panels in series will give you 400w at 24v"

2 units of 12v 200w solar panels in series will give you 200w at 24v not 400w at 24v"

can u take it from there

thanks

NiyiOmoIyunade:
Boss! With your declarations you appear to already have the answers you need na. Wetin u wan make I talk again?

Every so often this debate about how to evaluate power, energy, amps and volts comes up in RE forums so it is good to establish an accurate reference.

Here goes... assuming all devices are 100% efficient and can achieve their nameplate rating and all devices produce or take or give power at the nominal voltages......

Imagine you are helping a client build his solar system, you help him purchase 4 units of 250w 24v panels. How would you describe that system regardless of your ultimate panel arrangement whether series or parallel? I would call it a 1kW PV array.

Now if I arranged all four panels in series does the array become a 250w 96v array? . For me it is still a 1kW PV array operating at 96v. If I arranged all four panels in parallel, the array still remains a 1kW PV array but now operating at 24v.

What can we conclude from the above?

The total power in a system always adds up same as the energy always accumulates, however, inefficient design may lead to power and energy losses. In series the voltages add up but the Amps do not ( they either stay constant/common or take on the least Amperage in the system) e.g in our reference 1kW PV array, each 250w 24v panel produces approx. 10Amps (remember my earlier simplifying assumptions) when you stack the 4 panels in series to make 1KW at 96v, the whole system still produces approx 10Amps but at a higher voltage potential of 96v.

In parallel, the voltage does not add up but the Amps do so each 250w 24v panel produces approx. 10Amps but the entire 1KW system produces approx. 40Amps at 24volts.

So there it is. What do you think? I will let other folks in the house contribute too.

totalgreen01:
thanks niyi very correct,
but i was getting somewhere with this topic

the next question is, witht the two setup 2 x 12v200w and 1 x 24v200w, the calculations may be correct, but just my observation is the 2 x 12v200 would give cumulatively more amp/h in one day than 24v200w... i just want opinion from others that may have had such observation as well..

u have heard divide and conquer

same may be asked about 2v battery and 12v battery... what do u think

NiyiOmoIyunade:
This certainly is not a MorningStar although the form factor appears close.

It does not look like any MorningStar I know.

With your 136k you could get a Fangpusun BlueSolar 60a and still have some change for DC MCBs.

I don't know about this product in the picture and always hesistant to provide a review based on advertised specs - I'd rather go for tried and true products or rely on my own actual usage experience or that of trusted folks.

So I will let other people in the know provide perspective on this one.

makavele:


Keep me informed ; pal

richmon74:


Hi Engr.

I was referring to Morningstar Inverter/Charger not Charge controller as in your case.
The Victron Smartsolar you are talking about is a charge controller not inverter.

kadorzy:
Hello house, can the head of house and the plenty gurus in the house help me out.
I need a template that can guide me in designing a quotation for an offgrid solar power system.
I have all the facts but lack any formal sample to use for it.

Thanks all.

kiekie1:


Oga Makavele,thanks for the patronage once again .. Am grateful !!

Barezzi:
What's the spec?

NiyiOmoIyunade:
It is normal for the HA02 device to get warm when moving plenty of current between batteries especially if the batteries are heavily mismatched - the higher yield you subsequently observed is very likely the result of a better balanced battery bank - your battery bank's charge acceptance/capacity was probably being constrained by the state of charge imbalance you had between the batteries in the bank.

The things you should actually check are the battery temperature especially during charge to make sure no battery is running hot, also, get a voltmeter handy to see how the voltage differences between each battery are resolved and all come to a state of near equilibrium.

You might want to check battery terminal voltages say every weekend vs daily so that it doesn't become an obsession.

DUNKA:
Were you able to finally resolve the leakage issue with the Protek tank?

Dam5reey:


You question is simple...

For 12V system on PWM you need panels rated @ 17-19V VOC,

For PWM, if you have 200W with VOC of 36V which is recommended for 24 system and you use that on 12V battery, it simple you are loosing the extra VOC since power = V * I
200w panel, with 36V, current I will be 5.5A
So you will be getting 5.5A charging the battery

If you use a lower Panel wattage with 150W at VOC 18
This panel will produce more current 8.3A,
Your battery will be charging at 8.3A


Life is easier with MPPT, You may connect the panel is any configuration, eg 2, 150watt in parallel or series parallel to get 300watts VOC of 18V or 300watts at 36V VOC,

Another example, A single 330W panels with VOC up to 42V

Another example, 2, 300watts panels to get 600watts parallel at 36V VOC or 600watts series VOC 72V.

Now you see the advantage of MPPT..

Recommedation
Get 200AH single battery, any 40A or 30A MPPT controller, depending on your Budget, and panels to make up 600watts.. this will serve even if there is not constant power panel will be sufficient to charge and use

Ep solar 40A 12/24, fangpusun 30A or 50A is fine, or the one someone posted on last page, found on Jumia

ceaser:


A little help here sirs. A friend with the same types of gadgets as mine covets my own type of solar set up.

Set up 1.
*A 42" Startimes LED (70 watts with a wattmeter)
*12 volt 100 watts deep cycle battery (can't recall the name and specs and I'm far from home at the moment)
*20A PWM charger
*1000 watts pure sine wave inverter with 10A in-built charger.
*2 x 150 watts 12 volts panels in parallel config.


Set up 2 in another section of the house.
*12 volt 100 watts deep cycle battery (same product as above)
*2 x 150 watts 12 volts panels in parallel config.
*100 watts modified sine wave inverter.
*10A external battery charger.
*A 32" LG LCD TV with 100 watts at full power; 48 watts consumption at power saving mode as shown on the inverter itself.
*A dstv decoder.

Both set up are 12volt system. I prefer 12volt system cos of less battery headaches associated with it. I spend few hours at home almost everyday and the systems get fully sunlight-charged when I get home. Set up 1 can run 4 hours before I retire to bed at 70% DoD. Set up 2 runs a lot better and can go for 8hrs.

Both set-ups DIYed about the same time, have served well for 10 months, no noticeable hitches so far.

In my friend's case, He is around his home all weekends and will have no less than 11 hours of use (including sun hours) on weekdays.

My questions:
*With 12 volt system, can he go for 24 volt solar panels and have it successfully power his 12 volt? (I assume this will result in faster charging because of his own sun-hours simultaneous use?
*He may have to go for 200ah batteries as opposed to my 100ah. What size of 24volt panels would you recommend and in what config?
*Does he necessarily have to go for MPPT or he can stick with PWM like I do and still get satisfactory power supply that suits his needs?
*If MPPT, what specs would you recommend?

Thank you.

Here's an inquiry for my own use: Who has had experience with solar deep freezers? Though more expensive, how reliable and how convenient or efficient is the use above conventional deep freezer-inverter-solar panel combi?
Would you recommend the former above the latter?

Thank you once again. AC

GeorgeD1:


dunka,
unfortunately the answer is no. protek hasn't gotten back to me for almost a year now and i've
since given up hope of ever hearing from them. apparently they have my number in their watsapp
distribution list and all they do these days is push solar inverter/battery adverts to clients. no more
mention of anything to do with solar water heaters. what a scam of a company!

NiyiOmoIyunade:
This certainly is not a MorningStar although the form factor appears close.

It does not look like any MorningStar I know.

With your 136k you could get a Fangpusun BlueSolar 60a and still have some change for DC MCBs.

I don't know about this product in the picture and always hesistant to provide a review based on advertised specs - I'd rather go for tried and true products or rely on my own actual usage experience or that of trusted folks.

So I will let other people in the know provide perspective on this one.

NiyiOmoIyunade:

...

The things you should actually check are the battery temperature especially during charge to make sure no battery is running hot, also, get a voltmeter handy to see how the voltage differences between each battery are resolved and all come to a state of near equilibrium.

You might want to check battery terminal voltages say every weekend vs daily so that it doesn't become an obsession.

richmon74:
Are you sure of this your information? because all I know is that Morningstar have never made any inverter for the public except the Suresine SI-300 which is unbeatable at it's level. The Suresine 300w inverter has been one of the best products on earth and has been consistent over the years, outperforming and product within it's class.

The only other inverter they have made was a custom product for a small project in Asia and not for the public. So verify that the "BADASS" inverter you are referring to as Morningstar was actually a Morningstar and not a mixed up.

DISCLAIMER:
I do not work for Mornignstar.
I get the right information, test and review products.
I support excellent products.
I work for PBASE Solar

richmon74:
Few of the features that I remember that makes the Morningstar 4kW Inverter great are;

- It comes with known morningstar quality/effeciency
- It is transformerless and as such light weight
- It has inbuilt Display
- It has inbuilt AGS
- It has current Shunt mounted inside with busbars for battery and cc connections.
- Internal DIN rail for breakers
- Inbuilt Network card for stacking and for hooking up Charge controllers
- It has already installed hardware for Lithium Ion battery. Though they are still working on the software as at today.
- It's coming with great price as well

that's all I can remember for now

babniyen:
I will answer the solar freezer part. I have been using a solar freezer since January and I can tell you it works very well. I hardly have power in my area and it has saved me. It is rated 75W @ 12V.

DUNKA:
Quite unfortunate and your review had put a real dampner on setting up a solar water heater as I had looked at Protek and other brands such as Simba,NaturePal etc but that all seem to be of similar quality and reputation and I cannot shout

Well the waiting game still continues until a qualitative and affordable solar water heater comes into the market while I will for now increase my solar panels for use of an electric heater.