The low temps overnight have now been in the 30s. Actually, the other day it was supposed to be 28F, however, my neighbors thermometer read 18F. Therein lies the problem.
Lithium batteries don't enjoy being charged up when frozen. They can certainly dish out the juice happily enough in sub freeze temps with minimal loss of capacity (Not like their Lead Acid counterparts). The problem happens when they freeze up from 4-6am and then around 8 when they get charged up again... I am told that charging them this way creates little short circuits internally. Similar to stilagmites.
Ok. So I moved all the electrical inside. It needed to be done. Frank, you'll have to forgive me. In order to do it, I needed a number of feet of 10awg wire. Ace Hardware sold me a 500FT roll of red Thhn-ThWn wire for $115 bucks. Not bad for a hardware store. Comes out to 23 cents a foot. Of course I didn't actually need 500 feet...
Now I'm the proud owner of a system with a bunch of needed breakers between the battery and inverter, the battery and charge controller, and the Photo-voltaic in. Much safer to work with. Plus a nice pretty white box.
I purchased this midnite solar mini-disco box a month ago but never did anything with it because I didn't have a place inside to put it up. That is... I didn't have a place to actually create an inside.
The last thing to do for the electric work is to install the AC breaker box along with a master breaker for it. Plus run all the romex to various outlets and switches throughout the house.
Here is what I've been up to : (Aside from taking down my tents and cleaning up the property - preparing for winter)
PS. I've decided to begin sleeping upstairs. It has a great feeling to it. Something about sleeping on the second floor of houses.
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| Left - Inverter | white is breaker box | Charge Controller on top. Red wires all are labelled clearly. |
You lost me at 10awg wire ;-)
ReplyDeleteNice looking installation Cloud. If you would like to, you can use the remaining #10 for your branch circuits from your pannel. The Code would require #14 or #12 for those receptical and lighting circuits depending on number on each circuit, but you can use the larger # 10 if you would like to. It is no problem to oversize the wire it is only a problem if you under size it. If you need to buy more then go to the smaller wire if you need to. Use the 15 or 20 am breakers on the # 10 branch circuits just like you would for the 14 or 16 that you would normaly use. Sorry Granny some time you just have to talk tec. Keep up the good work and stay warm. It will be in the 80s here in Va. the rest of the week.
ReplyDeletePS. now that you are sleeping on the second floor ---- I hope you do not sleepwalk ;o)
ReplyDelete@ Granny, Sorry, I had it. :) Part of this process is the love for Solar derived electricity.
ReplyDelete@ Frank, Thank you! I have some 12 Romex for the wire runs. I suppose I could run single strands of 10 out to all of them. After all. Its purchased and I have 300 some odd feet remaining. Is there a max number of outlets/switches one can place on a single string/breaker in the panel? I'd imagine I have less than 10 outlets needed in this place. 2 upstairs, 2 for the kitchen, 1 for the bathroom, 1 behind the tv, perhaps another 3 around the living room.
@ Frank, Good thing in all these years I haven't ended up much of a sleep mover. ;)
DeleteSorry Colud I thought you had gotten 10ga romex. You can not use the single strand for your circuits. My BAD :( If I were you I would put only one receptacle on each of your 2 Kitchen outlets. That would mean 2 circuits for the Kit. That is where you will have your heat load, Toaster?, Hot plate, Coffee maker?. You can put around 15 receptacles on a 20 AMP circuit. A logical way to break it up would be one circuit for lighting (installed lighting on switches) . One circuit for receptacles on second floor. One circuit for the first floor. That would work great even if you were on the grid, but I know you are a low usage kind of guy. That would be only 5 - 20 amp Circuits. Of course you would probably never use 20 amps at one time ever. Hopes this helps and gives you some ideas. If you would like to talk more about it you can Email me frank.benson@navy.mil
ReplyDeleteThat is a good idea. I would wonder if it should be a circuit for 2nd, a circuit for 1st, one for lights, and a separate simply for the two receptacles in the kitchen. That is, should I run my electric kettle (1500Watts) and a portable induction burner (1800 watts).
DeleteMy killowatt meter took a powder sometime over the last year so I am not entirely sure the actual draw of the kettle, however when I see the Charge Controller in Float phase attempting to keep up with it, it is putting in 20 amps or so. Generally shutting off about a minute or two past the kettle, which say... takes 5-7 minutes.
What you're doing is awesome. You're now on my regular blog round. Just knowing there are so many of us living off-grid and off the land and the sun and doing it our own way makes me so happy I could spit ;}
ReplyDeleteLOL. I heard the splatter of it against the rocks and cholla.
DeleteYour house looks very cozy and comfortable. You did an amazing job is so short a time. Sounds like it's just in time too.
ReplyDeleteIt was. With the great help of my neighbor friend AJ. Plus Kevin when we raised the walls. Took 6 days total although between day one (the foor on the trailer) and day two (the walls) it was a week of rain. Friday is supposed to be 20F and snowing. Im happy to be indoors after ten months of tent life!
DeleteGood hearing from you again, Leigh.
Wow, I am very impressed by what you've done! You are living my dream (off the greed). Great job!
ReplyDeleteCloud, Your pot should draw about 13.64 amps and the hot plate should draw 16.36 amps. Amps = watts/voltage So as I said you should put 2 seperate 20 amp circuits in the Kitchen. On each circuit put one heavy duty duplex receptacle. I am guessing that each device operates on 110volts. If you are NEVER going to operate both at the same time you could use only one circuit with the two receptacles. If in the future you increase the size of your power panels or if you ever go on the grid the two circuits would already be there. They are much easier to put in up front than they are to change after your construction is complete.
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