Solar power for 100 year old barn

Hi all;
I  bought four 150-watt 12V panels to run my 12V chest freezers.   https://permies.com/t/216684/newest-volt-deep-freezer
For the last 5 years, they have been leaning against the wall in my shop.
Today they are in the sun for the first time!
I didn't have time to finish the wiring to the new MPPT charge control today, but I've got 77 open circuit volts at the wires!

I wired the panels in series, increasing the voltage output to a working level of 48 volts, but the amperage output remains at 8.2 amps.
My new Victron MPPT charge control will use that 48 volts to charge my 12-volt battery bank.

I use two six-volt deep-cycle batteries to run my two 12-volt chest freezers.
I have been charging them with a trickle charger that is plugged into our house's power system.
I finally decided it was time to step up my game and give them their own power system.

Tomorrow I will finish the hookup and disconnect the trickle charger for good.

thomas rubino wrote:Hi all;
I  bought four 150-watt 12V panels to run my 12V chest freezers.   https://permies.com/t/216684/newest-volt-deep-freezer
For the last 5 years, they have been leaning against the wall in my shop.
Today they are in the sun for the first time!
I didn't have time to finish the wiring to the new MPPT charge control today, but I've got 77 open circuit volts at the wires!

I wired the panels in series, increasing the voltage output to a working level of 48 volts, but the amperage output remains at 8.2 amps.
My new Victron MPPT charge control will use that 48 volts to charge my 12-volt battery bank.

I use two six-volt deep-cycle batteries to run my two 12-volt chest freezers.
I have been charging them with a trickle charger that is plugged into our house's power system.
I finally decided it was time to step up my game and give them their own power system.

Tomorrow I will finish the hookup and disconnect the trickle charger for good.

Looks great Thomas! glad you went with the Victron

I still need to install inline fuses, but for now, my new system is up and running!
The Victron app loaded easily on my phone( after Liz showed me how)
Unfortunately, the Bluetooth range is limited, so I will have to enter the barn to monitor battery condition.
It is really cool to see live input from the solar panels.
You can bet that I will be out in the barn at dusk this evening to see when I lose charging and again at daybreak tomorrow to see how early the charging starts!

thomas rubino wrote:I still need to install inline fuses, but for now, my new system is up and running!
The Victron app loaded easily on my phone( after Liz showed me how)
Unfortunately, the Bluetooth range is limited, so I will have to enter the barn to monitor battery condition.
It is really cool to see live input from the solar panels.
You can bet that I will be out in the barn at dusk this evening to see when I lose charging and again at daybreak tomorrow to see how early the charging starts!

Thomas, I still remember when I transferred over the same 12 volt panels from my trace 60 amp PWM charge controller to an Outback 60amp MPPT 18 years ago; it was a transformation. You will see, its not so much the gains you get on good days its how it can still pull watts from the panels on the crummy days, earlier in the day and later into the evening. That unit is still doing work to this day on the garage system.
Cheers,
David

Thanks, David, for the encouragement to buy the Victron and your knowledge about all things solar.
I  should mention that when I have a personal solar question, I PM David to ask it, and I always get a concise reply!
I am already so impressed with what I have seen and learned...
I am considering replacing the entire house system, including the possibility of eliminating the hydro or reducing it to nighttime use only.

Today I installed inline 30 amp fuses on the positive solar output and the Positive Battery lead to the charge control.
These newer solar products all use a weather-tight snap-together connector.
Fast and easy, it makes connecting the wiring a breeze.
Other than removing the access ladders and caulking holes, my solar install is complete!

Next up is the house system, followed by the shop.
My welders all run 110V, it would be cool to run them from a solar system!

Today I finished wiring a string of 12-volt lights.
No more juggling a flashlight and frozen food while traversing the maze on the floor of the barn.
Heck, it is so bright in there now, that I might even clean it up!
We will be able to see everything in the freezers without needing a flashlight.
Power is in abundance!
The new solar system is large enough that the batteries are in float mode most of the day.

Awesome. That bodes well for the short and cloudy days coming up a few months from now. Isn't it amazing what a little bit of strategically placed lighting can do, too....