Solar generator companies need to increase their solar input for poor weather

Рет қаралды 41,032

Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 74

@mkch932 9 ай бұрын

Solar installer here. Currently, in the state of Massachusetts, there are two primary restrictions to over-sizing a residential system. The first has to do with how the electric utility provides credits for feeding excess power to the grid. When a residential system goes over 10kWAC the utilities do not give you a 1 to 1 credit for what your sending to the grid. Also, solar is treated as a financial investment more than anything. If we size a system to more than, let's say, 120% of your 12 month average electrical usage than we could be adding years to your return-on-investment. Another consideration is the utility companies current capacity utilization for their secondary transformers. In my area so many people are upgrading their electrical services to 400a and getting solar that we apply for the solar interconnection and immediately get told to wait and that they'll need to do a transformer upgrade. I do agree with you though that over-sizing a system would give you more power in poor weather though.

@minutemanprep 9 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing. What I was meaning is that in the backup solar world, solar generator/power stations usually max at 150v input which means on poor weather days the solar input is extremely limited. The system I am running in this video has up to 500v input which means I can have tons of solar input so that even on poor weather days, I can still get some sort of solar input to help offset my usage.

@deth3021 9 ай бұрын

@@minutemanprepthat was not clear from your video.

@1lI1l1Il 9 ай бұрын

@@minutemanprepwell, that depends on your brand/system. My Victron/Pylontech Off-Grid Setup here eats up to 250V, and puts up to 3kW (48V/60A) into my Batteries. There are even bigger Chargers with 450V Inputs, multiple Strings (with separate MPPT Controllers) and up to 200A Output at the 48V Rail. When going Grid connected, there are Inverters available with >550V Inputs, up to 1000V. At least they are available for EU Grid (230V/400V Three Phase). Overpaneling is pretty usual here, so your Inverter/Charger is limiting the maximum power output to the Grid. Many times people are running East/West Split Setups, where the Panels face opposite directions and supply from sunrise to sunset with a lower mid-day peak than a south facing setup. Usually the two Sides are connected in parallel to the same Inverter.

@spencerc9284 9 ай бұрын

Solar installer here too and you're correct, This is the reality. The grid can only handle so much power. Battery tech hasn't quite caught up with panel generation capacity. Smaller more affordable and more powerful modular battery systems are what will propel solar into more widespread adoption and better ease of use for consumers

@minutemanprep 9 ай бұрын

@@spencerc9284 Where do you install?

@jasonbroom7147 9 ай бұрын

I'm not sure if your question is rhetorical or if you really want an answer, but it's because of the nomenclature you're using. What you call a "solar generator" is much more accurately termed a "portable power station". It's primary function is NOT to generate power from the sun, it is to provide portable power to devices. The fact that it has an internal solar charge controller (usually a crappy one) is only tangential to its actual purpose. Honestly, I would be perfectly happy to have a better portable power station, where there is no SCC built in, then use the panels and charge controller of my choice to recharge the power station, presuming I didn't just use AC.

@EnglishCountryLife 4 ай бұрын

Absolutely agree. A 2kWh solar generator should be able to take 1600W input

@adedamolacrown2837 3 ай бұрын

Maximum watts input should be half of the battery capacity size, if you have 10kwh battery least solar panel sizing should be maximum of 5kw panel input to charge up while you make use of the pv energy during the day

@salat 9 ай бұрын

Calling a battery a "Solar generator" is the main problem I think - solar panels are the generators..

@SetitesTechAdventures 9 ай бұрын

I saw an argument on facebook about the fact that nothing solar is a generator. I wanted to argue but officially a generator turns mechanical energy into electricity so solar is not a generator. I am not sure what word applies, maybe inverter since that is when you make electricity from battery power.

@ralphpezda6523 2 ай бұрын

When I first looked into solar it took a while before I realzed solar "generators" generate nothing, unlike gas powered generators. On the other hand solar generators store energy by use of batteries whereas gas powered generators store nothing. Turning them off = no power. It also helps to know that you cannot "turn off" a battery or solar panel. You can disconnect them from a circuit but they are "still on" unless it is pitch black outside or a battery is completely dead.

@whochecksthis Ай бұрын

@@SetitesTechAdventuresa “generator” is a mechanical to electrical device. Most do this by converting solar energy derived fuel into heat to turn the device to convert to electrical. A “SOLAR GENERATOR” is a device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy. Which uses the solar energy directly to push the electrons through the inverter to convert to the desired electrical energy. So… the same thing with fewer steps…

@pstoneking3418 4 ай бұрын

I'd say that's pretty good output for such an overcast day. Buy more panels and then you'll get a full charge on cloudy days and you can use your excess that you have on really sunny days to run a preheating electric hot water heater or charge an electric vehicle like i do with my excess on sunny days. I've found you should always go with more panels than youll ever need. I seldom have to pay for electricity, that includes charging my ford lightning.

@SetitesTechAdventures 9 ай бұрын

This has been pissing me off for years which is why I will no longer buy solar generators. The input parameters are just too useless under anything less than ideal circumstances. Some don't even get their rated input ideally without crazy solar arrangements.

@blueblubber6607 9 ай бұрын

An output of 20% of the nominal power on a cloudy day looks like a good efficiency to me. I fail to see the problem...

@minutemanprep 9 ай бұрын

The problem is so many companies cap out the solar input at about 1,600w or 150v which means I can't add tons of solar panels to get decent output on cloudy days. It works well with the Apollos because it has 5,000w input and 500v.

@blueblubber6607 9 ай бұрын

@@minutemanprep I guess you are talking about your inverter (?) In my case I added additional (and independent) MPPT's which I feed into the battery, but you have to kinda match the total current to your battery system. In case you don't have a battery, additional (micro) inverters could do the job.

@kareno8634 6 күн бұрын

@@minutemanprep *Exercise Your Rights.* Governments Instituted to *"SECURE"* the Rights of the people. ie: *Pursuit of Happiness* 🇺🇸

@GoodmanMIke59 9 ай бұрын

As soon as conditions permit it's time to do a side-by-side comparison of the DELTA PRO ULTRA & the Apollo. This is about the only thing keeping me from pulling the trigger. ... 240V on a single (combined) Ultra at roughly $6,000(?) blood guts and feathers versus having to buy 2X $5000 Apollos. You've explained certain features like AUTO-ON with the Apollos versus the greater output and capacity out of the ECOFLO products, which appear to be better known. The ECO-FLO has an interesting dual-level solar input while the Apollos seem to have a more robust, panel.

@danhenson6386 9 ай бұрын

Just a guess, but if the idea of a solar generator is to be “portable”, how many panels are you loading into your truck or SUV?

@rcguymike 9 ай бұрын

EcoFlow seems content on only getting a "full charge" on the main unit in ideal conditions in 1 day...I wish my Delta2Max had double or triple the MPPT input capacity. If I'm using 50% of the continuous output of the unit and getting 100% solar input I'm discharging...I want to use 30-50% of the inverter output and be able to fully charge a main unit during the day.

@Sylvan_dB 9 ай бұрын

I agree! I also chose the 2Max, But imagine if you had the Delta2 with only 500w input? 😬 One hack you can do with the 2Max is use a battery attached to the solar inputs. Use XT60i cables (with the 3rd terminal wired as if 'solar' to tell it to pull up to 15 amps on each input). You need at least 34 volts to get the full 500w per input. You can do this with 3 or 4 12v, 100ah batteries in series, or use a 36v or 48v battery. You could also use a voltage booster on a 12v battery, but a single 12v, 100ah battery has only 1280 watt hours - not enough. Plan how many watt hours you need and size the battery accordingly. I.e. a 48v 100ah battery has 5160 watt hours - enough to provide 1000w for 5 hours after being fully charged. A server rack with 5 of those could provide over 24 hours at 1000 w. Now you can use a real MPPT charge controller to charge that external battery as fast as possible during the day, while the battery feeds the delta2max with 1000w for as many hours as you have storage.

@rcguymike 9 ай бұрын

Yup, this also helps bypass AC passthrough limitations, I've contemplated doing this with the EG4 power pro battery on a hand truck with an MPPT...but at that point I might as well get a "real" inverter too😅, I'm set on not settling for anything less than a Victron Quattro though, nothing else has power assist.

@Sylvan_dB 9 ай бұрын

@@rcguymike My "real" inverter is stil a Trace SW5500 (25+ years old now). It has the power assist and I've been looking at Quattro as an replacement/upgrade for that exact reason. 👍 My SW has a huge surge capacity... It's only 120v but I can run it thru a transformer to get 240v and it will run my 2HP well pump. The quattro has higher quality power output, and good but not as good a surge capacity. Might need two of them. $ouch.

@paraglidingprospector 9 ай бұрын

Looks like mono-crystalline panels? What type of charge controller are you using? As a hobby wanna-be solar guy, it’s my understanding that multi-crystalline panels are more efficient and the use of a new MPPT charge controller is preferred. Older charge controllers require your panels to have 100% full sun exposure before they start charging your batteries. Whereas, the modern MPPT charge controllers start charging your battery bank as soon as your panel array has any sun exposure. Hope this helps. Also, be sure your wire gauges are correct (depending on how far you’re running power).

@minutemanprep 9 ай бұрын

They are 400w canadian solar monocrystalline panels. I have them connected to my Apollo solar generators which use MPPT charge controllers. I'm running 12 awg wire without any issues since it's high volts low amps.

@ajhall9718 9 ай бұрын

Agreed! I had to run my gas generator at 0400. We've had snow days for like a week I'm running an all in one inverter with 4 chins 100ah batteries linked in series. My ef delta 1200 got into play last night, but I ran it down to zero before using gas generator.

@rbhebron 8 ай бұрын

all solar & wind renewables have what's called peak power input.. when its, cloudy, or when there's very little wind, less than optimal power is generated.. this is why you shud have a battery bank to level out the power output for your use.. even if the solar or wind is low, but the your use is minimal, the renewables still will charge your home battery banks for optimal output, & your power is levelized just like when your power is coming frm the grid..

@ThePatriotPirate 9 ай бұрын

I attempted to get solar on a single 400 watt panel on a day just like I see in this video and it said 0 watts input. It was on a portable 400 watt EcoFlow panel and tried going into a Delta 2 and Delta Pro. If I had more panels hooked up, would it produce at least something then? I would have been happy with even 10-20%

@af1023 9 ай бұрын

Totally agree! The power stations need to do better. It is a struggle to recharge the units during an outage and the productive hours are limited.

@JamesAmbrose48 9 ай бұрын

These companies tend to respond to concerns brought up by their KZbin promoters during demonstrations. Maybe y’all have failed to adequately highlight this shortcoming.

@GSJoey 8 ай бұрын

I think they are able to avoid the subject because results are so highly variable as you know. Experience & knowledge doesn't come from someone wanting to sell you. something

@Moes_Prep_and_Tech 9 ай бұрын

I wonder.......are there Micro inverters that focus on DC power only instead of AC that you could put on each panel to Maximise the output

@mkch932 9 ай бұрын

Check out, for example, Solaredge Power Optimizers.

@jnmc-vx4fw 10 күн бұрын

You must live very very rural cow country, wide open land. No neighbors … There is no way any nice respectful neighborhood is going to allow that row of hideous solar panels in your yard. Basically these videos are for a very small percentage of people living in these areas. My generac back up generator powers the entire home as long as I need. Weeks, months, and it’s very inexpensive for propane and a fraction of the cost of that setup you have and 0 maintenance. Even if you don’t have generac , a propane generator will recharge the batteries in no time then shut off . Then repeat the process.

@Electronzap 9 ай бұрын

Interesting.

@contytub 8 ай бұрын

This is why inlaws went for 10kw. I low light you still get some

@michellesanders1548 8 ай бұрын

Honey call Solar Set in Colorado Best Buy we ever made

@RCTVAccount 9 ай бұрын

You are absolutely correct. Solar generators need to be able to accommodate 5x current solar input rates. l also think solar panel companies need to work on their efficiency in cloudy situations... Who has the room for 50 panels in their yard?

@spencerc9284 9 ай бұрын

You do realize there's basic physics behind some of these limitations?

@RCTVAccount 9 ай бұрын

Yes.. I have a PhD in geophysics. What was significant limits 5 years ago are no issues today. The manufacturers will make products to the lowest common denominator for the lowest cost until there a consumer demand for something better.

@RCTVAccount 9 ай бұрын

@MichaelBuchzik 8 ай бұрын

because it‘s patented and they don‘t wanna pay the license fees …

@jamesevans225 9 ай бұрын

Solar Panel manufacturers are trying their best to make a 100% efficient solar panel. If they were able to get to 90% efficiency that would be at least 3 TIMES better than the average modern solar panels installed on homes and businesses today. Cloudy days stink for ALL PANELS even NASA grade panels. So I think you are asking for a solar panel that generates power from ALL spectrums of light so that on bright cloudy days, the decrease of power generation is "minimal".

@jhoughjr1 9 ай бұрын

Not even a whole 1800 W circuit.

@simon359 9 ай бұрын

Especially when the solar generator is over 2000 W hours, it makes no sense to have less than 100 V.

@simonpaine2347 Ай бұрын

I guess that you shouldn't buy a mini and blame the company when it doesn't perform like a Ferrari!

@francespueo5367 9 ай бұрын

So why don't they?

@DellardStevenson 9 ай бұрын

Y’all gonna be the same folks on the moon complaining about oxygen levels 😂😂😂

@guillermomaguire5394 9 ай бұрын

IF I can push out 2kw, I should be able to suck in 2kw solar, minimum

@ArnelMirabueno 9 ай бұрын

😊

@JoshuaCollins 8 ай бұрын

*These* are the cloud conditions

@luisderivas6005 9 ай бұрын

Umm...try wind instead?? But really, there is no such thing as a solar generator in the form factors you are discussing. There are solar panels and power banks. Period.

@clarencewiles963 9 ай бұрын

But they will tell you a sunny day is coming just look for it.

@haydenmossop5758 9 ай бұрын

If you think you put solar on for you think again

@thegrazingapprentice 9 ай бұрын

bc they want you to just buy more batteries

@minutemanprep 9 ай бұрын

That's definitely a possiblity. After looking into it some more it seems like there are some restrictions on DIY setups using more than 60v due to shock hazard. Plus the 60v mppts are far more affordable than 450v or 500v. I only recently discovered this info in my research.