Generator or Inverter for residential use?

[gbyleveldt]

Sold my battery cabinet today but only getting the server rack the weekend.

Is it fine to leave the batteries connected like this for a few days. I have a 900mm x 900mm tile that will rest on top of the handles without touching anything. View attachment 975888 View attachment 975892 View attachment 975894

I think you’ll be ok. Pylontech uses pouch cells, I doubt it makes a difference how it’s oriented

 

[RonSwanson]

Sold my battery cabinet today but only getting the server rack the weekend.

Is it fine to leave the batteries connected like this for a few days. I have a 900mm x 900mm tile that will rest on top of the handles without touching anything. View attachment 975888 View attachment 975892 View attachment 975894

Congrats!

 

[RonSwanson]

So I finally got my 4 extra panels installed, now I have 2x MPPT strings with a total of just over 6 kWp (from 4.5 kWp). Such a pleasure to start generating power at 05H20, and to have batteries charged by 09H00, despite overcast conditions. Now I also have some headroom for overcast days, so I can make toast / do washing / mow the lawn comfortably without using Eskom, and still have plenty spare for load shedding / outages. In retrospect, I should have done it months ago already with the initial install.

 

[wingnut771]

So I finally got my 4 extra panels installed, now I have 2x MPPT strings with a total of just over 6 kWp (from 4.5 kWp). Such a pleasure to start generating power at 05H20, and to have batteries charged by 09H00, despite overcast conditions. Now I also have some headroom for overcast days, so I can make toast / do washing / mow the lawn comfortably without using Eskom, and still have plenty spare for load shedding / outages. In retrospect, I should have done it months ago already with the initial install.

How much roof space you have left?

 

[RonSwanson]

How much roof space you have left?

Plenty, enough for 4 more panels on the house's roof, as well as the whole double garage roof. Roof space is not the problem, I am currently close to the operating voltage limits of the 5.5K Sunsynk's MPPT controllers (max 425V each).
The 8K has the same voltage limits, but it handles a whopping 18A (vs 11A) so panels can be paralleled on strings for a max of 10.4 kWp. The 5.5K (at 6.5kWp max) is more than adequate for my needs though.

 

[ISP cash cow]

I want to add onto my system with extra panels and battery packs, but have had some other big projects I need to pay for and so will need to wait until the new year to get my additional stuff.

 

[RonSwanson]

I want to add onto my system with extra panels and battery packs, but have had some other big projects I need to pay for and so will need to wait until the new year to get my additional stuff.

Priorities..., yes.

 

[AchmatK]

One thing I noticed since taking the batteries out of the battery cabinet is that they now run about 2.5° cooler.

While charging it would peak at 35° on a hot day. Today it only peaked at 32.5°.

 

[wingnut771]

One thing I noticed since taking the batteries out of the battery cabinet is that they now run about 2.5° cooler.

While charging it would peak at 35° on a hot day. Today it only peaked at 32.5°.

Change back to the same orientation to eliminate that variable.

 

[AchmatK]

Change back to the same orientation to eliminate that variable.

Don't have the pylontech brackets to stack them on top of each other. Don't want to risk them stacked on top of each other directly.

 

[AchmatK]

Normal battery temperature range and today's temperature. Already started to drop to 31.8 from the peak.

-100° was when I disconnected the battery to remove them from the cabinet.

 

[gbyleveldt]

Normal battery temperature range and today's temperature. Already started to drop to 31.8 from the peak.

-100° was when I disconnected the battery to remove them from the cabinet. View attachment 976106 View attachment 976108

I've got 6 * US2000's stacked right on top of each other and temps hover between 28 at night and 32 during the day when it's pretty hot outside. It used to be between 27 and 30 when there was only 4 with 1U between them. Granted, they're smaller, but it's only a problem when they hit really high temps. According to the data sheet, they are designed to work between 0-50deg. 32deg is pretty far from that (and that's internal temps) so I really don't think it's an issue.

Edit: Today's ambient is not high but this is with the batts fully charged.

 

[AchmatK]

Not too concerned about the temp. Just thinking of keeping it as close to 25° as possible as cycle life is rated at 6 000 cycles @ 25°.

Can't find the cycle rates at different temperatures for the pylontech batteries.

 

[RonSwanson]

One thing I noticed since taking the batteries out of the battery cabinet is that they now run about 2.5° cooler.

While charging it would peak at 35° on a hot day. Today it only peaked at 32.5°.

I have exactly the same cabinet and I noticed the same thing, so now the door is permanently off. The cabinet also does not have provision for fans of any sort.

 

[mariusmeyer]

Well my battery purchase has been put on hold. Apparently there is a recall of the latest batch of the US3000C due to a BMS issue. Hopefully they sort it out soon in the new year.

 

[AchmatK]

The plan eventually is to move the fridge and freezer when I redo the kitchen and build a dry wall with a sliding door to keep the inverter and batteries hidden away.

Might just stack all the batteries on the floor from the left corner running towards the inverter without the server rack. I should be able to line up 8 batteries this way. Checked and the pylontech batteries can be mounted vertically against the wall so leaving them standing upright like this shouldn't be a problem.

Another option would be to build a bench against the wall to hide the batteries leaving enough space inside for the batteries. Could then mount some fans in the side of the bench frame with ventilation holes to allow air to move through.

 

[RonSwanson]

Well my battery purchase has been put on hold. Apparently there is a recall of the latest batch of the US3000C due to a BMS issue. Hopefully they sort it out soon in the new year.

Are you able to verify the claim? Just make sure that it's not a salesperson pushing some other tin in its place.

 

[RonSwanson]

The plan eventually is to move the fridge and freezer when I redo the kitchen and build a dry wall with a sliding door to keep the inverter and batteries hidden away.

Might just stack all the batteries on the floor from the left corner running towards the inverter without the server rack. I should be able to line up 8 batteries this way. Checked and the pylontech batteries can be mounted vertically against the wall so leaving them standing upright like this shouldn't be a problem.

Another option would be to build a bench against the wall to hide the batteries leaving enough space inside for the batteries. Could then mount some fans in the side of the bench frame with ventilation holes to allow air to move through. View attachment 976368

So NOW we know what consumes so much power in your home!

I like the bench idea, but would lift them at least about 7-10cm off the floor using those wooden pallets that your panels came on.

 

[RonSwanson]

I've got 6 * US2000's stacked right on top of each other and temps hover between 28 at night and 32 during the day when it's pretty hot outside. It used to be between 27 and 30 when there was only 4 with 1U between them. Granted, they're smaller, but it's only a problem when they hit really high temps. According to the data sheet, they are designed to work between 0-50deg. 32deg is pretty far from that (and that's internal temps) so I really don't think it's an issue.

Edit: Today's ambient is not high but this is with the batts fully charged.
View attachment 976188

Temperature is a huge concern for me as well. I have installed two aluminium 350mm Tornado roof ventilators in my garage, with 4x 30x30 bottom vents in the steel doors, but it isn't enough. I need to address the root cause: the bare IBR roofing without ceiling. I will soon install two layers of Starfibre (75mm and 130mm) backed with AluFoil and steel ropes to suspend the whole lot.

 

[Neuk_]

Over 3.8kw out of 10 360w PV panels , split between East and West facing...