Crossy

Yeah, hot connection.

Pull the wire and cut off the damaged end, re-connect.

Hopefully it's not damaged the breaker itself.

Check your other connections are tight!

1 minute ago, 2long said:

However, what I don't want is the multi re-entry to be used and me only get a week (until the 15th).

I would like the IO to stamp me back in on a 30 day exempt stamp.

I've had this type of situation in the past (although in my case I actually wanted the short stay coz I was visiting immigration the next day).

The incoming officer asked if I really did only want 2 days or would I rather have a 30 day exemption.

So, ask the officer on entry.

9 hours ago, kwak250 said:

This sounds ok but it's our air cons that use the most electric.

Wouldn't mind just having air con on solar .

The beauty of running grid-tie or grid-synchronised is that you can size your system to carry as much, or as little of your load as you want (or can afford). Size for your daytime A/C load and if you're not running the A/C then the energy offsets whatever else is running.

A 1,000Watt micro-inverter and 3 x 340W panels will offset your bill by about 3kWh per day on average (1,095kWh per year). At current prices that's about 5,400 Baht per year that you're not paying to PEA.

3 x 340W panels = 9,000 Baht, 1kW GTI 2,500 Baht, say 2,000 for mounting hardware, cables etc. and you're online for 13,500 Baht.

So, using simplistic numbers and DIYing you are getting free electricity within 3 years!

27 minutes ago, kwak250 said:

Many thanks crossy for your advice.

I will check about day/night usage but will not be off grid as will need it sometimes for sure.

Maybe worth looking at doing a smaller system and no battery to start with and I can always add more later.

As we don't usually go over 25 units for around half the year a smaller system might be better but will need to see the size and consumption of a swimming pool as it would surely bring the usage back up

Was that 40-50 panel's needed as might need a bigger garage roof

Well worth the investment 

 

Read your meter at about 9AM and 4.30PM for the day/night split, you need to generate all your energy in the 9-4.30 slot.

Have a look at my Solar carport thread 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1120934-how-about-a-solar-car-port-on-a-budget/ 

although the "on a budget" tag isn't really relevant now with the latest planned enhancements

On 4/18/2024 at 6:32 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

One series from that era that I did watch in the past few years though, was Edge of Darkness- the original, not the rubbish remake. That has to be the best political series of all time, IMO. It came out of the golden age of British tv, when they made excellent series like MOGUL.

This ^^^.

Edge of Darkness is still superbly watchable and the Troubleshooters (UK series name with the MOGUL oil company) definitely worth a re-look.

25 minutes ago, Hugh Cow said:

For starters I'd ditch the battery. Maybe fit one later when the price goes down unless you have worries about low voltage or power disruptions.

Many modern hybrid inverters can run with or without battery, so you can start with no or a small pack and add later.

Do beware of inverters which use proprietary packs (e.g. Huawei) where the OEM packs are silly money and no second-source is available.

The only system component that I recommend you max out on initially is your inverter(s). If you need a system where two or more inverters are going to be required then I suggest you buy all of them at the start. There's no guarantee that you will be able to parallel more modern units with your existing ones when you decide you need more oomph.

So long as we don't get a repeat of 2022!

48 minutes ago, djeetyet said:

I did not try the ATM machine as I like to withdraw one large amount rather than many smaller ATM machine withdrawals

I would try the card in an ATM, if it does actually function you have pilot bank-employee error, if it doesn't then it's time to talk to your bank.

This ad. has been sanctioned by AN Management.

I have two Growatt SPF 5000TL HVM-WPV-P inverters for sale as a pair.

These units are new in their original packing and come with WiFi dongles and parallel-kits (hence selling as a pair).

They were new in 2020 and have been in dry storage since.

Do note that these are not the latest and greatest but would be ideal for someone who wants an off-grid system (with grid backup) or already has a system using these inverters which they wish to expand or have as spares.

Please read up the spec. of these units to ensure they are suitable for your purposes.

Manual and spec. spf_5000tl_hvmwpv.pdf

These are part of the estate of a mate who died last year, his widow has asked me to get what I can for them, all proceeds will go to her.

Offers by PM only please.

Collect in northern BKK or I can ship at cost.

Another thought. What is the start-up voltage of your second MPPT input? Will one panel actually get it going?

3 minutes ago, patman30 said:

only thing i thought if there was any issue with the setup would be put the panels on timers so they are disconnected during times they don't get sun, so only the 2x150w or the 600w are connected at any one time

You need to be very, very careful switching panels when it's light. DC is a very different animal to the AC most timers are designed to switch.

I would be tempted to try it as you suggest and see how well it works, then add the blocking diode, then try actually disconnecting one array at a time.

2 x 150W in series = a Voc of 44.92V

In parallel with your 600W Voc of 49.53V

That's about a 10% difference in Voc. It will certainly work, just how much efficiency you lose is debatable.

I'd be tempted to add a >20A Schottky diode in series with the 150W panels to avoid reverse-biasing them (which they really don't like).

Is there really not room to put a 600W on both walls??

21 minutes ago, patman30 said:

i would like to add a 600w panel on the west wall
and on the east wall will be 2 x 150w panels connected in series
i will then have these connected in parallel to the inverter 

What are the parameters of your panels (post photos of the labels)?

Vertical panels are certainly finding favour in the higher latitudes, but the sun rises so rapidly here I'm wondering just how much extra energy you would actually gain.

Moved to the Alternative Energy forum.

If you are running strings in parallel to a single MPPT input your strings should have approximately the same Voc total (say within 10% although it's not a hard and fast rule).

The strings come up to voltage very quickly when there is any light at all, there's just no power there (they will certainly make your eyes light up mind).

Sketch out what you want to do (including the panel quantities and parameters) and post here, we should be able to determine just how well things will worth for you.

48 minutes ago, MeaMaximaCulpa said:

The bulbs are "dimmable LED" bulbs meant for 220 volts.

 

These do work on a conventional dimmer, it was more bout the optimal wattage I was asking.

The dimmer may have a minimum wattage, but if not, I'd aim for running it at about 30% of its rated power. 

I'm assuming you want to dim mains (220V) LEDs.

Your first port of call should be the instructions for your LED lamps.

Many modern lamps will actually work just fine with conventional dimmers but whether your particular lamps will work with your particular dimmers is still something of a lottery (it used to be a black-art).

Ask the advice of the seller of both the lamps and the dimmers.

I never really worked out what the blokes on the see-saw were doing.