I have my white Kid up and running making over 27 amps!! I have it loaded with FW 1742, and I am using the WBJr and the shunt for better control. I have a 140mm fan cooling the whole setup. After just over an hour, the controller and inverter were no more than 2 degrees warmer than ambient air temperature.
It is really cool to see the Kid "notice" a load and adjust its output!! Man I like this controller!!
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Sg1oBdmwkB8/U97fvEXQHNI/AAAAAAAACSM/iuBtNfROi14/w1280-h720-no/20140803_120456.jpg)
I am using two 230 watt panels so far, but I am going to add a third to make more power during cloudy periods and earlier and later each day.
Here is the temporary setup.
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-G2WzZmZ6Q30/U97fu9FqK4I/AAAAAAAACSQ/XauOnX1Ce8o/w1280-h720-no/20140803_135113.jpg)
It is also clear to me that I need to go 24 or 48 volts!!
I have been trying to brainstorm a do it yourself solar mounting system - thanks for the idea ! ha ha . I am like you - get stuff working first and then work out the details later.
Don't you have those two panels in series ? Or do you mean you want to go 24 or 48 volt with your batteries ?
Do not mock the kitty litter containers, they don't like that....:)
I plan on "flying" the panels but I need to make the frame and finish the dirt work in that area first. I have a two axis tracking system to use when I go permeant placement, but for now, this works well enough.
I mean for the batteries to be set up in 24 or 48 volts. I'm already at 27 amps in a 12 volts deep cycle setup, and I could use more power.... Hint Hint......
Of course, that means getting another inverter......or two....
Hi Brian
Can you share with us at what voltage you see going to the battery at the 27 amp rate?
Thanks
Kent
Kent,
It shows 13.5V 363W
B
Quote from: Highflyer on August 04, 2014, 02:40:28 PMI have a 140mm fan cooling the whole setup. After just over an hour, the controller and inverter were no more than 2 degrees warmer than ambient air temperature.
Did you cut a hole in the cabinet and mount the fan? Or, is it just internally set to blow on the controller and / or inverter? Do you have another image of the inside set up that you could / would share?
FEF,
I did cut three holes in the case. One for the fan 140mm and two on the other side, 3.5 inches square. This allows me to move air over the equipment and the batteries.
I do have other pics, I'll post a few more in the morning.
Thanks, man. I look forward to viewing them.
Okay, here are a few pics from the build.
Here is my placement. Notice the square holes on the right, they are the exhaust ports. The high one moves air over the Kid and inverter, and the lower hole moves air over the batteries.
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DBRMta909cQ/U-ekg0NeKOI/AAAAAAAACTc/h1UZP8To2uw/w1280-h720-no/20140731_172838.jpg)
Here is how I set up the shunt for the WBJr.
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IsM474OfBLY/U-ekgyW4D6I/AAAAAAAACTg/YlsLtRUW-5M/w1280-h720-no/20140803_115150.jpg)
And here is my temporary wiring. I used 8 gauge for the battery cables because that is all I had at the time (i'll go 6 or 4 gauge in the future), and 10 gauge for the Kids wiring.
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Hgwxr9VYF8A/U-ekhHwobzI/AAAAAAAACTU/3v5vzkl_MGg/w1280-h720-no/20140803_115127.jpg)
I'll be adding fuses and CB's for the solar panels and loads in the near future. Also, I'll be adding power ports to the outside of the box as well.
Thanks man! Truly appreciate the photos.
Nice bit of fab work on that box. Always liked tread plate!
Being the negative Nelly I am I would be concerned with the electronics in with the battery and possible corrosive or explosive gases from the battery.
As long as the ventilation works it probably is no big deal.
Old school thinking I suppose but old habits are hard to break.
Tom
First, I like the diamond plate aluminum as well. It's always a clean finished look. Not to mention, it makes for light products.
Second, I was a bit apprehensive about the ventilation as well.
I had considered doing something similar, but wasn't nearly as brave. With his ventilation fan running - I assume constantly, I don't see a problem. Fresh air is always circulated within the box.
I have seen another, similar set up using a MorningStar controller for dock / pier lighting.
Tom,
There is going to be a "lid" for the battery portion of this box. This should separate the battery gases from the electronics with positive air pressure using half of the air flow. I'll learn as I go. The Aluminum was fun to learn how to weld. It does look good and is lighter to move.
FEF,
The fan does run 24/7. It has very low draw and is worth the cost to keep fresh air moving all the time. If I find I am running into trouble, I'll re-engineer.
The off gassing should stop within a few hours of sundown. A timer would possibly save on overnight draw
Quote from: Westbranch on August 10, 2014, 02:28:51 PM
The off gassing should stop within a few hours of sundown. A timer would possibly save on overnight draw
Back when I had a nominal 24 V array feeding my 24 V batteries through a BZ controller I just ran the fan from the solar input. The fan ran any time there was incoming power. No wasted power running when there was no charging and possible gassing. Seemed the ticket at the time. Perhaps flooded LA batteries out gas under load too but I am not sure. I never noticed gassing after charge was removed?
That was a long time ago with a completely different system than it has evolved into now.
Tom
Tom, my comment is based on a bank of 15 inch high, 'wet' NiCds I have and I often hear a burp or two a couple of hours after dark when in the same room. not consistent , just a random one or 2.
I also think walking across the floor is enough to release them from the inter plate space... while charging
Quote from: Westbranch on August 10, 2014, 05:04:56 PM
Tom, my comment is based on a bank of 15 inch high, 'wet' NiCds I have and I often hear a burp or two a couple of hours after dark when in the same room. not consistent , just a random one or 2.
I also think walking across the floor is enough to release them from the inter plate space... while charging
Yeah, I have heard my batteries gurgle at non charge times but not much or often. My floor is a concrete slab with batteries on pallets so no vibration to loosen the suspended bubbles. They do gurgle a fair bit when I am shoving 50 amps into the 450 AH bank ;D
Tom
Tom,
My fan draws just .15 amps at 12V so I don't mind a 24/7 fan. My array provides more power than I need so the little the fan uses is in the noise. It pushed more than 60 CFM, so I know there will not be any buildups.
Okay, so I got out to the farm and added a third panel this weekend and upgraded some of the wiring. Now I can make 10-15 amps even on really cloudy days. This is important to me for several reasons, but mostly because I am running an aeration system while raising some forage fish in small ponds.
Now I know I have the extra power to add even more functions using my excess power. Now if I could only get 40 amps...... :)
Also, the new wire is on its way, Next time I upgrade the wiring to and from the batteries!!
BTW, the fan is doing great. While it was 32C yesterday, I never saw above 37C from the Kid, even when it was making 30 amps during a test load. So far, so good.
You have 690 watts charging 1 - 12v battery? :D
Or, have you added another battery as well? :)
Two batteries so far, a third and forth might be added for more over night operations. Remember, I am running a 200 watt air pump so far and I am going to add a 135 watt water pump to the system. The extra panel was for more amps early in the morning and later in the evening and during overcast days. Besides, when I convert to 24 volts, the third panel will be mated to another panel for more power. Then I should be able to run 24/7.
When I am using everything, the Kid is making 417 Watts (30 amps) max. That is putting some amps into the batteries and the rest for the loads.
I get that I am waisting some of this setup while I tweak it, but I really needed the power asap. Now that the pumps are up and running, I can take some time to properly balance everything. I definitely see the benefits of 24V or even 48V systems.
Quote from: Highflyer on September 02, 2014, 10:15:57 AM
I get that I am waisting some of this setup while I tweak it, but I really needed the power asap. Now that the pumps are up and running, I can take some time to properly balance everything. I definitely see the benefits of 24V or even 48V systems.
Solar is getting so cheap that over sizing your array makes fairly good sense as long as you can keep it from over charging on "good" days.
We are moving this Spring and will probably be leaving our current battery system behind. At the new place we intend to go with a Schneider XW+ hybrid grid tie with 48 volt Lithium Ion batteries so we have backup in case of an extended outage or the Zombie apocalypse :o and will put up as many killer watts as we can afford. Hopefully enough to zero out our usage over the year. And I don't care if I pump a bit more in than I use.
So you are not the only one over sizing an array to make up for low light days.
Tom
Brian (Highflyer) I look forward to (I hope anyway) more photos in the future as you change / add on to your system.
Tom, I thought you were a zombie already? :D
It was on this forum that I learned over paneling may not be the worst thing one could ever do. In fact, in areas where there is a significant amount of rain, it is probably a good idea, especially if you have a controller that can handle it.
Tom,
Thanks for the thoughts, I figure an extra panel is cheep until I upgrade to 24V.
FEF,
I'll keep posting and hoping the experts keep give me good advise on the upgrades. Ultimately, I want to produce most of the power we use at the farm.