Adding meters to Maplin charge controller

Interestingly the Maplin charge controller disconnects the 60W 12v solar panel PV array when the battery is charged (around 13.6v).

I have 50v and 50A meters for the 235W panels which I thought I'd wire up for the craic.

Installing the proper rail bracket

After talking with my neighbour Paul and re-reading the fitting instructions, I realised that the bracket are screwed to the vertical rafters of  the roof - not the horizontal battens. So I replaced my weak bracket with a study one.

You have to angle grind the tile to fit flush on top of the bracket.

Couldn't see how to fit proper bracket so made my own.

Couldn't see how I could fit the proper brackets without leaving the tiles raised in the air. Also they don't attached to where I have my battens. So I made my own bracket from some steel strapping.

Bought 24V 1KW wind turbine on Ebay

Bought 24V 1KW wind turbine on Ebay for 445 euros.

See here for details.

Got a 1100 euro refund cheque from Ecologics as they couldn't supply the Sunny Boy in the near future. And as the 29/2/2012 deadline for ESB grid-tied systems has elapsed I would have limited use for it.

Testing one of the 235W panels

Each of the 235W panels dwarfs the whole 60W array

Open circuit they produced around 36V

The angle to the sun is crucial. Here I only got 0.13 A.

But turning the panel fully to the sun gave me. 7.06 A

ESB free export meter and additional tariff grid-tied scheme expired.

This scheme had the following features:
1) Get your system spec approved by ESB
2) Get your inverter connect by electrician and cert to ESB
3) ESB would connect a feed-in meter for free
4) ESB would buy back units at 9 cents a unit (KWh) (Expires 31st Dec 2011)
5) Additional tariff or 10 cents for first 3000 units each year. This payment will be made to the first 4,000 micro-generators connected in the 3 years from February 2009 and will be paid over a 5 year period.(Expires 29th Feb 2012)