Tony is a Geek

I nearly "lost" the two leisure batteries due to too much drainage ... and I couldn't figure out how to prevent it.  I did have grand ideas about using an automated switch - I setup an ESP8266 relay switch that  I could invoke from code over the WiFi network.  Then from my dashboard monitoring RPi, I could detect in node-red when the voltage got to a certain level and then make a call out to the ESP8266 and get it to switch on the battery charger and when at certain level then turn it off... Then I sat down & thought about the real problem... the inverter was draining the battery down a few 0.x volts over night.  As it's now the start of December, the amount of charge during the day is not to nothing useful...it might blip every so often and keep the battery topped up above 12.75volts... however, after 4pm, the drain is almost a triangular line downwards unto the 12v or even worse the 11.8v angle! I then found THIS device . For around £12... what was not to lik...

Well, this is more of a starter-kit experiment....and a venture into figuring out how solar panels, controllers, inverters and batteries all come together. I initially bought some kit as mentioned HERE . However as time has moved on I've been learning a thing or two.   One thing I've learnt is that I'm a bit of an idiot :-D ( no surprise there for my missus ).  I now have lots of "spares" in the kitchen as I have go along the journey.  BTW - this is not a cost-saving exercise, unless the price of electricity really goes through the roof by the end of 2022 and all of 2023/2024/2025.  I've spent a lot more than I'll probably ever save, however, this is more about the exploration and knowledge experience, something you cannot put a price on.  I'll keep telling myself that. So, what did I have and how did it "grow"? Well, I originally had 2x100W solar panels, an eco-worthy PWM controller and a 12v 110ah leisure battery.  They were setup, as previ...