Storing batteries in a northern Ontario winter

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Comments

  • rp3703
    rp3703 Registered Users Posts: 129 ✭✭
    edited May 2018 #32
    Here's a better picture taken before the metal roof went on last year. Again, this pic is facing south.
    Yes, cutting trees would be good for solar but not good for trying to keep cool when temps hit the 80's(Freedom) and there's no breeze.
    1860 W (6) Rensola JC310M, Classic 150, 430AH@24V (8) Deka DSGC15 FLA's, Victron Phoenix Multi 24/2500 Inverter
    Powering-20.5 CuFt. Fridge, 1 HP Submersible water pump, UV, Washing Machine, Gas Dryer, Gas Stove, Lights and Receptacles
    Off Grid Cottage on lake in Northern Ontario 46˚N 
  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    RP3703.....  Last weekend I got some news from my lake neighbour, not so good , about his 'solar setup'... A MidNite KID charging  4 HD ~100 Ah batteries in a 12V system that runs their 2000W inverter to the mini fridge.   All powered by 2 x 250W PV mounted at the roof peak @ roof angle, about 4:12 pitch. Several times during the winter when we went in on snow machines, we saw that the panels were snow covered more than they were not.

    Apparently they walked in before Easter and found ALL the batteries at 4 Volts!!!... 

    Cause determined to be that the KID  will NOT restart  until the batteries send 8 volts to the KID.... 

    This is the second year that this has happened!

    I determined that if we hooked up even 1 of his FREE 50 W  12V ARCOs' ( which are mounted VERTICALLY on the S facing wall under the eve)  to a cheap PWM charger (MN BRAT?) it would be the Charging safeguard .... when the snow  is on the 500W array and the voltage drops too low,  the Arco should kick start the KID...

    Luckily he had some gas and a generator, as well as a car charger still in his shed to boost the batteries...

    I am thinking that your large batt. bank would survive with at least a part at of the whole array being vertical during the winter.  You should also BROADCAST to all potential users and sundry that the system in the winter can \not be used at the same level as in the Summer...
    skip days is a good tool if applied logically..

    Have fun down south... ;)

     
    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
  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    > @706jim said:
    > And trees close to your cabin have a nasty way of falling onto the roof at the most inopportune times.

    Yup. Still cleaning up after an ice storm in late Oct. which took the tops off a lot of trees. Some still standing may recover, but I may have to take more out in the fall. Nothing on the roof, but still a bit of a mess. Of note, in years past I've seen seemingly healthy trees formerly protected by dead/damaged trees I've taken down fall soon after. A lot of N.Ontario has a shallow soil layer over bedrock, so roots have a tough time holding.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Personally, I'd take out the big tree(s) at the east side of the pic, and maybe the stuff to the south. The shade won't do much with high summer sun, and will definitely hurt pv in winter. The east one looks like it might already be leaning toward the cabin (not good).
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    Trees could be topped as a compromise, to the height of the one on the right, would be less likely to be blown over still provide some shade while improving sun on the array.
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
  • rp3703
    rp3703 Registered Users Posts: 129 ✭✭
    I know all about the N. Ontario dirt, or lack there of. Here in Nashville TN, where I live the other 11 months, we have ground rods. In N. Ontario, you have ground plates. We still have downed trees from a tornado that came through a decade or so ago.

    I'd be all for taking some trees down but this is not even my place and there are already a few family members who are not completely convinced solar power is even necessary. Removing trees at this point won't help my situation. 
    1860 W (6) Rensola JC310M, Classic 150, 430AH@24V (8) Deka DSGC15 FLA's, Victron Phoenix Multi 24/2500 Inverter
    Powering-20.5 CuFt. Fridge, 1 HP Submersible water pump, UV, Washing Machine, Gas Dryer, Gas Stove, Lights and Receptacles
    Off Grid Cottage on lake in Northern Ontario 46˚N 
  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    a few family members who are not completely convinced solar power is even necessary...

    Do they really LIKE the sound of the generator? and all its downside?  PV is silent, other than the fans on some models...
     
    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
  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Some people are fine with no power at all, at least for a short time at the lake. No phones, maybe limited radio for weather. In the summer, you might go to sleep before dark anyway, and use a flashlight to find the outhouse path. Go for a swim or hang a solar heated water bag instead of a shower. No tv, so read a book.

    People like that tend to resist things that might spoil the charm. I sent my kids to a camp much like that in their formative years, and they all seem to understand the appeal. They'd freak if the internet was down or their phones didn't charge when they visit the cabin though!
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
  • rp3703
    rp3703 Registered Users Posts: 129 ✭✭

    Yeah, you know, the good ole days? You are correct though, as soon as they need to charge their phone, they have no problem with solar then. It’s mainly the electric fridge, pressurized water and washer and dryer that they will need some convincing of their necessity. They are also afraid we are going to over do it on the lights. I’m sure they will be fine when they see how much food an electric fridge holds versus a propane, the entire day more we get to spend vacationing rather than boating and driving into town and back to do laundry, the savings and convenience of being able to drink lake water straight from the faucet as well as taking a real shower. We’ll see though.

    Thanks for all the help. It never fails though, every time I come here to ask a question, the thread quickly shifts away from the answer and into correcting some aspect of my original question I never even considered to be an issue. 
    1860 W (6) Rensola JC310M, Classic 150, 430AH@24V (8) Deka DSGC15 FLA's, Victron Phoenix Multi 24/2500 Inverter
    Powering-20.5 CuFt. Fridge, 1 HP Submersible water pump, UV, Washing Machine, Gas Dryer, Gas Stove, Lights and Receptacles
    Off Grid Cottage on lake in Northern Ontario 46˚N 
  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Having nearly lost my banks in my first "sticky snow" winter, I didn't think it was an issue either - found out the hard way.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    There are many more ways to skin the cat as the saying goes or may be it is just Crowd generated solutions tend to be  99%  answered?
     
    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