Re: Solar system on a sailboat for 96v battery?
Big Thanks to Jerome, that is exactly the thing the OP needs.
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And after being educated by Jerome, I was able to find almost the same thing on the big A webstore (just 72V instead of 96V).
I didn't need the 96V but I did need the 12A.
I only need 48V for the boat, and 72V for my Ebike, so I got some of these;
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Re: Solar system on a sailboat for 96v battery?
Hello there,
I have my system battery bank in 96VDC too, and it is indeed more complex to find components than when you stay below 48VDC. That being said, you can source the components directly from China, with a lot more to choose from. In my situation, I have 8 strings of 5 panels in series, attached to 4 industrial MPPT controllers from IPandee. Each string is at around 200VDC. I have no shading problem on my boat, other than droppings from birds, so going with panels in series to up the voltage was an easy choice.
In your case, as you are on a sailboat and you will have some shading, you are correct that you should avoid putting your panels in series. I would avoid adding a DC-DC converter to boost the panel voltage before the MPPT though. A DC-DC has a ~95% efficiency, so it is a shame to lose power there. We never have enough power... ;-)
Based on what you described, I would go with a product such as this one , one per panel, and keep a few as spares. See Alibaba or Aliexpress for other products, I just Googled and found that one, but I am sure there are other brands doing boost and MPPT charging for 96VDC banks.
As an additional safety precaution, I would suggest you add a way to cut power from the panels to the MPPT charger when the BMS signals that the charge should stop. Cheap electronic components like the one I linked do not have compatibility to communicate on the BMS data bus to start and stop the charge, and only stop the charge when the battery bank reaches a set voltage. The key concern here is if there is a bug in the MPPT software that would not stop the charge, this could lead to a very serious security hazard, so the best way to avoid that is to cut the feed from the panel to the MPPT when the BMS says "stop the charge".?
I hope this helps.
Jerome
I have the sailboat kit from Thunderstruck-EV, configured for 96v upon their advice for my power needs. Had I known the grief it would cause trying to find the electronics for 96v, I would never have gone with this. Unfortunately, I've already installed he ME1616 and had a custom gearbox machined for it. It would cost thousands to reconfigure the system for two 48v motors at this point.
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I'm trying to set up the solar system rn, and wondering if anyone else has done this. I bought four Hyundai panels, bifacial, 48VOC. I thought I was going to just hook them up in series, but it's been pointed out to me that partial shading of the solar array would shut the whole thing down. So, as a starting point, I made a design:
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Having a heck of a time finding a DC-DC converter with a ~100v output. Saw one on Amazon, (DROK DC Boost Converter 900W) with a prominent warning label about frequent returns.?
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Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way. If anyone has done this, would greatly appreciate your advice.
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Re: Solar system on a sailboat for 96v battery?
Generally, you need higher voltage going into a charge controller than the battery voltage you are trying to charge (unless you have a boost controller like Paul above). The OP has 48VOC panels, so a max voltage of 2 in series of 96, but when charging will probably fall to around 84V.
A "96V" battery will have a working voltage calculated at 102.4V with a 116.8V needed to top of the charge, so 2 panels will not work for the OP.
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Buy it. I have two similar ones that are only 17A (but realistically only charge about 15 to 15.5A according to my shunt). I use one of them for when I get no sun for three days and my pack gets below about 50%. It seems to work fine, it has a green light that is steady on when in bulk charging and blinks when tapering off charge on top. I try not to let it top them off completely because I cant program the shut off point, but I have forgot to keep an eye on it and it stopped when it was supposed to.
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Before I got these 17A ones I used a 15A (actually charged about 13A) that was for 48V lead acid golf cart batteries. That one only would charge to about 56V if I remember correctly. But since it was half the price of a LFP charger (and I got it on sale for even cheaper) and most of the power in LFP batteries is around 52V, I figured I would try it out. It also worked fine although I never let it complete its charge cycle. I would set a timer on my phone and check my voltage every 30 minutes until I got to about 54V and turn it off. This 54V is would equate to about 95% of my amp hour capacity.
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Anybody have experience with these relatively low cost 48V chargers?? I was considering getting one as a backup unit.? Like this.? There are many similar ones out there... I'd be interested in recommendations too.?? A basic bare bones charger to have on hand as a backup for a 48V 16 cell 280AH LiFePo4 battery.?? Pretty bare bones. Thanks, Dan Pfeiffer
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Re: Solar system on a sailboat for 96v battery?
What about this? Split the battery pack in two and charge each half at 48V with it's own controller (would still need to string 2 panels together to get enough voltage).
Kinda like center tapping a transformer but center tapping the battery with the negative side of one charger and the positive side of another charger.
If you program both chargers the same, feed them with equal length wires from bus bars that are fed from all panels, and have a 16s balancer, I think it could work.
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Those Genasun GVB-8-Li-56.8V-WP are almost exactly what I need for my boat, but they are only rated at 8A (while saying that people have been using them up to 9A without issue). My panels Max Power Current is 10.72A while the Short-Circuit Current is 11.26A.
My panels are only 370W with a VOC of 41.4V (Vmp of 34.5V) and I have been trying to figure out a way to mount 3 of these panels when I only have room for 2.
So at 405W I don't think the OP could use these (let alone the fact that the highest voltage I see for these is 62V).
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Re: Solar system on a sailboat for 96v battery?
Maybe a simpler solution is to arrange the 4 panels into two strings of two panels in series. Each string should have its own charge controller. That avoids the DC-DC converter, and gives some tolerance for partial shading.
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Re: Solar system on a sailboat for 96v battery?
Genasun make a MPPT boost controller for 48V LiFePo4 see Genasun GVB-8-Li-56.8V-WP, I've got 8 of them on my boat. One per panel. --
Regards,
Paul J. Thompson
IT Manager - Bathroom Direct
(W)09 913 3110 (Mob)021 275 5001 (txt only please)
You may want to go with a transformer.
Or just 1 boost converter and a diode for each Solar panel.
With the boost controllers I think you will loose the Mppt functionality of the charge controller, but I don't think that matters very much.
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Re: Solar system on a sailboat for 96v battery?
You may want to go with a transformer.
Or just 1 boost converter and a diode for each Solar panel.
With the boost controllers I think you will loose the Mppt functionality of the charge controller, but I don't think that matters very much.
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Re: Solar system on a sailboat for 96v battery?
One booster and one controller per panel is the way to go. That will minimize any shading issues.
I have the sailboat kit from Thunderstruck-EV, configured for 96v upon their advice for my power needs. Had I known the grief it would cause trying to find the electronics for 96v, I would never have gone with this. Unfortunately, I've already installed he ME1616 and had a custom gearbox machined for it. It would cost thousands to reconfigure the system for two 48v motors at this point.
?
I'm trying to set up the solar system rn, and wondering if anyone else has done this. I bought four Hyundai panels, bifacial, 48VOC. I thought I was going to just hook them up in series, but it's been pointed out to me that partial shading of the solar array would shut the whole thing down. So, as a starting point, I made a design:
?
Having a heck of a time finding a DC-DC converter with a ~100v output. Saw one on Amazon, (DROK DC Boost Converter 900W) with a prominent warning label about frequent returns.?
?
Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way. If anyone has done this, would greatly appreciate your advice.
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Solar system on a sailboat for 96v battery?
I have the sailboat kit from Thunderstruck-EV, configured for 96v upon their advice for my power needs. Had I known the grief it would cause trying to find the electronics for 96v, I would never have gone with this. Unfortunately, I've already installed he ME1616 and had a custom gearbox machined for it. It would cost thousands to reconfigure the system for two 48v motors at this point.
?
I'm trying to set up the solar system rn, and wondering if anyone else has done this. I bought four Hyundai panels, bifacial, 48VOC. I thought I was going to just hook them up in series, but it's been pointed out to me that partial shading of the solar array would shut the whole thing down. So, as a starting point, I made a design:
?
Having a heck of a time finding a DC-DC converter with a ~100v output. Saw one on Amazon, (DROK DC Boost Converter 900W) with a prominent warning label about frequent returns.?
?
Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way. If anyone has done this, would greatly appreciate your advice.
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Re: Sadly I abandon the project, I have a lot to sell...
Hello! I'm in Florida in the Tampa area.
The prices I published are the following:
Electric motor and controller, joystick and cooling system: $2,000
Batteries with BMS and aluminum case: $2500
Solar Inverter $300
I also have a dinghy, outboard and I also sell the sailboat.
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On Mar 28, 2025, at 5:25?PM, Chris Newton via groups.io <newtonbyemail@...> wrote:
? hi,
where are you located and how much do you want for these components?
Chris On Fri, Mar 28, 2025, 12:27?p.m. Agustin Filsinger via <elagusfil128= [email protected]> wrote: Hello, unfortunately I have to abandon my project for now, I will probably do it again in the future but now I need to sell everything, I have many things, but among the main
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16 LifePO4 Prismatic Cells + Box + BMS
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Golden Motor BLDC 48v 10 KW Liquid Cooled + Controller + Joystick Throttle
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If anyone is interested, they can contact me by email or Facebook, I have much more that I will publish in the next few days, greetings!
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Re: Sadly I abandon the project, I have a lot to sell...
hi,
where are you located and how much do you want for these components?
Chris
On Fri, Mar 28, 2025, 12:27?p.m. Agustin Filsinger via <elagusfil128= [email protected]> wrote: Hello, unfortunately I have to abandon my project for now, I will probably do it again in the future but now I need to sell everything, I have many things, but among the main
?
16 LifePO4 Prismatic Cells + Box + BMS
?
Golden Motor BLDC 48v 10 KW Liquid Cooled + Controller + Joystick Throttle
?
If anyone is interested, they can contact me by email or Facebook, I have much more that I will publish in the next few days, greetings!
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Re: Sadly I abandon the project, I have a lot to sell...
I could send it, I think well packaged there would be no problem.
Another thing I have is a 48v 5500w inverter solar
And also a DC to DC converter from 48 to 12v.
Lugo a lot of small things, but I really need to start taking out the big to start publishing the small things, I have my storage full.
You can write to me by mail at elagusfil128@...
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Show quoted text
On Mar 28, 2025, at 3:35?PM, D. A. Cohen via groups.io <dacbo@...> wrote:
? Hi, I might be interested, but I see that you are in Florida and I'm in Los Angeles.? Let me see what else you have and maybe it will be worth the freight.? My project is for a 60' powerboat, so the motor is too small.? The battery bank might be helpful though. Dennis
On Friday, March 28, 2025 at 12:27:09 PM PDT, Agustin Filsinger via groups.io <elagusfil128@...> wrote:
Hello, unfortunately I have to abandon my project for now, I will probably do it again in the future but now I need to sell everything, I have many things, but among the main
?
16 LifePO4 Prismatic Cells + Box + BMS
?
Golden Motor BLDC 48v 10 KW Liquid Cooled + Controller + Joystick Throttle
?
If anyone is interested, they can contact me by email or Facebook, I have much more that I will publish in the next few days, greetings!
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Re: Sadly I abandon the project, I have a lot to sell...
Hi, I might be interested, but I see that you are in Florida and I'm in Los Angeles.? Let me see what else you have and maybe it will be worth the freight.? My project is for a 60' powerboat, so the motor is too small.? The battery bank might be helpful though. Dennis
On Friday, March 28, 2025 at 12:27:09 PM PDT, Agustin Filsinger via groups.io <elagusfil128@...> wrote:
Hello, unfortunately I have to abandon my project for now, I will probably do it again in the future but now I need to sell everything, I have many things, but among the main
?
16 LifePO4 Prismatic Cells + Box + BMS
?
Golden Motor BLDC 48v 10 KW Liquid Cooled + Controller + Joystick Throttle
?
If anyone is interested, they can contact me by email or Facebook, I have much more that I will publish in the next few days, greetings!
|
Re: Sadly I abandon the project, I have a lot to sell...
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Sadly I abandon the project, I have a lot to sell...
Hello, unfortunately I have to abandon my project for now, I will probably do it again in the future but now I need to sell everything, I have many things, but among the main
?
16 LifePO4 Prismatic Cells + Box + BMS
?
Golden Motor BLDC 48v 10 KW Liquid Cooled + Controller + Joystick Throttle
?
If anyone is interested, they can contact me by email or Facebook, I have much more that I will publish in the next few days, greetings!
|
Re: Complex design issues
Check you math. All panels in series as in 6S for 16V/7A panels is 96/7, not 96/14.
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On 2024-12-08 9:55 am, Dale Shomette via groups.io wrote:
So Jeff, you have two sets of three panels, each three panels in series and each three panels with their own controllers. You believe they are 16volt/7amp?panels, correct? So in series, the maximum voltage from your three panels would be 48 volts and seven amps.
Together, the six panels (as individual sets of three) would theoretically pull out 96 volts and 14 amps. Are your Victron controllers charging your batteries individually? Why do you need two Victron 150/35's when one would handle both sets of three panels? Why not put each two of the six panels in series with each other, then put the six in parallel. Wouldn't that give you a maximum of 48 volts and an increase to up to 21amps?to your battery bank? Of course, I have no idea how big your battery bank is and 48 volts might not do it for you. I will need?a minimum of 54 volts for each of my four battery banks but will be charging them individually. I think your Victron 150/35 would be perfect to do that but was thinking that at full charge of a bank, I would just switch over from that bank to the other and only need the one controller. Is that reasoning sound from your perspective? By the way, what is your average collective sunlight day where you are??
Thanks Again,
Dale
On Thu, Dec 5, 2024 at 10:32?PM jeffsschwartz via <jeffsschwartz= [email protected]> wrote:
Hi Dale,
It's been a few years since I picked them up but I believe they're 16V/7A.? I have 6 of them so I wire 3 in series and then the output from the 3 into the MPPT controller, then repeat for the second controller.? When I look at the output from the panels on the Victron app on my cell, I'm seeing around 54V go into the batteries per controller.? I've never seen the total current from both controllers go about 3A even on the sunniest of days.
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On a mid summer, no cloud day, I'll get a total charge of around 2 KW between the two controllers.? That may partially be due to panel placement, my boat's on a 3 point mooring facing south so the angles are not optimal.
?
Regards,
Jeff.
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Re: Complex design issues
So Jeff, you have two sets of three panels, each three panels in series and each three panels with their own controllers. You believe they are 16volt/7amp?panels, correct? So in series, the maximum voltage from your three panels would be 48 volts and seven amps. Together, the six panels (as individual sets of three) would theoretically pull out 96 volts and 14 amps. Are your Victron controllers charging your batteries individually? Why do you need two Victron 150/35's when one would handle both sets of three panels? Why not put each two of the six panels in series with each other, then put the six in parallel. Wouldn't that give you a maximum of 48 volts and an increase to up to 21amps?to your battery bank? Of course, I have no idea how big your battery bank is and 48 volts might not do it for you. I will need?a minimum of 54 volts for each of my four battery banks but will be charging them individually. I think your Victron 150/35 would be perfect to do that but was thinking that at full charge of a bank, I would just switch over from that bank to the other and only need the one controller. Is that reasoning sound from your perspective? By the way, what is your average collective sunlight day where you are?? Thanks Again, Dale
On Thu, Dec 5, 2024 at 10:32?PM jeffsschwartz via <jeffsschwartz= [email protected]> wrote: Hi Dale,
It's been a few years since I picked them up but I believe they're 16V/7A.? I have 6 of them so I wire 3 in series and then the output from the 3 into the MPPT controller, then repeat for the second controller.? When I look at the output from the panels on the Victron app on my cell, I'm seeing around 54V go into the batteries per controller.? I've never seen the total current from both controllers go about 3A even on the sunniest of days.
?
On a mid summer, no cloud day, I'll get a total charge of around 2 KW between the two controllers.? That may partially be due to panel placement, my boat's on a 3 point mooring facing south so the angles are not optimal.
?
Regards,
Jeff.
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Re: Complex design issues
Hi Dale,
It's been a few years since I picked them up but I believe they're 16V/7A.? I have 6 of them so I wire 3 in series and then the output from the 3 into the MPPT controller, then repeat for the second controller.? When I look at the output from the panels on the Victron app on my cell, I'm seeing around 54V go into the batteries per controller.? I've never seen the total current from both controllers go about 3A even on the sunniest of days.
?
On a mid summer, no cloud day, I'll get a total charge of around 2 KW between the two controllers.? That may partially be due to panel placement, my boat's on a 3 point mooring facing south so the angles are not optimal.
?
Regards,
Jeff.
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cpcanoesailor