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  1. I

    Solar/ Battery cable (to sockets) specification please.

    This link (about inadequate fuses) is very interesting, and will no doubt be useful to others building their own off grid system. An eye opener. https://www.solar-wind.co.uk/off-grid-power-blog/post/when-is-a-fuse-not-a-fuse.html While I'm here; if anyone knows of a good off grid website /...
  2. I

    Solar/ Battery cable (to sockets) specification please.

    I really don't know what the answer is, other than keeping it under control. Like a gas cooker, we control the gas from exploding. It's just the nature of the beast. Just don't let the beast out of it's cage :) I wont be going to Youtube for advice anytime soon :) Thank you for your advice, I...
  3. I

    Solar/ Battery cable (to sockets) specification please.

    Love that video, it reminds me of a guy fixing his motorbike by pouring nuts and bolts in to its engine like it was oil. Yep, it happened. TechTips, lol, I'll have to subscribe ha ha.
  4. I

    Solar/ Battery cable (to sockets) specification please.

    Yes, thank you for your recommendation. I will of course be fitting an isolation switch (which I have) and a master fuse (I think it was 30, or 40amp, can't remember), and then a baby fuse box for secondary fuses. One fuse for each spur, which I shall rate just a bit above the estimated...
  5. I

    Solar/ Battery cable (to sockets) specification please.

    Hello, I'm about to buy 14 meters (from battery house to lounge tv) of 25mm or 35mm cable, and I need to know what specs they should be to comply with household regs. There are a lot of cables out there with junk written down the sides and some with out. I just want to get it correct while I...
  6. I

    Solar lead acid battery housing

    In the UK during WW I & II, food rationing was imposed and we had to import food from all over the world. We just couldn't grow enough food to sustain our populations needs. Today we have addressed the balance to a degree with intensive farming with all it's nasty ways. But we still import 50%...
  7. I

    Solar lead acid battery housing

    Excellent, my work hasn't been wasted. These AGM's indoors will do for LED lighting (I may need a couple more), and with the lead acid outside for laptops & modems etc we'll be all setup for when the power cuts come along. Next job, fit a log burning stove :)
  8. I

    Solar lead acid battery housing

    And how about the AGM batteries, are they too to be kept outside? After all, don't fire & burglar alarms have them indoors? Thank you all for your help, I do appreciate it.
  9. I

    Solar lead acid battery housing

    Yes I did think about a car battery, I convinced my self all would be ok, but yesterday all my batteries in my garage were soaking wet. Puddles of water over the tops & beads along the sides. Looks like a bathroom shower has been used on them. Living in a valley is the problem. Thick pea soup...
  10. I

    Solar lead acid battery housing

    I'm surprised that venting is not an option, ho hum. How about two of these AGM batteries in the wall space? Still a no no? I resign my self to making a battery house outside that is well vented. But how do I keep the batteries from shorting out when the fog and mist rolls in? Can you reccomend...
  11. I

    Solar lead acid battery housing

    Hello, On my landing, I have found a dead space between the chimney breast and the main bedroom; there should be enough room to house my four solar powered lead acid batteries. The concrete block chimney on the left and plasterboard to the back and right. Here's question no'1, do I make...
  12. I

    Off grid house lighting

    Thanks. Just out of interest, is it possible to use two 100 watt panels, with two 5 amp controllers charging the same batteries? I'm guessing that if this is possible the panels have to be the same make and same out put (and use in line diodes)? Just found out the two 5amp controllers that I...
  13. I

    Off grid house lighting

    Thank you all for your input, I can see that I will need to beef it all up. Unfortunately I have run out of room for more panels on my garage roof, so I may have to fit two 200w panels (or more I'm guessing) vertically on the back of my east facing house. Lol, I just thought, are there any...
  14. I

    Off grid house lighting

    Hi, I want the lighting, off grid in my house, max 7 bulbs 12 volt 9watt each, using two new deep cycle 75amp batteries. Do you think 150 amp will be enough for 4 to 7 bulbs for six or seven hours? The idea is to take the lighting cables out of the consumer unit, and run them to the garage...
  15. I

    Power cuts and my solar power?

    Simpatico. Small array I know; but I live in a small place on a steep hill that faces north, roof tops facing east & west. You couldn't live in a worse house for solar or growing fruit & vegetables. No real room for any improvement. Diesel car and diesel motorbike (diesel fuel dosn't...
  16. I

    A few questions on small dual battery solar

    Thank you all for you help. When you say deep cycle, I take it you mean below 12 volts? Now this is a real pain, I have a brand new 45ah deep cycle battery, and it only ever charges to around 12.5 volts. If we are only supposed to use the volts over 12 volts then that doesn't leave me very much...
  17. I

    Power cuts and my solar power?

    Just a quick question that has been nagging at me for a while. My grid tie solar on a good day kicks out 1.1 kw. How on earth can I use this in my UK home when the national grid shuts down (and it will)? Islanding is a total pain, short of switching to expensive batteries, a diesel generator...
  18. I

    A few questions on small dual battery solar

    Five batteries with various states of no goodness, ho hum. Time to buy some deep cycle. Thanks for the info and for taking the time to take photos.
  19. I

    A few questions on small dual battery solar

    Yes I have the usual Chinese to English bit of paper. I did connect the batteries first: as always. I'm not sure of the charging voltage when it was fizzing, I quickly switched the panel off at the circuit breaker / switch, and unfortunately had to go out. The intentions were to check it out...
  20. I

    A few questions on small dual battery solar

    Defiantly not flat, they held their charge for months. I'd love to use deep cycle but they are so expensive. Do you think that the 10amp charger could physically damage the batteries, given the low amps (5.55) of the solar panel?
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