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Search took 0.02 seconds. Search: Posts Made By: HarryN
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 03-08-2022, 03:01 PM
Replies: 29
Views: 1,951
Posted By HarryN
Perhaps mount a few more solar panels near where...

Perhaps mount a few more solar panels near where you park it. (example on the house or garage)

Plug the panels into the van to increase capacity.

Turn on the inverter, and run this 120 vac into...
Forum: General Discussion Forum 03-06-2022, 05:06 AM
Replies: 19
Views: 1,156
Posted By HarryN
My own van use is perhaps somewhat different than...

My own van use is perhaps somewhat different than people who are using it as a camper.

I own a small business in Livermore, CA that builds and installs van electrical systems, so my suggestion was...
Forum: General Discussion Forum 03-05-2022, 09:46 PM
Replies: 19
Views: 1,156
Posted By HarryN
If you are wanting to just trickle charge, then...

If you are wanting to just trickle charge, then 200 watts is ok, but not really a serious amount unless you live in NM or AZ.

In this area (roughly San Jose, CA) don't bother unless you are...
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 03-05-2022, 06:56 PM
Replies: 13
Views: 5,426
Posted By HarryN
Excellent questions: - A good quality...

Excellent questions:

- A good quality inverter can run in overload condition for a while.

If the overload is high - only a few seconds. If the overload is modest - sometimes for quite a...
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 03-05-2022, 06:32 PM
Replies: 6
Views: 2,827
Posted By HarryN
If you count "research / suffering / more...

If you count "research / suffering / more research / trying again because I am stubborn" - sure. :banghead:
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 02-28-2022, 05:17 PM
Replies: 10
Views: 2,478
Posted By HarryN
If you have a volt meter or more correctly -...

If you have a volt meter or more correctly - digital multimeter, you can pull the controller off of the wall and directly measure the voltage at the controller terminals.

That is the easiest way....
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 02-28-2022, 05:12 PM
Replies: 10
Views: 2,478
Posted By HarryN
So - quick math for your system: (amps) x...

So - quick math for your system:

(amps) x (volts) = watts

(200 watts rated of solar panels working perfectly) / (13 volts at the battery) ~ 15 amps.

AZ / NM at high elevations in the winter...
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 02-28-2022, 05:04 PM
Replies: 10
Views: 2,478
Posted By HarryN
For measuring smaller currents like your solar...

For measuring smaller currents like your solar charge controller, I use this clamp meter as a check.

380950: 80A Mini AC/DC Clamp Meter | Extech Instruments (https://www.extech.com/products/380950)...
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 02-28-2022, 04:55 PM
Replies: 10
Views: 2,478
Posted By HarryN
All of the solar charge controllers that I saw on...

All of the solar charge controllers that I saw on Zamp's web site are PWM controllers. This means that they are designed so that in a typical 12 volt battery based system:
- The typical solar panel...
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 02-27-2022, 08:02 PM
Replies: 10
Views: 2,478
Posted By HarryN
These are the most common zamp solar charge...

These are the most common zamp solar charge controllers. (on their web site)

Do any of them look like what you have ?

https://www.zampsolar.com/collections/charge-controllers

The manuals for...
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 02-27-2022, 04:00 AM
Replies: 10
Views: 2,478
Posted By HarryN
Shouldn't be too difficult. Just use a volt...

Shouldn't be too difficult. Just use a volt meter to measure the voltage at the controller input terminals.

Roughly what kind of numbers are you seeing on the controller?
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 02-27-2022, 03:57 AM
Replies: 6
Views: 2,827
Posted By HarryN
Congratulations. That is a nice size battery...

Congratulations.

That is a nice size battery pack. A customer and I recently put one the same voltage and capacity in a sprinter, along with an auxiliary 48 volt alternator.

It is a nice...
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 02-23-2022, 04:50 AM
Replies: 85
Views: 11,969
Posted By HarryN
That is fantastic news. At $100/ month I would...

That is fantastic news. At $100/ month I would definitely go that direction. There are so many places in the west without cell phone coverage.
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 02-23-2022, 04:45 AM
Replies: 13
Views: 5,426
Posted By HarryN
Sounds very typical of battle born. They take...

Sounds very typical of battle born. They take good care of their customers.

Just realize that if you do the same thing again with trying to run the air conditioner on 2 batteries, it will be your...
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 02-11-2022, 04:05 PM
Replies: 19
Views: 2,221
Posted By HarryN
The concept is in fairly wide use and yes there...

The concept is in fairly wide use and yes there are some inefficiencies, but at least they happen when there is a fair amount of power around (van is driving down the road generating power)

As you...
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 02-11-2022, 03:49 PM
Replies: 13
Views: 5,426
Posted By HarryN
As noted by others, the start up load and power...

As noted by others, the start up load and power demand is too much for only 2 batteries.

System designs with BB and honestly most batteries really need to be based around the idea of 50 amps / 600...
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 01-19-2022, 02:20 AM
Replies: 85
Views: 11,969
Posted By HarryN
Looks very promising. I can really see a...

Looks very promising.

I can really see a value in this setup, especially as it goes through the usual improvements.
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 12-06-2021, 03:15 PM
Replies: 17
Views: 1,526
Posted By HarryN
For me, it has been very difficult to find a...

For me, it has been very difficult to find a USB-C outlet that really has good reviews.

I routinely build 24 / 48 volt power systems, but if you are feeding 12 volts to them, the C port usually...
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 12-06-2021, 03:09 PM
Replies: 8
Views: 1,995
Posted By HarryN
There are only a handful of common, commercial,...

There are only a handful of common, commercial, internal BMS systems in common use in most LiFe based batteries on the market.

The majority of them have fairly high internal resistance at 100 amp...
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 11-16-2021, 12:33 PM
Replies: 11
Views: 1,712
Posted By HarryN
The way that I handle it is to build all power...

The way that I handle it is to build all power systems with either a 24 or 48 volt battery pack.

Try to run as much from the DC or 120 vac as possible.

For refrigerators and heaters, the...
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 11-16-2021, 12:24 PM
Replies: 21
Views: 2,721
Posted By HarryN
Depending on if you like to run things on the...

Depending on if you like to run things on the edge or more conservatively, it might makes sense to bring your design up to a 4 battery implementation.

For the typical ~ size 24 / 27 / 31...
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 11-16-2021, 03:42 AM
Replies: 26
Views: 3,032
Posted By HarryN
Just add another battery to your rig and an...

Just add another battery to your rig and an extension cord. Much better in really every way.
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 11-15-2021, 11:07 PM
Replies: 85
Views: 11,969
Posted By HarryN
Sounds like progress.

Sounds like progress.
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 11-15-2021, 11:04 PM
Replies: 26
Views: 3,032
Posted By HarryN
The "solar generator" naming is non ideal, but it...

The "solar generator" naming is non ideal, but it is complicated to find an alternative name for product offerings in that general category which make sense to customers.

Normally you might not...
Forum: Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 11-15-2021, 01:53 PM
Replies: 51
Views: 4,866
Posted By HarryN
As far as Renogy - I didn't test their batteries...

As far as Renogy - I didn't test their batteries as really nothing that I saw of their products met my needs / specs so I didn't really need to keep looking. There is no upside for me to spend the...
Showing results 1 to 25 of 48
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