Comments on: Kingston Solar Power installation. http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/ "If all the worlds a stage, then the TECHIE must be god" Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:27:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: oral http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-5935 oral Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:36:35 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-5935 the two inverters are actually by accident ,i was trying to get a 3000 watt pure sinewave inverter but my supplier was not able to source one so he suggested two 1500 watt i gave it some thought and decided to go ahead as my reasoning was i can run the fridge and microwave exlusively on one and the other circuits ie the tv's and lights etc on the other ,only problem is i would need 2 transfer switches and two circuit breaker panels that way if mother nature does not feel like giving a lot of energy on a particular day i can always shut down one part of the system to lessen the load on the batteries i want to set up the wind turbine next week as i do not want to miss out on too much of what we call in jamaica "christmas breeze" it tends to get very windy this time of year the two inverters are actually by accident ,i was trying to get a 3000 watt pure sinewave inverter but my supplier was not able to source one so he suggested two 1500 watt
i gave it some thought and decided to go ahead as my reasoning was i can run the fridge and microwave exlusively on one and the other circuits ie the tv’s and lights etc on the other ,only problem is i would need 2 transfer switches and two circuit breaker panels
that way if mother nature does not feel like giving a lot of energy on a particular day i can always shut down one part of the system to lessen the load on the batteries
i want to set up the wind turbine next week as i do not want to miss out on too much of what we call in jamaica “christmas breeze” it tends to get very windy this time of year

]]> By: DigitalMind http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-5914 DigitalMind Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:41:58 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-5914 It's ok. Jumper cables was a good start, although maybe not for a fridge. I'm glad you figured it out! I always saw a small spark when connecting the batteries to the inverter. Always freaks me out. I guess it's normal. What do you mean you're using TWO inverters ?? (one for fridge and one for other stuff that you turn off when not needed?) Pictures will be great once you get something up and running ! It’s ok. Jumper cables was a good start, although maybe not for a fridge. I’m glad you figured it out!

I always saw a small spark when connecting the batteries to the inverter. Always freaks me out. I guess it’s normal.

What do you mean you’re using TWO inverters ?? (one for fridge and one for other stuff that you turn off when not needed?)

Pictures will be great once you get something up and running !

]]> By: oral http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-5911 oral Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:03:59 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-5911 i am a little ashamed of myself as i should know better actually i used a piece of old jumper cable(with the ends cut off)i had ,my view was that a jumper cable should be able to carry a significant amount of current afterall to start a car requires a lot of current ! but i did not remember that i had retired this cable as it just could not start anything even though an ohmeter put accross the ends will give continuity and a voltmeter will read the voltage accurately in an open circuit but it just could not carry the current i am going to buy new cables tommorrow i think i will use 2awg and also try to shorten the run i am not yet set up i have only setup a few components on the backboard i could send some pictures or wait until everything is set up most of the items are coming from the states lastly is it normal for the inverter to arc when connecting the battery wire even though it is turned off? i am using two 1500watt pure sine i am a little ashamed of myself as i should know better
actually i used a piece of old jumper cable(with the ends cut off)i had ,my view was that a jumper cable should be able to carry a significant amount of current afterall to start a car requires a lot of current ! but i did not remember that i had retired this cable as it just could not start anything even though an ohmeter put accross the ends will give continuity and a voltmeter will read the voltage accurately in an open circuit but it just could not carry the current
i am going to buy new cables tommorrow
i think i will use 2awg and also try to shorten the run
i am not yet set up i have only setup a few components on the backboard i could send some pictures or wait until everything is set up most of the items are coming from the states
lastly is it normal for the inverter to arc when connecting the battery wire even though it is turned off? i am using two 1500watt pure sine

]]> By: DigitalMind http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-5905 DigitalMind Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:30:41 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-5905 Hi Oral, I'm glad you posted your experiences with this. 12 volts is hard to carry along cheap wire. You need REALLY good and expensive wire. I paid about $5 per foot for the cabling between the batteries and inverter. I think I used 2 guage wire. Basically, go to the electrical section of your store, find a guy who knows electricity, and tell him you need to carry 12 volts and 150 Amps. (Plain old electrical cable that's usually used for 120 volts will NOT due) The reason I say 150 amps is because you have a 1500 Watt inverter. 1500 Watts divided by 12 volts = 125 amps. What kind of cable do you currently have between the batteries and inverter??? Hi Oral,
I’m glad you posted your experiences with this. 12 volts is hard to carry along cheap wire. You need REALLY good and expensive wire. I paid about $5 per foot for the cabling between the batteries and inverter. I think I used 2 guage wire. Basically, go to the electrical section of your store, find a guy who knows electricity, and tell him you need to carry 12 volts and 150 Amps. (Plain old electrical cable that’s usually used for 120 volts will NOT due) The reason I say 150 amps is because you have a 1500 Watt inverter. 1500 Watts divided by 12 volts = 125 amps.

What kind of cable do you currently have between the batteries and inverter???

]]> By: oral http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-5897 oral Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:57:53 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-5897 hi digital i tried sending a comment earlier but it went astray anyway remember when i said i was checking ebay for a motor to build a wind turbine ? well i have changed my mind and bought a wind turbine and some panels from ARI i have not completed the setup just yet however i wanted to test the inverters to see if my refridgerator could run on the 4 100AH i connected in parallel and connected to a 1500 watt pure sinewave inverter the strangest thing happened , whenever the compressor on the fridge wants to engage the inverter shuts down momentarily with a low voltage warning so i initially thought it was the batteries and i was getting confused as, based on my calculations four batteries ideally should be able to deliver 4800 watts at least for 1 hour and with the rating of the fridge being 450watts i at least should get 10 hours i connected a voltmeter at the inverter dc input and realized that the voltage fell to 8 volts each time the compressor attempted to turn on in doing my investigations i realizes that there was a significant voltage drop along the line carrying the dc current ( it is 8 feet long) at the inverter connection the voltage measured 8.9v but at the batteries it measured 12.58volts. this situation really boggled my mind what are your thoughts hi digital
i tried sending a comment earlier but it went astray
anyway remember when i said i was checking ebay for a motor to build a wind turbine ? well i have changed my mind and bought a wind turbine and some panels from ARI
i have not completed the setup just yet however i wanted to test the inverters to see if my refridgerator could run on the 4 100AH i connected in parallel and connected to a 1500 watt pure sinewave inverter
the strangest thing happened , whenever the compressor on the fridge wants to engage the inverter shuts down momentarily with a low voltage warning so i initially thought it was the batteries and i was getting confused as, based on my calculations four batteries ideally should be able to deliver 4800 watts at least for 1 hour and with the rating of the fridge being 450watts i at least should get 10 hours
i connected a voltmeter at the inverter dc input and realized that the voltage fell to 8 volts each time the compressor attempted to turn on in doing my investigations i realizes that there was a significant voltage drop along the line carrying the dc current ( it is 8 feet long)
at the inverter connection the voltage measured 8.9v but at the batteries it measured 12.58volts.
this situation really boggled my mind
what are your thoughts

]]> By: DigitalMind http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-5894 DigitalMind Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:23:03 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-5894 How is your solar and wind research coming along ? How is your solar and wind research coming along ?

]]> By: oral http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-5893 oral Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:21:07 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-5893 checking checking 123 checking checking 123

]]> By: DigitalMind http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-5494 DigitalMind Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:39:08 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-5494 Hi Jake, Yes exactly. Divide the price by the amount of Watts and compare each manufacturer's panels price per watt. That's the best way to judge. Once you have the best deal, I'd go online and look for reviews of that manufacturer just to be safe. Although to be honest, I haven't heard of any solar panel manufacturers that are flat out BAD. The panels I used for my small solar power install in Kingston were from Canadian Tire and cost about $80 per 15 Watt Panel. (They were on special at the time) So $5.30 per Watt. Hi Jake,
Yes exactly. Divide the price by the amount of Watts and compare each manufacturer’s panels price per watt. That’s the best way to judge. Once you have the best deal, I’d go online and look for reviews of that manufacturer just to be safe. Although to be honest, I haven’t heard of any solar panel manufacturers that are flat out BAD.

The panels I used for my small solar power install in Kingston were from Canadian Tire and cost about $80 per 15 Watt Panel. (They were on special at the time) So $5.30 per Watt.

]]> By: Jake http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-5490 Jake Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:47:14 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-5490 Where did you purchase the panels and what made you choose that company? There are tons of companies out there claiming they have the cheapest solar panels, so how did you filter out the best choice? do you just figure out the average price per watt first and then times that number by the number of watt panel to see if a particular company is competitive? Where did you purchase the panels and what made you choose that company? There are tons of companies out there claiming they have the cheapest solar panels, so how did you filter out the best choice? do you just figure out the average price per watt first and then times that number by the number of watt panel to see if a particular company is competitive?

]]> By: DigitalMind http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-5408 DigitalMind Sat, 18 Oct 2008 20:20:35 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-5408 Hi Ritesh, welcome to TechieNATION. Get ready to have a bunch of numbers thrown at you, but first, please clear a few things up for me. Your average power consumption is 33kw over how much time ? A day, a week, a month ??? Also, if you had to guess, how many hours of sun do you get on average PER DAY where you plan on installing these ?? Hi Ritesh, welcome to TechieNATION. Get ready to have a bunch of numbers thrown at you, but first, please clear a few things up for me. Your average power consumption is 33kw over how much time ? A day, a week, a month ???

Also, if you had to guess, how many hours of sun do you get on average PER DAY where you plan on installing these ??

]]> By: Ritesh http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-5406 Ritesh Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:26:31 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-5406 10,000 watts panel. 10,000 watts panel.

]]> By: Ritesh http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-5405 Ritesh Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:25:13 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-5405 Hello, I am doing master's program in electrical from California state university los angeles. i also have great interest in solar panels and all and i want to learn and would like to install this system in india at my home but before that i have lots of questions about this system like the avg consumption of electricity of my home is 33kw and as yo stated that i'ii have to use around 10,000 panel...so please tell me about the cost??....the solar will charge the battery first or we can directly connect it to the equipment?? Hello,

I am doing master’s program in electrical from California state university los angeles. i also have great interest in solar panels and all and i want to learn and would like to install this system in india at my home but before that i have lots of questions about this system like the avg consumption of electricity of my home is 33kw and as yo stated that i’ii have to use around 10,000 panel…so please tell me about the cost??….the solar will charge the battery first or we can directly connect it to the equipment??

]]> By: How to: Harness Solar and Wind Energy | Hack N Mod - Amazingly Cool Hacks, Mods, and Projects http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-4905 How to: Harness Solar and Wind Energy | Hack N Mod - Amazingly Cool Hacks, Mods, and Projects Sun, 07 Sep 2008 05:21:26 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-4905 [...] check out this detailed tutorial for an example of the steps you’ll be [...] [...] check out this detailed tutorial for an example of the steps you’ll be [...]

]]> By: Not Green IT again! : SimonStapleton.com http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-4372 Not Green IT again! : SimonStapleton.com Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:04:18 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-4372 [...] our house on solar panel, we could recharge all the spare batteries we like! Take a look at the wacky project Jason at TechieNation has taken on - and it seems to work! Jason is one brave guy but could be a [...] [...] our house on solar panel, we could recharge all the spare batteries we like! Take a look at the wacky project Jason at TechieNation has taken on - and it seems to work! Jason is one brave guy but could be a [...]

]]> By: links for 2008-03-29 at toshism http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-72 links for 2008-03-29 at toshism Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:39:35 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-72 [...] TechieNation.Com » Blog Archive » Kingston Solar Power installation. (tags: solar energy power house) [...] [...] TechieNation.Com » Blog Archive » Kingston Solar Power installation. (tags: solar energy power house) [...]

]]> By: Richard http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-71 Richard Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:33:12 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-71 Brian, the way that most invertser slike that work is that internally they step the 12v up to a positive and negative rail that is half the peak voltage, and then they drive both the neutral and live off h bridges from those rails. If you measure either side to the chassis you will have 60 or so volts RMS, because the 2 are out of phase that gives you the 120 between the 2. Connecting either side to ground will cause a short on that side so in any case, a ground vault will shutdown the inverter (Or blow it up in the case of a small cheap one like this) - only saftey concern is with incorrectly wired equipment that has neutral and earth reversed on it, but that wouldnt work in a place with a GFI breaker anyway so the chances of it these days is very remote. Brian, the way that most invertser slike that work is that internally they step the 12v up to a positive and negative rail that is half the peak voltage, and then they drive both the neutral and live off h bridges from those rails. If you measure either side to the chassis you will have 60 or so volts RMS, because the 2 are out of phase that gives you the 120 between the 2.

Connecting either side to ground will cause a short on that side so in any case, a ground vault will shutdown the inverter (Or blow it up in the case of a small cheap one like this) - only saftey concern is with incorrectly wired equipment that has neutral and earth reversed on it, but that wouldnt work in a place with a GFI breaker anyway so the chances of it these days is very remote.

]]> By: Brian http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-70 Brian Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:19:48 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-70 Nice writeup! I am a bit concerned about your splitting of the ground and neutral, though. Why do you say you must split them when using an inverter? You may be putting your sister's safety at risk by doing so! I work as a technician for a company that builds (among other things) military and commercial DC-AC inverters, and neutral and ground are *always* tied together inside the inverter unit. I have also poked my head into several models made by other companies, and again the neutral and ground are tied together. For your sister's sake, I hope the Xantrex power inverter you bought is built this way, otherwise do her a favor and reconnect the ground inside the panel! Nice writeup! I am a bit concerned about your splitting of the ground and neutral, though. Why do you say you must split them when using an inverter? You may be putting your sister’s safety at risk by doing so! I work as a technician for a company that builds (among other things) military and commercial DC-AC inverters, and neutral and ground are *always* tied together inside the inverter unit. I have also poked my head into several models made by other companies, and again the neutral and ground are tied together. For your sister’s sake, I hope the Xantrex power inverter you bought is built this way, otherwise do her a favor and reconnect the ground inside the panel!

]]> By: DigitalMind http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-69 DigitalMind Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:04:36 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-69 George : Yeah I plan on changing the cable between the panels and batteries in the summer (I installed this in DECEMBER, in CANADA, got lucky there was almost no snow at the time) The pole itself is remarkably solid ! Thanks for leaving a comment ! George : Yeah I plan on changing the cable between the panels and batteries in the summer (I installed this in DECEMBER, in CANADA, got lucky there was almost no snow at the time) The pole itself is remarkably solid !

Thanks for leaving a comment !

]]> By: George http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-68 George Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:50:50 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-68 This was an awesome article, I really can appreciate a project like this! And in the future you could make some improvements to the panel mounting and cables and it would run forever! That is great. Thanks for posting this. I did also see this on Hackedgadgets.com This was an awesome article, I really can appreciate a project like this! And in the future you could make some improvements to the panel mounting and cables and it would run forever! That is great. Thanks for posting this. I did also see this on Hackedgadgets.com

]]> By: DigitalMind http://www.techienation.com/kingston-solar-power-installation/#comment-67 DigitalMind Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:26:29 +0000 http://digitalmind.servehttp.com/techienation/?p=21#comment-67 Cool this was added to hackedgadgets.com .. Thanks !!! If anyone wants more detailed information regarding this Solar setup, such as what it cost me, send me an email ... digital mind @ techienation . com (Remove the spaces) Cool this was added to hackedgadgets.com .. Thanks !!!

If anyone wants more detailed information regarding this Solar setup, such as what it cost me, send me an email …
digital mind @ techienation . com
(Remove the spaces)

]]>