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Godoh Guru Joined: 26/09/2020 Location: AustraliaPosts: 491
Posted: 07:23am 06 Feb 2025
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That looks good. I have mine set to switch the Relays off when the voltage rises to 28.8 volts. Sometimes the batteries are full and the relay turns the GTIs off when I am charging the car, so I go out and put the car charger onto fast to lower the battery voltage for a while. In your case the air conditioners should do the same thing. Pete
Bryan1 Guru Joined: 22/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1391
Posted: 07:44am 06 Feb 2025
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Thanks for the help Pete so now I do need to get up nice and early in the morning and get on the roof to change the 250 watt panels over so they are all in series then I can get everything setup for my sparkie mate to inspect before turning it on.
The setup I have there is a dual circuit breaker for both arrays and another circuit breaker for the 1.5Kw input along with a single circuit breaker for one leg of the output AC. So they can stay off until Mike says everything is OK then we can turn them on to get the system live.
Another job is mounting the aircon in the lounge room window and making a frame for it to sit on as next week we are back into the 40's and I do want this going to stay cool.
Regards Bryan
Godoh Guru Joined: 26/09/2020 Location: AustraliaPosts: 491
Posted: 07:19am 07 Feb 2025
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Hi Bryan, one thing that may not make much difference but every bit helps. I used the normally closed contacts on the big relays. That way they only use power when the batteries are full and they need to regulate. I have two pole breakers everywhere on my system. 500 volt DC double pole breakers for the panels Two pole AC breakers for the GTI outputs. It is useful to be able to isolate the GTI inverters by turning off the output breakers before turning off the DC breakers. Saves sparks from turning off loaded DC breakers. I hope it all goes well pete
Bryan1 Guru Joined: 22/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1391
Posted: 07:49am 07 Feb 2025
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Hi Pete the panel mount relay does use the normally closed contacts and as I have said got a dual breaker for both arrays also a breaker on the solar input to the GTI aswell as one leg of the AC.
Anyway got on the roof this morning and got the 1.5Kw array all in series which was some fun as trying to get those MC connectors undone was fun destroyed 2 of them trying to get them apart so down the ladder to get the crimper and a new connector then on the next one the same and didn't bring up a spare connector so back down the ladder. Then found the overcast conditions had gone to full sun and back down the ladder to get some jeans on as my knees weren't going to get burnt.
Anyway got it all done and with 327 volts DC at the input breaker should be enough for the grid tie to startup.
Regards Bryan
Bryan1 Guru Joined: 22/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1391
Posted: 05:53am 12 Feb 2025
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Well I didn't get the grid tie setup before this hot weather came around so just setup the aircon by the window and for the last 2 days it's been running 10 hours a day trying it's heart out to cool but the way this transportable house is setup a much bigger aircon would be needed.
Anyway the Selectronic Inverter is running the aircon fine and this morning I checked the overnight voltage 25.4 so that ol' forklift battery which has been powering our house for over a decade is still chugging along.
Regards Bryan
Godoh Guru Joined: 26/09/2020 Location: AustraliaPosts: 491
Posted: 08:38pm 12 Feb 2025
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Glad to hear the air con is running, it sounds like the house needs something else to help with the heat. Most transportable houses don't have much insulation in them, that would make it much harder on the air con. Maybe you could set up a tropical roof arrangement. That is add another roof about 100 mm or so above the roof on the house. Of course if your solar panels are on the house roof that makes it a bigger job. Good to hear that the selectronic inverter is running the air con fine. I don't know about where you are but here we have a cold front coming through on the weekend, so hopefully it will get to your place and cool things down too Pete
Bryan1 Guru Joined: 22/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1391
Posted: 07:49am 21 Feb 2025
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Well this week I started back in my old job working at the chocolate factory on nightshift and got home this morning ready for a nap before my weekend starts only to be told we lost all power
Now the inverter was still working and the batteries were close to full charge so set up an extension lead so the fridge could run.
So duly went and checked and yes that RCD had tripped again so decided to go in and buy a new one as this electrical box is now about 30 years old.
I rang a few local sparkies and when I was told the price it was case of no thank you and don't try and call me again, I mean sheesh $400 to $500 to change 4 wires I mean really.
So went and seen a friend who's husband is a retired sparkie to be told he was out shopping and would ring me when he got home. So finally got to the pillow and about 2 hours later got the call.
Now the way this house electrical box is setup there are 4 circuit breakers, one for lights and 3 more which I do need to find out where each circuit breaker feeds in the house.
My sparkie mate did say with the circuit breakers toady they have their own RCD circuit builtin so I'm getting a quote on upgrading the whole house electrical box.
Got a quote on a new split system and the smallest one they sell is a 2.5Kw one and roughly $1.5K fitted which what I thought the budget would be for it. As they are all dual cycle well as the seasons change a bit of warmth won't hurt I mean if the sun is shining well this split system will be working.
Had a major computer crash on my house computer where the SSD just died on me and Mike my sparkie mate did say he wanted to see a circuit drawing as I lost Sprint Layout may just have to finish that shearing shed addition drawing and draw the circuit on my old drawing machine
Now I have sent a email to Abacom about losing the software and yet to get a reply so it will be interesting to see the outcome.
So in the morning time to turn off each circuit breaker in turn to find out where each one feeds then if the new circuit breaker trips we then know which wires to chase.
Regards Bryan
Revlac Guru Joined: 31/12/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1088
Posted: 10:23pm 21 Feb 2025
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If you get a sparky in to fix it they will generally find more that needs fixing/changing especially with an old installation , we still had the old ceramic fuse holders here for the house and the sparky said No that's gotta be updated to a new plastic breaker box, I said OK we can do that when the 3Phase comes in........ that was at least 10 years ago, RCD's are not that expensive to buy from a shop.Cheers Aaron Off The Grid
phil99 Guru Joined: 11/02/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2375
Posted: 11:07pm 21 Feb 2025
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Are you certain the RCD is faulty? Have you checked for earth leakage current? I'm an ex sparky and have never encountered a faulty RCD. They have always tripped for a reason.
Usually it is an appliance, though finding it can be a challenge if the leakage is intermittent.
One was condensation in a refrigerator door switch tracking from active to the metal frame, which were just 3mm apart. Sealed the switch back with silicone ad swapped the active and switch wires. If it ever happens again it will only trip the RCD when they open the door, so they will know what the problem is.
Have also seen cockroaches and spiders getting in appliances and wandering between active and earth.
In the house wiring it is usually ants setting up home in lights, behind power-points and in junction boxes. They coat everything with a sticky, corrosive and conductive film.
Revlac Guru Joined: 31/12/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1088
Posted: 12:25am 22 Feb 2025
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Or a gecko across it, that required turning off the main power to remove it, and find and plug gaps that it might have entered through Cheers Aaron Off The Grid
Godoh Guru Joined: 26/09/2020 Location: AustraliaPosts: 491
Posted: 07:45am 22 Feb 2025
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The rules have changed now for RCDs as well. The new RCDs are Type A. They are designed for circuits that have switchmode power supplies that may have a DC component on the circuit. So all new RCDs and all upgrades have to have Type A RCDs. I have seen RCDs trip from dust on the back of power points, as others have said from critters such as Rats chewing wires ( I have come across many bare wires in houses where the sheathing and insulation has been eaten) So you will have to do the test as you suggested, turn each breaker off, then turn on one at a time to find which circuit has the fault. good luck Pete
Bryan1 Guru Joined: 22/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1391
Posted: 10:50am 26 Feb 2025
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Anyway got the quote back from my local sparkie and this Friday the house electrical box is getting a total upgrade So when the earth leakage happens again we will know which circuit wire is the culprit
Bryan1 Guru Joined: 22/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1391
Posted: 03:42am 28 Feb 2025
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Well the house electrical box is all upgraded and traced where each of the 3 circuits go so when the earth leakage tries it on again it will be much easier to trace where it is.
Godoh Guru Joined: 26/09/2020 Location: AustraliaPosts: 491
Posted: 05:06am 28 Feb 2025
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Thats good to hear Bryan. I am guessing that whatever is tripping the circuit did not show up when the board was upgraded. At least you will know now what is causing the problem. Did you get the solar system working with the GTIs yet? Pete
Bryan1 Guru Joined: 22/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1391
Posted: 05:22am 28 Feb 2025
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Not yet Pete and that 1.7Kw is working now off my Selectronic inverter fine too
I did have a chat with Mike about the GTI and when I get around to working out what I'm going to do with the shed power it can all be done at once.
Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me.
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destroyed 2 of them trying to get them apart so down the ladder to get the crimper and a new connector then on the next one the same and didn't bring up a spare connector 
I mean if the sun is shining well this split system will be working.
, we still had the old ceramic fuse holders here for the house and the sparky said No that's gotta be updated to a new plastic breaker box, I said OK we can do that when the 3Phase comes in........ 
that was at least 10 years ago, RCD's are not that expensive to buy from a shop.