48v system -UPDATE

Victron support replied. Not exactly what I expected. He wanted to know 'exactly' which converter. I supplied all that in my email.

mlts22 wrote:
I'm curious if 24 volts is sort of a happy medium. Too low to get shocked, but high enough to allow for skinnier wires (or to allow existing wires to function with minimal voltage drop.)

I don't get shocked at 48. I was cautioned I might, but no.

I was happy with 24v. This has become my hobby, so I like trying different configurations.

I've learned a good amount from this, although I probably would shy away from 48 volts in a RV... stick and brick house, no problem. I've worked in telcos, and seen people get zapped by 48 volts.

I'm curious if 24 volts is sort of a happy medium. Too low to get shocked, but high enough to allow for skinnier wires (or to allow existing wires to function with minimal voltage drop.)

Plus, (and I posted about this a while back), I can use a hybrid inverter from Magnum Energy and have 4000 watts of headroom (which won't be used on a 30A circuit... but it will help when the A/C decides it wants its full 60 locked rotor amps from the plug now, as the 4000 watt version can handle 82 amps for 100 milliseconds... enough time to get the compressor spinning even at a full head pressure.

I'm running an equalization cycle on my batts, which is kicking 60.2vdc into my Victron Orion converter. House voltage rose from 12.5 to 12.9. Max input to the unit is spec'd at 60.

I've emailed support to see what they have to say.

There's one thing I didn't even think about..the inverter idle draw. The specs say less than one amp AT 48V. Well.. that's 3+ amps @ 12v. So, there's a definite disadvantage there. But with 640ah of batteries, it doesn't make a whole lot of difference. It might matter more to someone else.


4kw @ 48v wiring to Cotek inverter (from bus)

Gen Delivery to Mecca DOES work!



Back in business.. Absorb charge.

We'll see if General Delivery in Mecca CA works.

I'll bet your Hajj, is less of an ordeal than my trip to the post office.

Found 0-100vdc digital displays on Amazon. They are extremely hard to find.. anywhere.

We'll see if General Delivery in Mecca CA works. They say 2 days! Yeah, maybe. I didn't confirm it, but tiny items are usually USPS.

2oldman wrote:

BFL13 wrote:
Same numbers if it were 12-12 or 24-24, so the reason to go 48-48 isn't there. It must be somewhere else you get an advantage.

Ouch.

You knew that AFAIK about the solar side of it. I gather the advantage is in the thinner wiring to still get that 1% loss.

Also what about the inverter to battery wiring? If you can use thinner wire can you get away with having the inverter farther from the battery using the fatter wire usually needed for 24 or 12 inverters?

Can use smaller amp fuses?

BFL13 wrote:
Same numbers if it were 12-12 or 24-24, so the reason to go 48-48 isn't there. It must be somewhere else you get an advantage.

Ouch.