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Question of the Day: Which is the most hair-raising South African mountain pass you've driven?
Solar Power Thread
- Thread starter empirex
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biometrics
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Some pics:
Solar panel. Moved here recently so set it up outside my study so long. Needs to be moved to the roof:
It's all in this box. Note the extensions were attached today. Not very neat.
Box opened with various components balancing on the edge:
200 W sine wave invertor. Multiplug directly wired to it. Sine wave is much more expensive but preferred by electronics. This model can burst to 400 W for 20 seconds or so, e.g, using a drill:
Regulator. Keeps battery charged for longevity (don't connect a panel directly to the battery). This connects the panel and battery. Also has 12 V connections where I have connected female cigarette lighter adapters for devices you use in your car. When using the 12 V connection the regulator will stop supply at around 50% battery charge to protect the battery. Discovered this in the Karoo with my portable car fridge.
Deep cycle battery. Invertor and regulator connected to it.
All this is 10 years old and still works 100%. Just replaced the battery this year. You could add more batteries in parallel for more storage capacity.
Solar panel. Moved here recently so set it up outside my study so long. Needs to be moved to the roof:
It's all in this box. Note the extensions were attached today. Not very neat.
Box opened with various components balancing on the edge:
200 W sine wave invertor. Multiplug directly wired to it. Sine wave is much more expensive but preferred by electronics. This model can burst to 400 W for 20 seconds or so, e.g, using a drill:
Regulator. Keeps battery charged for longevity (don't connect a panel directly to the battery). This connects the panel and battery. Also has 12 V connections where I have connected female cigarette lighter adapters for devices you use in your car. When using the 12 V connection the regulator will stop supply at around 50% battery charge to protect the battery. Discovered this in the Karoo with my portable car fridge.
Deep cycle battery. Invertor and regulator connected to it.
All this is 10 years old and still works 100%. Just replaced the battery this year. You could add more batteries in parallel for more storage capacity.
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biometrics
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Oh btw you could do it much cheaper if you already have a car battery charger. Just get a small car battery and square wave inverter from Makro for under R1,350. Charge up after using it during load shedding.
http://www.makro.co.za/diy/moto-quip-300w-power-inverter-124500EA
R569
http://www.makro.co.za/diy/probe-610-premium-battery-164199EA
R769
If you shop around you'll get it cheaper. Check out a 4x4 shop. I've also seen models that have a charger and inverter in one. Note though they are square wave.
http://www.makro.co.za/diy/moto-quip-300w-power-inverter-124500EA
R569
http://www.makro.co.za/diy/probe-610-premium-battery-164199EA
R769
If you shop around you'll get it cheaper. Check out a 4x4 shop. I've also seen models that have a charger and inverter in one. Note though they are square wave.
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HavocXphere
Honorary Master
Nice one bio.
Using an old UPS rigged to a multiplug...enough to keep a light on so that I can read my kindle...
Still want to try rigging it into the DB of the house so that I can keep the roof LEDs on too.
Bigger problem right now is the cooking side...seriously thinking I need to hit a farming co-op tomorrow and grab some gas gear.
Speaking of solar - I see Osram is now making LED security lights (the motion sensor ones) that are Solar+battery driven.
Using an old UPS rigged to a multiplug...enough to keep a light on so that I can read my kindle...
Still want to try rigging it into the DB of the house so that I can keep the roof LEDs on too.
Bigger problem right now is the cooking side...seriously thinking I need to hit a farming co-op tomorrow and grab some gas gear.
Speaking of solar - I see Osram is now making LED security lights (the motion sensor ones) that are Solar+battery driven.
scud
Expert Member
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roughly how long would this single car battery setup run an adsl router and a PC for . 20 mins ? 5 hours ?
biometrics
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Obviously going to depend on the Ah of the battery and the W you draw, but it's safe to say a laptop, modem and a CFL/LED light will get you through a 2-3 hour load shed.
A gaming desktop with a big screen ... No.
Keep in mind with this type of setup your battery will only last a year or two.
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Some pics:
Solar panel. Moved here recently so set it up outside my study so long. Needs to be moved to the roof:
Are you taking a performance hit with it sitting on the ground like that? I would like to get solar, but I dont have a suitable roof so I was thinking if putting it against the wall in the garden since it will get the right light there.
HavocXphere
Honorary Master
As long as it gets sufficient rays for sufficient hours then it doesn't matter where it is.Are you taking a performance hit with it sitting on the ground like that? I would like to get solar, but I dont have a suitable roof so I was thinking if putting it against the wall in the garden since it will get the right light there.
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Are you taking a performance hit with it sitting on the ground like that? I would like to get solar, but I dont have a suitable roof so I was thinking if putting it against the wall in the garden since it will get the right light there.
Yes this is not optimal. I just put it there as I moved here recently and wanted to get my system running again. It should be on the roof (but there's no easy way to install it on the roof atm). That said it does charge my system more than I use it so it's actually fine. I only use my setup as a backup.
biometrics
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It's north facing on the east side of the house, so I lose half a day.
scud
Expert Member
thats cool Biometrics, I'm going to try this.
I have a charger & inverter, so i can just rig up to my car battery when needed
I have a charger & inverter, so i can just rig up to my car battery when needed
biometrics
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Rather buy a spare battery.
how long does it take to fill the battery then ?
Jola
Honorary Master
I haven't actually gone solar yet, although I have been toying with it for years.
At the moment I have two deep cycle 105Ah batteries, that I keep charged, and a couple of inverters that I use when the power is down.
Although I have tried to get chargers for all my devices that charge off 12v, it is much more efficient not to use an inverter.
I have a large sine wave inverter that I bought on a sale a few years ago (after 2008), but this is not connected up at the moment - will see how things go, but I had better test it to see if it is still ok.
At the moment I have two deep cycle 105Ah batteries, that I keep charged, and a couple of inverters that I use when the power is down.
Although I have tried to get chargers for all my devices that charge off 12v, it is much more efficient not to use an inverter.
I have a large sine wave inverter that I bought on a sale a few years ago (after 2008), but this is not connected up at the moment - will see how things go, but I had better test it to see if it is still ok.
Jola
Honorary Master
Normal batteries won't last long if you run them down too much, they are not designed for that.
Although some of the new technology batteries can handle it.
itareanlnotani
Executive Member
Its the 1 year anniversary of my solar system (+- a week).
I've generated about 6.25MW so far, and its been pretty painless post install.
Everything just works.
As I have a little spare cash again, I've taken the plunge and got all the bits I needed to go slightly offgrid now.
3 x Inverters (Victron Multiplus 3KV / 24v) + 2 batteries 12v / 220Ah.
When I get a little more money I'll be buying more batteries, this basically enables me to keep running when Eskom is not.
Daytime when the sun is running, and the panels are being supplied with juice I'll be fine if Eskom go offline.
Nighttime, if they go out, we'll stay up for about 4hrs @ 50% discharge on batteries at our typical usage patterns (500-700w/hr usage). I'll need another 8-10 batteries to go completely offgrid should I need to (eg if pricing for power gets sillier).
I've generated about 6.25MW so far, and its been pretty painless post install.
Everything just works.
As I have a little spare cash again, I've taken the plunge and got all the bits I needed to go slightly offgrid now.
3 x Inverters (Victron Multiplus 3KV / 24v) + 2 batteries 12v / 220Ah.
When I get a little more money I'll be buying more batteries, this basically enables me to keep running when Eskom is not.
Daytime when the sun is running, and the panels are being supplied with juice I'll be fine if Eskom go offline.
Nighttime, if they go out, we'll stay up for about 4hrs @ 50% discharge on batteries at our typical usage patterns (500-700w/hr usage). I'll need another 8-10 batteries to go completely offgrid should I need to (eg if pricing for power gets sillier).
when
Arthur
Honorary Master
Happy anniversary!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience and expertise - a real value-add to the forum and the community.
One can't help commiserating with our compatriots who suffer the current lack of current.
richjdavies
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Just as a quick question -- What do you to control that your batteries don't discharge >50%?
The way I understand it is, your battery & inverters will basically keep going until the battery dies (i.e. voltage drops too low...) but if that's because someone has left a light or heater on you might end up killing your batteries discharging them right down to 0% after the first load-shed.
Is there any technology out there that will let me say run different levels for different circuits e.g:
- If batteries are >90% then make all circuits live (this would cover your 'daytime' situation)
- If batteries are >60% then only run 'essential' circuits -- probably lights, and possibly ONE hard to reach socket (e.g. router, pc etc?)
- If batteries are <50% then switch everything off, unless manual override?
If there isn't a solution to this currently, would you guys fancy one?
The way I understand it is, your battery & inverters will basically keep going until the battery dies (i.e. voltage drops too low...) but if that's because someone has left a light or heater on you might end up killing your batteries discharging them right down to 0% after the first load-shed.
Is there any technology out there that will let me say run different levels for different circuits e.g:
- If batteries are >90% then make all circuits live (this would cover your 'daytime' situation)
- If batteries are >60% then only run 'essential' circuits -- probably lights, and possibly ONE hard to reach socket (e.g. router, pc etc?)
- If batteries are <50% then switch everything off, unless manual override?
If there isn't a solution to this currently, would you guys fancy one?