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Haltzy
Member
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# Posted: 28 Jul 2013 09:35pm
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Hey Guys;
just need some help reviewing my current setup that i'm using up at the lake.
I was going to make a video but I want to have a plan together before I go up next week.
please have a look at the attached file and let me know if you see any bottle necks. I have really been trying to ensure that my wire size is adequate.
let me know your thoughts and what I could do to make this setup better.
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Haltzy
Member
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# Posted: 28 Jul 2013 09:38pm
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Trying to add a photo. How do you do it?
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CabinBuilder
Admin
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# Posted: 29 Jul 2013 11:09am
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Quoting: Haltzy Trying to add a photo. How do you do it?
See How to add pictures to your post on Small Cabin Forum
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GomerPile
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jul 2013 11:35am - Edited by: GomerPile
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2 AWG is rated (best case 90C wire) at 130 amps. A 2000 watt inverter will draw (I = P/E; I=2000/12V; I=166.66 amps). A 2 AWG wire won't safely power a 2000 watt inverter. That wire will handle (P=I*E; P=130*12; P=1560 watts) maximum...that is for wire with 90 degree C insulation (welding cable).
Personally, I would oversize those cables to the biggest wire that will connect to your devices in order to reduce voltage loss across the cables. Theres a bunch of welding cable and terminals on ebay...
Also: make sure your panel frames are grounded and run that ground wire to the place where your batteries are. Install a ground rod someplace close to the batteries. At one point in your system the minus side of the battery should be tied to the ground rod along with the solar panel ground wire. If you install a lightning supressor it also goes to the ground rod.
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Haltzy
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jul 2013 11:55am
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Just to confirm.. Did my PDF work?
I will be looking at upgrading all the battery connection wire and the wires running to my inverter to a 0/2 welding cable. The inverer im running is a 1500watt pure sine. I will make this upgrade in the wintrer when i bring the system home.
One thing that has been picking at me is the location on where i tied in the CC and where im pulling off for the invertor. As seen in the picture, im pulling off on the same terminal that is connected to the CC. Should these be at seperate ends of the bank? Or is ok to have them together and have the negative at the other end?
Thanks forr the input, i will be making all the upgrades to macimize the poutput of this sytem.. already costed a boatload of money, but at least i have lights.....
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CabinBuilder
Admin
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# Posted: 29 Jul 2013 12:06pm
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Quoting: Haltzy Just to confirm.. Did my PDF work?
I have converted it to JPG image and re-uploaded it.
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Truecabin
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jul 2013 12:14pm - Edited by: Truecabin
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seperate circuits 12 volts for led lights only is the most efficient and low cost and dont have to burn up power with the inverter just to have light
the inverter uses more power than leds
are all those 50w & 100w for lights? you can do it with 5w and 10w leds and be just as bright and the inverter stays on idle waiting for a real need
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GomerPile
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jul 2013 12:14pm - Edited by: GomerPile
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Does not matter where you tap for the inverter...whatever makes a good connection.
Be sure and use the 2/0 wire for the battery series connections....
I also use 2/0 wire and matching crimp terminals on my system.
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Haltzy
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jul 2013 02:46pm
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Yes we currently have 2 100w and 4 50w panels. the light comment was more of a joke, we run lots off the system. I will post some pics later next week when i get home from the lake.
We use the inverter to run a ice machine, stereo etc..
The goal is to not have to use a generator unless running heating elements or power tools.
I typically just plug our trailer into the inverter when we get there and we have full 120v power in the trailer.
Chris
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Truecabin
Member
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# Posted: 30 Jul 2013 12:49am
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400w thats a lot of power
ice from the sunw is cool 
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Haltzy
Member
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2013 12:08pm
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Hey Guys;
So I got my two new 100watt panels installed this weekend. Everything went good used 8awg wire for them (6 foot run). During the peak hours of the day I was making around 25-28amps which is at the high end of the capabilities of my CC (30amp).
I have still yet to see my CC go into floating mode which would suggest that my batteries are not reaching 100% charge. I even went as far as to add a trickle charge throughout the day while running the generator for tools and such.
Does anyone have any thoughts on what my charge times should look like? I have 4 245amp/hr 6v batteries.
Chris
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GomerPile
Member
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2013 01:38pm
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If they were empty:
490 amp hours / 25 amps = 19.6 hours BUT......
Lead acid batteries have an 80% charge efficiency so you're looking at 24.5 hours. This is a theoretical number of course.
Not sure what kind of charge controller you have...my C40 has 2 pots inside that need to be adjusted based on battery type. Does your charge controller need to be configured?
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Haltzy
Member
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2013 10:30pm
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I will look into this, thanks for the info.
I'm currently running a Blue Planet CC from Canadian Tire. It is next on my list to upgrade, moving up to a higher amp rating and MPTT.
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Dillio187
Member
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# Posted: 8 Aug 2013 12:30pm
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you might want to get a battery monitor so you know what your batteries are doing. I recommend the Trimetric 2025, I have two of them and they are great. They show voltage for up to 2 banks, amperage in or out, and percentage full of battery capacity. I have pictures of mine at home, I will try to remember to post them up tonight. At less than $200 for the monitor and a shunt, it's almost a no brainer.
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