Pellet Stove Project Part 5
This is the next part of the Pellet Stove project. Earlier, part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4 describe our journey. This will be the final piece to wrap it up and will describe the electronics portion.
The two solar panels are mounted on the roof bracket oriented due south at an angle of about 34 degrees, a compromise between the sun during winter and summer for our latitude. I also made provision for mounting a third panel if necessary, with holes pre-drilled. As a pellet stove produces very little ash, we are not overly concerned with ash deposition on the panels. If so, we will clean them as required. The above image is a bit misleading, as it depicts the chimney close to the panels, which is not the case.
The battery connects to the inverter, which is connected to the AC outlet inside the house. I installed another shelf above the shelf shown here for mounting the solar panel charge controller. The wiring from the solar panels to the charge controller will be 10 gauge multi-strand rated a bit over 14 amperes continuous current. This should provide for a maximum available AC current of 16+ amperes, much more than necessary as described in part 4. Even with a third panel, the available solar cell efficiency would not generate more than the panel wire rating. Perhaps someday solar cells will be produced with higher efficiency ratings.
The solar panel charge controller is now wired with 10 gauge wire from the solar panels and the sealed battery, where the slow blinking of the PV LED indicates normal operation.
With the battery connected to the inverter, the system is complete. The below circuit tester indicates correct wiring and operation. As the pellet stove powers on and all indications are normal, we are done!
We started this project way back in February of this year, and thank the Lord, it is now complete! Yay!
Wishing all a blessed day, and we thank the Lord Jesus for His guidance and making it all possible, because through Him, nothing is impossible.