Off-Grid Solar Design, Education and Advice

October 5, 2025 9:54 pm

Since I prefer the Victron brand of solar equipment I thought I’d throw out some experience: * Any of their product line which includes the word “Smart” early in the title comes out of the box with B... View More

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Michael Blankenship

In case you wanted a more advanced experience then you might also need to purchase a VE.Direct to USB and/or a VE.Bus to USB adapter for your laptop. Then install the VictronConnect application and run this, plugging in the appropriate adapter.

October 11, 2025

Michael Blankenship

October 6, 2025 3:34 pm

A story of a solar customer... I have this customer who has faith in ChatGPT. She insists that it's the oracle and should be bowed down to for all of its wisdom in solar configuration. Only, it's ro... View MoreA story of a solar customer... I have this customer who has faith in ChatGPT. She insists that it's the oracle and should be bowed down to for all of its wisdom in solar configuration. Only, it's routinely wrong. Me: "I need to call my representative to remind me what the admin password is for this..." Her: "No, we'll ask ChatGPT" ChatGPT: "It's 000000." (It's not.) ChatGPT: "It's 1234." (It's not.) (Finally) ChatGPT: "It's ZZZ." Bingo. Her: "ChatGPT says to set everything like the following..." Me: "Some of those numbers are off by a factor of 100. I don't trust it." Her: "Just set it." [Fast-forward one hour] Her: "The batteries aren't charging past 25.8V!" Me: "Have you this morning been cooking on the stovetop or charging your other battery box or running the water heater?" Her: "NO!" Me: "How did you make me that tea when I was there?" Her: "But that was earlier." :facepalm: Her: "Are you jealous of ChatGPT?" Me: "No, I know how it works, that's why I don't trust it." Keep in mind that ChatGPT told her what to buy, she bought it and has no Bluetooth access to two of the Victron boxes as a result. And when I say, "no access" I mean not even to configure them. (I had to remove equipment from my own install so that we could get some settings done this morning.) I gave her a shopping list of parts to buy that ChatGPT omitted. In theory, they'll come in the mail later and she can get some insight into her system after that. And she even says things like "well, at least you learned something today..." Really? Now that's annoying. I'm not a disembodied artificial intelligence program running in a datacenter somewhere. I've been trained in this. I wasn't the one apologizing multiple times (ChatGPT) when it provided the wrong answer today. I wasn't the one who omitted essential parts. I'm not the one who suggested two inline MC4 fuses (ChatGPT) instead of an inline fuse for the inverter or a DC disconnect for the batteries and the solar, etc. Sorry for ranting but please don't employ ChatGPT or similar to pretend to be an expert in something when AI isn't in the first place.

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Kirk Trudeau

I Don't Trust AI

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1 October 6, 2025

MrFixer

Let ChatGPT do the install 😁

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1 October 6, 2025

Michael Blankenship

May 19, 2025 9:18 pm

Here's something new in the world of Romex (that jacketed electrical wiring for alternating current). The industry has introduced new colors for the ease of identifying wiring. For years it was the f... View More

Romex® Wire Colors Explained (2024 Update): What Blue, Purple & Pink Mean for 14/3, 12/3, and 10/3 NM-B Cables

sonicelectric.com

New 2024 Romex® color codes are here—learn what the blue, purple, and pink NM-B wires mean for 14/3, 12/3, and 10/3 installations. Identify faster, wire smarter.

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Michael Blankenship

May 15, 2025 10:41 am

Here’s your wake-up call not to buy your solar inverters from China. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/rogue-devices-found-hidden-chinese-solar-panels-could-destroy-grid

"Rogue" Devices Found Hidden In Chinese Solar Panels Could "Destroy The Grid"

www.zerohedge.com

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero

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Michael Blankenship

November 15, 2024 6:22 pm

12V batteries, right? Not necessarily. A typical 12V battery charges up to about 13.5V (12.5% over) or so when it's really charged. A 6V lead-acid battery charges up to 7.4V (23% over). That smaller ... View More

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Michael Blankenship

November 15, 2024 6:14 pm

Never 12V. Guys, I know this is going to step on some toes but never design an off-grid system which relies on 12V. Period. Okay, I understand that most of you have a 12V solar system. Somebody conv... View MoreNever 12V. Guys, I know this is going to step on some toes but never design an off-grid system which relies on 12V. Period. Okay, I understand that most of you have a 12V solar system. Somebody convinced you to purchase 12V batteries and to put them parallel. Let's do some math. 1200W toaster (or coffee pot or tiny microwave oven) ------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- Turn it on. How much current is suddenly moving from your batteries into the inverter (the thing that turns direct current into alternating current in a typical home outlet)? The math is super easy... Battery bank Math Current Required Wire Gauge Between Batteries & From Inverter -------------------- ---------------- ------------ ------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- 12V 1200 ÷ 12 100A 1AWG copper or 2/0 aluminum 24V 1200 ÷ 24 50A 6AWG copper or 4AWG aluminum 48V 1200 ÷ 48 25A 10AWG copper or 8AWG aluminum Now consider the time when you're trying to brew coffee and your refrigerator is currently cycled on. Okay, so you have to factor in additional current in those wires. Let's back up a step and look at the often-seen 3000W inverter on most of the installs I see. How much current is that for those of you with a 12V system? Math: 3000W ÷ 12V = 250A (Yipes!) In order to use that rating on your big inverter—and assuming that you've setup your battery set for 12V—you'd need copper wire gauge "250 MCM" or "400 MCM" for aluminum. It costs $9.26 per foot, the minimum purchase is ten feet and you're likely going to pay an additional $50 for shipping due to the weight. Next, you're going to find that the wire probably won't fit into the fittings or lugs on your batteries or your inverter. Good luck finding 3/8" lugs for this diameter or a pneumatic crimper to secure them to the thick cable. (A 48V system would require 4AWG copper or 3AWG aluminum wiring, for comparison.) Start things off right. If you're trying to power an off-grid home begin with a 24V or 48V battery setup with a preference for the latter.

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