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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2021 13:29:45 GMT -5
Thanks, your answer helps alot
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2021 4:03:49 GMT -5
Notice this black carbon stuff in my electrolyte. My supplier tells me it is KOH reacting with Carbon in the air. Interesting. Normal reason why Ni-Fe cells are cleansed after 8 yrs and replaced with new electrolyte. Shalom
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2021 14:34:03 GMT -5
The system so far The fridge runs first time off grid, draws 4 amps and is 150Watts. The load overnight was only to 25Volts, so I suspect the batteries are still 80% full. Only two more inverters to go before complete.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2021 15:06:48 GMT -5
The water is half way between the max line and the min line, is so misleading, you think the water level is OK in each battery cell. Instead some cell plates were exposed. (see red arrow) I added 500ml to each cell, distilled water. SO I plan to keep water level 5mm above max line and at max line its time to add more water.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2021 21:37:40 GMT -5
The nearly completed system Pipes to remove H2 gas 24V light wires done 5 Inverters for the 5 lines, 3 to the house and 2 for the power house, bore pump and water pump. Shalom
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2021 4:08:14 GMT -5
Finally got the MPPT boxes to work perfectly The stats for the last 2 days since they are working correctly Absorb is 30V Float is 29 V Taking 6 hours to fill battery seems not good for bulk. Need more panels, get charging amps to 90amps would be better, currently I have 60 amps. Will increase absorb to 33V next week Shalom
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2021 13:26:26 GMT -5
Having trouble with getting storage from my battery bank, I get the impression the charging voltage is used to increase SOC (state of charge). My system has taken over 5 days to get past bulk, and runs out of solar sunshine time, it's currently reaching 32.6 V, still not there at 33V. So I suspect the amount of charging I have is too low.
I need NOT 25 to 60 amps, I need 60 to 90 amps. This will make my bank reach float in a single day. Rather than waiting for 5 days, and if I throw in the loads (water and bore pump) my system will never have enough amps to overcome the loss, plus reach the expected float.
Shalom
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Post by Dave on May 12, 2021 14:14:49 GMT -5
So I suspect the amount of charging I have is too low. “plus reach the expected float.”We suggested so in past posts How can your batteries float if the load is always greater than the charge? Your problem is – as I see it – too much centralizationYou expect more from your system that it is capable – you need to diversify This will make my bank reach float in a single day.Every day? – I am sure I don’t do this every day But – I allow my batteries to draw deep at times – 40/30% and if I throw in the loads (water and bore pump) my system will never have enough amps to overcome the loss, plus reach the expected float.OK – just talking here But to fix your problem you are going to spend money Consider other slave options Here – for the first three years all we had was a 2000watt gas generator We had lights – but most of our lighting was solar yard lamps -= automatic on at dark And by the middle of the night they were dim enough to be night lights But every morning Dad had to go outside rain/ sleet/ or snow to start the generator And it didn’t take long to wire the kill switch inside 3 years – of 5 gallon gas cans = $90 a month on an average If my present batteries last until October = solar cost monthly average = $83 a month $83 a month is my target because 12 years of a large system before average $83 a month after 12 years (gas for that Saturday generator included) Currently – I do not have two day storage capacity – I live in the sunshine You are supposed to build for three days storage – in case of bad weather I just use the generator I have a 3600 watt generator I use for my skill saw or table saw And I use it 3/4/5 times a year to transfer water from underground to the bath room storage tank Whenever the generator is running – it is charging my batteries If it was a zero solar day – like Tuesday this week We lived by panel till dusk – then I filled the generator and let it run all night and forced my batteries into equalize mode Example – In my last house we ran the generator all day Saturday The well was pumping – the batteries were equalizing – and the washer and dryer were running With all your pumping demands – you really need to give this some consideration I have looked at them for myself – the $$$ is proportional to depth of lift 360 gals per hour at 210 feet lift delivered to me <$600 You are so lucky – you do not freeze I just sank another 1700 gal tank in the ground here for $2109 USD Above ground tanks are cheaper Think ranch supplies – farm supplies In the Philippines – they set steel water tanks on their roof and call it a hot water heater You just built a block building – a block tank / trough / water storage and let gravity water your trees Just talking
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2021 3:41:42 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice Dave.
I did try a solar bore pump, the cost was 3,500 and it last only 3 years. Spending a further 1,200 dollars I get 4 solar panels giving me another 30 amps. This lifts my intake to 80 amps on a sunny day. My total outtake with everything on, is only 45 amps, so in theory I can add more than I take.
With inverters near 92 %, and 240volt pumps are cheaper (500 verses 2500), I have already purchased 3 500W 240 bore pumps, enough to last 12 years, all for a cost of 600 dollars.
Your snow home would be far different to me, no solar and you need massive heating. In our winters, we have nothing compared to yours, we only get a few frosty nights, and bright sunny days.
As for the centralization idea, I agree, with you. But never tried Ni-Fe before, and you can't hurt them, they last forever. The only costs I have a water pumps, inverters and solar chargers. This is a total of 4,500 and they should last 5 years, so that is about a monthly cost of $75. I expect the inverters to last more than 5 years but I will see.
The batteries only cost 800 dollars every 8 years, to replace electrolyte.
Its great to know I can't hurt them in any way. Better than lead acid.
So I guess my solution is to spend another 1,200 for more panels.
Will keep you informed of the update when I can finally afford them. Shalom
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2021 4:44:29 GMT -5
OK Dave, I will leave this alone for now. I was so happy you agree with my over the GMO issue on kilayim. My God overlook our differences and treat us according to the light we live by. Just a change of topic, my friend. My off grid system is overcharging, my three MPPT boxes (seen top left of picture) are rated at 30 amps are delivering on average up to 70 amps of charge into my batteries, and they start on bulk, than adsorb and finally float. But they do not do this, as one in harmony. It's missmatch. Some remain on absorb overcharging my batteries. In your system do you have one solar controller, or three like I have? How do you prevent your wind generator from overcharging your batteries? My way out, is to upgrade the three BLue Solar MPPT by Victron to Smart Solar by Victron. They sold me products that do not work. (view up close of the three MPPT boxes, both on float, for a change) I guess you pay the price for knowledge. Overall apart from adding 5 litres to my batteries each week, they are going great. Shalom my friend, and thanks for your help in off grid living.
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Post by Dave on Oct 11, 2021 9:49:59 GMT -5
My off grid system is overcharging, my three MPPT boxes (seen top left of picture) are rated at 30 amps are delivering on average up to 70 amps of charge into my batteries, and they start on bulk, than adsorb and finally float.
But they do not do this, as one in harmony. It's missmatch. Some remain on absorb overcharging my batteries.
In your system do you have one solar controller, or three like I have?I have two – and they are never in sync. They never do bulk charge together. If one is charging at 14.2 – the other will see the system as full and just float. How do you prevent your wind generator from overcharging your batteries?Wind power is not smart – they give whatever the wind gives – overcharging is a major issueEvery wind power system MUST include a DUMP CONTROLERI have - Cutting Edge Power Wind Turbine 12V Charge Controller This is just slaved to the batteries – it has an adjustable set point – mine is set at 14.6v Anytime the system voltage is >14.6 the excess power is dumped into a heat sink. Some folk use an electric water heater to absorb the extra power. My neighbor has several windmills and a 10 gal electric water heater setting on the floor next to his propane water heater that is elevated 0.5 meter. I just have two heat sinks under my water tank to help freezing water lines in winter. It works – once in a while. Enough to protect my system, just not enough to heat the room. Second idea – I am not an expert – but you have a long inline battery bank The voltage at one end is not the same as the middle or the other end. Man you add a lot of water – I haven’t used a quart in 3 years Question – do ll your batteries drink the same amount evenly – Balanced or do some drink more than others?- imbalance? My system 20 years ago – was imbalance – the front end always needed more waterIf you have 3 chargers – what of – just talking – experimenting – thinking out loud What if – you tied one to the front end – middle – butt end of your battery bank? People here do not use long in-line banks any more – one weak spot and the whole suffersIt is series banks of 6 (isolated) then in parallel to the charger/inverter I though the change was to eliminate that imbalance – as well as – a better way to detect a weak battery or connection (each bank of 6 is/can be individually monitored – and/or isolated. Another advantage = many people here have 24 or more batteries to run their big houses – replacing all at once is costly! 24 batteries = 4 banks of 6 batteries – folk here replace only 6 at a time. FACT - all 24 batteries will not age the same - at the end of 12 years I still had electricity from somewhere. Neighbore just swapped out his 24 - used 12 somewhere else - gave me 4 - Im still using them in my out buildings.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2021 14:19:36 GMT -5
Nice advice Dave. My batteries are Nickel Iron, and the line is broken into two so the +ve end and the -ve ends come to the same point. The batteries are charged from each end, not from the same side. This forces the current to travel to both ends of the long line at the same time. The three cells closest to the +ve end need slightly more water than the others, the last six on the -ve end are the cleanest of the cells. All cells make carbon, sending the cells black, in time after 8 years, one tips out the sludge carbon and fill new KOH electrolyte back again. The loss of conductivity is fixed by two rails of connections and last posts, 20mm in dia. My battery is designed to last 100 years, so the metal in them never wears out, only the electrolyte does. SO your two chargers do what my three chargers do, ... I have more sunshine than you, so lucky, I don't need a generator, though I have one, never used it. I must get round to making a wind generator one day, just like yours D" My system 20 years ago – was imbalance – the front end always needed more waterI think that is the nature of charging, the +ve gets more current despite design. But overall each cell gets the exact same amounts, 125ml or twice, 150ml, roughly each week. The bubbling away is the overcharging as the MPPT boxes do not work together as one. The way to fix this is to throw away my Blue Solar, and purchases Smart Solar. What do you think of the gas pipes which extract the H2 gas uphill towards the outside? And also five 240V inverters, rather than one massive one? Its cheaper to purchase more popular items, than larger unpopular ones, around $1000 cheaper. So less to replace when one item fails. Enjoy your snow weather, while I swelter in the heat. Shalom
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2022 18:03:39 GMT -5
AN update on my off grid spiritualsprings.org/ss-1595.htmThis is the installation the VIctron BMV 712 monitor. I take you through the actual power stored on your batteries, not the same as in theory. Shalom
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2022 15:31:46 GMT -5
The BMV 712 monitor says 75% SOC, -22 amps leaving battery and 71 Amp hr consumed overnight, its 6:30 am, no sunshine yet on panels.
Figured out my battery bank is only 300 Amp hour, not the advertised 500Amp/hr
Shalom
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2022 15:32:46 GMT -5
The BMV 712 monitor says 83% SOC, -24 amps leaving battery and 100 Amp hr consumed overnight, its 6:30 am, no sunshine yet on panels.
Left my battery bank as 500Amp/hr
(100-500)/ 500 = 80%, so yes seems OK
Voltage at 80% is 24.19 Hmm? Not sure if this is OK
SO today with only 100 Amp/hr to replace, why will my chargers take so long?
Yesterday they took the whole 7 hours...from 8 to 3...to reach float.
Something not right here? I expect the bank recharged in 2 hours tops. We will see?
Shalom
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