Solar Panels to AC
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- Опубліковано 22 жов 2021
- I love the contrast. For thousands of years the sun has power the winds for our sails. Now it powers the wind and so much more.
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[ Music ]
"Trickin Pickin" preformed by Doug Waterman
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Doug you have done a great job building seeker it has been fun watching your videos for the last couple of years.
Thank you for including my snowmobile trailer in your video it is so fun to see all of the builds people are working on.
I figured on doing just a few months of WDYMT photos, but I really do enjoy seeing what our viewers are doing in their shops. It really inspires. Thanks again for your contribution.
If it is a rare day you need the inverter to power the system AND you need to make sure those two breakers are not on at the same time you have a prime opportunity to have 'forgotten' that detail. Seems to me this really is a good reason to install that interlock.
Ditto. Don't rely on your memory when you can instead rely on a physical mechanism to enforce the correct sequence.
And in either case, put a big label on it :)
@@bradley3549
If the breakers are on when switches are to the centre.. then a sliding piece of plastic might work.. to stop both being on at the same time..
A 4? pole rotary switch would have been better..
If it was just 240v .. I'm in the UK .. then no need as the inverter / charger would work it out..
LOL !! One good heavy rogue wave in heavy seas may knock those panels clear off your deck including your pilot house Doug. You have not experienced heavy seas in a boat that size or any size. Go ahead and make fun of those that know what it like, you will soon find out if you ever get that tub out of that port. Big girl pants are never big enough when the seas are pissed off.
I'm sorry fear has such a grip on you. Maybe you can turn that into excitement and find some joy in it. We all die, but fear keeps most of us from ever living. Good luck.
@@Brian-mp6bg I love it when people try to forecast what I plan to do. : )
@@Brian-mp6bg He’s talking about rogue waves and you think wind shield wipers are the fix? :-)
@@Brian-mp6bg That is the best argument yet for wind shield whippers.
@James Fisher Great, you guys can establish a safe space. : )
I hope that you never get sick Doug, because I don't think anyone else will know how all these complex systems work.
The YT Channel are his instructional and service manual. He most likely has a playlist of all the specific videos that go into the specific detail of the systems for reference.
Keep learning and you too can be great Seeker crew.
@@Brian-mp6bg Exactly, and when your in rough seas and peole are sick, and need to make a split second decisions, who knows the answer??
@@SVSeeker Doug, I'm 68, I have been a crew chief on a CH 54b, I have a pilots license, a 100 ton captains license, and spend most of my life as a maintence supervisor for some large companies, and I don't think I could figure out your complex water systems and your extensive complex electrical systems when the S__t hits the fan and panic has set in. All the people that helped you design and install all these systems may or may not be with you.
@@combatmedic1980 I think you could, but I know that if you think you can't. You are right.
that is quite an impressive and useable amount of power. the best part is it is independent and free. good job....
You should just make a small interlock for the breakers, I’m sure just a little plastic shim that only fits on a closed breaker that you switch to the other side would work just fine and can save a lot of headaches if somebody makes a mistake
Agree.. just done comment about piece of plastic..
Layers of redundancy will one day be a great investment. Well done Doug!
love to relax with a nice cup of tea and let my mind sail off with the SV videos.
Still not in the drink then?
Patience is a virtue.
As always enjoy the videos! Getting stuff done and figuring it all out.
I have been waiting for this day for a long time, and an autotransformer to boot!
"We're wiring them up in series." Just remember, in series a shadow on one panel shadows them all. This is because panels are current sources, not voltage sources. They all carry the same current. Usually a mast will cast a shadow on the boat somewhere. If the shadow hits a panel...oops. I think they now have micro charge controllers that you put on each panel. I think the essentially convert a current source into a voltage source (which can be hooked in series) and eliminate the problem.
Usually solar invertes have some kind of shadow management. But i am not shure if the Victron charge controllers have this feature.
Pretty much all good panels have at least 3 bypass diodes that are capable of shunting shadowed sections off, and MPPT algorithm takes care of the rest. Those power optimizers that go with each panel are just more stuff to go wrong.
It's surprising how little the shadow needs to be to drop the output percentage. Dave @ EEVblog shows how much from just his tv antenna mast. ua-cam.com/video/AbxHoQF4ADk/v-deo.html
@@philipp635 Doesn't the shadow management have to be at the panel level?
@@MCBatty80 I saw that. That was the first I heard of the Micro MPPT controllers for each cell.
Great video thank you. I have enjoyed the build process from the start and looking forward to the splash? Good luck
Put that damn thing in the water already!
Patience is a virtue.
Love the progress! Just wanted to say thank you and a couple words of caution! Those metal straps you use to secure electrical lines are sharp AF! Consider changing them to non metallic straps.
You where right on the screeming at the screen at the neutral Issue.. LOL . Nice work Doug!
cool stuff
Important notes ...
Anything over 50 volts DC or AC can be lethal..!!!
even from solar ..
Those connectors and panel junction boxes are not waterproof ..
Ok for under 50 volts..
but not for 150 volts..
So you don't blow the solar controllers...
Always turn the batteries on .. before .. turning the solar on..
and..
Always turn the solar off .. before .. turning the batteries off..
A) Maybe if you cut your chest open and passed it across your heart. B) They get sealed later, they'll be fine. C) No, not on these. Nothing about that in the manual, and there is a bad breaker on the battery side that keeps tripping and the charge controller is just fine with have it flipped back on after solar is already live.
I believe I have watched all of your videos over the years. I admire you immensely for what you are doing and will share the excitement when that steel hits the water. Well done so far Doug (from the UK).
i'm secretly happy that the boat isn't in the water yet. been following since 2014 or so and though i couldn't wait back then, now it's like a depressing thought to imagine all the time that has gone by, and the boat still sitting on land being worked on in tulsa is like staving off what i'm not prepared to face ahah
Don't forget to us Permatex Dielectric Grease .on your solar power connections.
Is this boat ever going to be launched?.
Are you waiting for a ride?
@@SVSeeker Do you say that to all the boys?…. I pop in from time to time ( since day one ) to see how things are progressing. Having it in the water would be great. It would be extremely frustrating be in your position at the moment. Chins up!.
Are you going to leave all that with no labels to tell you what you’re looking at? I just can’t imagine the day when you are unconscious for some reason and somebody else needs to do the stuff. It’s obvious that you know every system on the boat, but are you the only one that knows every system on the boat? What if you fall overboard? :-)
Right in the fantasy world of yours. I'm unconscious and bleeding out and Hollis needs a cup tea. Oh wait, Hollis has installed these systems for years. And Carl designed it and selected the equipment. Where to you find your crew, because they need more skills?
@@SVSeeker i’m not trying to give you a hard time, Doug. I’ve watched you for years and I admire you so much for all that you’re able to do. I wish I wasn’t too old to go with you. But seriously someone may need to identify those circuits and things one day when you’re not there.
No shit, just think if this boat is at sea and something goes wrong, happens all the time on ships.. with all of maybe three people understanding the systems it’s a disaster waiting to happen.. it’s not like you have any manuals to aid in trouble shooting an issue.. ... the more complicated the more chance of a small failure resulting in a large issue..
If it was me I would at least make a booklet explaining what each switch knob wire and button does so that if anything goes wrong someone can try and fix the problems just in case anything were to happen.
How about some scraps of paper?
@@SVSeeker
Hi Doug.
As you said ages ago..
I think it was when you were having too much fun with the variable pitch aka gearbox..
This YT channel is the manual...
Just label things with episode numbers and have the series on harddrive and a backup on DVD? When there's no internet..
Amazing what you have done..
I found Sea Prince striped, sunk and unloved in 1988 and been living aboard since..
Regards Mark.
“I’m not an electrician, but I got it done, and you can too” don’t know if everyone needs to hear that haha
Fear is easy. Try selling courage.
Great video Doug, if you decide to mechanically interlock your brakes it's just a piece of metal you install between the generator and inverter breakers. It'll take you no time to fabricate it.
Generator Inverter switchover with interlock is basic stuff. Easy way to blow up your stuff without one. They are cheap as chips.
IMPRESSIVE SET UP...
I'd highly suggest getting ALL manuals possible that are in digital formats. (Even if you have to scan them in!)
This will let you search them in a digital folder for different systems ect. Also CTRL+F is an amazing thing to have in a manual :)
Dude, I spent 25 years in IT. 5 of them teaching, most of them in databases. : )
@@SVSeeker Ahh, so THAT is what drove you to build a boat and get away from it all. It all makes sense! I'm about 5 years into the field and farming potatoes is looking really inviting already.
I can't help feeling that adding all this weight to a boat on dry land is mounting the launch insurance cost and the launch itself.
You think they’ll bring out their bathroom scales?
Got 16of thats kind in my roof. It gives power.😊
continued inspiration thx Doug. get that boat in the water.
I thought that was supposed to be in the water
Turns out it's a lesson in patience.
@@mickeymouse2.048 You have a lot of pain. Maybe take a walk today.
I'd suggest using the AC input for shore power on one inverter (If they are 110-250v multi input makes things simple) and your generators on the other inverter, then use a change over switch between the generators and inverters so you can bypass the inverters if needs be. Electrical pixies need to be as fool proof as possible, otherwise the lightshow can be impressive but expensive!
i would advise lubing them terminals up to avoid corrosion
I would start writing a document describing first of all how to use the more complicated systems on the ship (and also what not to do) and secondly a section to describe how the systems work, what is connected to what, etc. If something were to happen to you (God forbid) you don't want the ship to be inoperable or someone needing to reverse engineer everything (that will take them a year).
You seriously underestimate the abilities of the crew working with me. Spend more time working on these things yourself and you will see how unnecessary a book would be as well.
Great job Doug. Plenty of complexity to deal with. Some of the others have mentioned it. Please do a manual. I do best with block diagrams. Others just want - what switches on and off to do this function. You probably need both types of manuals. What to do when faults occur. Lightning strikes - yikes
Victron inverter chargers would have given you true 220v with out needing the transformer or having to worry about lockouts in your panel. On top of this it would have started your generator to charge your batteries when your solar is not sufficient. You could also had remote monitoring of not only your charging system but thing like water tanks all from one little touch screen.
Sounds like you own stock. But the autotransformer is not needed for making 220, it's for balancing the loads between the two legs. But yes, if you like apps for your phone, Victron should be your choice. And both systems can start the generators.
@@SVSeeker Just been there and spent a lot of time and money trying to piece things together that didn't meat my needs in the end. Solar/batteries sound great but they can be finicky and a bit needy sometimes. Victron stuff just made things simple, reliable and easy to maintain.
A clasic Seeker video.
Good amount of power avalable on that setup.
Great stuff Doug. AC is also more efficient to transmit than DC. The higher the voltage the smaller the conductor needs to be. Alter the frequency of that up/down wave and it gets even better. You have 60 Htz in the USA at home. In Europe it is 50 Htz (Htz is cycles per second) So if your sending power a long way you are best to send it down the line at as higher voltage and frequency as you can. In parts of the UK the transmission voltage is 400,000 Volts AC !! Sail Safe mate. Ant, Cid & the pooch crew.
Hz, not Htz.
Great job! You might not be finish fastening the feed-in cables for the inverters, but I noticed on 22:21 that the cables are tied directly to a metal structure. I had a similar setup in my boat and discovered, after a few seasons, that the vibration in the boat had caused the insulation to almost tear off on the point of contact. Possibly creating a dangerous situation. Just a friendly advice. Love the videos!
Chaffing is something we'll look at later on. You can spend a lifetime fixing things you can imagine.
Thanks Doug I really enjoyed that one. Just a tip if you are not aware (not trying to teach you to suck eggs...) but you can edit the name of the Victron Charge Controllers in the software App. e.g. You could label one as "Port Victron Charger" & the other "Starboard Victron Charger".
Once you connect to the controller in the App, click on the Settings in the top right of screen (Cog Wheel) then in the Settings screen, tap the 3 vertical buttons (top right) this takes you to the 'Product Info' screen. Down after 'Product' & 'Serial Number' you will see 'Custom Name'. You can edit this from the generic serial/model type number that comes up as default. e.g. I have "Tonys Camper Trailer" as the name on mine.
Gee, I kept waiting for your to turn the air conditioners on : )
Air Conditioner? Harden Up!
It would be nice to get a launch update when you do these current videos..each time you post one
I wait. You wait. There is your update. : )
@@mickeymouse2.048 You bitterness is a choice you make. You can also choose to change your mind and change your life. I hope you find happiness.
The work goes on and for that we are happy, but we want to see the boat get wet.😉 Well no more than you of course. I cannot imagine the frustration you feel having the boat this close to water and being held up by bureaucracy. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.
I've been watching from first welds and have greatly enjoyed the building of Seeker. I've been also watching Arabella and Tally Ho, where they are currently laying out interior spaces and Masters Cabins. This prompts the stupid question - Where does Doug sleep?
Wherever he wants.
aft cabin
He’s sleeping down the road at his house
Where the seeker was built
Can’t wait for the launch
And it will launch as soon as the right people get the appropriate amount of money in their pocket as it is with anything in America sad but true
@@howtoeverything9526 he sold that property, but he does have friends in the area.
@@stefandwoodham I hope you're wrong. I bet that boat is built better than 99% of the ships being built in China.
Ok I’m lost now 😳 glad I’m not running the electrical on the boat !
Abbott and Costello.... Who’s on first? Loved it, great video once more, and remember... “We’re pullin for ya!”
silicone grease on those connectors!
My x-wife ran off with all of it.
DC Voltage through a inverter is a Modified Square Wave - Meaning 100 Volts square wave is 120 Volt Equivalent in pure sin wave
Wow! I thought I was watching Drew Kerry, TPIS fame, new glasses
sweet
I always enjoy watching, I am wondering what date you might get to splash in the water?
Wondering which is more efficient. Running the second inverter or the auto transformer to pick up the two phase?
Even though the connectors have O rings and the like I like to put silicone dialectic grease made for electrical connectors in the joint. Never hardens and is sticky as hell. Great where it's needed and not easy to get rid of where you don't want it. Have an 07' dodge withe a cummins that would give me troubles when I drove long distances in the rain. Put that grease on the ECM connectors and it stopped that BS. The CRC brand comes in a cheese whizz style dispenser.
Mmmmm Cheese Wizz
@@SVSeeker Wrong kind of finger food. ;o)
Great video!
Can you place a small acrylic plastic sheet with cutouts over the generator breaker lever and the other breaker lever, to make it a little more difficult to switch both on accidentally?
I need those pliers. I have similar ones but they don't crimp those types of connectors as nice as yours.
That got demonstrated you can dance
Very neat install on those enormous 24V cables.
How many bilge pumps do you intend on having on the ship and how much could they pump out in the event of an emergency
What kind of emergency? Because I don't thing bilge pumps are good for anything but clearing water after you stop the ingress.
You lost me after you put the plugs on the solar panels , LOL ,. Glad you can keep it all sorted out .
so are you going o make the boat the negative pole and only use positive leads or do you isolate the hull from electricity ?
I thought he said that the electrical was all isolated after he check it with the volt meter.
Saltwater is conductive. I expect significant hazards associated with using boat hull as one pole, and significant impact of accelerated corrosion and deterioration. Using the hull for a conductor on any of the DC systems makes working on them significantly more dangerous to work on and requires additional lockouts. Doing it for AC system would only theoretically be possible for one of the 120v phases so they'd have to run separate lines for the 240v opposite pole for the opposite phase. This is not like an automotive application where chassis can be used as a ground pole safely.
@SV Seeker Was that Taylor cranes comment a little hint of what might be coming up?
DOUGLAS ,Can you add your generator as a second slave so if it is started the computer sorts it out with the inverters if its needed ? Just a thought
WOW! That's a huge boat!
Great to see youv cracked the 200k subs , Every things looking REAL good - Fair winds & following seas .
Good thing you have had a bit of a hold up. Nice to just get things quietly sorted before the chaos of Maiden voyages etc. Regards Heath Eccles
Hi Doug, maybe the opposite phase should be called the sub for submissive since it fits with the bondage thing and the way this all sounds ? he he ! Will the wheelhouse roof center section remain open for access to boom and traveler, or will entire roof be solar panels with some expanded aluminum mesh over mid section for roof cleaning duties ?
Can just cover the panels with a blanket or similar, don't have to wait till night to make it safe :)
Two things I have been wondering:
What is the efficiency of the phase transformer?
What is the internal reason / difference between the old and new Inverters to result in such a difference box size?
Thanks.
Sorry. No idea and no idea. : )
@@SVSeeker NP, thanks for the response.
Take it from a sailer brother. Those solar panels will be scaled with salt as soon as you get to sea. Bad weather or good weather. Salt water spray knows no bounds. I hope you have some sort of auto washer thought up for it.
I said the same thing a long time ago. And when a huge wave takes out those STUPID school bus windows and floods the cockpit and no way to replace them way out a sea.
And those waves form change 60 times per second what is called hertz !
And when you touch the wrong bits, that's called Hurts!
I appreciate you are following US domestic practice of using two out of phase 120v supplies to obtain 220v, but wouldn't have been simplier to fit a 220v (or even 415v 3ph) generators then use transformers to get your lower voltages?
Simpler? In the middle of the USA with donated US machinery? No. : )
If you where only going to stay in US waters then I agree, not having a conventional commercial shipping electrical system would be fine, but I assume you will traveling around the world, where the standard is single phase 220v ashore and afloat I fear you may struggle to get spares.
Actually we “electricians” are just smiling at your understanding. Close and maybe an unlit cigar? On Purpose
To be human is to error Murphy is every where
And had you done everything with native 240V, you'd only need half of that stuff and would remove 75% of the burden :)
could even had made it a 3 phase system...
Problem is fitting out the boat in the US means it's significantly easier to get US standard components for wiring, US fixtures, and US appliances. While some aspects of international travel may be easier running euro standard, the problem is getting all of that equipment, fixtures, and appliances while fitting out in the US.
With the capability of producing two-phase 120, Euro standard 240v can be generated and fitted when needed. Biggest issue is with system frequency (US 60 vs Euro 50 Hz), but there are few appliances where that actually matters. Most DC appliances with their own transformer power supplies are already "universal" and accept 120-240v 50-60Hz input.
With DC off the batteries and panels, they can also retrofit inverters to run a Euro spec system if needed in the "worst" compatibility case.
Since you have two generators.. which one will you be using at night. If you don't get enough charge in your batteries? if you have one generator plugged into the inverter to charge back to the batteries, you could basically run your generator at closer to full load and likely be more efficient and reduce your run time?.
You're a sailor? Do you just wait to get back to a marine where someone else maintains your boat? : ) ----- Wrong comment. And I don't think that will often be the case but I'll decide that latter. Large loads may get connected directly to one of the generators.
Doug you are definitely not a Mariner or Marine Engineer bc someone who goes to sea for a living would want all of the options available to him and not rely solely on the solar panels to charge the vessel’s batteries, Professional sailors know that there’s no help coming if something goes wrong and conditions are never like they are in port or dry land, so having a battery charger run off the generators is an easy addition and gives you the ability to keep the lights on no matter the conditions.
Another reason I know you’re not a sea going person is you tend to not make things fail safe. One examples is not having a simple interlock between the generators and solar panel power source. While you know that the change over needs to “Break before Make” when changing power sources, you might have to send someone in an emergency, who is less trained, in the dark and exhausted to make the changeover. The inter-lock is a beautiful engineering fix that makes sure your change over is perfect every time. If you don’t put the inter-lock in place and you back feed the the other source it may be a very difficult to figure out what went wrong. If you think you’ll be trouble shooting a power problem in a calm water and a full night’s rest then you’re going to learn a hard lesson bc equipment fails and so do people; “Murphy” is definitely a crew member on every ship.
@@markwertheimer2320 Don't get your panties in a twist. Life is short. My posted my reply above on the wrong comment. So take a breath and go be happy. Or at least go be someone else's mother.
@@SVSeeker wow, there is no need for that! With that comment and attitude, I fear for how long your life will be if you ever get to sea.
@@annebrowning4303 Harden Up sweetie
Doug...you remind one of FIRE MARSHAL BILL...... LET'S SEE.....
Still super productive moving forward good for you!
It's just like sitting in the doldrums' waiting for the wind. Plenty of time to get some things done.
@@SVSeeker great way to look at it--patience, rolling with what comes along
it is all understanding to a electrician, or you who installed and wired the system. if the boat goes out on a research exposition, you are going to have to go with them, or be on call 24/7. any word on the insurance yet
He is the captain
Yeah, Doug is the Captain, where Seeker goes, he goes. Also check the FB Group. Insurance is now a done deal, Just waiting on the date to drop her into the drink.
I remember in the beginning you said: "don't make it complicated" here we are ?
If your generator is three phase and that generator produces your single phase 240 volts than your phases are actually 120 deg out of phase with each other.
I believe you would call that 'connecter neutral'
How come the port holes are are laying down ?
They're tired.
Looks great and will make lot of power sad to stay is not in the water but looks good on the hard. Have a great day
Good filler, but when is it hitting the water??
Sorry, we told everyone else but you have been selected to be kept in the dark.
Very cool setup, so many options for powering the electronics on the boat. How many batteries are in the system now and do you plan to add more?
Just that one on in the 24v system, but that one battery is 550 amp hours.
The longer you stay on land the more equipment gets installed on the boat…not a bad deal
Two words, respect and envy . 👍
...and the music goes round and round and comes out here...maybe
What's the update on the launch?
My guess is: he's working on it
Captain Obvious
Captain Obvious is absolutely correct.
LOL. Glad to see everyone is maintaining a sense of humor.
2 Day Later Update: Insurance is now a done deal. Launch Date Incoming!!!!
Are you worried at all about corrosion on the panel connectors? Salt water seems like it might pose problems there.
No. Aluminum roof, support and frame on the panel and stainless nuts and bolts.
@@SVSeeker Sorry, not the structure I'm worried about, but the wiring connecting each panel electrically. Are those seawater safe?
Wat costs more the insurance or the fine fr nt havin it??
there is no fine, the port simply won't allow it to go in without insurance.
The aluminum frames are going to rot away very quickly in the salt. Consider replacing the frames with stainless
Dude, entire ocean going ships are built from aluminum.
@@SVSeeker check out these guys video 8:44 into. But I guess the reality is 20 years from now you will have a different solar system anyways.
ua-cam.com/video/Qb_sJNS-wfY/v-deo.html
Not trying to be negative! Love your videos!
@@harryk1266 Ha! 20 years from now I will very likely be dead. That's totally the next guy's problem : )
or throw a blanket over the panel
It's broad daylight. There's not a cloud in the sky. Shadows say it's late morning or early afternoon, port of Catoosa's around 36 degrees north, it's early fall, and you're installing 5 kilowatts of solar panels in series. And the panels don't even have their cardboard box fronts taped on for cover. Mmmmmkay. Your call. Experience is the best teacher, but are you sure you can really afford the very best? I'm guessing you concentrate your budget on getting 'er built instead of silly things like life insurance, amirite?
Fear has the ability to control everything we do in life and the ability to prevent us from doing everything we should do. But we can choose to control our fears.
I'm so ready to see your ship in the water I Ben watching you since day one im born and raised in Siloam springs
So I'm not the only one that picks the wrong lugs when testing panels. Thank you for making me feel included in this group. Despite the delay being frustrating, are you a bit happy to get these things done with Seeker on solid ground and not bobbing in the water? Thanks Doug for keeping us all up to date.
Sure, it's easier, but I'd love to be bobbing in the water. Got to learn to deal with that sooner or later and I like a challenge.
@@SVSeeker I can agree with that.
👍👍