Author Topic: Solar build  (Read 14870 times)

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Offline Wolvenar

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Re: Solar build
« Reply #15 on: March 13, 2012, 07:39:08 am »
Ordered a bunch of amp meters the other day for the panels.
It was ebay order shipped from China, wonder how good/accurate they will turn out.

US $3.53 each, and $.38 shipping

Ebay DESCRIPTION :
Brand new and high quality!
TYPE : Analog Current Meter
Scale Range : DC 20A
Accuracy : Class 2.5
Size : about 63 mm x 54 mm x 58 mm

http://tinyurl.com/7l8owxm
Image from the listing


It appears this seller may have something to do with the company listed here
http://http://www.hktdc.com/manufacturers-suppliers/Shenzhen-SHX-Electronics-Co-Ltd/en/1X0640V5/
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Offline tomw

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Re: Solar build
« Reply #16 on: March 13, 2012, 11:10:02 am »
With shunts, internal, external  or what?

Tom
Do NOT mistake me for any kind of "expert".

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24 Trina 310 watt modules, SMA SunnyBoy 7.7 KW Grid Tie inverter.

I thought that they were angels, but much to my surprise, We climbed aboard their starship and headed for the skies

Offline oztules

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Re: Solar build
« Reply #17 on: March 13, 2012, 05:02:05 pm »
I bought a dozen of them a few years back.... have worked flawlessly thus far. Internal shunt Tom.

They are accurate enough for analogue stuff.

..............oztules
Flinders Island...... Australia

Offline oztules

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Re: Solar build
« Reply #18 on: March 13, 2012, 05:43:50 pm »
Philb
As promised, here are the sordid details of the "rack mounts"..... and I use the term very loosely.

It is a simple A frame built from timber I scrounged up from a 50 year old wool shed we pulled down from down the road a ways.

Inside shot tells it all:
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Materials on an island this sparse is tough, so I found some shelf racking, straightened it to flat, then rebent to a clamp of sorts.
When I can find some Al or SSteel strip, I will replace them. (it will turn up somewhere)

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A pic of the current arrangement:
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and the rear of it with the power shed I built for the power components (cinder block)

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It's rough as always, but works very well..



................oztules
Flinders Island...... Australia

Offline philb

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Re: Solar build
« Reply #19 on: March 13, 2012, 07:33:24 pm »
Thanks Oztules!

I see a lot of hard work there. You used your resources at hand to make something good from bits and pieces.

Looks like aluminum frames in your pics. Are they also from bits you picked up?

Wolv - the meters looked so good, I had to order 5. Thanks for the post!

Offline David HK

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Re: Solar build
« Reply #20 on: March 13, 2012, 08:31:52 pm »
Very good work.

May I suggest you paint a white bulls eye on the ground several hundred metres distant with a sign saying 'meteors' land here please.

You never know.

David in HK

Offline MadScientist267

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Re: Solar build
« Reply #21 on: March 13, 2012, 09:57:39 pm »
Oz -

From the looks of it, you have plenty more room there... After watching this grow for the past couple years or so, I figure you'll hit the MW range by oh, 2015? :D

Steve
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Offline Wolvenar

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Re: Solar build
« Reply #22 on: March 14, 2012, 04:03:57 pm »
Making slow progress. But hard to do this with a busy schedule, and this darn addiction to IRC and RE sites  ::)



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Offline birdhouse

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Re: Solar build
« Reply #23 on: March 14, 2012, 09:47:39 pm »
that looks great Wolv!  the one problem i see, is that disconnect upp left isn't nearly large enough   ;)

seriously, though, you're obviously getting very close!

nice work, very clean.

adam

Offline Wolvenar

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Re: Solar build
« Reply #24 on: March 15, 2012, 12:47:19 am »
Believe it or not that is an old style 3 phase 400 amp disconnect / fuse box, but yeah its only good for 320 amp continuous.
This inverter can only peak at 7200 watt for brief periods of time (300 amp), 3600 watt continuous (150 amp), but that is plenty for most of our every day stuff.  It should do ok.

I have found DC rated fuses that fit, but hope I don't go through many, they are rather expensive. Supposed to be meant to suppress an arc, but have had a couple dire warnings that these don't quite do it.

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Offline Wolvenar

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Re: Solar build
« Reply #25 on: March 15, 2012, 12:49:07 am »
I might add, between that disconnect and the inverter, I am awfully glad that's a good strong wall. Both are fairly heavy.
I am also very glad I had one of these laying around that are SPENDY even used

Though its a bit newer
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Offline birdhouse

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Re: Solar build
« Reply #26 on: March 15, 2012, 01:40:17 am »
wolv-  yea, i yard big ol' disconnects out of commercial buildings all the time as electrical updates happen.  i always keep them, as i know they're expensive new, and you can still get fuses for ones made in the 1930s.  i used an old 1950s model as the short switch for my wind turbine (not fused).  it works beautifully, and has a very positive throw action.  very robust. 

my favorite (not sure what they're called) have an eloborate set of springs and hinges built into them.  they have two buttons (on/off) and it feels like when you hit either button it would be somehow powered with the throws, yet it's all mechanical.  they're pretty rad.

still though, that disconnect is WAY too small!   :)

adam

Offline Wolvenar

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Re: Solar build
« Reply #27 on: March 15, 2012, 02:03:44 am »
Yeah those spring ones are to try to limit the arc I believe, fun stuff.
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Offline Wolvenar

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Re: Solar build
« Reply #28 on: March 16, 2012, 10:07:53 pm »
Tom yes it is an internal shunt



I got the amp meters today, really shocked how fast it was. When I opened the first box the back covering over the shunt was  off. Not surprising, this meter also does not work, the needle seems stuck as it does not float at all as you move the unit. I only have had time to check a couple others, but they appear ok.
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Offline Wolvenar

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Re: Solar build
« Reply #29 on: March 16, 2012, 10:12:11 pm »
One more step, going at this really slow, just not finding much time.
Slow, but I am trying to get at least one thing a day done.

Inverter to disconnect setup now.
Trying to make power from alternative energy any which way I can.
Just to abuse what I make. (and run this site)