How do I Wire once I start branching from the first 5?

Discussions about solar power and solar energy projects.
Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

How do I Wire once I start branching from the first 5?

Post by Solar98632 » Sun Nov 01, 2015 7:14 pm

Battery Wiring question.
I can store 20 batteries in this cupboard and that is literal not figurative
So my issue is...how the heck do I wire in to make sure my batteries are equalized ?
As you can see the photo i am going 5 high and wide.

The Hot side is the easy part. The hard part is what to do with the ground side and yes, I really do need 20 batteries. .I will be purchasing 2 batteries a month and then from there I will be cutting the 30 amp cable and build my own connection.
Attachments
20151101_153124_1634.jpg
I can go 5 high and 5 wide.
20151101_153124_1634.jpg (148.94 KiB) Viewed 31107 times

Ksfixitman
Posts: 14
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2015 5:50 pm

Re: How do I Wire once I start branching from the first 5?

Post by Ksfixitman » Tue Nov 03, 2015 11:24 am

This is a basic diagram of how to charge a battery bank. Sorry I used 27 battery's but I got to drawing and didn't pay attention to how many I had on the page. With this diagram you would have a 2700 amp hour bank if using group 31 battery at 100 amp hour per battery.

Myself I would use 2.0 (two oot wire ) wire for connecting all the battery's together and coming from your charge controller I would use the largest that the controller will accept.

If you really want to learn a lot about battery banks and batter charging watch OBXSOLWIND's You Tube videos that I linked below. This guy is great and knows his stuff.

https://youtu.be/b15jU4nx7zI?list=PLiNd ... 0fNkJIfxfL
https://youtu.be/CAar8J9unyw?list=PLiNd ... 0fNkJIfxfL
https://youtu.be/84FzU_BGUQQ?list=PLiNd ... 0fNkJIfxfL
https://youtu.be/DR7XKFe4b9E?list=PLiNd ... 0fNkJIfxfL
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Battery  Bank Charging.jpg
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Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: How do I Wire once I start branching from the first 5?

Post by Solar98632 » Thu Nov 05, 2015 10:04 am

Thanks, I got the Idea. very helpful.

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: How do I Wire once I start branching from the first 5?

Post by Solar98632 » Thu Nov 05, 2015 10:05 am

Using agms, I can literally put them on there side as per that diagram..lol.

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: How do I Wire once I start branching from the first 5?

Post by Solar98632 » Thu Nov 05, 2015 10:09 am

Up date I now am Up to 5 Batteries and so far I have 175 amp hours available.
Battery bank is at 80 percent charge. and because of the new batteries I had it plugged in to a battery charger to bring to full charge.
when I get home I will disconnect it .
I jsut want to have topped off batteries for the test.

also on the side note, I have to get a new plug for the generator.
the one I have disintegrated . Than heavens nothing got in tot he engine.

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: How do I Wire once I start branching from the first 5?

Post by Solar98632 » Thu Nov 05, 2015 10:21 am

just for kickers lets see If I have the math right
175 amp-hr X 12 volts = 2100 watt-hours of energy

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: How do I Wire once I start branching from the first 5?

Post by Solar98632 » Thu Nov 05, 2015 10:23 am

or 2.1 Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: How do I Wire once I start branching from the first 5?

Post by Solar98632 » Thu Nov 05, 2015 10:31 am

Here is some interesting data:

One kilowatt‐hour of electricity is enough to:
‐ watch television for 10 hours
‐ vacuum for an hour
‐ wash 12 pounds of laundry
‐ cook breakfast for a family of 4
‐ listen to the radio for 20 hours
‐ work on computer for 5‐10 hrs
The electricity usage chart below is a great tool that may be helpful in providing ideas that can lower your energy consumption.  

CATEGORY DETAIL ESTIMATED ENERGY USAGE
Air Conditioning/Cooling Attic Fan 0.4 kWh/hr
Ceiling Fan 0.075 kWh/hr
Central (3 ton‐12SEER) 3.0 kWh/hr
Portable Fan 0.03 kWh/hr
Whole House Fan 0.2 ‐ 0.4 kWh/hr
Window/Wall Unit (18kBtu) (240V) 1.8 kWh/hr    
Heating Baseboard Heater (Six Foot Unit) (250 w/foot) 1.5 kWh/hr
Electric Furnace 10.5 kWh/hr w/fan
Heat Pump Heat Strips 10.0 kWh/hr w/fan
Heat Pump w/o Heat Strips (1.8 COP) – 1.5 Ton 2.93 kWh/hr
Heat Pump w/o Heat Strips (1.8 COP) – 5.0 Ton 9.77 kWh/hr
Portable Heater (1500W) 1.5 kWh/hr    
Kitchen Appliances Blender 0.4 kWh/hr
Can Opener 0.1 kWh/hr
Coffee Maker 0.12 kWh/brew
Coffee Marker/Brew, Warmer On 0.4 kWh/hr
Deep Fryer 1.5 kWh/hr
Dishwasher, Energy Saver Cycle 0.5 kWh/load
Dishwasher, Normal Cycle – Cold Water 1.0 ‐ 2.17 kWh/load
Oven, Electric Range 2.3 kWh/hr
Oven, Electric Range/Self Cleaning 6.0 kWh/hr cleaning
Oven, Electric Range/Surface 1‐1.5 kWh/hr
Oven, Microwave 0.12 kWh/5 min
Toaster (2 slices) 0.04 kWh/use
Toaster Oven 0.75 kWh/hr    
Refrigerator/Freezer Older Units  
Freezer (manual defrost), 15 Cu/Ft 90.0 kWh/mo
Refrigerator (frost‐free), 15 Cu/Ft 50.0 kWh/mo
Energy Star Units
Energy Star Refrigerator, 14 Cu/Ft 43.0 kWh/mo
Energy Star Refrigerator (frost‐free), 14 Cu/Ft 57.0 kWh/mo
Energy Star Refrigerator (frost‐free), 17 Cu/Ft 73.0 kWh/mo
Energy Star Refrigerator (frost‐free), 19 Cu/Ft 80.0 kWh/mo
Energy Star Refrigerator (Side by Side) 21 Cu/Ft 123.0 kWh/mo
Energy Star Refrigerator (frost‐free) 24 Cu/Ft 102.0 kWh/mo
Energy Star Refrigerator (Side by Side) 25 Cu/Ft 132.0 kWh/mo    
Laundry (not incl water) Cold Wash, Cold Rinse 0.3 kWh/load
Warm Wash, Cold Rinse 1.9 kWh/load
Hot Wash, Cold Rinse 2.8 kWh/load
Warm Wash, Warm Rinse 3.5 kWh/load
Hot Wash, Warm Rinse 4.5 kWh/load
Ironing 1.0 kWh/hr    
Water Heating (Electric) Instantaneous (110 v 29 amp) at 1gpm 70'F 390 ‐ 500 kWh/mo
Instantaneous (240 v 50 amp) at 2.5 gpm 83'F 12 kWh/hr
Water Pump 2.0 kWh/hr    
Electronics Television >50” Plasma 0.48 kWh/hr
Television 40" ‐ 49" Plasma 0.4 kWh/hr
Television > 50" LCD 0.22 kWh/hr
Television 40" ‐ 49" LCD 0.15 kWh/hr
Television 30" ‐ 36" Tube 0.30 kWh/hr
Recording Device – DVD 0.03 kWh/hr
Recording Device – DVR   28.8 kWh/mo
Recording Device – VCR 0.02 kWh/hr
Gaming Device – Nintendo Wii 0.02 kWh/hr
Gaming Device – PlayStation 3 0.21 kWh/hr
Gaming Device – Xbox 360 0.15 kWh/hr
Computer – Desktop 0.06 ‐ 0.25 kWh/hr
Computer – Laptop 0.02 ‐ 0.05 kWh/hr
Computer – Monitor – 17” CRT 0.08 kWh/hr
Computer – Monitor – 17” LCD 0.04 kWh/hr
Radio/Stereo/CD Player 0.05 kWh/hr

*Information Sources:  U. S. Department of Energy (www.energy.gov); Silicon Valley Power (www.siliconvalleypower.com); Concordia Electric
(www.concordiaelectric.com). Information provided is approximate and may vary based upon age of appliances/devices and usage.

Ksfixitman
Posts: 14
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2015 5:50 pm

Re: How do I Wire once I start branching from the first 5?

Post by Ksfixitman » Sun Nov 08, 2015 6:04 pm

Solar98632 wrote:Using agms, I can literally put them on there side as per that diagram..lol.
Cute.....I was hoping you were smarter then that....he he

techman
Site Admin
Posts: 1329
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:49 am

Re: How do I Wire once I start branching from the first 5?

Post by techman » Thu Nov 12, 2015 5:46 pm

I hope you are joking about putting the AGMs on their sides.

In reality take half of your rated battery capacity for longer life of the batteries. Best not to use them below 50% of their ratings.

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