Comments on: #17 Diy offgrid shed works! Alternative energy

By: benjamin1254

benjamin1254 — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:37:13 +0000

11.9 is nearing …
11.9 is nearing dead battery…. also cuz of the fumes coming from the charging batteries its best if it was put in a battery box outside so the fumes can vent. also you might have a short from ur power inverter ground.

By: VWRabbitdiesel

VWRabbitdiesel — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:37:12 +0000

11.9 means the …
11.9 means the battery’s have just under 50% left. don’t worry about the fumes with a 3 amp charge, basically 1 amp per batt they wont be doing much. just don’t use your bic lighter to check the water level.

By: MrMG1973

MrMG1973 — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:37:12 +0000

Take you inverter …
Take you inverter out to your car and connect to the lighter in your car then test with a three prog plug. You may have a short as Benjamin said.

By: OBXSOLWIND

OBXSOLWIND — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:37:11 +0000

Hey Bob
Im going …
Hey Bob
Im going to assume your inverter is GFCI protected? This is a very common problem . Most people do not understand how a GFCI works. Forgive me if I am telling you or anybody else how this works. A GFCI measures the load on hot and neutral if there is any differential it will trip. If you ground the inverter to what you are running this should take care of it. It dose not allways work but worth a try. Without grounding it would have the same problems.
CHEERS

By: crashguy711

crashguy711 — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:37:11 +0000

Thanks guys for all …
Thanks guys for all your input. I’m going to try that tip about plugging the inverter into my truck and see what happens. thanks again all!

By: michael970

michael970 — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:37:11 +0000

Hey good job on the …
Hey good job on the off grid shed .glad to see its working out for you.I would say the inverter has something wrong with it. I dont think you did anything wrong.keep us updated.TAKE CARE

By: hippyraverocker

hippyraverocker — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:37:10 +0000

Just to point out …
Just to point out too, Your inverter should be powered via cables direct from the battery bank.

Trying to power an inverter using the charge controllers output will damage and/or kill it. It is only designed for small loads like lights and fans.

NOT the high amperage that inverters can pull depending on the power of the inverter.

Hope that helps, along with my comment on how to ground the system properly.

By: hippyraverocker

hippyraverocker — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:37:10 +0000

You may have a …
You may have a short in your power inverter.

To ground your system, take a cable from the body of the inverter where you can get a clear connection with the metal of the case…then take that wire and attach it to an earth spike in the ground.

See my solar shed video for an example.