Crossy Posted October 4, 2020 Author Share Posted October 4, 2020 We have a couple of these chaps on our panel strings https://www.lazada.co.th/products/i808250581-s1644070245.html After last night's flash-and-bang we awakened to a rather annoyed beeping from the solar inverter accompanied by the "GFI" and "Alarm" lights. I unplugged one panel string and reset the inverter and it started OK, plugging the string back in got the error again. OK maybe the damp got into the wiring somewhere, it shouldn't as the connectors are "weatherproof" but it did rain a lot. Insulation test to ground at 250VDC measured zero at the inverter plugs. The same string was 650M at the roof connectors, phew, no mountaineering needed. OK, the only thing between the roof and the inverter is my DC MCBs and the surge suppression. None of the surge arrestors are showing the red indicator. Wrestled the surge arrestors out of their holders, one reads zero at 500V (they are 1000V units), the other is about 800k. The units from the other string read 100 & 125Megs. So we have MOVs that have expired without going red. So we have one MOV per string at present, new cartridges on order. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeall Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 10 hours ago, Crossy said: We have a couple of these chaps on our panel strings https://www.lazada.co.th/products/i808250581-s1644070245.html After last night's flash-and-bang we awakened to a rather annoyed beeping from the solar inverter accompanied by the "GFI" and "Alarm" lights. I unplugged one panel string and reset the inverter and it started OK, plugging the string back in got the error again. OK maybe the damp got into the wiring somewhere, it shouldn't as the connectors are "weatherproof" but it did rain a lot. Insulation test to ground at 250VDC measured zero at the inverter plugs. The same string was 650M at the roof connectors, phew, no mountaineering needed. OK, the only thing between the roof and the inverter is my DC MCBs and the surge suppression. None of the surge arrestors are showing the red indicator. Wrestled the surge arrestors out of their holders, one reads zero at 500V (they are 1000V units), the other is about 800k. The units from the other string read 100 & 125Megs. So we have MOVs that have expired without going red. So we have one MOV per string at present, new cartridges on order. Are they low quality ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted October 4, 2020 Author Share Posted October 4, 2020 7 hours ago, Seeall said: Are they low quality ? With the plethora of Chinese "unknown" brands out there it's not easy to tell, they are certainly not the most expensive devices out there, nor are they the cheapest. I suspect they did actually do their job and absorb some nasties, I also suspect that the inverter leakage detection is a bit enthusiastic. MOVs reduce their threshold voltage as they absorb surges. Eventually the trigger voltage goes below the normal circuit voltage and they stay triggered, get hot and melt the solder on the indicator flag which drops into the window and opens the circuit to the MOV so we don't start any fires. I didn't check them when new so I can't comment on any degradation, but those two are certainly considerably lower resistance than the ones on the other string. I'll measure the replacements when they arrive. This is more a note to other solar enthusiasts that the "leakage" light on your inverter is not necessarily due to damp in the wiring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritManToo Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 On 8/27/2020 at 5:29 PM, sidgy said: Definately better weather this week. Since i added the next 3 panels to give me 6 x 360w in total week 1 51kwh (Monday to Sunday ) week 2 57kwh (Monday to Sunday ) week 3 42kwh (Monday to Thursday with 3 more days to go) September, my 5 x 330w panels produced 125Kwh in the month, despite plenty of rain. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muhendis Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 Good to see the MOV's did their job and also that you have such good knowledge about the warning flag or lack thereof. In my opinion there should be mandatory instructions to have these devices fitted rather than relying on the ones fitted inside the inverter/other ancillary equipment. I wonder if a local sparky would have the wit/knowledge to figure out this issue. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExpatOilWorker Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 3 hours ago, BritManToo said: September, my 5 x 330w panels produced 125Kwh in the month, despite plenty of rain. You got 2.5 hours/day of normal production. Really not bad for a rainy month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted October 6, 2020 Author Share Posted October 6, 2020 On 10/5/2020 at 5:13 AM, Crossy said: I didn't check them when new so I can't comment on any degradation, but those two are certainly considerably lower resistance than the ones on the other string. I'll measure the replacements when they arrive. The new MOV cartridges have arrived. One measures 1,700 Megs @ 500V (2,000 Meg range) the other measures open circuit on the same range. Evidently even the remaining "good" units have done their jobs and degraded somewhat, I will keep a weather eye on them too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jan Dietz Posted October 6, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted October 6, 2020 (edited) Just FYI and to whoever is interested in this stuff, I just ordered a handful of these thingies to play with: https://www.lazada.co.th/products/i1510560958-s3992606381.html?urlFlag=true&mp=1? The price is right and saves making patch boards. Edited October 6, 2020 by Jan Dietz 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted October 6, 2020 Author Share Posted October 6, 2020 1 minute ago, Jan Dietz said: Just FYI and to whoever is interested in this stuff, I just ordered a handful of these thingies to play with: https://www.lazada.co.th/products/i1510560958-s3992606381.html?urlFlag=true&mp=1? Nice find. Added to my wish list ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johng Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 10 minutes ago, Jan Dietz said: Just FYI and to whoever is interested in this stuff, I just ordered a handful of these thingies to play with Great I ordered a couple to play with too ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidgy Posted October 7, 2020 Share Posted October 7, 2020 On 10/5/2020 at 6:31 AM, BritManToo said: September, my 5 x 330w panels produced 125Kwh in the month, despite plenty of rain. Nice. ive configured my monthly readings to coincide with our meter reading day (5th of the month) I have 6 x 360w panels August 5th to sept 4th we got 243kwh Sept 5th to Oct 4th we got 224kwh More then happy with the results in what has been a quite wet month Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jan Dietz Posted October 12, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted October 12, 2020 (edited) I received the tiny little boards I linked above and they work very nicely. Was a bit of a pain to track down the correct connections, but here it is: https://github.com/Heltec-Aaron-Lee/WiFi_Kit_series/blob/master/PinoutDiagram/WIFI Kit 8.pdf Works fine with the Adafruit library #include <SPI.h> #include <Wire.h> #include <ESP8266WiFi.h> #include <Adafruit_GFX.h> #include <Adafruit_SSD1306.h> #define SCREEN_WIDTH 128 // OLED display width, in pixels #define SCREEN_HEIGHT 32 // OLED display height, in pixels #define OLED_RESET 16 // Reset pin # (or -1 if sharing Arduino reset pin) // Declaration for an SSD1306 display connected to I2C (SDA, SCL pins) Adafruit_SSD1306 display(SCREEN_WIDTH, SCREEN_HEIGHT, &Wire, OLED_RESET); void setup() { display.begin(SSD1306_SWITCHCAPVCC, 0x3C); // 0x3C is address of the display display.display; } Edited October 12, 2020 by Jan Dietz 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post johng Posted October 13, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted October 13, 2020 9 hours ago, Jan Dietz said: I received the tiny little boards I linked above and they work very nicely. I ordered (and paid for) 2 but only 1 arrived in the parcel ???? Lots of "fun" trying to get My Arduino IDE software to compile anything without errors but finally. hello world.ino 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post johng Posted October 13, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted October 13, 2020 And just one more ???? led no audio.mp4 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted October 30, 2020 Author Share Posted October 30, 2020 On 10/13/2020 at 1:15 PM, johng said: I ordered (and paid for) 2 but only 1 arrived in the parcel ???? Did you score getting the second unit? I'm currently battling with Lazada for delivering one item (not this one) when I ordered two, the item was also the wrong one. Returned for a refund, refunded one because "you only returned one". Grrr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johng Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 3 minutes ago, Crossy said: Did you score getting the second unit? No luck at all no response from the seller via the online chat...I also wrote a review saying only got one item delivered but its marked as "pending" something strange going on there I haven't bothered contacting Lazada help directly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muhendis Posted October 31, 2020 Share Posted October 31, 2020 I stopped using Lazada a few months ago when they started using their own delivery company and, guess what. Nothing got delivered. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johng Posted October 31, 2020 Share Posted October 31, 2020 16 minutes ago, Muhendis said: and, guess what. Nothing got delivered. That's why I always use the Cash on Delivery option gives them an incentive to deliver, not that I've had any problems with stuff turning up. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlyai Posted October 31, 2020 Share Posted October 31, 2020 1 minute ago, johng said: That's why I always use the Cash on Delivery option gives them an incentive to deliver, not that I've had any problems with stuff turning up. Lazada had a great system. Delivery was usually within 2 days. Everything was working seamlessly. So why change the delivery system? Of course it's money related. I still use Lazada, but not as much as when they used Kerry for delivery and always use pay-on-delivery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bankruatsteve Posted October 31, 2020 Share Posted October 31, 2020 10 minutes ago, carlyai said: Lazada had a great system. Delivery was usually within 2 days. Everything was working seamlessly. So why change the delivery system? Of course it's money related. I still use Lazada, but not as much as when they used Kerry for delivery and always use pay-on-delivery. My last 3 orders (within the last month) used 3 different carriers but Kerry was one of them. The only time I have had delivery take longer than 3 days is when shipping from China. I don't use COD because if not home when delivery attempt they can just leave with a neighbor - which has happened dozens of times with no issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted October 31, 2020 Author Share Posted October 31, 2020 We've had no real problems with stuff actually being delivered, it's the contents of the box. Kerry are 100% (we still get a fair number of deliveries using them). LEX are OK although they seem to use a motley collection of trucks, private cars and motorcycles, one small package was delivered by a man on a bicycle (I've no idea how far he had come but at least it was zero-carbon). Both call before delivery, Madam is usually home. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted November 2, 2020 Author Share Posted November 2, 2020 Back on-topic. Our 5.8kW of installed panels generated:- 530 units in July 621 units in August 572 units in September 549 units in October Average of 568 units per month @ 4.5Baht each = 2556 Baht a month that I'm not paying PEA ???? System cost 88k Baht so payback is about 34 months. I'll go with that ???? Note - Costs do not include my/family labour or the car-port. EDIT Car port itself cost 33k Baht. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sometimewoodworker Posted November 2, 2020 Share Posted November 2, 2020 1 minute ago, Crossy said: Back on-topic. Our 5.8kW of installed panels generated:- 530 units in July 621 units in August 572 units in September 549 units in October And your total cost of all materials used and failed in use has been? Excluding your own labour naturally, but adding in any employed labour, as it’s your carport you should probably include roughly 10%+ of the cost of that to be fair since without it you would need a framework for the panels. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidgy Posted November 3, 2020 Share Posted November 3, 2020 On 11/2/2020 at 8:34 AM, sometimewoodworker said: as it’s your carport you should probably include roughly 10%+ of the cost of that to be fair since without it you would need a framework for the panels. I would tend to disagree, the carport was there anyway, it is in use as a carport so that money would have been spent if solar panels were added or not. I too have put my panels on top of our carport, it still needed additional frames on top to accomadate the panels 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BritManToo Posted November 3, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted November 3, 2020 (edited) On 11/2/2020 at 8:34 AM, sometimewoodworker said: And your total cost of all materials used and failed in use has been? Excluding your own labour naturally, but adding in any employed labour, as it’s your carport you should probably include roughly 10%+ of the cost of that to be fair since without it you would need a framework for the panels. My 5 panels averaged 3k each =15k (I can get 2x 330w panels delivered for 5,600bht today =14k) My 2 GTIs cost 6k in total (down to 2,400bht today = 5k) 6x 2"x1" 6' mild steel box sections 1,800bht (today I'd use 1x1 at a cost of 1,200bht) (Solar parts from Lazada and Shopee, steel box from a local builders yard) So 23k for the lot, and I generate 125 units/month (500bht). 4 years (46 months) for payback. No failures in any equipment so far. If I'd started this year everything would have been cheaper, and it would have only taken 3 1/2 years for payback. My panels are mounted on my garden wall, the wall was there when I moved in. Last month's electricity bill was 650bht, before solar my lowest bill was 1,200bht. I could fit another 2 panels to my existing build, but am worried my electricity bill would become suspiciously low. Edited November 3, 2020 by BritManToo 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidgy Posted November 3, 2020 Share Posted November 3, 2020 On 11/2/2020 at 8:27 AM, Crossy said: 549 units in October not much of a drop, i will post my figures on the 5th, (meter reading day), expecting considerable drop as we have had terrible weather for 3 weeks, its only the last few days where it hasnt been raining 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted November 3, 2020 Author Share Posted November 3, 2020 October daily production was somewhat, er, variable, ranging from 5.1 to 29.7 units per day. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidgy Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 As expected, with a lot of rain and cloudy skys, a significant drop for this month (5th to 4th of the month) Aug-Sep 243 kw/h Sep-Oct 224 kw/h Oct-Nov 142 Kw/h On the plus side, it has still been our lowest bill, probably due to not having to use the A/C so much with only 487units drawn from the grid compared to Sep-Oct bill at 526 units Aug-Sept at 599 units Jul-Aug at 812 units (3 panels producing) Jun-Jul at 933 units (3 panels for last 10 days) May-Jun at 1141units (pre solar) Apr-May at 971 units Obviously cannot compare like for like as April/May was very hot and the kids were off school. An average of 203 units per month at 4.5bht = 913.5bht 30,000 bht outlay gives me a break even payback time just under 33months, which far exceeds my initial expectations 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted December 1, 2020 Author Share Posted December 1, 2020 November gave us 631 units ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted December 31, 2020 Author Share Posted December 31, 2020 December has netted us 623 units ???? The last six months have produced 3,526 units, meaning our payback is still under 3 years ???? Once the holidays are over a further two panels will be added bringing us to the maximum allowed for the inverter. Any more and I'll have to get another inverter, $$$ ???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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