The Alternative Power Network - User contributions [en]

Notepad

2019-09-02T21:14:21Z

Jackie: /* Some random notes */

=== Some random notes ===

*Develop cheap (adjustable) lithium BMS to make cells last longer, sell on tindie? ([[User:Jackie|Jackie]] has experience with LTC681* series of chips if help/advise with it is needed)
*Explain old grid hardware and software
*

User:Jackie

2019-09-01T09:48:07Z

Jackie:

Hi!

I'm Jakob.

I've built 600V Li-Ion based batteries and battery management systems, have pretty good knowledge about electronics and do write code (embedded or on linux; C(++), Rust, Python and some other languages) when necessary (to make my hardware work ^^)

You can reach me via email (c3 at chaosfield dot at), xmpp (jakob at xmpp dot chaosfield dot at) or telegram (at XDjackieXD)

Main Page

2019-09-01T09:47:38Z

Jackie: /* List of participants */

[[File:Image solarcells.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Solar Cells at the CCCamp 2019]]
= Participation =

If you have any ideas, want to share cool solutions or help out developing hardware or software:

* Setup an account (top right) and create pages, fix errors, discuss on discussion tabs, all very welcome!
* Use the telegram group.

== List of participants ==

We provide a list of participants to get in contact with each other after the camp. Please create a wiki account and add yourself to be included into updates (we will check changes to this list regularly).

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Nickname !! E-Mail !! Comment
|-
| '''[[User:trailblazr]] / blazr''' || trailblazr@noxymo.com || Representing Workgroup on CCCamp 2019
|-
| [[User:Benadski]] || mail || comment
|-
| [[User:Chewie]] || mail || comment
|-
| [[User:Teun]] || mail || comment
|-
| [[User:Jule]] || mail || comment
|-
| [[User:Thejeremail]] || mail || comment
|-
| [[User:emergy]] || mail || comment
|-
| [[User:Raphael]] || mail || comment
|-
| [[User:Maesto]] || mail || comment
|-
| [[User:Tiefpunkt]] || altpwr(at)tiefpunkt(dot)com ||
|-
| [[User:Jackie]] || c3 at chaosfield dot at || comment
|-
| [[User:unknown]] || mail || comment
|}

== Telegram Channel ==

Please join our '''public channel''' on Telegram here

https://t.me/eventgrid

== Social Media ==

Please use the twitter hash tag '''#eventgrid''' when referring to this workgroup. It is still a working title right now.

= Take part in the Survey! =

On CCCamp we had 5000 participants needing electrical power. To improve our future power grid we would like to ask you a few questions in regard to your personal use of power. Please take a few minutes to answer the anonymous survey and help us green the grid.

'''<big>→ [https://www.surveylegend.com/s/1obe Infrastructure Survey] ←</big>'''

[[File:Qr code survey.png|thumb|left|QR Code for Survey Participation]] 

= News =

We are right now preparing a summary of the activities aiming to '''reboot the whole power stack as a green power network''' which happened on the CCCamp 2019. Here re the most recent activities and results...

* We have a survey online we would like you to fill in. [https://www.surveylegend.com/s/1obe Check it out!]
* Part of the Infrastructure Review
* Our main bulletpoints summed up on a slide

== TL;DR ==

* WE ARE [[EventGrid]], JOIN US NOW to work on the '''next generation green power grid*!'''
* '''48V / 300-400V DC Power Grid''' to connect remote villages which have their own local microgrids.
* '''48V DC Power Outlet''' (2 lines + 1 token ring data bus for Outlet Load Balancing)
* '''Power Meters (for villages; 300-400V)''' for better visualization & awareness of consumption
* '''Power Meters (for participants; 48V)''' for logging 24x7, visualization & awareness of consumption
* '''Poll/Questionnaire'''-driven insights on '''power consumption''' of event/village/participant
* '''Gamification Concept''' to trigger more power input & power storage
* '''Public Relations''' activity for transparency & promotion of more green activity

'''WE MET HERE DURING CCCAMP'''
* Our Camp Sessions '''every day 1600''' at [https://events.ccc.de/camp/2019/wiki/Village:Three_Headed_Monkey THM Village] / Lagerfeuer

== Some existing very low voltage standards to exchange power ==
* USB (5V, 2A) (10W)
* USB PD 1.0 (5V/2A, 12V/5A, 20V/5A) (100W)
* USB PD 3.2 (5…[ + 0.02 steps ]…20 V) 5A (100W)
* PoE …57V …100W

== What we plan to do ==

'''Following things are right now our focus and work in progress:'''

# A new technical approach to bootstrap '''[[EventGrid]] a new DC Power Network''' for running power networks on events like SHA and CCCamp in an environmentally friendly way (to be developed!)
# We want to raise awareness by making '''power consumption more transparent''' using a new power meter (to be developed!)
# We want to make it easy for single event participants to gain insight in one's own power consumption patterns by providing a '''DIY power meter hardware KIT''' to display/visualize and log power consumption (to be developed!)
# We want to gather research data from CCCamp participants on certain important questions setting up a '''poll/questionaire''' (to be developed!)
# We want add '''gamification to incentivize green power stacks''' (to be developed!) on future events like SHA, EMF, CCCamp, etc.
# We want to keep the community updated what we do and to which '''degree''' the community '''already reached''' their goal to shift the whole power stack towards a '''green power stack'''. We will do this with e.g. photos, statistics, proof-of-concept-installations and more...

== Infocard for Infobeamer ==

[[File:CCCamp19_Infobeamer_Eventgrid_Slide_(v02).jpg|440px|CCCamp19 Infobeamer Eventgrid Slide]]
[[File:CCCamp19_Infobeamer_Survey_Eventgrid_(v01).jpg|440px|CCCamp19 Infobeamer Survey Eventgrid]]

* Slide EventGrid [https://altpwr.net/images/3/30/CCCamp19_Infobeamer_Eventgrid_Slide_%28v02%29.jpg DOWNLOAD]
* Slide Survey [https://altpwr.net/images/8/8b/CCCamp19_Infobeamer_Survey_Eventgrid_%28v01%29.jpg DOWNLOAD]

== CCCamp 2019 ==

<gallery>
File:CCCamp19 logo colors RGB.png|CCCamp Logo 2019
</gallery>

On the [https://events.ccc.de/camp/2019/wiki/Main_Page Chaos Communication Camp 2019] we launched a new workgroup being ignited by the already existing core group of the SHA2017. This workgroup is currently working on the shift towards a green power stack called '''[[EventGrid]]''' as a working title.
Join our [https://t.me/joinchat/D2v4lRe3eQX4MuYHo2JdpQ telegram group] if you like.

=== Environmental Statistics (Power) ===

We did some number crunching on the camp's ... see [[CCCamp 2019 Power Statistics]] top learn more.

=== More Sustainability Aspects (c3sus) ===

A parallel group taking care about overall sustainability met during CCCamp 2019. They compiled some very interesting information, too.

Please have a look at the [https://media.ccc.de/v/Camp2019-10390-infrastructure_review#t=1985 Infrastructure Review CCCamp 2019] to get to know more about their subjects and future plans.

See also '''CCC Sustainability Operation Center'''

* on twitter [https://twitter.com/c3sus @c3sus]
* on mastodon https://chaos.social/@c3sustainability
* on the [https://hacc.uber.space/wiki/index.php?title=CCC_Sustainability Hackers Against Climate Change] website

= Links =

* Statistics for [http://c3power.top c3 Power Network] (Grafana Dashboard; online/available only during camp times)
* [https://events.ccc.de/camp/2019/wiki/Projects:Microgrid Chaos Microgrid Working Group] (Wikipage)
* [https://www.surveylegend.com/s/1obe CCC Microgrid Survey] (Wikipage)
* [https://events.ccc.de/camp/2019/wiki/Village:Infuanfu Infuanfu Village at CCCamp 2019] (Wikipage)
* [https://altpwr.net Alt Power Wiki] (Wikipage)
* [https://media.ccc.de/v/Camp2019-10390-infrastructure_review Infrastructure Review CCCamp 2019] (Video)

= History =

Things that happened before and where the latest workgroup formed.

== The Alternative Power Network ==

How it started...

At [https://events.ccc.de/camp/2015/wiki/Main_Page CCCamp2015] we had the idea to build a small DC grid suitable for being used at events where normally diesel generators supply most of the power. We started designing for two years in our spare time. We wanted something safe, simple and transparent where everybody can be a supplier or a user of electric energy. For safety reasons we chose a voltage of 42V (+/- 15%), a bit below the "safe to touch" voltage maximum of 60VDC ([https://www.cui.com/catalog/resource/iec-62368-1-an-introduction-to-the-new-safety-standard-for-ict-and-av-equipment.pdf IEC 62368-1:ES1]). This way there is a bit of headroom for the over-voltage protection circuit which is needed to protect the users. Still leaving some extra volts headroom for cable losses was a thing we wanted to have just in case too. Simpleness was achieved by not doing too much complicated stuff with end-user connections. No monitoring of energy consumption or under-voltage protection was implemented. Just the basic necessities such as over-current protection (4A type C 300VDC circuit breakers) and over-voltage protection. (The last being a 600A peak capable thyristor based crowbar that shorts and isolates a node above a 52V voltage peak on the grid. The crowbar has a 0.16F 63V capacitor bank for guaranteed triggering that doubles as a smoothing capacitor for the node as well! A bonus is that it really helps keeping it ES1 as it keeps AC ripple to a minimum!) Transparency is important, the old website explained how the grid works and what users can and can't do with it. People started building nice things at home before the SHA event, connected them to the grid and all of it worked after maybe some finetuning!

At "Still Hacking Anyway 2017" the first test grid was laid out. It was running for the duration of the camp without any big issues. Solar panels were attached, tea was made with solar power, bread was toasted, lithium batteries were charged and even a 48-300V (2500W) bi-directional DC-DC converter setup was tested. TDK-Lambda was kind enough to supply us with two of those fantastic units. [https://dsrp.eu/post/165047832948/altpwr More about that here!]

[https://hackaday.com/2017/09/08/that-decentralised-low-voltage-local-dc-power-grid-how-did-it-do/ On Hackaday] there is a nice article too about how the grid was used. Of course there was much to improve, battery backup would have been nice for instance, but it did work as expected and nobody got electrocuted!

Now the whole setup is dismantled again. It just was too heavy, took up too much storage space and it's just what should happen to an experiment for new and improved experiments to follow. So we'll be back!

== But now what?! ==

First of all: Use this wiki to share bright solutions for planetary health improvement. It doesn't even to be something electric! If you have an idea to save a tiny bit of energy, or if you have a reuse, recycle, upcycle tip, or something else, post it on the tips page or make a page of your own explaining your idea! If a lot of people do small good things it makes a huge difference!

So just start editing! On the top right of any page you can create an account and become an editor.

'''Share this website, the more people are helping the better!'''

== What happened to the old website? ==

Due to a personal error of mine, the website was not backed up properly... I didn't realize my error and took the site down. This site will be held up as long as possible. Backups will be tested for completeness too. Fortunately the [https://web.archive.org/web/*/ALTPWR.NET Wayback Machine] has backed up a good deal of pages! Still relevant data will be put on this wiki too!

= THINGS =

*) We know bringing all this heavy equipment is not helping keeping down CO2 much, but the idea is mostly about giving people the opportunity to get handson experience on building green solutions. This experience will hopefully lead to more permanent green solutions in other places.

''P.S.: At least we hope to add a new twist to the existing, currently in operation solution...''

[[File:Image breedenord.jpg|400px|thumb|left]]

Main Page

2019-09-01T09:47:26Z

Jackie: /* List of participants */

[[File:Image solarcells.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Solar Cells at the CCCamp 2019]]
= Participation =

If you have any ideas, want to share cool solutions or help out developing hardware or software:

* Setup an account (top right) and create pages, fix errors, discuss on discussion tabs, all very welcome!
* Use the telegram group.

== List of participants ==

We provide a list of participants to get in contact with each other after the camp. Please create a wiki account and add yourself to be included into updates (we will check changes to this list regularly).

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Nickname !! E-Mail !! Comment
|-
| '''[[User:trailblazr]] / blazr''' || trailblazr@noxymo.com || Representing Workgroup on CCCamp 2019
|-
| [[User:Benadski]] || mail || comment
|-
| [[User:Chewie]] || mail || comment
|-
| [[User:Teun]] || mail || comment
|-
| [[User:Jule]] || mail || comment
|-
| [[User:Thejeremail]] || mail || comment
|-
| [[User:emergy]] || mail || comment
|-
| [[User:Raphael]] || mail || comment
|-
| [[User:Maesto]] || mail || comment
|-
| [[User:Tiefpunkt]] || altpwr(at)tiefpunkt(dot)com ||
|-
| [[User:Jackie]] || ce at chaosfield dot at || comment
|-
| [[User:unknown]] || mail || comment
|}

== Telegram Channel ==

Please join our '''public channel''' on Telegram here

https://t.me/eventgrid

== Social Media ==

Please use the twitter hash tag '''#eventgrid''' when referring to this workgroup. It is still a working title right now.

= Take part in the Survey! =

On CCCamp we had 5000 participants needing electrical power. To improve our future power grid we would like to ask you a few questions in regard to your personal use of power. Please take a few minutes to answer the anonymous survey and help us green the grid.

'''<big>→ [https://www.surveylegend.com/s/1obe Infrastructure Survey] ←</big>'''

[[File:Qr code survey.png|thumb|left|QR Code for Survey Participation]] 

= News =

We are right now preparing a summary of the activities aiming to '''reboot the whole power stack as a green power network''' which happened on the CCCamp 2019. Here re the most recent activities and results...

* We have a survey online we would like you to fill in. [https://www.surveylegend.com/s/1obe Check it out!]
* Part of the Infrastructure Review
* Our main bulletpoints summed up on a slide

== TL;DR ==

* WE ARE [[EventGrid]], JOIN US NOW to work on the '''next generation green power grid*!'''
* '''48V / 300-400V DC Power Grid''' to connect remote villages which have their own local microgrids.
* '''48V DC Power Outlet''' (2 lines + 1 token ring data bus for Outlet Load Balancing)
* '''Power Meters (for villages; 300-400V)''' for better visualization & awareness of consumption
* '''Power Meters (for participants; 48V)''' for logging 24x7, visualization & awareness of consumption
* '''Poll/Questionnaire'''-driven insights on '''power consumption''' of event/village/participant
* '''Gamification Concept''' to trigger more power input & power storage
* '''Public Relations''' activity for transparency & promotion of more green activity

'''WE MET HERE DURING CCCAMP'''
* Our Camp Sessions '''every day 1600''' at [https://events.ccc.de/camp/2019/wiki/Village:Three_Headed_Monkey THM Village] / Lagerfeuer

== Some existing very low voltage standards to exchange power ==
* USB (5V, 2A) (10W)
* USB PD 1.0 (5V/2A, 12V/5A, 20V/5A) (100W)
* USB PD 3.2 (5…[ + 0.02 steps ]…20 V) 5A (100W)
* PoE …57V …100W

== What we plan to do ==

'''Following things are right now our focus and work in progress:'''

# A new technical approach to bootstrap '''[[EventGrid]] a new DC Power Network''' for running power networks on events like SHA and CCCamp in an environmentally friendly way (to be developed!)
# We want to raise awareness by making '''power consumption more transparent''' using a new power meter (to be developed!)
# We want to make it easy for single event participants to gain insight in one's own power consumption patterns by providing a '''DIY power meter hardware KIT''' to display/visualize and log power consumption (to be developed!)
# We want to gather research data from CCCamp participants on certain important questions setting up a '''poll/questionaire''' (to be developed!)
# We want add '''gamification to incentivize green power stacks''' (to be developed!) on future events like SHA, EMF, CCCamp, etc.
# We want to keep the community updated what we do and to which '''degree''' the community '''already reached''' their goal to shift the whole power stack towards a '''green power stack'''. We will do this with e.g. photos, statistics, proof-of-concept-installations and more...

== Infocard for Infobeamer ==

[[File:CCCamp19_Infobeamer_Eventgrid_Slide_(v02).jpg|440px|CCCamp19 Infobeamer Eventgrid Slide]]
[[File:CCCamp19_Infobeamer_Survey_Eventgrid_(v01).jpg|440px|CCCamp19 Infobeamer Survey Eventgrid]]

* Slide EventGrid [https://altpwr.net/images/3/30/CCCamp19_Infobeamer_Eventgrid_Slide_%28v02%29.jpg DOWNLOAD]
* Slide Survey [https://altpwr.net/images/8/8b/CCCamp19_Infobeamer_Survey_Eventgrid_%28v01%29.jpg DOWNLOAD]

== CCCamp 2019 ==

<gallery>
File:CCCamp19 logo colors RGB.png|CCCamp Logo 2019
</gallery>

On the [https://events.ccc.de/camp/2019/wiki/Main_Page Chaos Communication Camp 2019] we launched a new workgroup being ignited by the already existing core group of the SHA2017. This workgroup is currently working on the shift towards a green power stack called '''[[EventGrid]]''' as a working title.
Join our [https://t.me/joinchat/D2v4lRe3eQX4MuYHo2JdpQ telegram group] if you like.

=== Environmental Statistics (Power) ===

We did some number crunching on the camp's ... see [[CCCamp 2019 Power Statistics]] top learn more.

=== More Sustainability Aspects (c3sus) ===

A parallel group taking care about overall sustainability met during CCCamp 2019. They compiled some very interesting information, too.

Please have a look at the [https://media.ccc.de/v/Camp2019-10390-infrastructure_review#t=1985 Infrastructure Review CCCamp 2019] to get to know more about their subjects and future plans.

See also '''CCC Sustainability Operation Center'''

* on twitter [https://twitter.com/c3sus @c3sus]
* on mastodon https://chaos.social/@c3sustainability
* on the [https://hacc.uber.space/wiki/index.php?title=CCC_Sustainability Hackers Against Climate Change] website

= Links =

* Statistics for [http://c3power.top c3 Power Network] (Grafana Dashboard; online/available only during camp times)
* [https://events.ccc.de/camp/2019/wiki/Projects:Microgrid Chaos Microgrid Working Group] (Wikipage)
* [https://www.surveylegend.com/s/1obe CCC Microgrid Survey] (Wikipage)
* [https://events.ccc.de/camp/2019/wiki/Village:Infuanfu Infuanfu Village at CCCamp 2019] (Wikipage)
* [https://altpwr.net Alt Power Wiki] (Wikipage)
* [https://media.ccc.de/v/Camp2019-10390-infrastructure_review Infrastructure Review CCCamp 2019] (Video)

= History =

Things that happened before and where the latest workgroup formed.

== The Alternative Power Network ==

How it started...

At [https://events.ccc.de/camp/2015/wiki/Main_Page CCCamp2015] we had the idea to build a small DC grid suitable for being used at events where normally diesel generators supply most of the power. We started designing for two years in our spare time. We wanted something safe, simple and transparent where everybody can be a supplier or a user of electric energy. For safety reasons we chose a voltage of 42V (+/- 15%), a bit below the "safe to touch" voltage maximum of 60VDC ([https://www.cui.com/catalog/resource/iec-62368-1-an-introduction-to-the-new-safety-standard-for-ict-and-av-equipment.pdf IEC 62368-1:ES1]). This way there is a bit of headroom for the over-voltage protection circuit which is needed to protect the users. Still leaving some extra volts headroom for cable losses was a thing we wanted to have just in case too. Simpleness was achieved by not doing too much complicated stuff with end-user connections. No monitoring of energy consumption or under-voltage protection was implemented. Just the basic necessities such as over-current protection (4A type C 300VDC circuit breakers) and over-voltage protection. (The last being a 600A peak capable thyristor based crowbar that shorts and isolates a node above a 52V voltage peak on the grid. The crowbar has a 0.16F 63V capacitor bank for guaranteed triggering that doubles as a smoothing capacitor for the node as well! A bonus is that it really helps keeping it ES1 as it keeps AC ripple to a minimum!) Transparency is important, the old website explained how the grid works and what users can and can't do with it. People started building nice things at home before the SHA event, connected them to the grid and all of it worked after maybe some finetuning!

At "Still Hacking Anyway 2017" the first test grid was laid out. It was running for the duration of the camp without any big issues. Solar panels were attached, tea was made with solar power, bread was toasted, lithium batteries were charged and even a 48-300V (2500W) bi-directional DC-DC converter setup was tested. TDK-Lambda was kind enough to supply us with two of those fantastic units. [https://dsrp.eu/post/165047832948/altpwr More about that here!]

[https://hackaday.com/2017/09/08/that-decentralised-low-voltage-local-dc-power-grid-how-did-it-do/ On Hackaday] there is a nice article too about how the grid was used. Of course there was much to improve, battery backup would have been nice for instance, but it did work as expected and nobody got electrocuted!

Now the whole setup is dismantled again. It just was too heavy, took up too much storage space and it's just what should happen to an experiment for new and improved experiments to follow. So we'll be back!

== But now what?! ==

First of all: Use this wiki to share bright solutions for planetary health improvement. It doesn't even to be something electric! If you have an idea to save a tiny bit of energy, or if you have a reuse, recycle, upcycle tip, or something else, post it on the tips page or make a page of your own explaining your idea! If a lot of people do small good things it makes a huge difference!

So just start editing! On the top right of any page you can create an account and become an editor.

'''Share this website, the more people are helping the better!'''

== What happened to the old website? ==

Due to a personal error of mine, the website was not backed up properly... I didn't realize my error and took the site down. This site will be held up as long as possible. Backups will be tested for completeness too. Fortunately the [https://web.archive.org/web/*/ALTPWR.NET Wayback Machine] has backed up a good deal of pages! Still relevant data will be put on this wiki too!

= THINGS =

*) We know bringing all this heavy equipment is not helping keeping down CO2 much, but the idea is mostly about giving people the opportunity to get handson experience on building green solutions. This experience will hopefully lead to more permanent green solutions in other places.

''P.S.: At least we hope to add a new twist to the existing, currently in operation solution...''

[[File:Image breedenord.jpg|400px|thumb|left]]

Connectors

2019-09-01T09:43:25Z

Jackie: /* Anderson Powerpole */

One current problem we need to address is to choose a capable standard connector so that everyone can participate and prepare equipment before the next camp so that time is not wasted trying to connect everything together.

The discussion tab can be used to debate the various types of connectors.

It would be worth listing the connectors that have been tried but are not suitable with reasons too, for example, car cigarette connectors. Although rated for 10A, [https://altpwr.net/index.php?title=File:20190822_174525.jpg this] happened at 30V@5A.

== Connector requirements ==
We have some requirements on our connectors which need to be met with varying importance. Key Words according to rfc2119. Please expand this list. :

=== High Voltage Connectors ===
* Must have at least 3 Pins (PE, GND, V+)
* Must be lockable to prevent unplugging when loaded or alternatively this must be prevented by a different measure.
* Must be able to handle the load and voltages
* Should not be commonly used for different applications in a Camp context. If this cant be prevented damage to the different application and ours must not occur when connected with each other.
* Should be Waterproof
* May have added pins for communication. <- This may change to a "must have" depending on our implementation of load sharing.
* Must prevent touchable live connections. This may be implemented by a different measures.

=== Low Voltage (< 50VDC) Connectors ===
* Should have at least 3 Pins (PE, GND, V+)
* Must be lockable to prevent unplugging when loaded or alternatively this must be prevented by a different measure.
* Must be able to handle the load and voltages
* Should not be commonly used for different applications in a Camp context. If this cant be prevented damage to the different application and ours must not occur when connected with each other.
* May have added pins for communication. <- This may change to a "must have" depending on our implementation of load sharing.
* Should prevent touchable live connections. This may be implemented by different measures

== Suggested Connectors ==

=== [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MC4_connector Multi-Contact 4] ===

Technical Specifications:
* Max Amps: 20A
* Max Volts: 600V

Pros:
* Waterproof
* Fairly cheap
* Difficult to disconnect by accident
* While not recommended, designed to stop potential arcing on disconnect (an advantage over the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MC3_connector MC3 connectors])
Cons:
* + and - connectors are separate cables.
* Can be difficult to disconnect without tools
* Low (~200) mating cycles

=== [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qEdysiZAYZ4 XT60] ===

Technical Specifications:
* Max Amps: 60A
* Max Volts:

Suggested by [https://wiki.munichmakerlab.de/wiki/DC_Microgrid Munich Maker Lab] during camp
Page creator has no experience with this type of connector.

Pros:
* Cheap
* Small
* one connector does both + and - wires

Cons:
* No waterproof variant has been found

=== [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speakon_connector Speakon] / [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerCon PowerCon] ===

Technical Specifications:
* Max Amps: 20A
* Max Volts: 250V

Pros:

Cons:
* Used for all sorts of stuff. Mistakes are more likely.

=== [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XLR_connector#Four-pin_(XLR4) XLR-4] ===

Technical Specifications:
* Max Amps: 10A per contact
* Max Volts: 50V

Pros:
* Extra wires could be used for signalling
Cons:
* Could be confused with stage equipment already in use at festivals

=== [https://m.reichelt.de/index.html?ACTION=7&LA=3&OPEN=0&INDEX=0&FILENAME=C152%2FRST16I2_B1_DB_DE.pdf RST16i2] ===

Technical Specifications:
* Max Amps: 16A
* Max Volts: 250V

Pros:
* Seems uncommon enough so mistakes are less likely
Cons:

=== [http://www.hirschmann.de/en/Hirschmann_Produkte/Industrial_Connectors/Power_Connectors/CA_Series/index.phtml Hirschmann CA Series] ===

[[File:Hirschmann CA-Series.png|thumb]]

Technical Specifications:

Protection: IP65, IP67

4 pole
* Max Amps: 16 A AC/10 A DC
* Max Volts: 400 V AC/230 V DC
7 pole
* Max Amps: 230 V AC/DC
* Max Volts: 10 A AC/DC

Pros:
* Extra wires could be used for signalling
Cons:
* Costly? (7€ plug, 3€ socket for 4 pole, 10€ plug, 7€ socket)

=== [https://www.breve.pl/pliki/2016/01/SELV-EN.pdf SELV Connectors] ===
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_connector#IEC_60906-3:1994 Details on the specs]

Technical Specifications:
* Max Amps: 16A
* Max Volts: 48V

Pros:
* Made specifically for low voltage AC/DC power connections
* Keying for different voltage levels
Cons:
* hard to get
* only 2 pins

=== [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderson_Powerpole Anderson Powerpole] ===

Technical Specifications:
* 15/30/45/180 Amp variants available (different sizes)
* 600V rating, dielectric withstanding voltage of 2200V
* 250 mating cycles under full load, a few hundred thousand mating cycles without load

Pros:
* Easy to get
* Cheap
* Extremely modular (you can build your connectors to spec using single pole assemblies in different colors and there are even pcb-mount variants, housings with locking, ...)
* Pretty much touch-proof (you'll have to try really hard with something like a screwdriver to touch a contact)
* Unisex (optionally, one can add a blind pin to make it non-unisex)

Cons:
* without one of the modular housings, it's not waterproof

User:Jackie

2019-09-01T09:42:09Z

Jackie: add userpage

Hi!
I'm Jakob.
I've built 600V Li-Ion based batteries and battery management systems, have pretty good knowledge about electronics and do write code (embedded or on linux; C(++), Rust, Python and some other languages) when necessary (to make my hardware work ^^)

You can reach me via email (c3 at chaosfield dot at), xmpp (jakob at xmpp dot chaosfield dot at) or telegram (at XDjackieXD)

Connectors

2019-09-01T09:36:06Z

Jackie: Added PowerPole to suggestions

One current problem we need to address is to choose a capable standard connector so that everyone can participate and prepare equipment before the next camp so that time is not wasted trying to connect everything together.

The discussion tab can be used to debate the various types of connectors.

It would be worth listing the connectors that have been tried but are not suitable with reasons too, for example, car cigarette connectors. Although rated for 10A, [https://altpwr.net/index.php?title=File:20190822_174525.jpg this] happened at 30V@5A.

== Connector requirements ==
We have some requirements on our connectors which need to be met with varying importance. Key Words according to rfc2119. Please expand this list. :

=== High Voltage Connectors ===
* Must have at least 3 Pins (PE, GND, V+)
* Must be lockable to prevent unplugging when loaded or alternatively this must be prevented by a different measure.
* Must be able to handle the load and voltages
* Should not be commonly used for different applications in a Camp context. If this cant be prevented damage to the different application and ours must not occur when connected with each other.
* Should be Waterproof
* May have added pins for communication. <- This may change to a "must have" depending on our implementation of load sharing.
* Must prevent touchable live connections. This may be implemented by a different measures.

=== Low Voltage (< 50VDC) Connectors ===
* Should have at least 3 Pins (PE, GND, V+)
* Must be lockable to prevent unplugging when loaded or alternatively this must be prevented by a different measure.
* Must be able to handle the load and voltages
* Should not be commonly used for different applications in a Camp context. If this cant be prevented damage to the different application and ours must not occur when connected with each other.
* May have added pins for communication. <- This may change to a "must have" depending on our implementation of load sharing.
* Should prevent touchable live connections. This may be implemented by different measures

== Suggested Connectors ==

=== [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MC4_connector Multi-Contact 4] ===

Technical Specifications:
* Max Amps: 20A
* Max Volts: 600V

Pros:
* Waterproof
* Fairly cheap
* Difficult to disconnect by accident
* While not recommended, designed to stop potential arcing on disconnect (an advantage over the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MC3_connector MC3 connectors])
Cons:
* + and - connectors are separate cables.
* Can be difficult to disconnect without tools
* Low (~200) mating cycles

=== [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qEdysiZAYZ4 XT60] ===

Technical Specifications:
* Max Amps: 60A
* Max Volts:

Suggested by [https://wiki.munichmakerlab.de/wiki/DC_Microgrid Munich Maker Lab] during camp
Page creator has no experience with this type of connector.

Pros:
* Cheap
* Small
* one connector does both + and - wires

Cons:
* No waterproof variant has been found

=== [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speakon_connector Speakon] / [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerCon PowerCon] ===

Technical Specifications:
* Max Amps: 20A
* Max Volts: 250V

Pros:

Cons:
* Used for all sorts of stuff. Mistakes are more likely.

=== [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XLR_connector#Four-pin_(XLR4) XLR-4] ===

Technical Specifications:
* Max Amps: 10A per contact
* Max Volts: 50V

Pros:
* Extra wires could be used for signalling
Cons:
* Could be confused with stage equipment already in use at festivals

=== [https://m.reichelt.de/index.html?ACTION=7&LA=3&OPEN=0&INDEX=0&FILENAME=C152%2FRST16I2_B1_DB_DE.pdf RST16i2] ===

Technical Specifications:
* Max Amps: 16A
* Max Volts: 250V

Pros:
* Seems uncommon enough so mistakes are less likely
Cons:

=== [http://www.hirschmann.de/en/Hirschmann_Produkte/Industrial_Connectors/Power_Connectors/CA_Series/index.phtml Hirschmann CA Series] ===

[[File:Hirschmann CA-Series.png|thumb]]

Technical Specifications:

Protection: IP65, IP67

4 pole
* Max Amps: 16 A AC/10 A DC
* Max Volts: 400 V AC/230 V DC
7 pole
* Max Amps: 230 V AC/DC
* Max Volts: 10 A AC/DC

Pros:
* Extra wires could be used for signalling
Cons:
* Costly? (7€ plug, 3€ socket for 4 pole, 10€ plug, 7€ socket)

=== [https://www.breve.pl/pliki/2016/01/SELV-EN.pdf SELV Connectors] ===
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_connector#IEC_60906-3:1994 Details on the specs]

Technical Specifications:
* Max Amps: 16A
* Max Volts: 48V

Pros:
* Made specifically for low voltage AC/DC power connections
* Keying for different voltage levels
Cons:
* hard to get
* only 2 pins

=== [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderson_Powerpole Anderson Powerpole] ===

Technical Specifications:
* 15/30/45/180 Amp variants available (different sizes)
* 600V rating, dielectric withstanding voltage of 2200V

Pros:
* Easy to get
* Cheap
* Extremely modular (you can build your connectors to spec using single pole assemblies in different colors and there are even pcb-mount variants, housings with locking, ...)
* Pretty much touch-proof (you'll have to try really hard with something like a screwdriver to touch a contact)
* Unisex (optionally, one can add a blind pin to make it non-unisex)

Cons:
* without one of the modular housings, it's not waterproof