Energy Anybody know anything about solar systems?

Discussion in 'Off Grid Living' started by Lilikoian, Aug 24, 2017.


  1. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    I show the maker Info ///// REAL no BS
    Best price IS HERE : MidNite Solar The Kid MPPT Solar Charge Controller

    I need to post the REAL sites !
    Not any e-bay crap sites .
    This Lady was sold a incompatible system !
    Im not going to waste my time to fix , Im working off the Panel & load >
    AND I need HER to get a meter & read . This is EZ Girl ! Guys can do it ;)
     
  2. Dunerunner

    Dunerunner Brewery Monkey Moderator

    She's working on it as we post @Cruisin Sloth .... [winkthumb]

    Know of any sellers on the Big Island??
     
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  3. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    16th parallel north - Wikipedia

    Ya not in USA I see .
    OK pm me your area & I'll find the link .
    IIf ya were in the USA area , I have to many MS300 SS units for back up .
    I bought spares for , squat , they just work !!!!
    They are for back woods shelters !! one failed due to a idiot , warranty was free !

    Sloth
     
  4. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

     
  5. Dunerunner

    Dunerunner Brewery Monkey Moderator

    I see this one in Honolulu,,, Home
     
  6. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Hey, CS --
    This gal is troubleshooting an existing system, probably not the finest but has worked for a while. Looking to expand and improve later, not doing an add on right away. Starting out, so to say, no use to overloading with info. Rick's info will do for a good reading start.
     
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  7. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    Mr ghrit ,
    She needs to get a DVM , But was sold a normal CRAP system to power a cell phone MAX !!!!!!!!!!!!
    Plus the CC is for FLA cells ============ Kills Gel cells as in boils the gel !

    So !!

    Your UP !!
    Next step is ?
     
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  8. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Finish troubleshooting, then decide the next step. So it seems to me, anyway.
     
  9. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    Yes , BUT !!!
    The Ms will need a DVM to help us !!
    Most can do this , @ the panel / cells ..

    Ms ,, the hand helping can be arrange !!!
    Sloth
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2017
  10. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow



    The KID is good for 12-24-36-48 volts & up to 30 amps with Flooded Lead Acid FLA or Gel cell , AMG and Li-ion with the latest firmware installed .


    thats a morningstar suresine 300 watt power inverter and it has the best sleep draw as I have seen & can take a 600 watt surge for 5 mins .

    I'l like to see a picture on the battery top to see what were working with . close ups off all , like the panel
    Sloth
     
  11. DKR

    DKR Raconteur of the first stripe

  12. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    Poor girl solar.JPG

    Looking at the pictures after downloading them And enlarging them to see the batterys are Golf cart 6 volt FLA type .
    The pictures are hard to make out , but it's one of these :
    Interstate Batteries | Golf Car Batteries | Deep Cycle Batteries

    So seeing it is a FLA cell & your best ever is to charge it with only 8 amps BEST if that is a true MPPT controller , then YOUR Problem is your your 3 panels short for the amount of charge you require .
    So 4 panels in series (FUSED each panel with one of these [​IMG] of red 10 amp fuse )
    then you will charge the battery . Right now your killing them slowly & 11.9 is a death voltage .
    That charge control should bring the voltage up to 14.8-15.2 MAX Vdc for those batterys (as per Interstate specs)
     
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  13. Lilikoian

    Lilikoian Monkey

    SO much information, thanks everybody!!! It will take me some time to go back and reread and check the links.

    For right now, I think I need to get a hydrometer (like the kind for brewing beer, correct?) and distilled water. The water in the batteries is covering the metal pieces, but the handyman says to add water "up to the top".

    Question: Once I have the hydrometer and water, what do I do with that information?
     
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  14. Lilikoian

    Lilikoian Monkey

    Yup, I know.
     
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  15. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    If the cells are up to level per the marks that should be there, you can take a gravity reading with the hydrometer. The gravity reading will tell you the level of charge in the cell. There is a chart here - battery specific gravity - Google Search
    That gives the approximate capacity in the cells. Note that the chart is for 12 volt batteries with the 6 volt battery readings in parenthesis (and that there is more scoop below that chart.) You can interpolate readily to get a more exact number if you need it. What is critical is that all cells in the system should be at the same or damn close gravity. You should have 6 cells to check.

    BE AWARE WHILE DIPPING THE HYDROMETER IN THE BATTERY CELLS THAT YOU ARE MESSING WITH HIGHLY CONCENTRATED SULPHURIC ACID!!

    If the cells are NOT up to the mark, put the distilled water in to bring them up to the mark. No point to taking gravities until the new water and acid below it have had time to mix, a couple of power cycles will do that for you.
     
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  16. Dunerunner

    Dunerunner Brewery Monkey Moderator

    At the full point, there is a ring within the cell which causes the liquid surface to dimple. A battery filler will shut of flow automatically, but if you are using a bulb syringe to fill you will have to visually see the level. It is good to use a flashlight shone into the cell to assist in seeing the level.

    The Hydrometer...
    [​IMG]

    Bulb Syringe for Battery Water...

    [​IMG]

    Automatic battery water filler...

    [​IMG]



     
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  17. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    Mr dune
    Your first picture has the floating gauge in the tube upside down .
    Please correct that so many will not load that in that way .
    Hydros need to be washed in Dist/Water to keep clean & working .
    Acid needs eye protection MOST , Clothes can be replaced & it won't burn your skin .
    If you have nylon dickies pants is the best for this work , BUT eye safety glasses is a MUST .
    I'll post harbour freights items Id use to maintain .
    Mr Dune has the right idea !!!

    Sloth
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2017
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  18. Asia-Off-Grid

    Asia-Off-Grid RIP 11-8-2018

    I can relate to that, for sure!
     
  19. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

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  20. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    If your close to Tom in HI , I know he likes to help . I have spoke with him many times & I felt his care !!!

    Where R U ?
    Island not your address , so we may help .
    Sloth (still under panelled )
     
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