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Category Archives: Off grid power
PV install done!
The PV installation is finally completed and the battery have had their first taste of those juicy solar electrons. The tech details: 12 x Yingli 235W modules for 2.82kW of installed PV wired in 4 strings of 3 panels. 100Vmp … Continue reading
Posted in Off grid power, Solar power
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Version 0.1 Battery Monitor
Basic features working well: Measuring SG and temp and calculating the SoC. Displaying on LCD and working over SMS.
Posted in Off grid power, Solar power
Tagged battery monitor, Digital SG meter, specific graphic meter
3 Comments
SG data logger, first steps
The helpful chaps at JSA Photonics sent over a replacement sensor and it’s working rather nicely. Have only run real tests using a single SG value as my battery doesn’t cycle much yet. Got the dimensions of the cell cap … Continue reading
Posted in Off grid power, Solar power
3 Comments
SMS generator control with Arduino
Arduino GPRS shield Continue reading
Posted in Off grid power, water
15 Comments
Exhaust silencer version 2.0
Going to make the expansion chamber smaller, so that it’s deeper underground, then funnel the gases through a maze made out of blocks filled with sand. There’s a big hole filled with builders sand that forms the center of this … Continue reading
Posted in Off grid power
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Radiator fan control and generator safey unit
Arduino with an ethernet shield and 2 analogue LM35 sensors. I used some copper pipe to make better thermal contact with the radiator and engine block, and also to provide a place to mount the sensors. One went onto the … Continue reading
New control unit for Volvox generator
The Volvox generator didn’t arrive with a microprocessor based control unit; instead it had a number of discrete circuits to provide the required functions. Basically, the control unit should: Start the generator from a remote switch Stop the generator if … Continue reading
Posted in Off grid power
1 Comment
Generator exhaust expansion chamber
Hopefully this will attenuate the noise of the vegetable oil generator exhaust even more. The chamber itself will be buried up to the three exhaust holes. The blocks on top are to retain the soil that will cover the roof … Continue reading
Posted in Building, Energy efficiency, Off grid power
Tagged Generator expansion chamber, silencing generator
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SMA Sunny Island AC Coupling
Designing off-grid wind and solar installations differs from grid tied installations in a number of important ways such as: The solar array must be in a certain restricted voltage range The solar and/or wind generator must be kept very close … Continue reading
Posted in Off grid power, Solar power
Tagged AC coupling, off-grid AC, SMA Sunny Island, Sunny Boy Sunny Island
12 Comments
The Volvox generator arrives
5kW Electric start, diesel generator with vegetable oil conversion kit it’s way. Weighing in at 400 kg, the only way in was to roll it down the ramp on sawn off broomstick handles.