Off Grid Re-Power

[mesquito_creek]

Lead acid can easily go 10-15 years. But you must have it sized right where you never draw it down below 50%/11.2v. And the cycles are limited… but if you size it right and only draw it down 30-40%… hard to beat the economics of lead.

Unfortunately that usually means a pretty large and heavy battery bank. IE not Rv friendly sizing. But off grid in a garage/shed, totally..

 

[Willie B]

I've milked a bank for 7 years, but the charge wasn't holding nearly as long as they should.

I've seen several variations of power banks including Milwaukee battery walls and smart car cell walls where you can change a cell as they die. Looks cool and not cheap. So far they're working well, but I have no idea what technology will be available in 10 years, so it's kind of a experiment anyway you go with it.

… got it… no clue whatsoever about the new stuff???… i’m not sure, but I thought I was going to get more than seven years out of my first bank… But then I fell in love/lust in Oklahoma… and that first battery bank, was no longer maintained… I’m gonna have to think about this….hmmm???…

 

[dread Pirate]

Ok it's been awhile, but I honestly haven't had time to work on this. Kit was simple and straightforward. The book is small and print is smaller. Had to take pics and blow a few diagrams up cause I'm getting old I guess? Batteries are not what I expected and I was extremely happy to find out they are on casters. I do not have the solar panels mounted yet, but everything else is ready to go. I have a few small things I will change for cosmetics with the grounds as I can't seem to find the matching junction block. I know I have a box with at least a few of them on this ranch,,,,,, Anyway,,, I powered the system up for the first time Saturday. Not sure wtf, but one inverter had an alarm sound and popped within 10 seconds of startup. shut it all down and triple checked everything. Fired it up again. One side is on and happy as can be,,, other side dead. Start over,,, Swapped control panels on the inverters, control panels are good. Checked everything again, re-read everything, etc, etc. F-it, call tech support, Missed em by 15 minutes as they are on the east coast,,,,, Now I have to wait until Monday. I check everything who knows how many times and finally said f, it. Fired it up on the working side and ran it, No issues, solid signal and dead on 120v. Will have to wait to get the other inverter online before I have 240 at the house, but hey,,, lights are on.

Now here it is Monday. Call tech and get a guy has a decent accent. Not the same guy I've been talking to for the last few months,,,, ok,, here we go. Guys reading questions off his screen and it's obvious he's never wired shit up. No worries I can be patient, lets figure this out,,, after about 30 minutes he said take pics and video then return the email he just sent,,, Ok cool, whatever,,, I go out and take detailed video and although my commentary wasn't meant to sound sarcastic my wife said her Italian must be wearing off on me,,,, That was before noon and have not heard anything back. So,, we'll see what happens...

Now I get that this is a DIY kit and I have no doubt people fuck shit up often. That's why they suggest having it installed by a licensed electrician blah blah legal crap we all have to protect ourselves with,, and yes I realize I may be out the cost of a replacement although I know I didn't screw up. shit happens, damnit. Lets just get this moving forward..


A few pics along the way. I need to take some finished ones when I have light.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

Did you try swapping the inverters to see if the symptom followed the box? Could be as simple as you need a new inverter.

Infant mortality in electronics is a real thing.

 

[dread Pirate]

Did you try swapping the inverters to see if the symptom followed the box? Could be as simple as you need a new inverter.

Infant mortality in electronics is a real thing.

Yes I did. I'm sure the inverter fried. It's $1100. Now to figure out who's paying for it.

 

[mesquito_creek]

I don’t see the communication cable between the two inverters that will allow them to operate as a spilt phase 240 synched unit?

 

[dread Pirate]

I don’t see the communication cable between the two inverters that will allow them to operate as a spilt phase 240 synched unit?

They are not installed yet in these pics.

Everything has to come back off the wall one more time as I have a sheet of FRP I'm going to use a fire retardant backboard. Although it's better than these pics already the finished project will be a lot cleaner.

 

[mesquito_creek]

What size fuse are those between the batteries and the inverter? I would do a class T 200 amp fuse. The arc fault potential is huge on these lifePo4s…

 

[dread Pirate]

What size fuse are those between the batteries and the inverter? I would do a class T 200 amp fuse. The arc fault potential is huge on these lifePo4s…

You are correct and they sent spares.

 

[mesquito_creek]

I am pretty sure that those are LV6548 knock offs…. Here is a good video of a complete setup in 240 split phase.

 

[dread Pirate]

I am pretty sure that those are LV6548 knock offs…. Here is a good video of a complete setup in 240 split phase.

Yep same inverters. That's a way better video presentation of the instal. Thank you!

 

[dread Pirate]

Started the day with emails and a phone call from the company. The guy handling it today is much easier to work with. Has me checking their boxes and sounds like they will be shipping a new inverter.

I want to open this one up and see wtf happened to it. Just waiting to see if they want it back or not,

 

[dread Pirate]

I'm sending the bad inverter back for their inspection. Should be 3-5 day turnaround. They've been cool about it, so we'll see what they say. Gives me time to dial the rest of it in and the one inverter seems to be handling the load just fine.

 

[Morehart]

I have some lights!! But these old lanterns remind me of how people lived in the 1920's up here. No outlets on the walls, and I always wondered what the random hooks hanging were for...

 

[Willie B]

… Haven’t seen a kerosene lantern since the late 60s… When kerosene lighting was the hippie go to method

 

[Morehart]

Camp oil? White gas? Or kerosene? Pump gas stoves run on the same fuel. This is definitely a re pop. Still cool to adjust the light with lowering the wick

 

[Willie B]

Camp oil? White gas? Or kerosene? Pump gas stoves run on the same fuel. This is definitely a re pop. Still cool to adjust the light with lowering the wick

… yeah I know and it was fun turning the wick up and down with our kerosene lamps in the 60s

 

[dread Pirate]

Update; Rich Solar has decided they will not warrantee the inverter. Sucks, but it is what it is. I can understand their point of view. On the high side of this, the company I bought the system through is going to send me a new, uninstalled, open box inverter free of charge. Can't complain about that at all. I feel like they worked hard for me to make it right. I still need to get the frp backboard up as well.

 

[Taboma]

Update; Rich Solar has decided they will not warrantee the inverter. Sucks, but it is what it is. I can understand their point of view. On the high side of this, the company I bought the system through is going to send me a new, uninstalled, open box inverter free of charge. Can't complain about that at all. I feel like they worked hard for me to make it right. I still need to get the frp backboard up as well.

So is this the inherent downside of installing it yourself ? If their equipment fails, it's automatically on you ?

 

[dread Pirate]

So is this the inherent downside of installing it yourself ? If their equipment fails, it's automatically on you ?

Possibly. I feel company really did their best for us in a situation where they could have just said kick rocks. I don't believe I screwed it up, but who's to say I couldn't have fixed the wiring before sending them pics blah blah all the other scenarios I can't even think of. Inverter failures are rare. It took a few weeks and I am getting a new inverter no charge. I will video the power up and all wiring before I turn it on this time though,

I am happy with their service and the way it worked out. Could have been better and could have been worse. Shit happens. I am talking to them about the next smaller system for the shop.

 

[Taboma]

Possibly. I feel company really did their best for us in a situation where they could have just said kick rocks. I don't believe I screwed it up, but who's to say I couldn't have fixed the wiring before sending them pics blah blah all the other scenarios I can't even think of. Inverter failures are rare. It took a few weeks and I am getting a new inverter no charge. I will video the power up and all wiring before I turn it on this time though,

I am happy with their service and the way it worked out. Could have been better and could have been worse. Shit happens. I am talking to them about the next smaller system for the shop.

I'd just noticed an exclusion regarding exclusion of repairs not performed by Rich Solar Technician's. So figured this would also apply to new installs.
Usually a company will do a forensic and determine the cause of the failure. Regardless, at least your distributer did you right.

 

[dread Pirate]

I'd just noticed an exclusion regarding exclusion of repairs not performed by Rich Solar Technician's. So figured this would also apply to new installs.
Usually a company will do a forensic and determine the cause of the failure. Regardless, at least your distributer did you right.

They went through it and said it shorted on the DC side and was non repairable was the message I got. I don't see how that's possible, but hey, Like you just said. the distributor took care of us and we'll be working with them again.

 

[bilz]

Are they sending the fried unit back to you?

 

[dread Pirate]

Are they sending the fried unit back to you?

No. The distributor has some new open box units. We agreed to that and they are sending one at no cost to us.

 

[mesquito_creek]

Not that your issue has anything to do with the following… but there are couple critical steps like pre charging the capacitors and making sure that batteries preceed PV connections etc. All is DIY possible but not optional.

 

[dread Pirate]

Not that your issue has anything to do with the following… but there are couple critical steps like pre charging the capacitors and making sure that batteries preceed PV connections etc. All is DIY possible but not optional.

I actually don't have the panels hooked up yet. That video you shared did a way better job at showing setup and precharging than the booklet and short vid I got. I plan to switch the fuses out for those breakers as well.

 

[dread Pirate]

Latest update. The open box inverter our supplier had is not the same PV setup. So they purchased a brand new one from Rich and have it coming. They really are taking care of us in a situation where there's plenty of grey area that they could just have said sorry bud,,, I am very happy and must have said thank you 100 times.

Now to get this system wrapped up and start planning the smaller one for the cabin...