I have just completed adding another 3000wp to the system using 12 second hand 250w panels and a Victron 150/70 MPPT. The panels are connected to the Cerbo via a Victron USB to VE Direct cable as I have run out of VE Direct ports on my Cerbo GX. I also had to add another…
Last week I drove to Canberra to pick up 50 modules. These modules had previously been used in a HV powewall (48 modules, 96 cells in series!). Estimated remaining capacity of around 16kwh. I will be testing these in time and then rebuilding the powerwall to incorporate all the newfound modules.
Today I took delivery of 28 more Nissan Leaf Gen 1 Modules from EV Drive in QLD. The modules came in four stacks of 7. Initial voltage readings were a mixed bag – one module sitting at 2.9v and a few others a ~5.9v. I was hoping to add all 28 modules to my powerwall,…
Found a cheap near new Vicrton MPPT 150/70 online. I couldn’t resist. I plan on running 12 panels in 3S4P configuration. The terminals on this beast take 35mm2 – for both the solar input and the battery output. I don’t have roof space yet, but have a few ideas 😛
On the 20th of December, Batrium released Watchmon toolkit 2.17.15 which includes a great new feature for inverters that support CANbus. The new feature is called ‘Ramped Targets’ and allows the charging current to be reduced at the top or bottom ends of SOC. I use this feature to bring down the max charge current…
I started work on the system yesterday by completing the DC cabling on the lean-to. I installed the branch connectors and then cut custom lengths of cable and terminated with the required MC4 connectors. I used large zip ties to tidy up the wiring. I then went back to the wiring inside the shed. here…
Before starting on the inverter (Victron SmartSolar 150/35) I connected the DC Cable to the rooftop isolator. This involved terminating the cable with male and female MC4 connectors. I used the correct crimp tool (Narva brand) with the #12 crimp insert. I then connected to the output of the rooftop isolator and temporarily cable tied…
Today I fixed the rooftop solar isolator to the rails and did some cabling. The first step was to fix the solar rooftop isolator to the top rail. I used a 6.5mm drill bit to drill two holes into the rail and then used an 8mm tap to tap a thread into the holes. I…
Today I completed the install of the earth wire and the 6 panels. I started by adding the earth clamps to the rail and attaching the earth wire. It’s important to bond each rail to earth, and for there to be no joins in the earth wire. As I have four rails, I needed four…
Before installing the panels, I wanted to make sure they were all OK. I performed two tests: Short Circuit Current – Using a current clamp to measure current. Insulation Test using a Megger Short Circuit Current This step is rather easy. Simple connect the positive and negative plugs together on your solar panel and point…