SecondHandPower
Member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2017
- Messages
- 79
I have a friend that asked me this weekend if I was interested in solar power, but we had just a few minutes to talk.
The short story is that he has a small cabin off the grid,with a small PV setup that he wants to add more capacity to.Hewas asking me if he should get some golf cart batteries.
I said it depends... and I asked what voltage the system was.He did not have any of the techie specs. He says the cabinhas conventional wiring and a transfer switch in case the batteries are too low so he can switch it manuallytogrid power (not grid tie).
He mentioned that the person that helped him select and install the system years ago suggested he swap out incandescent bulbs for LED, and minimize the wattage draw to try and get by, so the owner got some LED bulbs (110v, I assume) and said they would not work on off the grid (on solar), but seemed to be saying they work when on on the grid.
Before I start guessing about the shading of the panels in winter, the SOC of his batteries, and the output of theinverter, I wanted to ask if you had ever heard of "simple" devices like LED bulbs not working properly on an inverter. I tried explaining that LEDs are solid state devices and the LED bulbs are not as simple as the hot glowing wire in an incandescent bulb, but I think I lost him when i mentioned solid state.
I am aware that sensitive electronics won't work on a modified square wave inverter, but this seems curious and has me wondering about thetypes of power conditions LED bulbs mayhave an issue with.
I will take a good look at the system and get model numbers on everything this weekend. I plan to take a good voltmeter and a new 1000w inverter (12v) in case he has a 12v system or wants to try the bulb on another inverter, etc....
I also have an oscilloscope to look at the inverter outputto see what the AC outputlooks like.
I was planning to start measuring the DC at the batteries and go from there... if batteries are close to the input voltage for the inverter, then look at the output. If thebatteries are low, look at the charge controller and panel outputs.
Any suggestions or ideas for what to check to make sure the components in thesystem areOK ?
The short story is that he has a small cabin off the grid,with a small PV setup that he wants to add more capacity to.Hewas asking me if he should get some golf cart batteries.
I said it depends... and I asked what voltage the system was.He did not have any of the techie specs. He says the cabinhas conventional wiring and a transfer switch in case the batteries are too low so he can switch it manuallytogrid power (not grid tie).
He mentioned that the person that helped him select and install the system years ago suggested he swap out incandescent bulbs for LED, and minimize the wattage draw to try and get by, so the owner got some LED bulbs (110v, I assume) and said they would not work on off the grid (on solar), but seemed to be saying they work when on on the grid.
Before I start guessing about the shading of the panels in winter, the SOC of his batteries, and the output of theinverter, I wanted to ask if you had ever heard of "simple" devices like LED bulbs not working properly on an inverter. I tried explaining that LEDs are solid state devices and the LED bulbs are not as simple as the hot glowing wire in an incandescent bulb, but I think I lost him when i mentioned solid state.
I am aware that sensitive electronics won't work on a modified square wave inverter, but this seems curious and has me wondering about thetypes of power conditions LED bulbs mayhave an issue with.
I will take a good look at the system and get model numbers on everything this weekend. I plan to take a good voltmeter and a new 1000w inverter (12v) in case he has a 12v system or wants to try the bulb on another inverter, etc....
I also have an oscilloscope to look at the inverter outputto see what the AC outputlooks like.
I was planning to start measuring the DC at the batteries and go from there... if batteries are close to the input voltage for the inverter, then look at the output. If thebatteries are low, look at the charge controller and panel outputs.
Any suggestions or ideas for what to check to make sure the components in thesystem areOK ?
