Victron Energy: Alternator/Solar Charging - LFP Battery System

[shade]

The 40 lb panel arrived on a 50 lb pallet, complete with several footprints all over the cardboard. Fortunately, the solar shop must know that FRAGILE! and GLASS! stickers attract feet like Elon Musk attracts insightful comments, and they packed the panel face down so there wasn't a gap between the stomping surface and the pallet.

We opened it up and saw no damage, and it was putting out 40V as designed, so I think it's ok. It's surprisingly light for its size.

 

[luthj]

Yeah, for some reason the gorillas in the shipping docks seem to walk on any flat surface...

For the same reason, stickers that say "DO NOT FORK THIS SIDE" seem to cause the opposite to happen?

 

[shade]

Yeah, for some reason the gorillas in the shipping docks seem to walk on any flat surface...

For some reason, stickers that say "DO NOT FORK THIS SIDE" seem to cause the opposite to happen?

The driver was really cool about it, and his tread pattern didn't match any I saw on the cardboard.

I watched a guy unplug a 480VAC / 200A plug while it was hot. During the OSHA investigation, he said he didn't know what the big DANGER - Disconnect Power Before Unplugging sign on the disconnect box meant. A different guy (cousins, perhaps?) lowered 20 tons of steel on his hand because he didn't know that he shouldn't push the Down button on the pendant control while his other hand was resting atop a stand he was lowering 20 tons of steel onto; no signs about gravity were involved.

I think there was a lot of lead paint used in that community over the years. Glad I moved.

 

[luthj]

They be like, its not tall enough. But Imma like, "mcguyver is my middle name".

 

[luthj]

Memebase - forklifts - forklifts

Funny memes that "GET IT" and want you to too. Get the latest funniest memes and keep up what is going on in the meme-o-sphere.

memebase.cheezburger.com

 

[shade]

They be like, its not tall enough. But Imma like, "mcguyver is my middle name".

View attachment 553158

Check out those steer wheels! If the operator farted, I think it'd tip. Respect to the pair hanging in the middle.

 

[TantoTrailers]

From the looks of that jeans wedgie on the guy in the tan shirt my guess is he is puckered up pretty good, no fart concerns from that guy.

 

[Alloy]

Check out those steer wheels! If the operator farted, I think it'd tip. Respect to the pair hanging in the middle.

tilt it fwd just a little please.....

 

[Alloy]

Lots of good info from the CEO.

 

[shade]

I've been busy, but not with truck projects.

I saw a post from @Justin Cook about a Sterling product that I may want to use instead of a Victron BatteryProtect, though.

Pop up Camper LiFePO4 system

I am looking for the right way to disconnect my inverter when the battery voltage is too low. The Victron BatteryProtect says you can't connect an inverter to it in the manual so that is a no go. I am thinking about using a Blue Sea disconnect, I would prefer a latching relay to remove the coil...

expeditionportal.com

ProLatch-R - Zero Volt drop Latching Relay, 240 amp marine grade relay

ProLatch-R -240 amp model - 0 volt drop, Programmable Latching Relay -12v or 24v autosense

www.sterling-power-usa.com

I like the idea. Any thoughts yea or nay on integrating this into the rest of my power system?

 

[luthj]

Does the sterling support an external signal? There times when the total voltage would be fine, but the pack would need disconnected, such as high/low temp, or a single cell out of range.

I believe we deiced the victron BMS was not able to do this, but a dumb latching relay, getting its control signal from the BMS would be my preference. A single control/config location, which makes field diagnostics a lot easier.

 

[shade]

Does the sterling support an external signal? There times when the total voltage would be fine, but the pack would need disconnected, such as high/low temp, or a single cell out of range.

I believe we deiced the victron BMS was not able to do this, but a dumb latching relay, getting its control signal from the BMS would be my preference. A single control/config location, which makes field diagnostics a lot easier.

I still have to see if the Victron BMS or the BMV-712 would be the control interface. The 712 has a relay, so that may be the simpler route.

 

[Justin Cook]

Does the sterling support an external signal? There times when the total voltage would be fine, but the pack would need disconnected, such as high/low temp, or a single cell out of range.

Unfortunately, the Sterling does not support external signal input It has a wired remote available for it for manual control (and a technically-minded person could certainly figure out the pinout configuration of the RJ jack that it uses, and construct a custom cable taking advantage of that) but there's no official support from Sterling for that.

 

[shade]

Unfortunately, the Sterling does not support external signal input It has a wired remote available for it for manual control (and a technically-minded person could certainly figure out the pinout configuration of the RJ jack that it uses, and construct a custom cable taking advantage of that) but there's no official support from Sterling for that.

Boo on Sterling, then.
What about using a different latching relay that supports an external input signal, such as what the BMV-712 can deliver?

If Victron is ok with their inverter switching scheme, it'll probably be fine, though.

 

[luthj]

Blue Seas remote battery switch? 500A, low standby draw. Can be ordered in NO or NC, and will default to that position if the signal is lost.