Solar Power Project Update 2011 07

Combined solar power panels. 3 harbor freight 15watt amorphous, 8 Sunforce 15watt amorphous, 4 Siemens mono crystalline 55watt, 1 Sharp 80 watt poly crystalline, 2 Kyocera 80watt combined. Amorphous on separate 7 amp charge controllers. 12 AGM, 3 gel maintenance free batteries. 2 copper bars, 2 copper plates as bus connections. Mounted amp meter volt meter from bus plates. Mounted controllers and 1500 watt sine inverter volt meter amp meter gauges.

45 Watt Solar Panel Kit from;
http://www.harborfreight.com/

Sunforce 50048 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit from;
http://www.amazon.com


UB12350 Universal 12 Volt 35AH Battery batteries from;
http://www.batteriesasap.com/

Gauges from;
http://www.altestore.com/store/
http://bluesea.com/

Power Bright 1500 Watt Pure Sine Inverter & Battery cables from;

http://www.invertersrus.com/

Ultra-Conductive Copper (Alloy 101) bars from;
http://www.mcmaster.com/

Ground Mounting Rails, 1-1/4" X 1-1/4" 6ft 12 Ga from
http://store.wastewatersupplies.com/index.html

Hardware nots bolts, copper plates from;
http://www.mclendons.com/


Kyocera Sharp & Siemens Panels from ebay.

Category:

Howto & Style

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[Alprofight]

hi my question is why 35ah battery and not car batteries or deep charge one? Thanks for the tips in the vid dow ;)

[pgm98387]

@Alprofight These were maintenance free. The size was very common for electric mobility scooters, shopping carts. Standard size that is very common. You don't need to ventilate them, can be used in different positions, on side upside down. I read that they outlast the standard battery format.

[maddogg862000]

Nice setup! I don't think you should mix your AGM and Gel batteries as they have different charging specifications.

[pgm98387]

@maddogg862000 The gels will form bubbles inside if they get charged to fast, it was a mistake to have those in the string. I'm planning a 24 volt system soon. Those 4 gels will get left on the 12 volt setup using the amorphous panels. Higher than 14 volts float charging of the gels will burn them out. The oldest ones were purchased in 2007.

[JonathanAgain]

Great videos!

What's the advantage of the solid-bar buss across the terminals? Looks like it would make it hard to modify the rig or test/replace individual batteries.

[jonanddenise112]

Have you hooked up your other Solar panels since this last video? You are pulling some serious amp.'s for a small system-are you thinking about grid-tie?

[pgm98387]

@pgm98387 Someone I know burned thru these because of improper maintenance (drying out) over discharging them at night. I run the small fanless modified sine xantrek inverter to power my netbook, wireless router cable modem. Morning readings never goes under 12.9 volts. Not very well planned out, expensive hobby to tinker with. For serious system would get L-16 in wired in series. Need an engine hoist to move them around.

[pgm98387]

@AussieHomestead Mainly because they were maintenance free. The size was a very common replacement for mobility scooters. Assuming that a more mass produced size would be cheaper. For a serious system flooded lead acid are better, require a box proper venting, position, temp & hydration level monitoring.

[shartne]

30 amps is pretty good.

[field16]

I like your yellow control panel from recycled plastic!