Second system extension extension.

[Joeboy]

Thought i'd post this graph as an example of my system and its growth over the years. Hoping to encourage others! June 18 the original system went live. Even though June 22 is a little better that's not the whole story as there has been string relocation since June 22. I fully expect June 23 to be a 1MWh+ generated on PV alone. Back in 2018 there is no way I could have imagined this or got my head around it.
Sept 20 is the start of the second system install and ongoing growth.

[Joeboy]

As this is the first full Summer for the complete system I've been running it all to the max and keeping it on as much as possible to hopefully achieve a solar only 1MWh month.

Noticed today that the Victron solar controller was a bit toasty (54 deg) so I ran in a 5v usb pack powered small fan and it quickly pulled the controller down to 39 degs.

Popped open a fuse box to check connection tightness and realised the box did not have top ventilation, only bottom.

Got the drill out and added 5 of 10mm holes on the top. Loving the Flir TI picture!

Worth a check of all out systems on these extraordinary days? Such simple improvements for system longevity.

[Stinsy]

As this is the first full Summer for the complete system I've been running it all to the max and keeping it on as much as possible to hopefully achieve a solar only 1MWh month.

Noticed today that the Victron solar controller was a bit toasty (54 deg) so I ran in a 5v usb pack powered small fan and it quickly pulled the controller down to 39 degs.

Popped open a fuse box to check connection tightness and realised the box did not have top ventilation, only bottom.

Got the drill out and added 5 of 10mm holes on the top. Loving the Flir TI picture!

Worth a check of all out systems on these extraordinary days? Such simple improvements for system longevity.

The challenge you have Joe is that you’re working at the limit of what is sensible with a 48V battery system. Interestingly so-called “High Voltage” battery systems are becoming available using inverters such as: https://www.solaxpower.com/wp-content/u ... asheet.pdf. This one is compatible with pack voltages in the 85-400V range (others go up to 800V) and the associated reduction in current keeps temperatures easier to control.

[I know that “High Voltage” has a formal definition and this context is misuse of that term. However it seems that I’m in the distinct minority and will have to just go with the flow and consider this one lost…]

[nowty]

There is a reason I am happy with 48V DC, well mine goes up to 56V.

And I've licked my fingers,



EDIT - I am OK with commercial designs with the obvious safeguards but for a DIY system, its up to your own appetite for risk.

[AGT]

That’s a coincidence, I was in the loft where my inverter is and sitting next to it was PC tower case with old PC fans, that was my idea, but I had a spare 20watt panel in the shed so thought I would connect that up- the loft has a velux so just sitting the panel in the sun in the loft…

[Joeboy]

We also had a hive plug which runs the solariboost and is situated in the loft (the plug) thermal trip out today, its getting toasty, that's for sure.

As an anecdote, within 10 minutes of adding the hally racket passive and active cooling the Victron system was outputting 3,250W. The past few weeks it has been hitting 3,100W and deadheading there.

I will keep an eye out if the strong days continue but it looks as if there may have been some thermal throttling by the Victron controller. Only an anecdote but hell of a coincidence.

[Joeboy]

There is a reason I am happy with 48V DC, well mine goes up to 56V.

And I've licked my fingers,



EDIT - I am OK with commercial designs with the obvious safeguards but for a DIY system, its up to your own appetite for risk.

Just showing off!
It appears that there is always a possible tweak here or there. Next up I'll open the remaining boxes and check connection tightness. That 12.00 to 15.00 hrs though? Killer!

[nowty]

There is a reason I am happy with 48V DC, well mine goes up to 56V.

And I've licked my fingers,



EDIT - I am OK with commercial designs with the obvious safeguards but for a DIY system, its up to your own appetite for risk.

Just showing off!

I was attempting to illustrate the dangers of Stinsy's post about high voltage inverters, not your system.

I don't see an 8% increase in efficiency something worth gaining for the dangers it poses to DIY folk.
https://www.solaxpower.com/wp-content/u ... asheet.pdf

[Joeboy]

There is a reason I am happy with 48V DC, well mine goes up to 56V.

And I've licked my fingers,



EDIT - I am OK with commercial designs with the obvious safeguards but for a DIY system, its up to your own appetite for risk.

Just showing off!

I was attempting to illustrate the dangers of Stinsy's post about high voltage inverters, not your system.

I don't see an 8% increase in efficiency something worth gaining for the dangers it poses to DIY folk.
https://www.solaxpower.com/wp-content/u ... asheet.pdf

Cheers, I'll have a read. The showing off reference has been done with very much tongue in cheek.

I have to keep reminding myself that this is Yr1 of the 'complete' system and its only now seeing first serious stress. So far, so .

[Stinsy]

There is a reason I am happy with 48V DC, well mine goes up to 56V.

And I've licked my fingers,



EDIT - I am OK with commercial designs with the obvious safeguards but for a DIY system, its up to your own appetite for risk.

Just showing off!

I was attempting to illustrate the dangers of Stinsy's post about high voltage inverters, not your system.

I don't see an 8% increase in efficiency something worth gaining for the dangers it poses to DIY folk.
https://www.solaxpower.com/wp-content/u ... asheet.pdf

The real danger of homebuild systems is accidental shorting. How much current could’ve been drawn had you dropped a spanner across those terminals?