Kid mount and grizzle

[SolarMusher]

Ryan, Mario,
As it's time for grizzle, I would like to grizzle a bit about the kid design.
Yes the kid seems to be a good small controller but did someone at Midnite seriously thought one minute about its design? I've tried several times (x4) to pre-mount a kid quickly/properly beside a Magnum epanel and still doesn't find a way to get it right, it's a pain! How is that possible that Midnite release a product without thinking to integrate it better with existing products (epanel) ?
The only way to get it prewired to a epanel and ready to be installed is to fix it on a small 12x12 piece of plywood that will be externally screwed easily/quickly in the field! Not really a neat job...
It would have been so simple  to build a wall adapter with four external molded fastens outside the adapter rather than inside with holes, just like a cheap electrical box.
It would be great to change that because my next 30A installation could be a morningxxxxx just for that reason.
Erik

[Halfcrazy]

Erik
Happiness is, We have been working on a new wall mount that has a terminal block accessible from the front and should be mountable from the exterior like you mention. I will bug BobQ for some info and a time line

Ryan

[SolarMusher]

Erik
Happiness is, We have been working on a new wall mount that has a terminal block accessible from the front and should be mountable from the exterior like you mention. I will bug BobQ for some info and a time line

Ryan

Great!
My last one was a white kid with magnum/epanel and it was beautiful exept that damned plywood  !
Ok, no more grizzle.
Erik

[Halfcrazy]

We also have (Or should have) the Magnum E-Panel with he Kid in the conduit cover. Let me check on that now

[SolarMusher]

We also have (Or should have) the Magnum E-Panel with he Kid in the conduit cover. Let me check on that now

In the conduit cover, it would be really a nice place to mount it. I would be very interested to know more about that. Good quality cabin systems are a market that can be interesting to develop, but to me it has to be built with care just as larger residential off grid systems.
Good idea Ryan!

[SolarMusher]

We also have (Or should have) the Magnum E-Panel with he Kid in the conduit cover. Let me check on that now

Ryan, I was thinking about a kid mounted on conduit cover (isn't it too low?) and I believe that a modified wall mount as you described would be better as it would allow a kid to be pre-wired to the epanel and save time at the installation.
When I work on epanel, I like to prepare it as much as I can at the shop (with controller already wired), hang it on the wall in the field (without inverter) and make all the connections when it's still all open. Inverter/door mounting and connections are the last step before connecting to batteries.
To me, if a kid was to be mounted on cover which is the last part of the job, it would just add time to the last step. I admit that a cover solution would be great for DIY customers for a neat installation though.
I'm pretty sure that you know all of that better than me.
Erik

[Vic]

...    We have been working on a new wall mount that has a terminal block accessible from the front   ...
Ryan

+20,000 on that !!

I had grizzled a bit on the terminal accessibility and conduit size limitation,  when installing the original Beta KID,  here.

Thanks!!   Vic

[Robin]

The terminal block will be accessible from the front on the new wall mount adapter.
The KID is a bit small to match up to a Magnum inverter, so I never made any accommodations for it. Doug has made a conduit box or two that do fit the Magnum and KID. It looks nice, but is very tight.
The KID will be a great match when we have a 1000 watt inverter to go with it.

[Highflyer]

Robin,
Please consider a 1500 watt inverter instead of a 1000 watt inverter.  The times you need a little extra power makes it a far better choice. 

And if you are running the Kid in 24 or 48 volts, you most likely want more that 1000 watts at times.  Then a 2000 watt inverter might be a far better choice. I know I wanted more power than 1000 watts, so that inverter is in my "spares" pile and the newer 1500 watt inverter is doing the job for now. 

When I "re" battery for 48 volts, I'll really want a 2000 or 3000 watt inverter for bigger jobs.  The few times a year I need more power is worth it to me.  Besides, you guys make great stuff!!

Also, if you are making the terminal block accessible from the front, can you also make the USB port accessible in front as well for firmware updates.

Thanks for the consideration.

[Halfcrazy]

So here is the new kid mount that is in the works, Under the cover is a vertical terminal strip that would be wired to the KID.

Ryan

[dgd]

Is there an image of this with the cover removed?
Has it been designed to include a fan so we can get the KID to do 40amps output?
Room in there for a small computer?
any other knockouts apart from the two shown?
Is this a metal casting or fabrication, or is it a hard plastic or softish plastic like the existing mounting frame?
Is the terminal block a 'stick the striiped wire end in hole and tighten down grub screw' type?

dgd

[BobWhite]

I like that! it is very similar to what I did but larger, I use a clear plastic cover but this is much better for appearance.
Walt

[Vic]

So here is the new kid mount that is in the works, Under the cover is a vertical terminal strip that would be wired to the KID.
Ryan

WOW !   That looks very nice.   Those Conduit knock-outs are 1/2" / 3/4" ?

This mount should be a huge help in many installations.

THANKS!  Vic

[Halfcrazy]

Is there an image of this with the cover removed?
Not yet, We are working on defining the terminal block.

Has it been designed to include a fan so we can get the KID to do 40amps output?
No I haven't heard any more on that. I will check on the 40 amp rating

Room in there for a small computer?
Hm maybe a real small one? I guess it depends on how much room you use for your wiring

any other knockouts apart from the two shown?
No but being a plastic part it would be easy to make more on site

Is this a metal casting or fabrication, or is it a hard plastic or softish plastic like the existing mounting frame?
I assume it will be a hardish plastic, I know it is not a casting

Is the terminal block a 'stick the striiped wire end in hole and tighten down grub screw' type?
Yes

dgd

[Halfcrazy]

So here is the new kid mount that is in the works, Under the cover is a vertical terminal strip that would be wired to the KID.
Ryan

WOW !   That looks very nice.   Those Conduit knock-outs are 1/2" / 3/4" ?

This mount should be a huge help in many installations.

THANKS!  Vic

1/2 inch but you could make them bigger real easy