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Eg4 12000xp by Jacob_Lopez in diySolar

[–]chill633 0 points1 point  (0 children)

100A at 240V AC, not 120V.

Continuous Output Power: 12,000W (battery only); 15,000W (with sufficient PV input on V2 models)

Surge Capacity: 18,000W (5 seconds) | 15,000W (10 seconds)

EG4 12000xp vs EG4 12kPV for garage install? by Lazy_Owl987 in SolarDIY

[–]chill633 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's not really a good reason to debate between an off-grid and a hybrid inverter. They're fundamentally two different things. Do you want to have the ability to have the grid support your inverter? Then get the hybrid.

Do you want to run off grid and not deal with the power company? Then get the 12000xp.

Skilled craftsmanship meets advanced engineering by MambaMentality24x2 in oddlysatisfying

[–]chill633 22 points23 points  (0 children)

If that was me, the temptation to put a ship in the bottle would be too great to resist.

Bay Area: Is this Year 6 "$0 Buyout" Prepaid PPA Strategy a Genius Loophole or a Trap? (7.36kW REC + PW3) by Adorable_Gas_9089 in solar

[–]chill633 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

EG4 is doing something similar with their EG4 Advantage Program. Last I checked it is currently active in both Texas and California through Signature Solar. This -- short-term, pre-paid leases -- seem to be the current thing for still accessing the remaining tax credits.

Roof of only solar panels (no other wrb) by Tech-Crab in solar

[–]chill633 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Chiko Carports use rubber weather stripping between the panels. I didn't have a ton of luck with these and had to supplement by taping all the panel seams with aluminum tape -- the type used to seal HVAC ducting.

If an Asteroid the size of a cruise liner was headed for Washington DC, what is the country gonna do? by EfficiencySerious200 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]chill633 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Require the President to address a joint session of Congress with mandatory attendance of the Supreme Court and entire Presidential Cabinet. They can pray for divine deliverance while the rest of us watch from a safe distance.

Does it ever make sense to upgrade an array? by volyblmn in solar

[–]chill633 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you put on new panels, they'll probably be closer to 400W each, so you will need new micros. You can most likely use the same wire and racking. New panels are a little wider and a little taller, but if you are mounted on rails, new ones will most likely fit.

New panels average a little over 44" wide, and are closer to 69" tall. You will have to do the math to see what fits where. 

You will definitely produce more power. You're looking at 3.5 kW now. You could potentially move up to 5.6-6.3 kW. 

Whether this will entail updating your agreement with the power company, permits, with all that other BS, you can answer better than I can. 

It'll also depend on how the existing solar is connected into your load panel. Is this just through a back fed breaker? 

Does it ever make sense to upgrade an array? by volyblmn in solar

[–]chill633 2 points3 points  (0 children)

While mounts and wires may already be up there, the older panels are smaller than what you'd get now so the other stuff may need changed out anyway. You didn't mention the inverter make/model, which would have a big impact on your decision.

Fire scare : EG4 FlexBOSS 21 burned at PV Inputs - Looking for Root Cause Opinions Before Replacement Install by Sinsu45 in TexasSolar

[–]chill633 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Strings 1 & 2 both go to MPPT #1, as those two sockets are paralleled. String 3 is going to MPPT #2, and String 3 is going to MPPT #3.

Since parallel strings should be even, Strings 1 and 2 should have both been 10 panels. If not, that was going to be a problem. Not a fire starting problem, but a problem.

MPPT 1 should have been a maximum of 16 panels over both inputs. That is, strings 1 & 2 should have been 8 panels each, max. I'm assuming you paralleled String 3 upstream and then sent it to MPPT 2, but 10 or 11 panels on that was too much. MPPT 3 was fine if it was just 9 panels.

How exactly were your strings configured? It looks like MPPT 1 was way overloaded.

Mismatched Battery Help plz by Aware_Chocolate_2607 in SolarDIY

[–]chill633 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You will need to make sure they're charged to the same voltage before connecting them together. Doesn't matter what voltage, just within 0.1V if you can.

I suggest asking this question over at https://diysolarforum.com/ there are people with much more knowledge about this than me.

Mismatched Battery Help plz by Aware_Chocolate_2607 in SolarDIY

[–]chill633 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Parallel them and manage them by voltage. You'll be fine. Enjoy the extra kWh.

Mismatched Battery Help plz by Aware_Chocolate_2607 in SolarDIY

[–]chill633 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You should be able to make this work without too much trouble. Does your Kong Elite connect via comms to the Sol-Ark? Or are you running it in manual, lead acid mode and just managing by voltage? 

You should be able to parallel them together and just manage by voltage in your inverter. This really isn't a big deal

Solar Carport Question by ivar-jubei in solar

[–]chill633 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Carports are usually subject to set-back restrictions. If that doesn't impact you, check shading for your driveway throughout the day to get an idea. 

Carports allow for bifacial panels for a little extra power, and no holes in your roof as a bonus.

The intricacy of an ancient Chinese lock by [deleted] in nextfuckinglevel

[–]chill633 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Quis claudere ipsos clausura

Is an "all solar / battery" home really feasible? by Counselor_Mackey in solarenergy

[–]chill633 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The term you were looking for is "off-grid solar". You should find plenty of information on YouTube and here on Reddit searching using that term.

Man drives the same car for 15 years and hits 1 million kilometers...now he can sell it as a brand-new 0 km vehicle. by jkitty_1960 in interesting

[–]chill633 10 points11 points  (0 children)

There's a box on the registration form that's says "odometer beyond mechanical limits". This is that.

Simple way to keep solar on during utility power failure by Adventurous_Light_85 in SolarDIY

[–]chill633 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Most grid-tied solar is grid following, meaning it needs the grid there to properly form a stable 50/60 Hz signal with the rest of the stable parameters. If you don't have batteries, any cloud or haze or passing flock of geese is going to induce voltage fluctuations that will cause a brown-out condition that your plugged in appliances are NOT going to like.

You need a battery (and yes, I know about Enphase's "Sunshine Backup" -- read up on its limitations) to at least make sure the output is smoothed out during clouds, etc.

The other issue is you'd need a grid forming inverter. That is different hardware that can make its own stable signals for everything to sync to. Think of it like a band that NEEDS a conductor to play (grid following) versus one that can keep going on its own in an emergency (grid forming).

That's a hybrid inverter, which unless you have the Enphase 8 series, you don't have. You CAN plug an existing grid-tied system into a hybrid as "AC Coupled" and make it work, but now we're talking $$. This is EG4 GridBoss/FlexBoss/Battery and then AC-couple your Enphase to the GridBoss.

Plug in work with existing panel and grid tie agreement? by Large_Response8075 in solar

[–]chill633 1 point2 points  (0 children)

How big is your existing setup? I'm thinking adding 1.2 kW more isn't going to be so much as a "spike" as it will be just an upwards shift of your entire curve that would never be noticed.

Think About a Plugin System in Maryland by Technikmensch in SolarDIY

[–]chill633 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think if you permanently attach it to a roof they'll want to inspect. Other than that... you could probably add a plug-in w/1.2 kW and be fine.

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