Heard about Nick Rosen and http://www.off-grid.net

I found Nick Rosen mentioned on the web and then joined the http://www.off-grid.net/ website.

I will start chatting with members on it to keep me enthused with my own projects. I also posted "Aim to go off-grid by 2020" to that site: http://www.off-grid.net/aim-go-off-grid-2020/

By the way, I will post details of my solar water system (installed in Shannon, Clare in Feb'16) shortly. Here's a taster...

I find it excellent at providing a cylinder of hot water for showering and washing dishes. Details soon especially of the control system :)

My aim is to test bed technologies in Shannon (where I live and can keep an eye on them) and then deploy them (debugged!) to Mayo.

Bought components to deploy my 1KW wind turbine. The idea being:

1) 60A cable: "800W 60A 60 AMP 8 AWG Car Amplifier Fuse Wiring Kit Audio Sound Power Cable Wire" from ebay:

Which features:
Power cable’s length: 4.8 m
    Ground cable’s length: 0.5 m
    RCA – RCA cable’s length: 4.4 m
    Remote cable length: 5 m
    Binding tape’s length: 5 cm
    Fuse holder’s size: 9 x 4.2 x 2.5 cm
    Fuse maximum current: 60 AMP

    Power cable x 1
    Ground cable x 1
    Remote cable x 1
    RCA – RCA cable x 1
    Fuse holder x 1
    Prong terminal x 4
    Binding tape x 4


2) Isolation box: IP65 Mini Garage Consumer Unit Fuse Box C/W 100A Isolator Switch + 6A + 32A MCBs

Which features:
IP65 ABS ENCLOSURE, POLYCARB FLAP
HINGED FRONT COVER
100 Amp Mains Isolator Switch 1 x 6A + 1 X 32A. MCB as Standard
DIMESIONS 229mm(h) x 140mm(w) x 105mm(d)





3) 60A in-line fuse: In Line Maxi waterproof Blade Fuse Holder 60a 60 amp fuseholder car boat van this fuse holder accepts MAXI FUSES ( NOT THE STANDARD ( large fuses  30mm x35mm ) the fuse holder is made up with 8 gauge red wire that can be cut to the desired length, the wire length is 250mm

4) 1,2KW dump load: 10x Reprap 12v 40W Ceramic Cartridge Heater (3D Printer, Prusa, Mendel): Current:12v, Power: 40w,Core: ceramic, Diameter: 6mm, Length: 23mm, Lead Wire length: 100mm (30 pieces)

What I intend to do is create a number of increasing 45v/48v loads: 120W (3 in series - 3 pieces), 360W (3 in series and x3 in parallel - 9 pieces) and 720W (3 in series and x6 in parallel - 18 pieces). So as the wind turbine spins-up and the current it generates increases then the load will switch from 120W (always on) to 480W (added 360W load) to a maximum of 1200W (all three loads active). This will allow the turbine to start-up in light winds as it doesn't have to drive the 1.2KW load straight away.

I intend to fix the barrel heaters to the inside of a double radiator where the corrugation is.

So that they heat the water in that radiator and the central heating pump takes it away around the house to the other radiators. (Here the CH burner is turned off).

Commisioned new 230 V AC immersion heater...

Replaced existing 230 V AC immersion heater. The idea being to use the wind turbine to drive a 48v 1KW immersion heater to constantly heat up the hot water cylinder. Then with the central heater turned on (but the burner turned off) have the CG pumps act as a reverse heater exchanger heating the burner loop and rad loop from the hot water cylinder. Normally, teh burner would be active heating the water in the hot water tank loop (and radiators if the valve is open).

Investigated inverter's panel meter communications

Found that all 8 wires (4 twisted pairs) had a signal.

And just probing with an ungrounded probe showed that these were 120v peak-to-peak:

Confirmed by switched to a 10x probe:

So my conclusion is that:
1) They are using a differential carrier on all 4 twisted pairs
2) I need to use a comparator to get a digital signal
3) My readings will be distorted by 50Hz 230v mains hum.
4) The timebase was  2 mSec/Div so period was 12 mSec / 80Hz

Interestingly the meter is packed with electronics:

And the 20A charge controller uses the base as a metal heatsink:

I'm hoping I may be able to upgrade a 10A controller to a 20A one myself but it doesn't look that straightforward.

2nd panel produces 7.2 A

Wired up second solar panel to a charge controller and 24V batteries.

Interestingly, this charge controller is rated at 20A (rather than 10A). Could this be why it reached 7.2A compared with 5.2A the first panel achieved yesterday through the 10A charge controller?

I must investigate before I buy the remaining three charge controllers.

Panel supplying 5.2A@36V (187W) and went off grid

Went off grid using 600W 24V pure sine wave inverter.

It can supply the extension (except for electric shower, washing machine and dryer).

And the main house (except cooker, kettle and fridge).

So I had it supplying lights, TV, satellite receiver, broadband router, etc for 2.5 hours (from 10 pm) from a 40 Ah 12v car battery and 90 Ah 12V leisure battery in series.

It was also supplying the extension from 12 noon to 8 pm.

It turns its fan on when it heats up. All worked better than expected.