Off-Grid MakerShop - All Comments

RE: Solar Battery Bank Monitor Project

beacon_dave — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 23:20:33 GMT

Hi Kaleb

Looks like the Kilovault BMS uses a WeBee BT B-0002 TI CC2541 Bluetooth UART module ?

You might be able to sniff the comms on the input to the module.

RE: Solar Battery Bank Monitor Project

dougw — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 19:30:03 GMT

Maybe you could get a cheap android "set-top" box (or TV box) and run a little program to sequentially connect to each battery via Bluetooth - then send the data to an MQTT broker. There is an android app for an MQTT broker....

RE: Project - Water Tank Monitoring System

KalebTheMaker — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 15:27:55 GMT

Hi all, I am still here, and still at it. This project is finally coming up and I have done some testing. I've got this update and some questions about LoRa if anyone has experience with it.

First off, I think I was trying to be too precise with the original measurements, and realized that the only data that is truly meaningful to me is data that lets me know when I need to pump. Other than that, how long until I have to pump is a luxury and can probably be extrapolated over time.

For my testing, I bought an analog water pressure sensor and put it on a hose bib at the house. With about 25% tanks full, I was reading 30psi. So I just went for a 100 psi transducer. I connected that to an esp32 and started reading data.

The esp32 is 3.3v, and the transducer is 5v. But since I do not need an absolute reading, it's fine. Whatever the MCU outputs between 0-4095 I can interpolate to a percentage when I get a reading at full and a reading at empty. I am collecting that data through a cycle of pumping to try to find those values. And once I get a *full* reading, I can make the decision to get a lower pressure transducer if needed.

Currently it is connected to the water main, and the MCU is being powered by a cheap PWM solar charger, 20w panel and a 5Ah SLA battery. So far so good!

The plan will be to make at least three of these with the solar setup so they can be at the tanks.The upper tanks (seasonal well tanks) is where my house water is stored, and I can measure that at the house. The middle tank has a pretty good LOS shot from the shop, and the three spring tanks are *almost* visible from the shop. I think LoRa might be the right solution here? I have very little experience with it, but I would like to learn. I picked up a couple of the heltec "wireless stick" V3's and that is what I am testing on, but for now just using the WiFi module to collect the data.

The main thing I feel like I am having a hard time figuring out is if I *need* to have a LoRa concentrator/gateway to collect data in a multipoint-to-point layout. Or if I can just use one of these modules to collect data from the rest of the modules? Or, maybe I should be using a mesh system like meshtastic. I will have to play with that to see if I can add to the firmware somehow to collect data from GPIO and send it along. So far a lot of the examples are just examples of passing canned data.

Those would be my questions about LoRa. Would a gateway required? Is a mesh system going to be the best?

Ill get some pictures of the shop up soon!

-KalebTheMaker

RE: Project - Generator Control

DAB — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 21:16:34 GMT

I see another project ahead where you keep track of runtime and or fuel usage.

Also, an automatic refuelling system so you don't have to go out into the weather to put gas in the generator.

RE: Project - Generator Control

dougw — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 21:54:54 GMT

While doing the exhaust, it might to useful add an external air intake, especially if the PAW is well sealed.

I wonder if the waste heat could be used for something useful, whether it is heating the PAW or something else.

RE: Project - Generator Control

beacon_dave — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 20:01:15 GMT

How about adding a carbon monoxide sensor and fire detection into the design ?

A fuel gauge might be useful as well.

You could perhaps locate a Bluetooth transceiver in the PAW and connect it to the existing IP network back to the house.

RE: Project - Power Update

beacon_dave — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 20:32:54 GMT

Are you planning on motorising the panel mountings so that they can be automatically adjusted to better match the angle of the sun throughout the year ?

RE: Project - Power Update

dougw — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 00:57:06 GMT

Awesome work.

RE: Project - Power Update

robogary — Sat, 07 Oct 2023 23:08:56 GMT

ROFL- I had misread the capacity as 28000 kWr instead of Whr. I was really really impressed and reread again. :-)

Everyday there are more commercial products available for pv. I built a small 400vdc pv system at work for playing with a 2hp pump vfd. The next one is 800vdc. I'm having fun and enjoying your adventures.

RE: Project - Power Update

DAB — Sat, 07 Oct 2023 19:41:58 GMT

Looks good.

Have you considered doing some temperature monitoring of the boxes and maybe add a smoke detector?

It would be interesting to monitor how much energy is lost as heat through all of the connectors, inverters and batteries.

RE: Project - Power Update

beacon_dave — Sat, 07 Oct 2023 13:07:20 GMT

Nice work, another milestone ticked off and fresh food / cool beer in the kitchen fridge.

Remember though "With great power comes great responsibility" [emoticon:c4563cd7d5574777a71c318021cbbcc8]

I suspect that it may be possible to do something cunning with the bifacial panels if you can position multiple passive 'reflector panels' to reflect additional sunlight onto both the front and the back of them. However additional heat absorption will also reduce the solar panel efficiency. Perhaps need to put your hydro system to use for water cooling.

RE: Project - Solar Power & General Update

beacon_dave — Sat, 23 Sep 2023 14:29:05 GMT

You appear to be amassing an interesting collection of machinery on your driveway [emoticon:c4563cd7d5574777a71c318021cbbcc8]

Should make light work of some of those larger 'garden projects'.

RE: Project - Solar Power & General Update

DAB — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 20:19:45 GMT

I am surprised you did not go with a camper refrigerator that would run off 12V and propane.

RE: Question / Feedback - Solar Battery and Inverter cable type

KalebTheMaker — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 15:43:22 GMT

Hi all, thanks for the feedback. I figured out a good source at Windy Nation and I was able to get everything I needed. Conductor and lugs.

RE: Question / Feedback - Solar Battery and Inverter cable type

dougw — Wed, 24 May 2023 14:02:17 GMT

High strand count is mainly used where flexibility or continuous flexing is needed, like welding cable, or jumper cables, or pulling through complex conduit. It is more expensive but not better at carrying current. I wouldn't expect your static installation to need a high strand count.