I'm so lost!!

GreenGirl2016
GreenGirl2016 Registered Users Posts: 6
Just bought a house in Flagstaff Arizona with Out Back system and I just don't understand what i'm doing!! The previous owner left all the manuals but no notes to back me up!! Have learned a few things but still in the dark! It has a MX60 PV MPPT Charge Controller, FX inverter but i don't know the model number, possibly VFX3524, Out Back mate attached to charge controller and a TLG-500 wind generator. I got the part about how to switch from bypass to normal and to turn wind generator on when necessary and when leaving for a period of time, what the LED indicators mean on the system as far as battery level good, ok and low. Been checking to see battery level and so far it tells me all is good. Going to check the batteries with a hydrometer when i go back up in a half a month. Am i supposed to leave the inverter switch on?? I sure hope so because i did and I'm 137 miles away!! I checked one last time before i left and it said it was absorbing, in 104.7 V, 6.1 A out 29.6 V 19.6 A, 2.9 kw Aux off. What the heck is auxiliary anyway?? Any layman words of wisdom would sure help!! I'm so stressed out right at the moment and felling pretty dumb!!

Comments

  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    Welcome.. Sorry to say this but you will need to ferret out a lot more information before any of us can attempt to help you with more than some very basic recommendations.... You really need to know the brand and size (capacity) of the batteries in that bank in order to know if the system is 'optimal' for your loads...

    BTW what are the loads when you are NOT there and when you ARE there?

    The fact you are going to get a hydrometer and will check the SG is good, remember to number all the cells , if not already done and record the SG for each on and the state of charge the OB system is giving you. 
    SG should be done when the batteries are stable, ie > 3 hrs after charging has occurred.

    That will get you started.  Others will probably add more...
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,728 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    Any chance you can contact the owner? A 2 hour drive is not that bad. I think you should go up again and get some data.
    I have clients that are 24 hours away or more. Leaving the inverter on is more of what are the loads and what is the solar weather.
    Flagstaff is the home of this forum/Store and they can help you!  Good Luck!
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

  • JoshK
    JoshK Solar Expert Posts: 232 ✭✭
    edited March 2016 #4
    Any chance you can contact the owner?
    Just bought a house...
    Uh oh.

    Perhaps posting some pictures would be very informative.
  • GreenGirl2016
    GreenGirl2016 Registered Users Posts: 6
    Sorry to say the past owner is not interested in helping out! There is a refrer running and everything else is shut off in the house. The system has 8 panels and 8 batteries, batteries are brand new. I will return with better information later today! Thank You!!
  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,728 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 2016 #6
    Be careful with the batteries! Wear eye protection and don't overfill them. Good luck and deep breathing! No stress!

     Take some pictures of the batteries and try and find the screen on the mx-60 that shows the harvest data  (solar power in KWH or AH) for the last week.
    Also look that each day has float time which tells you that the batteries completed charge. List the specific gravity of each cell.
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

  • GreenGirl2016
    GreenGirl2016 Registered Users Posts: 6
    8 Surrette 428 Amp hour batteries, 1300 cycles! How do i attach pictures here?? I have plenty of them!
  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,728 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 2016 #8
    The easiest way (for me Bill) is to put the pictures on your desktop and then click the link attach image/file.
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    attach pics... is that 'symbol' that looks like a page with the corner bent over on the right top corner and a down arrow... on the same line as your avatar is on...
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,728 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    It looks good and decent numbers on the MX display. Reasonably well installed. The outbuilding in the pix is where this equipment lives?

    Do you understand what all the numbers are on the display?

    There are more screens and you will have to get good at finding them. Read the manual! !  
    Probably the first goal is to get the hydrometer and check the cells.

     If you are going thru Flagstaff go to the Wind and Sun store and buy one!  Good folks there! 

    The batteries will need an hour EQ every 3 months or 2 hours every 6 months.  A pix of the batteries will tell alot BTW.

    Go back and read the posts again here. The Aux is not being used in your system but it is a switch that can be configured to do various tasks.

    Looks like a nice place you bought!  I came very close to living there or Tucson. Good Luck !

    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

  • GreenGirl2016
    GreenGirl2016 Registered Users Posts: 6
    Thanks!! Been reading them and looking up subjects I need to understand!! Will put wind and sun on my list! EQ information reading tonight!
  • GreenGirl2016
    GreenGirl2016 Registered Users Posts: 6
    Oh and yes on the building!! Yes on the readings and helps to read the manuals!! Just sitting there in the solar shed watching fluctuations and looking up things happening is good!!
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    side note,  if it was my place and I was absent, I would lock down (apply brakes) to the wind generator and disconnect it from the DC system.  If you don't need it's power, it's pointless to spin the bearings and send the power to a dump load.  And since it's a moving thing, parts go bad if left spinning.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,