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Post Info TOPIC: Re purposing Grid Solar Panels
DeBe


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Re purposing Grid Solar Panels
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GTI Solar systems are available very cheap or free these days, when installers upgrade they wont use the original system. I was given a 2KW system & only had space on the shed roof for 1.5KW eight panels. This left 2 spare panels, so I decided to re configure them to give about 22V DC. One I made into a portable panel. Heres some pictures of how I did the alterations, using a small Dremel & grinding carefuly through the back of the panel, & splitting the connection in the middle of the string of cells. Carefully soldering wire to run up to the connection box, & sealing the conection with silicone.1.JPG2.JPG3.JPG4.JPG5.JPG6.JPG7.JPG8.JPG9.JPG10.JPG



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DeBe


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11.JPG12.JPGBit more.



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Jaahn


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removed !double postfurious



-- Edited by Jaahn on Tuesday 19th of May 2020 04:26:09 PM



-- Edited by Jaahn on Tuesday 19th of May 2020 04:26:57 PM

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Jaahn


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Hi DeBe smile

Great post. That backing material is not hard to remove as you did. 

I might point out for others, that you do need to check the panel will have suitable voltages for battery charging when you finish. IE 36.92 VoltsMPV divide by 2 = 18.46 perfect. Amps 5.15 x 2 = 10.3, not bad for a freebee  blankstare

Good work biggrin

Jaahn 



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Whenarewethere


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Love the analogue meter. I have small amp & voltage analogue meters for my setup.



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DeBe


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Found the meter in a second hand shop recently $10, couldn't leave it there to useful.

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Whenarewethere


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Just a thought. If you can still get Letraset lettering in an appropriate font, put Discharge & Charge on the panel.



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50L custom fuel rack 6x20W 100/20mppt 4x26Ah gel 28L super insulated fridge TPMS 3 ARB compressors heatsink fan cooled 4L tank aftercooler Air/water OCD cleaning 4 stage car acoustic insulation.
DeBe


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Thanks for reminding me, I have a Letraset must do.

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Peter_n_Margaret


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Good job DeBe.
The other alternative is to use an MPPT with those panel(s) as they are, without modification, even in conjunction wit other panels charging the same batteries via a different controller.
Cheers,
Peter

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OKA196, 4x4 'C' Class, DIY, self contained motorhome. 960W of solar, 400Ah of AGMs, 310L water, 280L fuel. https://www.oka4wd.com/forum/members-vehicles-public/569-oka196-xt-motorhome
 

 
dorian


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If you have an MPPT charge controller, can you just use the panel without modification?

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Peter_n_Margaret


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dorian wrote:

If you have an MPPT charge controller, can you just use the panel without modification?

 Yes.

Look at the Victron models in this link...

https://www.victronenergy.com/solar-charge-controllers

The first number in the model description is the maximum voltage the controller can accept. The second number is the maximum charge rate in amps.

Cheers,

Peter



-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Wednesday 20th of May 2020 10:06:04 PM

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OKA196, 4x4 'C' Class, DIY, self contained motorhome. 960W of solar, 400Ah of AGMs, 310L water, 280L fuel. https://www.oka4wd.com/forum/members-vehicles-public/569-oka196-xt-motorhome
 

 
Whenarewethere


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The cable off the back of the panel looks a touch light for 10amps.

10 amp current over 5m (10m + & - ). Percentage loss, 12awg 3.84%, 10awg 2.41%, 8awg 1.52%, 6awg 0.95% & 4awg 0.60%.



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50L custom fuel rack 6x20W 100/20mppt 4x26Ah gel 28L super insulated fridge TPMS 3 ARB compressors heatsink fan cooled 4L tank aftercooler Air/water OCD cleaning 4 stage car acoustic insulation.
DeBe


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The cable from the bottom of the panel to the top only carries 5Amps the other one caries 10A easily.

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Whenarewethere


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Just mentioned it in case you wanted to squeeze every last drop out of the panel.

I use a 4awg cable which doubles up for my compressors & my jump starting cable has Anderson plugs, a bit physically heavy, but an option for a few extra metres.

 



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Cooch


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DeBe has demonstrated just how handy it is to label things so you can see at a glance what is what and what goes where. It's a good practice and saves time if you have to troubleshoot

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