people need to know about batteries for solar. use lead acid only if your smart about it. keep the batteries away from the rest of the system no excuses on this point, you can hack to a degree but keep in mind FIRE! use the right size conductors for your loads, go bigger by .125% always use fuses if not breakers between components and always, always have a battery master switch! if you follow these simple rules you will have a better system and live to enjoy it hope this helps you hacks!! lol
hi, good video, im getting a small 4 watt solar panel. will i need a inverter to run some 1 watt lights of the battery and charge the battery with the solar panel
@MultiJamie12345 4 watts is equal to 3amps at 12 volts. little more then a trickle charge. if all you are using is a few (lets say 4) 1 watt lights you shouldnt have a problem but i would test the battery every few days to make sure its fully charging (should be about 12.6v). as for an inverter it depends if your lights are 12v or 120v send me a PM with some more specific details and i will be glad to help
@dancaldwell230 cool, i probably wont get a inverter because im wiring the lights myself, i upgraded the panel to a 5 watt one. im getting a cheap controller
@MultiJamie12345 hey your wiring is way undersized! man you need to ground that
equipment too! keep that inverter anywhere but atop the battery, especially since its ungrounded, you need 1/0 wire for batteries, and bigger going to the inverter from the batteries, man I cant understand why that rig hasnt burned up yet. you gotta remember this isnt a/c wiring, you also really need some kind of breakers to shut it off, home depot sells QO type get a couple they are cheap and work for DC man cmon!!
enough with the "my system is better" and "you did this wrong" comments. the next person that gets on my nerves get there comment deleted and banned. i will admit i have had issues with the system but over all it has performed great for the money i spent.
@hanz5599 I do agree with johnnylifeson but It's not about who's system is better, but what you did "unsafely" is important.
a)You do need a proper location for your inverter, charge controller, and your array. (which should be away from you batteries).
b) batteries need to be vented and not in a plastic container outdoors where it can build condensation, blow up/short circuit easily. FYI; batter acid eat right through plastic.
c) *thumbs up* keep at it cuz your on the right track.
Thinking so called sealed batteries are safe is bad thinking. I have been designing and servicing inverter systems for a decade and have seen first hand how damaging it can be. I used to work for the company that supplies CTC with their inverters. You have made all the usual mistakes amateur off grid electricians commit. Simply put this system will not last 10 years as is. Mine do!
Your looking for an explosion.. Your inverter and controller should be nowhere near the battery, Hydrogen Gas goes BOOM !!!! Those 60 watt Panels are Crap.. Buy from UL-Solar and get the industrial panels. Remember, batteries need venting, unless you don't like your house and want it to burn down..
@johnnylifeson im aware of what hydrogen does. as i explaned earlier iknow there is a risk but it is low and i keep the pannels and battery over 50 feet from any structure to minimize that risk. as for you're opinion on on the pannels, they are the best i could afford and they work just fine for me
It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to have the electronics (inverter/charge control) in a separate enclosure next to the battery box. The battery can release hydrogen while charging, which in an enclosed space with something like the inverter which could create a spark (from the fan) might make a small explosion. There's a chance of some corrosive fumes as well, which just isn't good for the electronics.
the battery is a sealed deep-cycle marine battery, very safe. although its hard to see in the video the box is well vented. there is a small risk of an explosion or a fire but its more likely i would be struck by lightening while being attacked by a shark.
@hanz5599 well none of your stuff is grounded that is a Bozo NO-NO!!! you need to ground all of it and you need to bond your neg conductor nearest the panels to ground!! man...........wtf pound a rod into the ground and ground those panels and anything else that has power running through it, you have no dc disconnects either, your begging for problem dude get some breakers if not fuses and put one between all your components before you either electrocute yourself or have a major melt down ok
people need to know about batteries for solar. use lead acid only if your smart about it. keep the batteries away from the rest of the system no excuses on this point, you can hack to a degree but keep in mind FIRE! use the right size conductors for your loads, go bigger by .125% always use fuses if not breakers between components and always, always have a battery master switch! if you follow these simple rules you will have a better system and live to enjoy it hope this helps you hacks!! lol
dancaldwell230 1 year ago
hi, good video, im getting a small 4 watt solar panel. will i need a inverter to run some 1 watt lights of the battery and charge the battery with the solar panel
MultiJamie12345 1 year ago
@MultiJamie12345 4 watts is equal to 3amps at 12 volts. little more then a trickle charge. if all you are using is a few (lets say 4) 1 watt lights you shouldnt have a problem but i would test the battery every few days to make sure its fully charging (should be about 12.6v). as for an inverter it depends if your lights are 12v or 120v send me a PM with some more specific details and i will be glad to help
hanz5599 1 year ago
@MultiJamie12345 you will needa cheap charge controller, and a small real small inverter yeah
dancaldwell230 1 year ago
@dancaldwell230 cool, i probably wont get a inverter because im wiring the lights myself, i upgraded the panel to a 5 watt one. im getting a cheap controller
MultiJamie12345 1 year ago
@MultiJamie12345 hey your wiring is way undersized! man you need to ground that
equipment too! keep that inverter anywhere but atop the battery, especially since its ungrounded, you need 1/0 wire for batteries, and bigger going to the inverter from the batteries, man I cant understand why that rig hasnt burned up yet. you gotta remember this isnt a/c wiring, you also really need some kind of breakers to shut it off, home depot sells QO type get a couple they are cheap and work for DC man cmon!!
dancaldwell230 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@dancaldwell230 this is not my video
MultiJamie12345 1 year ago
enough with the "my system is better" and "you did this wrong" comments. the next person that gets on my nerves get there comment deleted and banned. i will admit i have had issues with the system but over all it has performed great for the money i spent.
hanz5599 1 year ago
@hanz5599 I do agree with johnnylifeson but It's not about who's system is better, but what you did "unsafely" is important.
a)You do need a proper location for your inverter, charge controller, and your array. (which should be away from you batteries).
b) batteries need to be vented and not in a plastic container outdoors where it can build condensation, blow up/short circuit easily. FYI; batter acid eat right through plastic.
c) *thumbs up* keep at it cuz your on the right track.
kenlen13 11 months ago
Thinking so called sealed batteries are safe is bad thinking. I have been designing and servicing inverter systems for a decade and have seen first hand how damaging it can be. I used to work for the company that supplies CTC with their inverters. You have made all the usual mistakes amateur off grid electricians commit. Simply put this system will not last 10 years as is. Mine do!
viking8319 1 year ago
Your looking for an explosion.. Your inverter and controller should be nowhere near the battery, Hydrogen Gas goes BOOM !!!! Those 60 watt Panels are Crap.. Buy from UL-Solar and get the industrial panels. Remember, batteries need venting, unless you don't like your house and want it to burn down..
johnnylifeson 1 year ago
@johnnylifeson im aware of what hydrogen does. as i explaned earlier iknow there is a risk but it is low and i keep the pannels and battery over 50 feet from any structure to minimize that risk. as for you're opinion on on the pannels, they are the best i could afford and they work just fine for me
hanz5599 1 year ago
That's interesting.
AlexandrGreen 1 year ago
Not a good idea to have the inverter on the battery.
X2YeZCAMCNC 2 years ago
what would you suggest i do?
hanz5599 2 years ago
It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to have the electronics (inverter/charge control) in a separate enclosure next to the battery box. The battery can release hydrogen while charging, which in an enclosed space with something like the inverter which could create a spark (from the fan) might make a small explosion. There's a chance of some corrosive fumes as well, which just isn't good for the electronics.
linuxpyro 2 years ago
the battery is a sealed deep-cycle marine battery, very safe. although its hard to see in the video the box is well vented. there is a small risk of an explosion or a fire but its more likely i would be struck by lightening while being attacked by a shark.
hanz5599 2 years ago
@hanz5599 well none of your stuff is grounded that is a Bozo NO-NO!!! you need to ground all of it and you need to bond your neg conductor nearest the panels to ground!! man...........wtf pound a rod into the ground and ground those panels and anything else that has power running through it, you have no dc disconnects either, your begging for problem dude get some breakers if not fuses and put one between all your components before you either electrocute yourself or have a major melt down ok
dancaldwell230 1 year ago