Solar Back-Up power project - Page 4

Xringer · 02-07-21, 06:19 PM

I was wondering about my PWM charger and found this paper..
https://www.morningstarcorp.com/wp-c....-Why-PWM1.pdf

It seems like I should have been 'periodically' putting a load on the system. Eat up some Ah at night, and let it charge up the next morning. That might keep the cells in tip-top shape. If I buy the same old lead-acid batts..

Looking at this 48v pack. https://bigbattery.com/products/48v-...on-power-pack/
It might be chargeable with the TS-45 if I turn off the PWM and tweak the charge & float voltages.

Xringer · 04-06-21, 10:02 PM

After testing the old 48v pack, I found the old 12v Duralast batts might still be pretty good. The cheap HF tester showed 400 to 550 Cold Cranking Amps. These are rated at 800 CCA new. So, I plan to keep them for a while longer, in case the new 48v pack fails.

This 48v pack is a new release "Generation 2" that's packing 80 Ah.
"KIT 48V BDGR - NMC - 80AH - 3.9KWH"
https://bigbattery.com/products/48v-bdgr-kit-of-2/

Should be here tomorrow. I hope to get it installed and tested this weekend.
Tonight I removed the LA batteries without any back injury..
The old Solar controller is now programmed to charge at 50.4 volts.

I have a new 2000W SineWave inverter to replace the old 2500W MSW unit.
Here's a video: https://youtu.be/bNh9g0tZIns
I will keep the old one for a back-up incase the new Sinewave unit fails.

The old Morningstar - Tristar 45A Solar charge controller has been working
so well, I'm buying a spare with my free money check. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012DNFT2

Anyways, I hope to run part of my home on the back-up system on the weekends. When I'm home all day and leave my PC on much of 48 hours. It will also be running my Wifi router and the FiOs box in basement and the small freezer down there.
During sunny summer weekends, three 200w panels will be bringing in up to 600W. So, I'll want to be using more than that, to cycle the new 48v pack..

Maybe the new inverter will be able to run the Santa Fe dehumidifier.?.
It runs at about 600 watts, but I think the start-up is going to be pretty high.
I could run it with the blower fan ON all the time. So it's start-up wouldn't be added in with the compressor start load.

Xringer · 04-16-21, 07:12 AM

The rains have started. The sun is only been out a couple of days this past week.
Flooding season is here. But, I've got 5.85 kWh of NMC Li-Ion fully charged.

Untested, because we didn't have time.

Xringer · 12-01-22, 01:16 PM

Trying to see if the backup system can cut grid power use.
Started last month and it looks like about 1 KWH per day was used to power the basement freezer and Fios loads.

The AC meter on the inverter output shows 30.358 KWH for Nov 22. The solar controller shows 34 KWH.
30 x 30 cents per KWH is about $9 USDs.

Solar wasn't very good for the month..
https://pauland.net/monthradiation.webp

Xringer · 03-26-23, 06:29 PM

The 800 watt array is working everyday sunny day now.

I ordered a Yolink SpeakerHub. I can trigger a Yolink Routine when the Yolink temperature Sensor hits an alarm limit! I set the limit for 90F and put it in a south facing window.
When the sun gets bright, it gets up to 90F and triggers a Yolink routine. The Yolink speaker says (custom) "Hey Google, turn on the Inverter".

My Google Hub, controls all the Meross Outlet 120Vac switches. The switch named "Inverter" turns on, drives a relay that activates my 3000W Sine Wave inverter.
The Alert Interval is set for 60 mins. (if the sun is still warm, we get a new Alert every hour). My Merross AC switch is set to run max run time of 65 mins.
If it gets a restart every 60 mins, it keeps the inverter running until the sun is about to go down.

My inverter is driven by a 48vdc battery bank, but when it's charged, I can use the 800w solar panels to run some of the loads in the basement. Freezer, Fios system, inhouse ethernet gear and a PlaneFinder tracking system. (ADS-B receiver connected to the web).
The main loads are the sump pumps. When the basement sumps flood! Like we just had when all the snow melted.
The loads only add up to about 1 KWH per day now. But when it warms up, I'll be adding on the basement dehumidifier. We might even have more sun in the summer!

02-07-21, 06:19 PM	#31
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	48V 1.6kWh Li-ion Power Pack?? I was wondering about my PWM charger and found this paper.. https://www.morningstarcorp.com/wp-c....-Why-PWM1.pdf It seems like I should have been 'periodically' putting a load on the system. Eat up some Ah at night, and let it charge up the next morning. That might keep the cells in tip-top shape. If I buy the same old lead-acid batts.. Looking at this 48v pack. https://bigbattery.com/products/48v-...on-power-pack/ It might be chargeable with the TS-45 if I turn off the PWM and tweak the charge & float voltages. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

04-06-21, 10:02 PM	#32
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	48v bdgr - nmc - 80ah - 3.9kwh After testing the old 48v pack, I found the old 12v Duralast batts might still be pretty good. The cheap HF tester showed 400 to 550 Cold Cranking Amps. These are rated at 800 CCA new. So, I plan to keep them for a while longer, in case the new 48v pack fails. This 48v pack is a new release "Generation 2" that's packing 80 Ah. "KIT 48V BDGR - NMC - 80AH - 3.9KWH" https://bigbattery.com/products/48v-bdgr-kit-of-2/ Should be here tomorrow. I hope to get it installed and tested this weekend. Tonight I removed the LA batteries without any back injury.. The old Solar controller is now programmed to charge at 50.4 volts. I have a new 2000W SineWave inverter to replace the old 2500W MSW unit. Here's a video: https://youtu.be/bNh9g0tZIns I will keep the old one for a back-up incase the new Sinewave unit fails. The old Morningstar - Tristar 45A Solar charge controller has been working so well, I'm buying a spare with my free money check. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012DNFT2 Anyways, I hope to run part of my home on the back-up system on the weekends. When I'm home all day and leave my PC on much of 48 hours. It will also be running my Wifi router and the FiOs box in basement and the small freezer down there. During sunny summer weekends, three 200w panels will be bringing in up to 600W. So, I'll want to be using more than that, to cycle the new 48v pack.. Maybe the new inverter will be able to run the Santa Fe dehumidifier.?. It runs at about 600 watts, but I think the start-up is going to be pretty high. I could run it with the blower fan ON all the time. So it's start-up wouldn't be added in with the compressor start load. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

04-16-21, 07:12 AM	#33
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	120 Ah 50.4v The rains have started. The sun is only been out a couple of days this past week. Flooding season is here. But, I've got 5.85 kWh of NMC Li-Ion fully charged. Untested, because we didn't have time. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

12-01-22, 01:16 PM	#34
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Using my 48v backup to run light loads Trying to see if the backup system can cut grid power use. Started last month and it looks like about 1 KWH per day was used to power the basement freezer and Fios loads. The AC meter on the inverter output shows 30.358 KWH for Nov 22. The solar controller shows 34 KWH. 30 x 30 cents per KWH is about $9 USDs. Solar wasn't very good for the month.. https://pauland.net/monthradiation.webp __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

03-26-23, 06:29 PM	#35
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	About half the days this month were overcast! :( The 800 watt array is working everyday sunny day now. I ordered a Yolink SpeakerHub. I can trigger a Yolink Routine when the Yolink temperature Sensor hits an alarm limit! I set the limit for 90F and put it in a south facing window. When the sun gets bright, it gets up to 90F and triggers a Yolink routine. The Yolink speaker says (custom) "Hey Google, turn on the Inverter". My Google Hub, controls all the Meross Outlet 120Vac switches. The switch named "Inverter" turns on, drives a relay that activates my 3000W Sine Wave inverter. The Alert Interval is set for 60 mins. (if the sun is still warm, we get a new Alert every hour). My Merross AC switch is set to run max run time of 65 mins. If it gets a restart every 60 mins, it keeps the inverter running until the sun is about to go down. My inverter is driven by a 48vdc battery bank, but when it's charged, I can use the 800w solar panels to run some of the loads in the basement. Freezer, Fios system, inhouse ethernet gear and a PlaneFinder tracking system. (ADS-B receiver connected to the web). The main loads are the sump pumps. When the basement sumps flood! Like we just had when all the snow melted. The loads only add up to about 1 KWH per day now. But when it warms up, I'll be adding on the basement dehumidifier. We might even have more sun in the summer! __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..