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#solarpower

kennychaffin@diasp.org
Kenny Chaffin

My Solar Exploits

I received my final two batteries bring my total storage to 25.5 Kwh.
All hooked up and working, but for some reason I'm not seeing a discrepancy in power via Solar Assistant.
There is something like 200 W that is sort of invisible. The missing power does not show up as being depleted from the
battery when running on battery only and is also missing when the battery is charging from Solar. It seems to be there
but is not being reflected/indicated properly. Chased this problem for most of yesterday to no avail.

Also still no progress on being able to see the multiple batteries from Solar Assistant. Have tried various cables and no luck. I almost resorted to cutting communication cables (basically phone cables in this case) and checking/rewiring because it seems there is a connection issue.

Have installed battery communication software as recommended by Sungold (battery and inverter company) on a laptop but no connectivity to the batteries. If I can get this to work I should be able to connect the Raspberry Pi running Solar Assistant to the batteries and be able to see the details of each rack battery etc. through Solar Assistant.

Also it is quite evident now that the six solar panels will not be able to fully charge the battery system unless loads are limited or we have continuous sunny skies (but likely not even then except in sever rationing of load power :) _ I find it fascinating my awareness and knowledge of power consumption of devices around the house these days. :)

Have contacted Sungold about purchasing a communication cable for their batteries and in the mean time have ordered another one from another company which just might work. Why not just throw more $$$ at the problem, right? LOL! It's just money after all.

In the mean time I got some Hardie Board and am looking at a more permanent installation on the wall behind where the system currently sits. I'll need to open the ceiling/wall a bit to get at least one cable from above to provide AC input power to the system.
(I currently have a cord plugged into the Electric Dryer plug across the room to the right.)

Enjoy!

#solar #power #energy #solarpower

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kennychaffin@diasp.org
Kenny Chaffin

My Solar Exploits

Received the third battery ... two more delayed until today (hopefully)...
Tidied things up a bit and shifted positions. The plan is to mount the inverter on the wall just behind where it is now with the batteries below. I still need to find a reasonable rack to mount the batteries. And man these things are heavy, even the Fedex driver thinks so. :) he had a look of misery when I told him two more were coming tomorrow. :)

Once I get the last two batteries in place I'll let it run that way through the month and maybe next month to evaluate operation and impact on power bill etc. Also the capability of the current 6 Solar Panels and how much if any needs to be added. (likely a doubling to 12)

Lots of finishing up work to do....mounting the inverter and doing the best I can to make it legal/inspectable etc.

#solar #power #solarpower

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kennychaffin@diasp.org
Kenny Chaffin

My Solar Exploits

Cloudy, rainy, snowy yesterday and today. Good opportunity to see how the new system operates under these conditions.

Very little solar power generation yesterday and that went towards home usage (as opposed to charging batteries).
the batteries hit the low threshold point (10% SOC - state of charge) early this morning and the system seamlessly switched to grid power and began charging the batteries which it has been doing for the last few hours. Batteries are now at about 95% SOC. I'm waiting/looking for the system to automatically switch back to battery operation once they are fully charged (I likely will change this parameter once I verify that it is operating as designed/set)

I've used/pulled more grid power in the last few hours than I did all week. :) I don't like it (because that's my goal, to eliminate the grid and grid usage as much as possible) but it is very useful and important data for future operation.

Also I just notice that my Xcel utility bill is totaled up ... no statement yet with the details, but initial guesstimate is that I saved something like 30-49% of my electricity bill $$ this past month. I should be able to download the statement in a few days and get a better estimate. It's a bit of guesswork in any case given that conditions vary from year to year and mostly I'm comparing to last year's bills and the past month bill etc.

Onward and Upward!
The Sun is our Savior, we shall not want.

#energy #solar #solarpower

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kennychaffin@diasp.org
Kenny Chaffin

My Solar Exploits

(current image of the beast)

Spent almost all of yesterday trying to figure out why/how to display/view multiple battery status. Now that I have (currently) two rack-mount batteries I thought I'd be able to see the status of each one separately....but nothing in the inverter appears to support that and Solar Assistant is not doing it either. It may be a software issue I'm thinking...this inverter was recently added to the Solar Assistant arsenal apparently.

BTW after a couple of days using Solar Assistant .... I"M LOVING IT! Way more information (and historical information! in charts and graphs) than I was able to glean from the Ecoflow Delta Pro or the new 10K Sungold inverter.

I've now got a majority of my house (via transfer switch) running from solar/battery - Office, Internet, TV/Radio/Entertainment center, Refrigerator, Toaster Oven, Microwave, Furnace (gas) but blower is electric, various overhead lights and plugs. Just looking at my transfer switch and breaker box only one minor transfer circuit (of the 6) is still on grid power as of yesterday and seem to have made it through the night without issues. I'll try to keep it running like this through November and see what the difference in Grid Power Consumption is. Hopefully my 3 additional rack mount batteries and the rack will arrive soon...but no word yet from the vendor - Sungold. The did charge my credit card of course ... a week ago!! and still no shipment date! Grrrrrr!!!

Need to decide on where/how to more permanently mount the inverter and batteries and how to run the wiring etc. to hopefully meet code requirements at some point in the future. Also thinking that I may need a few more solar panels ... particularly for the cloudy/snowy/dark strings of days.

Sincerely,
Your Fellow Sun Worshipper :)

#solar #solarpower #power

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kennychaffin@diasp.org
Kenny Chaffin

Today's Solar Exploits

Moved some panels around to get optimum sun. Began working early to tidy up some of the cables but never got to it as I got distracted once again by the non-working wifi. After a bit more frustration and no help at all from Sungold Support...I went a different direction...may had suggested Solar Assistant but it seemed difficult...but....I really want to be able to keep an eye on this thing, at least for now. Dug out the Raspberry Pi and cables and etc. Refamiliarized myself with it then studied the Solar Assistant website/manuals/products (you can buy a fully configured Pi and Software and other stuff) I opted to buy the software and give it a go.
after much fiddling around and nothing I realized there was a Update Link.... Updated and yes, my inverter WAS Supported... a bit more fiddling with configuration and got 'er going and it's wonderful! It has addressed my separation anxiety! Yes!

Also received the second battery that had gotten lost a couple of times and got it connected....seems to be working but something is strange (maybe) in seeing it in the inverter and on Solar Assist... that will be tomorrow's challenge I guess.

Here's the mess with second battery and the lil Raspberry Pi sitting on the inverter.

#solar #power #solarpower #energy

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kennychaffin@diasp.org
Kenny Chaffin

Well folks...here goes step #2 in my solar escapades

I received 4 additional 550 watt panels today (after a fiasco with amazon....trying to cancel, then not then etc.) and I've been considering going full bore with a EG4 10Kpv but after hearing so many issues with Signature Solar Support, Warranty, Warranty returns, etc....I decided against even going with a smaller reconditioned brother the the 10Kpv ... as well as other reasons with the little brother....Instead I have opted to go with a Sunpower All in one 10KW 48V Split Phase Solar Inverter and two 48 volt 100 amp rack mount batteries (less the rack at this point).

This will give me a relatively significant starter system with the 6 panels (3+ Kw total) just ground mounted or some such in the back yard.

Will continue forward in Rogue/Stealth mode but may opt for full legal licensed and inspected system in the coming future....assuming of course the Republicans don't plunge us into civil war....but I'll have electricity even if they do!

#solar #power #solarpower #energy #climate

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kennychaffin@diasp.org
Kenny Chaffin

THESE TWO SOLAR ENERGY OPTIONS COULD SAVE YOU TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS — HERE’S EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT MAKING THE SWITCH

If you’re considering a switch to solar, then the first big decision you’ll need to make is how you want to access this cheap, clean, abundant energy source.

https://www.thecooldown.com/green-home/solar-panels-options-explainer-installation/

#solar #energy #power #solarpower

These two solar energy options could save you tens of thousands of dollars — here's everything to know about making the switch

Solar panels are a big investment with a significant impact for your finances and for the planet.

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