I have been absent from the forum for a while. My friend aja888 wondered about me and sent a message asking if I was RV'ing. That would be nice, but I am still hunkering down at home. It's too early to think of RV'ing, but I will not rule out a trip later in the year, perhaps in fall.
As summer quickly approached, I had to rush to install the 2nd mini-split (3/4 ton) for the master bedroom, as the 1st mini-split (1.5 ton) installed last year was for the downstairs living space, and did not provide cooling for the downstairs master bedroom. I finished the work barely in time before the temperature got to 100F in late April.
Then, I realized I had to improve the wiring of the lithium battery bank storing the harvested solar power, for the system to handle the load of two mini-splits, the pool pump, plus the water heater, the kitchen circuits powering various appliances along with a large fridge, and some lighting circuits. The internal connects inside the two battery cabinets had too much ohmic loss, and I struggled to find a new arrangement to minimize this. The new battery cabinets have been working much better.
So far, the battery has carried the mini-splits through the night, but the highest temperature so far has been only 105F. I am sure that when it hits 115+, I will not have enough power, but so far it's great. I will only need to turn on the central AC if I need to go upstairs, which is where my electronic hobby room is.
I now have to continue to work on the BMS (battery management system), and this is a never ending project as it can be as fancy as one wants it to be.
And I have also been more active in doing gardening.
Just some words to let everyone know that I am alive and well. COVID-19 has not gotten me yet. Still practicing social distancing and wearing masks when going to grocery stores and Home Depot.