Thanks solar pete! I've got it connected to the genny right now. I'm unsure of the spike - but it did not make a blip on the gen. And, looking at the kill-a-watt - it is only using 80watts - wow that seems good.
I went to charge the battery as well and found the battery charger is not working - seems to be missing a button/fuse. Bummer.
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Anyway, you are not the first to say I'd need more panels (and req CC) but my solar budget is tapped and seems like an interesting challenge to make it work.
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Howdy Vudu,I've been testing to see what kind of load my (toy, learner) system can handle - here are the specs.
- 10A mppt controller(renogy)
- 155ah battery(vmax)
- 2 100w panels (windy nation)
- 1500w inverter modified sine wave (windy nation)
- Sportsman GEN4000LP 4,000 Watt 6.5 HP OVH Propane Powered Portable Generator
I'm new to solar - and electricity - I thought ac/dc was a band.
But I've learned a lot and am beginning to stabilize my system so I thought I'd try a real load on it - a chest freezer - that I might make into a fridge (171 kwh per year / .468 kwh per day = seemingly doable.) Best case scenario I have an off grid freezer - worst case I move it to the garage
Will it work? Not likely, so I'm hedging my bets.
Here are the steps I plan to use to lessen the load on the batteries.
- Inside the freezer I have 4 quart containers with water. I'm hoping these will stabilize the freezer so the condenser does not have to run so often.
- Turn up the temp control - effectively making it a fridge (also not running it for extended periods at night will turn it into a fridge)
- Putting it on a (mechanical) timer - so it turns off completely at times
- Use Johnson Controls A19AAT-2C Freezer Temperature Controller
- The inverter has a remote control. I may have to hook up a timer to a solenoid to turn the entire inverter off now and then at night - it seems to use some amount of power even when it is not charging anything
I'll probably have updates for anyone interested if I don't burn anything down. Here are some pics.
http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/album.php?albumid=231
Feedback welcome.
PS
I'm using this as a chance to test my generator so the first thing I'm going to do is use it to bring the freezer down to temp - and at the same time use the DC out to 'equalize' (not sure if that is the right term but I see it as turning the charge up to 11) the battery. This generator/charger does not have a 'gauge' so I'll be watching it closely and making sure the volts don't get over 15.
By the way, anyone out there learning like me, one of the best metaphors I've found relating to charging a battery is looking at it as filling a tire with air. When you are filling a tire that is not fully inflated it is easy to put air into it - but when it gets close to being full you need more pressure (volts). This is a large battery (a tractor tire) and my 2 100 watt panels have a pretty difficult time bringing the battery up to max, healthy charge. So I need to zap it with an ac charger now and then to keep it healthy-er.
Sounds like your starting to get your head around this solar caper. I would be concerned with the start up surge when the compressor kicks in, wonder what it will spike too. The other thing is I think you could do with another panel or 2, anyway good to see your thinking about it, good luck.Leave a comment:
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Shed freezer
I've been testing to see what kind of load my (toy, learner) system can handle - here are the specs.
- 10A mppt controller(renogy)
- 155ah battery(vmax)
- 2 100w panels (windy nation)
- 1500w inverter modified sine wave (windy nation)
- Sportsman GEN4000LP 4,000 Watt 6.5 HP OVH Propane Powered Portable Generator
I'm new to solar - and electricity - I thought ac/dc was a band.
But I've learned a lot and am beginning to stabilize my system so I thought I'd try a real load on it - a chest freezer - that I might make into a fridge (171 kwh per year / .468 kwh per day = seemingly doable.) Best case scenario I have an off grid freezer - worst case I move it to the garage
Will it work? Not likely, so I'm hedging my bets.
Here are the steps I plan to use to lessen the load on the batteries.
- Inside the freezer I have 4 quart containers with water. I'm hoping these will stabilize the freezer so the condenser does not have to run so often.
- Turn up the temp control - effectively making it a fridge (also not running it for extended periods at night will turn it into a fridge)
- Putting it on a (mechanical) timer - so it turns off completely at times
- Use Johnson Controls A19AAT-2C Freezer Temperature Controller
- The inverter has a remote control. I may have to hook up a timer to a solenoid to turn the entire inverter off now and then at night - it seems to use some amount of power even when it is not charging anything
I'll probably have updates for anyone interested if I don't burn anything down. Here are some pics.
http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/album.php?albumid=231
Feedback welcome.
PS
I'm using this as a chance to test my generator so the first thing I'm going to do is use it to bring the freezer down to temp - and at the same time use the DC out to 'equalize' (not sure if that is the right term but I see it as turning the charge up to 11) the battery. This generator/charger does not have a 'gauge' so I'll be watching it closely and making sure the volts don't get over 15.
By the way, anyone out there learning like me, one of the best metaphors I've found relating to charging a battery is looking at it as filling a tire with air. When you are filling a tire that is not fully inflated it is easy to put air into it - but when it gets close to being full you need more pressure (volts). This is a large battery (a tractor tire) and my 2 100 watt panels have a pretty difficult time bringing the battery up to max, healthy charge. So I need to zap it with an ac charger now and then to keep it healthy-er.
Leave a comment: