That was a fun video you made of you and your wife’s boyfriend doing a DIY solar. I’m impressed that Tyrone knows that much, he’s a electrical engineer. Glad you three are doing well, wife seems happy.
Great timing! I'm currently expanding my solar system with additional panels and battery storage. I am also a firm believer in high-quality tools like *Fluke. Most of my solar system checking and diagnostics are done with my basic 87V Multimeter, 325 Clampmeter, and a shunt that displays incoming volts, amps, and watts. I did make an independent solar circuit for my home office and Starlink internet in combination with additional battery storage and an Ecoflow Delta 2 as a backup. If any or all of that fails, I have two 2500 dual-fuel inverter generators I can run independently or in combination with mechanical switchgear to my 200amp / 240volt distribution panel. Both small generators are quick-connected to my bulk 250 Gal. propane tank keeping them very portable if needed. It's the *Rural Life* 🤠
1050 W/m2 is great and should be a wake-up call for people trying to optimize solar input on a small inverters like those found on solar generators. I’ve been told by panel suppliers that you won’t get over 1k W/m2 and here’s definitive proof that can happen, and using a good quality instrument to support that. Also, in winter months when panels are cold, they can operate at higher voltages than their ratings indicate. Definitely something to factor into your panel purchase. I just got a Delta Max (thanks for your great reviews btw!) and it’s not trivial to optimize the 800W input when the limits are 100V or 13A. This is a timely video since I haven’t yet purchased my panels, and this is going to lead me to the more conservative of the two options I am considering. Keep up the great work!
Hello @Minute Man Prep, back many months ago I had called Fluke, as I am new wanting to build an OFF-grid home with a Solar Array that I will have to build and test and I noticed clamp meters with InRush capabilities and asked about a Clamp Meter and they suggested a Fluke 325 Clamp Multimeter AC-DC TRMS . What do you think??? Which Model Fluke do you have??? Liked#13!!!
7kWh battery pack so far... Need 18kWh at least to be mostly off grid... Winter, December and January, are almost impossible to rely on sun for power up here at the 47th parallel
@@minutemanprep So, when sizing an array to meet the max spec voltage of a portable power station, do you size it to the VOC? That would seem to prevent you from accessing the MPPT’s full rated input wattage under load/charging.
@@permagenix Correct, use VOC for setup. You're correct, when the MPPT is operating, you won't max out the full voltage parameter. That's the nature of the beast. Some people will add more than the max voltage according to VOC but within the voltage parameter of VMP, cover the solar panels with a blanket or cardboard, then gently pull off whatever is covering the solar panels to help the MPPT stay within the charge paramter and get more panels connected. But if the panels are cool and the sun is out, you can still exceed the recommended voltage and fry the MPPT doing that.
I saw a video on the Vault alert by an electrician, he warns that this is worthless! You never want to trust this for anything, because they’ll pick up current any place and not tell you anything! Very little feedback and I wouldn’t buy one!
I've been an electrician for 30 years, where I have used one on occasion when checking multi panels quickly I agree to use a regular voltage tester for an accurate reading
That was a fun video you made of you and your wife’s boyfriend doing a DIY solar. I’m impressed that Tyrone knows that much, he’s a electrical engineer. Glad you three are doing well, wife seems happy.
Great timing! I'm currently expanding my solar system with additional panels and battery storage. I am also a firm believer in high-quality tools like *Fluke. Most of my solar system checking and diagnostics are done with my basic 87V Multimeter, 325 Clampmeter, and a shunt that displays incoming volts, amps, and watts. I did make an independent solar circuit for my home office and Starlink internet in combination with additional battery storage and an Ecoflow Delta 2 as a backup. If any or all of that fails, I have two 2500 dual-fuel inverter generators I can run independently or in combination with mechanical switchgear to my 200amp / 240volt distribution panel. Both small generators are quick-connected to my bulk 250 Gal. propane tank keeping them very portable if needed. It's the *Rural Life* 🤠
Nice setup, thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Ben. Good to know the open voltage math on my setup is already less than 150 V.
No problem, thanks for watching.
1050 W/m2 is great and should be a wake-up call for people trying to optimize solar input on a small inverters like those found on solar generators.
I’ve been told by panel suppliers that you won’t get over 1k W/m2 and here’s definitive proof that can happen, and using a good quality instrument to support that. Also, in winter months when panels are cold, they can operate at higher voltages than their ratings indicate. Definitely something to factor into your panel purchase.
I just got a Delta Max (thanks for your great reviews btw!) and it’s not trivial to optimize the 800W input when the limits are 100V or 13A.
This is a timely video since I haven’t yet purchased my panels, and this is going to lead me to the more conservative of the two options I am considering.
Keep up the great work!
Thank you, great feedback.
Ben,
We call the volt alert and idiot light… it’s a great quick check
Agreed.
They also call them widow makers. Most electricians don’t recommend. If you use double check with meter before touching
Owned them for 30 plus years great products
Good to know, thanks for sharing.
Hello @Minute Man Prep, back many months ago I had called Fluke, as I am new wanting to build an OFF-grid home with a Solar Array that I will have to build and test and I noticed clamp meters with InRush capabilities and asked about a Clamp Meter and they suggested a Fluke 325 Clamp Multimeter AC-DC TRMS . What do you think??? Which Model Fluke do you have??? Liked#13!!!
I only have used the 393 so I don't have comment for the 325, sorry.
7kWh battery pack so far... Need 18kWh at least to be mostly off grid... Winter, December and January, are almost impossible to rely on sun for power up here at the 47th parallel
Very nice, keep building.
I have so many multi-meters&clamp meters that I've accumulated over many years.Ill be due for an upgrade in 7yrs or so lol.
Lol nice.
Great info! Thank you!!
Thanks for watching.
Whats an easy way to test solar output under load? Is there a portable device you can attach?
Unforunately there isn't much for detecting exact volts and amps under load for DC power.
@@minutemanprep So, when sizing an array to meet the max spec voltage of a portable power station, do you size it to the VOC? That would seem to prevent you from accessing the MPPT’s full rated input wattage under load/charging.
@@permagenix Correct, use VOC for setup. You're correct, when the MPPT is operating, you won't max out the full voltage parameter. That's the nature of the beast. Some people will add more than the max voltage according to VOC but within the voltage parameter of VMP, cover the solar panels with a blanket or cardboard, then gently pull off whatever is covering the solar panels to help the MPPT stay within the charge paramter and get more panels connected. But if the panels are cool and the sun is out, you can still exceed the recommended voltage and fry the MPPT doing that.
@@minutemanprep awesome- thanks for the detailed reply. Great info that’s not obvious.
Nice. This is great to learn from.
Which model of fluke clamp meter are you showing? Hard to go buy it if you don’t tell us which one.
393 FC
After a degree in electrical engineering I’ll be ready. Or call a electrician. Thanks Thumbs up 👍
Haha correct, that's the easiest way to do it.
Don’t trust a voltage stick (widow maker) Always use a DMM.
I saw a video on the Vault alert by an electrician, he warns that this is worthless! You never want to trust this for anything, because they’ll pick up current any place and not tell you anything! Very little feedback and I wouldn’t buy one!
I've been an electrician for 30 years, where I have used one on occasion when checking multi panels quickly I agree to use a regular voltage tester for an accurate reading
Good to know.
Which tool are you saying is no good. He was talking about three different ones
@@VinceBadovinatz88
The smallest one!
@@simon359 thank you