Solar Fail!! Should I show this?

Рет қаралды 7,639

Appalachian Farmstead

8 ай бұрын

This episode shows the major fail in our quest to be off grid.

Пікірлер: 43

@SamuelHollandsh Ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing, and may the good Lord bless.

@PanelsUpSolar 8 ай бұрын

I would start by testing the panels individually with a panel tester. If you have voltage at the end of the wiring prior to going into the inverter controller that could also be your issue. Also I would be interested in hearing more about the grid tied inverter. Looking for one that can be controlled through a victron system.

@goatstead814 8 ай бұрын

I’ve not seen a “panel tester”. That would be interesting. The grid tied inverter is a Sunny Boy 5000

@PanelsUpSolar 8 ай бұрын

I will be putting together a video in the next week or so. I think it would be easier to test the output of the panels one by one before you go through the effort to remove and replace them. The Sunny Boy, though the system data can be sent to the Victron system, there is no control functions capable. Solar Edge and Fronius can be controlled by the Victron system to allow the system to be utilized when the grid is lost. @@goatstead814

@goatstead814 8 ай бұрын

@@PanelsUpSolar Too late, I removed them today. If everything goes smoothly I’m gonna try and get the grid tied system up here and installed

@goatstead814 8 ай бұрын

@@notsoboring1 I replaced all the diodes but there’s definitely some other issues. I appreciate the advice though. At this point I’m replacing the panels with ones from the grid tied system at my Airbnb. When spring rolls around I will test panels individually. I ordered a new junction box to see if that has any effect. Thanks for watching

@earthenergyhex 7 ай бұрын

I agree, start by testing each panel

@croakingembryo 8 ай бұрын

Could just be 2 panels bringing the whole system down.They need individual testing. A panel tester would be best but they are expensive. A small PWM charge controller and a small battery would do the trick. Just go panel by panel and check the readings.

@Cagsjdr5 Ай бұрын

No amps can mean you have an open circuit somewhere. Plus to deal with the over voltage have you considered breaking them down into maybe 4 sets of parallel? It’s all a learning curve… I’m always having to redo stuff coz I’ve not maybe thought it though properly… story of my life 😂

@goatstead814 Ай бұрын

Same here 😂. Thanks for watching and commenting. I appreciate your input, I removed them and installed panels that hadn’t been hit by lightning. I may still attempt to test each one individually at some point

@alanmainwaring1830 10 күн бұрын

I assume you have used mc4 connectors. Check each panel individualy using a mulitimeter checking both voltage in open circuit mode and current putting meter in high current mode almost short circuit mode. Replace panels with same open circuit voltage and current. I like using say 5 panels in series then use a combiner box to put say two strings in pararallel. By the way grounding is in many ways not really essential it may help with lightnening

@OFFGRID_Trucker Ай бұрын

Well that bites. I have Four Trina 400w panels I put on a dual axis tracker.. Then soon after one of my panels failed. I'm pretty sure it's the diode in it. So to maximize input to the controller.. I bought Six 200w bifacials. So far so good since.

@kmnl926 3 ай бұрын

Do not despair, most projects don't work the first time around. You can get a solar panel tester (EY1600W) and check every individual panel for its power output. Connect all working panels and you are in business.

@grumpygrandpapatriotshow8118 8 ай бұрын

On a sunny day hook the positive and negative of each panel together and read the amps with a DC clamp Meter. If it is drawing the 10 or 15 amps that it says on the panel label they are good it is just your solar controller that can’t handle it. What battery voltage are you running? Some controllers with lower battery like 12 and 24 volts can’t except the Labeled VOC top end it will only except like half. So if rated for 500voc it might only except 250voc at 12 volts. But yeah just hook each panels positive and negative together and test each one with a good DC clamp meter. Make sure it has DC capability.

@goatstead814 8 ай бұрын

It’s a 48 volt system. I will check the panels when I get a chance. I will be making a video tomorrow on the reinstalled system. Thanks for the feedback, really appreciate it

@benkanobe7500 8 ай бұрын

@@goatstead814 Is it a "48 volt system" becuase your panels are that high of voltage or are you running panels in series to get to 48 volts?"

@goatstead814 8 ай бұрын

@@benkanobe7500 The 48 volt refers to inverter/ battery not the solar panels.

@offgridwanabe 5 ай бұрын

Why tear it down just disconnect them all test them one at a time in place and repair the broken ones.

@goatstead814 5 ай бұрын

What I ended up doing is removing them and installing panels from my on grid system at our airbnb. I have them on a pallet till spring. I bought a junction box to see if I replace it and they work. My goal was to get my freezers and fridge off grid then work on adding another inverter and more batteries to get our well connected to solar. Thanks for commenting

@redneckways1617 8 ай бұрын

Sounds like you have a cold solder joint somewhere…test your panels individually…voltage can pass without passing current when there isn’t a secure connection

@jacobhn2 18 күн бұрын

You have had a lightning strike perhaps in a tree nearby, I am guessing that the cable to the house or between the panels has been pulverized and therefore cannot deliver amps or watts, get it checked and your mppt controller. Glad you were able to fix the diodes. In the worst case, the panels are no longer functional due to overvoltage, like when you give a led diode too much power.

@goatstead814 18 күн бұрын

The panels in the video were struck by lightning and I replaced all the blocking diodes. Definitely more damage than I originally thought, have since removed them and replaced them with a set not damaged

@algorhythm8483 18 күн бұрын

I would not have 2 sets of 11 panels to begin with. Break them down to sets of 3 or 4 respectively, that way if a panel in a string faults you will only lose that string of 3 or 4 not all of them. Plus if you are using budget panels you do not want to put them in a situation where they come even close to their rated capacities. Budget panels are very usable but the quality of the materials and components they are made with are not designed for heavy usage. Just my opinion. 🤷‍♂️ And for that large of a panel array I would purchase a high quality charger/inverter.....no cheap ones. 😉

@Mongoosed 8 ай бұрын

Open up the box on the back of the panel and check for bad diodes, it's a easy solder job to replace those diodes.

@goatstead814 8 ай бұрын

I replaced all the diodes but obviously some are more cooked than I thought. I purchased a new junction box to see if that will help just haven’t got around to replacing it

@miketiong8441 8 ай бұрын

Its OK to learnt from mistakes ... just take your sweet time to trouble-shoot and make it work. Inverters do have their own max string voltage etc. We just need to follow their requirements

@lawrencedavidson6195 4 ай бұрын

Please give us an update. Thanks.

@goatstead814 4 ай бұрын

The panels that were giving me problems, I removed them and replaced them The defective panels are on a pallet waiting for me to get back to them. Possibly going to try installing new junction boxes. Not sure right now

@lawrencedavidson6195 4 ай бұрын

@@goatstead814 thanks

@earthenergyhex 7 ай бұрын

Man, you put money into those panels, that sucks. not sure what I would do, probably check panels with a tester and see if anything is reversed. SanTan solar sells discount panels if you end up looking for new panels.

@goatstead814 7 ай бұрын

Yea it was a gamble but I’m not giving up yet. I bought a new junction box to see if I replace them will it make a difference. Hackmyhomestead.com has used Sharp 235 watt panels for 7 cents a watt. I might go that way to double my array. Thanks for watching and commenting and especially subscribing

@howardwrentworth3359 8 ай бұрын

Stay away from sungoldpower. They won't honor the warranty. If you are in the return window, return it and get a different brand. Sungoldpower is another crappy Chinese company that doesn't care once they get your money. I know this from personal experience.

@goatstead814 8 ай бұрын

I’m not, I’ve had it for a year now. I believe that, there are several inverters with different names but same unit. Thanks for the warning though. I’m stuck at this point. Do you know of another brand that would be compatible with it. I need 240 to run my well pump and was going to buy another one to put in series

@arnoldreiter435 8 ай бұрын

panels wired is series will produce what the worst panel is making.......test the panels one at at time with meter that reads amps also. you may only have a few bad panels that are degrading the entire array.

@goatstead814 8 ай бұрын

Thanks, I appreciate the advice. I will be doing that probably in the spring

@showaltermicro 8 ай бұрын

You need an installer to come have a look to tell you the problem . Something is fighting itself.

@goatstead814 8 ай бұрын

In a previous life I owned a solar installation company. As with most companies I just replaced equipment that was damaged. Solar companies charge around $200 per hour to assess damage which I know is bad junction boxes. I’m hoping that is all that is bad. Thanks for the suggestion and for watching

@jimhanty8149 2 ай бұрын

You need a person that knows a lot more to come look at this array..there’s a lot of things you didnt mention that could easily be the problem….seriously…

@TimPeters-gc3cr Ай бұрын

Should've been a 3 min video

@goatstead814 Ай бұрын

Thanx for your input.

@verocola6335 29 күн бұрын

Sorry Sir but respectfully, and witout any intent of insult nobody. YOU DON'T SEEM TO KNOW SHIT ABOUT ELECTRICITY. BYTE THE BULLET, GET IN CONTACT AND PAY SOMEBODY WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND GET THE PROBLEM FIXED ONCE AND FOR ALL, THANK YOU

@goatstead814 29 күн бұрын

Theses panels were hit by lightning and I replaced the diodes, obviously there’s more to the problem but thanks for your input sparky

@larryphillips4164 8 ай бұрын

Current only registers when applying a load 1. Ensure diodes are correctly oriented; a backwards diode will block current. 2. Test each panel's open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current individually to identify problematic ones. 3. One faulty panel in a series can affect the entire string's current. 4. Check all connections for loose or corroded spots. 5. Lightning-struck panels might have internal damages affecting current. 6. Measure the resistance of the panels; a significant deviation can indicate damage.