Off Grid Solar #46: Lightning Arresters MNSPD-300

[@ChrisDIYerOklahoma]

Do have to say, your DIY off-grid home solar is the best one out there. Excellent work on these surge/lightning protection devices. I got inline fuses...😜

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Thanks Chris. That really says alot coming from you!

[@LarsLondian]

I second Chris's opinion.

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Thanks Lars

[@ChrisDIYerOklahoma]

Thanks...def no expert like the "Solar Queen" Amy over at the AltE Store. Maybe I am the token KZbin "Solar Junkie"? I do have four systems in operation here in Suburbia...

[@bobbailey4954]

Very well Presented you did a great job showing and telling us how and where it's done. The only question was how and why you selected the different model/size surge suppressor you used. Thank you

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Bob, Its been a while and I don't remember but I think I just went by the voltage of the thing I was trying to protect. Thanks!

[@grumpy1962R]

I have two that are not lit. We had lightning in the area last weekend. I have been running power tools and lights all week and my batteries have recharged every day. I don’t notice that anything has changed.

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Charlie, I can't say for sure without all the details but I think your surge protectors have clamped a surge and are now "used up". I would replace them. Consider it a success that they did their job and protected your equipment. Thanks!

[@andrewyang1446]

Thanks for sharing the video! So, supposedly, these SPDs should be installed on all electronic appliances like fridge, freezer, washer, dryer, anything electronic, no?

[@HomesteadEngineering]

I am not an electrician and can not advise you on this. That said, I would not put them on every device but rather on the main panel of my house where power comes in from the utility. That should squash anything from the line. I would also look at anything that goes outside the house such as a power line to a light on a metal pole. That could attract a lightning strike and bring a surge in through the "back door" so to speak.

[@WiSeNhEiMeR-1369]

thanks COOP ...

[@jwsolarusa]

Fantastic work. Job well done my friend and thanks for sharing

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Thanks!

[@LarsLondian]

Very nice, I am thinking I should probably invest in at least to of these for my system as well. They can definitely save some expensive equipment from getting smoked. Take Care Friend.

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Yep, better to bite the bullet now then wait for something bad to happen...

[@closertothetruth9209]

decent size clamps/voltage dpendent resistors inside the arrestors

[@semanticssimple2053]

btw your system is a thing of beauty.

[@josegarcia-th3pj]

I INSTALLED THEM AROUND 8 YEARS AGO NOW I TRY TO KNOW WICH MODELS ARE?

[@GoldGullyFarm]

I haven't even thought about lightning protection for my solar system. Seeming I'm completely off grid I better get on it!

[@HomesteadEngineering]

I think being completely off-grid your risk is much lower since the most likely way to get hit is through the utility power lines. I keep my system disconnected from the grid during storms. If I were you, I would focus on adding the combiner box protection first. Thanks!

[@GoldGullyFarm]

David Armstrong awesome, thanks for the advice!

[@ekoms108]

@@GoldGullyFarm for off grid you only need one. So from the main leads off your panels is where you install this guy (right after your combiner box if you have one). BasicLly the first one the OP installed

[@neomatrix2722]

Hi can you show a video with the Disco box on how to set up the red switch please

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Neo, I don't know when I might get around to that but its pretty easy. You just put in the face plate around the number of switches you have. Then it just lines up and the big red lever just manually switches the switches underneath. Thanks!

[@acet7]

So how do those arresters work? I thought that it would have to be installed in-line with the wires not alongside of them. (don't know if that stmt makes sense to you or not).

[@HomesteadEngineering]

The surge protectors use MOV's (metal-oxide varistors) to clamp the voltage and shunt it to ground to protect your connected devices. The green, earth ground, wire should be well grounded.

[@acet7]

ok so its sort of like an overflow valve I guess, it directs it to go in another direction.

[@grumpy1962R]

If mine are not lit, how does everything just keep functioning

[@dadoymatulac]

do u have link where u buy this

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Midnight Solar Combiner Box: lddy.no/vlo0 Midnight solar surge protection (115): lddy.no/vlo5 Midnight solar surge protection (300): lddy.no/vlo7

[@semanticssimple2053]

The info leaflet shows the mnspd300 nominal voltage at 0-300vdc. In your opinion is the mnspd115 a better fit for the inverter or is there 0 difference really?

[@HomesteadEngineering]

It's been a while since I worked on this project but I would go with the 115 for the DC side since the voltage will be in the range of 48 to 55 ish.

[@semanticssimple2053]

@@HomesteadEngineering Thank you, now I have a spare 300:)

[@thevaultohio]

Do you need to put the SPD to a breaker? or is the way you wired it directly ok?

[@HomesteadEngineering]

midijeep, I think this is correct. I would not put it on a breaker. Thanks!

[@thevaultohio]

Thank you.

[@lowandslow3939]

AC from the utility? The title says off grid. 😮

[@HomesteadEngineering]

It is a 100% "off-grid" capable system. I have grid power available but I am just fine without it. Note: My system does not feed back to the grid and that's how I like it.

[@JoseGarcia-px9xj]

how do you know which model to choose

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3OZZYmVe791fLM