EASY AND CHEAP DIY SOLAR POWER FOR OFF GRID CABIN LIVING
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- čas přidán 12. 09. 2024
- This is a super easy and affordable way to add solar power to any off grid building, cabin, shop, barn, shed.. you name it! Before you spend thousands on a "solar generator" or portable battery bank, watch this to see you can outfit your cabin, camp, or RV with cheap, affordable, solar power.
Here are links to some of the components. Not all of the products I used are still available, so in some cases these are similar components:
PWM Solar Charge Controller: amzn.to/3zn2vnj
Power Inverter: amzn.to/3GQXhmQ
Sealed Battery: amzn.to/3H6S23p
100 Watt Solar Panel: amzn.to/3D0nHSf
Off grid doesn't mean having nothing it means not paying for electricity, water, gas.
That's right :)
Exactly off of the grid of power or grid of water or grid of gas etc
What a great life out there in the cabin. No nagging wife or kids. Just you, nature and a chainsaw. What’s not to like? 👍
Lol
I am so pleased to find a solar user who like myself does not want to take out a second mortgage for a small domestic stand-by solar system, thank you for restoring my faith in humanity, far too many solar snobs who tell you you need to spend a fortune on a small system. An excellent example of how to put in a small system that will help sustain the basics when necessary. Thanks again for your time.
Thank you. Agree, sometimes I get negative comments about the simplicity of this setup. If I was using it full time as a primary source of power, I would need to upgrade to a larger, more sophisticated system. But for a weekend retreat, to run a few lights, TV, and charge phones, it does everything I need it to.
You got Picard as your number one recommended content on Netflix. You ain’t foolin nobody with the deer antlers and the lumberjack flannel, you’re a nerd like us! 😂
*GREAT JOB on a budget. Anyone having a problem with your set up can take a hike!*
@@gailmrutland6508 barefoot!!!
Simple is always easiest. Some people just go Amazon crazy only to be defeated by termites or nature itself. thank you!
That's really great. I love that you got it done for around $300. I've been looking for a video like this. Thank you!
That's awesome that you found the video helpful! If you're looking for a reliable and versatile power station, I highly recommend checking out the Segway Portable PowerStation Cube Series. It has a massive capacity, fast recharging, and a durable waterproof design. It's perfect for off-grid cabin living and outdoor adventures. Happy camping!
Lithium is better for cold, you just can't charge below freezing.
No he is kidding. It costs more.
Battery 175 to 200
Even Walmart now charges 200 dollars.
Inverter 60.00
Solar panel 150.00
Wires 50.00
Solar connectors 20.00
Cheap solar controller 25.00
Romex and outlets 100.00
Battery charger 50.00
@@wt9653 I'm sure you can price components for less. If it costs more then you have to weigh the price cost benefit. I know places to get panels at like $60 or sometimes less for 100 to 200 watts.
@@wt9653 Thanks a lot Biden.
People waste too much time judging others. You put a lot of thinking into your solar system and...It works. I got inspired by it and for me that's the most important. Thank you so much for sharing this video and putting your time and energy into it, greetings from Holland
Thank you for the kind words.
As a small cabin owner myself,,I have to say this was an OUTSTANDING VIDEO,!!!!! I am Into solar,and generator power.you did an outstanding job with the Eledtric set up and the lighting...
Great- thank you for the kind words!
Don't listen to those mama's basement jerks who always criticize people for everything they do because they think they know better. Your system works great for you and that is literally all that matters. It's your money so they can shove it unless they want to pay you a whole bunch of money to build a system that they think is better. I don't think that PWM controllers are necessarily worse than MPPT. First of all, those $12 MPPT controllers on eBay are absolute junk. If I was on a budget I would always get a medium level PWM over an MPPT. The MPPT controllers rely on tons of electronic circuits which eats up most if not all of the supposed gain over a PWM so it is not worth it except on very large systems. I think you're doing great and keep on doing exactly what you're doing and what makes you happy.
What an informative and well explained video. The fact you got some kit so cheaply is a real eye opener for me. My wife wants a shed/work place in our garden and I was looking for advice on alternate energy, especially during these times. Thanks so much…from midlands, England….
Thanks for the comments! Yes, this would be perfect for a shed.
all you need is
a old car battery
a panel
secondary vehical lights
and a 12v switch.
thats for lights.
This will last 9 hours.
all this for less then $100 US
Add a 100w invertor
this will power a laptop top
charge phone/ tablet
Still under $100 US.
Don't mess with lithium batteries or sealed batteries.
upgrade batteries to 24DC ( thats the size printed on all of this size battery) deep cycle marine battery.
A very much improvement.
And a GOOD invertor.
Note a good invertor is 1500 watt and physical size is 3x wider and 2x longer.
Anything less is not worth it.
I am someone you should listen to.
I have been living off grid 100% of the time for 15 years.
Im not a weekend warrior on this.
I'm happy to help.people not have to go through the mistakes I made.
Now you being a limey. You have something different. lol. I've owned a couple BSA bikes.
So watch those positive ground old vehicals. they won't do well in charging a solar system.
However. There is a way.
Here is a secret. You can make your solar system positive ground. wild I know. And only a crazy limey would.
If you want to know how let me know.
Though, I'm a yank and prefer negative ground.
Anyhow.
For a small system. That is ok.
you will need.
400w of panels
four 24DC batteries
six battery cables.
a decent charge controller ( see * below)
a good extention cord for wiring
a good 1500w invertor
and big eye round electric connections.
a couple buts and bolts.
(*) Don't judge a charge controller on price. I've had a $1000 piece of junk to a $50 piece of junk. All I can say is the only good one I've had was from a place in the States called Harbor frieght, which is usually a cheap Chinese product store. And yeah the invertor is probley made in China.
A invertor should cost around $400 US.
the cheaper one last from days to a year.
I still have my good one from over 15 years ago. And use it often.
ok when I say often I need to clarify.
I have 640 acres. I use it for my air compressor and all power tools all over my ranch off my truck. And at times I've used it in my cabin when one of the cheap ones failed. until I'd buy another. which at times was 2 months.
I now am using a good one like my truck has in my cabin.
Now my cabin has a chest freezer, idk 24 inch flat screen(?), PC, laptop, lights, water heater, well pump. Washing machine, refrigerator, I'm provley looking at things and not thinking.
Here are some things I don't use microwave, electric heater, electric stove.
I'm sure I could use a microwave. But I just don't use.
I use wood heat ( very rare because I don't have trees)
oil heat ( often I have a tiny crude oil well)
propane stove. I could use a propane water heater. I have one also. But I use the electric one.
I have a solar oven. Which I often bake bread in.
I can most my foods.
I also dehydrate..Since I just have to use mother nature and can do it most the time.
I can make my own fuel. But only for my old tractor. 1948 8N Ford because of legal issues about fuel. ( yes it will run in my truck just fine) Accaully my truck runs better on it. But I can not use it for legal issues.
My solar system for my house is 2000w 12v panels, ten 24DC batteries, 3000w invertor.
My barn system is 2000w 12v panels, ten 24DC batteries, 2000w invertor
My camper is 400w 12v panels four 29DC batteries, 1500w invertor.
My water catch systems ( get into those in a second) 400w 12v panels four 27DC batteries 750w invertor ( cheap junk that once it goes bad will be replaced by a good invertor)
my water catch is a system of water runs that end in 10 x10 holes. I have 1 hour tops from the time it stops rain to collect as much as I can. after 1 hours its gone.
I only get rain for an hour 1 to 4 times between July to September. Thats 99% of the rain I get in a year.
If I miss it. I have no water for crops or livestock.
I don't get rain outside July to September..As in 15 years its happened three times. and all three was not even 1/10 of a inch each time.
I did it snow once that gave me about 2 inches worth of rain. But none was able to be caught by my water catches.
My house water is from my barn roofs and cabin rain catches.
My well pump is on my tank from these.
I can't have a water well due to my oil.
The oil leaks into the water below.
Yeah its funny.
My oil is at 400 feet. water is at 1500 feet. Most places its goes the other way . But here its that way. And oil is in the water at wells around me
Don't get me wrong. you can drink it. The cows do. and it won't kill ya for some time. But its not good on crops. So I don't use it.
BTW the other wells they don't go through my oil. It just that the rock between my oil to the rock is fractured and it very slowly leaks into the aqueduct.
And no its not from man.
The oil is a very small pool only a couple million gallons.
Its a mystery on it being here. It was drilled in the 1950s the first time and forgotten. Deemed too small. And forgotten until I refound a few years ago.
There is no other oil that's been found for over 100 miles, close to 200 miles. Im sure, there are other pools like this that haven't been found yet.
But this was the only wet well the oil company that first found mine drilled here. It was suppose to of been filled in.
But since no one has every lived here except me. No one knew.
And the mineral rights were attached to part of my property. Which no one questioned. Until after I found the oil and went looking.
Buryed in one of the deeds it was.
Since everyone was told there was no oil shortly after the 1950s. no one gave it a thought. They just kept putting it into the deed when it was sold. I didn't even realize it at first. Wording on deeds are often different. Just depends on who wrote it.
I wish instead that it was gold or silver.
in that case I would have a audit down to it.
Sorry.
If you have questions on solar ask.
I will shoot you strait.
I have more knowledge then most.
And Im not out to cheat you. Like so many companies are.
@@baddog9320 Hi. thanks for all the info. fascinating stuff. people really moving towards this lifestyle and for good reason. ill be taking tentative steps in the Spring onwards to get sorted. would never have thought about old car battery, your pos and neg ground confused me though and ill def seek more advice as youve kindly offered...
Thank you for this heart warming video. I love your clean, orderly simple cabin in the woods. It heartens back to simpler times, yet you embrace the terrific modern conveniences of solar and battery, as well as small generator use to supplement. I liked your safety equipment with a modern chain saw, as well as great easy tv streaming with a cell phone hot spot. Together with a wood stove and home cooked meals, you created a cozy, beautiful, simple life in the woods that warms my heart. I grew up in New York City and built my own home in Maine seeking a similar forest get away spot. I over built the place, with multiple bathrooms and fully insulated, wired, plumbed and heated it with a baseboard heat and a hot water boiler. Keeping the road plowed for a fuel truck and gravel etc. has been more cumbersome than I needed. It’s a beautiful, comfortable spot, but I only use wood as a back up heat in case of a power failure. I’ve been looking to spend a lot more in a fully off grid solar and battery set up, but after viewing your smaller setup, I may reconsider. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work.
Great video! I get really frustrated with people showing expensive solar gadgets, at the end of the day solar is very cheap and simple to set up, all these flash and expensive gadgets are only needed if you want to impress your neighbours and be "better than". your system is perfect and effective. thanks for sharing your experience.
I would like to suggest, to you if you wouldn't mind, maybe glue some screen over the openings on your genny box to keep wildlife out for sure they will sooner or later nest in it and chew up the genny and wires. Just a thought.
Thanks. Good call. I don't store the genny in the box except for when I'm using it, but good idea if I do start leaving it out.
Great budget setup! Just what you need and no frills. Great job.
I think you could improve your solar setup by taking the panels off of the roof and build an adjustable frame on the ground so you can both keep the panels clean and adjust them to optimize the amount of sun hitting them.
Agree. I've had the same thought and want to put it on my to-do list. A simple, portable array would do wonders during the winter. Easy to clean and reposition.
thank you very much for posting this! just put a big shed on my property and didn’t want invest alot of money for power this is what i needed! God bless you awesome cabin!
Its funny watching city slicker kids go into the woods. With all the dress up outfits.
Alot of us "city slicker kids" actually were raised on farms and in the country and were forced to go into the city to seek work for various reasons. We are actually coming home in our own way. Be gentle with people. We are all trying to find a little bit of happiness in the best way we know how and the last thing this world needs is more judgment about someone trying to find their little bit of peace.
You make a good point about lithium batteries being vulnerable to temperature. I really love CZcams for the fact that you can do your research before you start using something and understand what you are getting into. Thanks a bunch the video.
The slogan of Wish should be "You will wish you shopped somewhere else!"
That being said, if I'm not mistaken, a sealed lead-acid battery at 12.4V is at about a 60% charge, nowhere near full.
You have just confirmed the answer to a question that I have been stuck on for weeks. Everyone has tried selling these $400-$500 batteries to attempt to do anything beyond charging a few small devices. I am only attempting to run a few LED shop lights in an indoor batting cage I’ve put in a 60x30 shop. The cage at the most is used for an hour or two only 3 to 4 times a week.
I have a few points.
1) Lead acid batteries should only go down to 50% depth of discharge or you needlessly are destroying them much faster.
2) Use THICK MC4 wire. I use 20ft of 8 awg too, since I do not want to lose above 3% line loss with my 240W of solar. Your tiny PWM Charge Controller may not accept the best wire.
3) solar panels usually just get 75-80% rated watts, but more in cold weather, if you can find any sun.
4) There are USB powered heating pads useful to keep your LPo4 batteries warm, some batteries won't charge when cold, and some have internal heaters.
5) The Lithium solar generators are light enough to be removed and used year round at home. Do you have any items that need to operate when you are not there?
6) Having the Lead Acid battery being charged to backup the Lithium battery is wiser before recharging both with the gas generator.
7) With your trees, wind power is greatly ineffective as a power source.
Just to expand on that:
1) Until you start getting up over 400w of solar panels, don't waste the money on an MPPT controller, it doesn't buy you enough to justify the cost.
2) Pure Sine inverters are going to be worth the extra if you ever decide to run anything with a motor such as a fan or mini-fridge.
3) For your usage, stick with Lead Acid, it's much cheaper than Lithium and more forgiving of the cold. If you charge a Lithium battery below freezing you now have a paperweight.
4) Keep an eye out on your local Craigslist for used solar panels off a house. 250+ watt panels are the new $100 standard. They're big but if it's on the roof does it matter?
5) Terrain and time permitting, make a rack at about a 45deg angle facing south somewhere in the yard and mount your panels out there. You'll get more power out of your panels and it'll be easier to clear the snow off. Doesn't have to be anything fancy, just sturdy enough to hold up the panels.
Other than that, it looks like a really good simple system!
He obviously knows all that....Like he said Its on the cheap....
What makes a great solar system is when it fits and does what you need. Not the size nor the brand name. Great setup.
You only want to use 50% of the battery to make its life longer. So 100ah you have 600Wh to use.
Built a mix match with 2 used 245 watt panels, 2000w converter with a 30 amp controller charger. Spent the money for 2 200aph gel filled deep cell batteries. More then enough storage for our off grid cabin in maine.
I have run skill saws chop saw an 18 planner compressor.
Whole system under 1500.
I did use 8/2 stranded wire fir system an 10/2 to wire the cabin. Get all the amps you can. Very simple to make it work.
I am so happy I watched your video. We have a Vermont Casting stove (Aspen C3) and couldn't bake a loaf of bread in our Coleman stove unless we wanted 90° ambient temp in our house. Thanks for the tip...we're always looking for ideas to build up our prepper tool arsenal.
Glad it helped. I was wracking my brain for months on how to get the Coleman oven hotter!
Try baking inside the firebox using charcoal for fuel
Good Job !!!!
It's refreshing to see a video that doesn't show so many expensive ways of doing things.
I order from wish also.
Poor people have poor ways! 😊
I appreciate you wanting to go as cheap as possible. For your safety I would suggest you research venting requirements for sealed lead acid batteries. My understanding it that the requirement is to vent ALL lead acid batteries because there is a possibility of them off-gassing.
You are living off the grid ( man's power source)you have made your own power. GreT job.
I really enjoy the off grid cabin videos you've put out. Keep 'em coming please!
Thanks. I've definitely fallen a bit behind but more coming soon!
I build kinda like the same system for mobile with a 40ah lithium battery, also self made. I'm an electrician in germany. It's perfect for festivals, charging my drones or using a small fridge on the go.
I have an advice for you or anyone else wanting to build something like this, keep the low voltage wires short. Like the ones from the panels, as well as the ones going to the inverter. The voltage loss makes a big difference when you aren't using a 100ah battery and every mAH counts.
But anyway, great video 🙆🏼♂️
Thank you. Agree, good advice on the short line runs. DC voltage doesn't like to travel far :-)
@Malik Taylor I just cut the cord off a power strip and wired that into the outlet.
Good use of flexible panels. After all a panel is only some junction crystal, installations vary with whatever situations. Not always metal brackets on the roof.
My 1kw solar lights up 3000+ sq feet. Runs 6 fans now in full Vegas summer, to assist central air conditioning. It can save ~$500 this year, pays up overall costs.
Budget is ultimate for solar.
For cabin applications, 200 watts system to assist generator is good idea.
Thank you for this video, I’m a beginner, solar enthusiast, I like the way you set it up. It’s good to learn from the basics. Thanks
Great video on a simple/basic solar set up! I like the idea of wiring outlets around your cabin. Much nicer than having extension cords lying all around. Nice job!!
My dream would to have running water near a cabin for a mini water wheel turbine generator. These little solar systems get the job done and I like your idea of the generator back up, I bet it’s whisper quiet inside the tote👍
Thanks for the comment Steve. I'd love to figure out a way to get a water turbine generator set up at some point. I've thought about it a lot. The challenge is my water supply (the ravine) is 100 foot deep and the distance from the cabin to the falls is easily 500 feet or more. The voltage drop of 12V over that distance would be significant. Yes, the generator is pretty quiet. Can't hear it from inside the cabin. Hopefully more projects and videos coming this summer!
Great Video! I appreciate your sharing this low cost solar system. I especially liked how you explained the tradeoffs you made (and why) when compared to more expensive options.
Your video was great! I've been researching inexpensive solar setups for my future desert cabin. Most everything has been out of my budget or to large of a system for my needs. Your video was informative and proves you don't need a very expensive setup to get electricity to a small cabin. I think sometimes we forget the reason we are building a cabin, for me, it's to disconnect from the concrete jungle and slow down my life a bit. Anyway...your video was greatly enjoyed, be safe w that chainsaw...
If you get an old pick up exhaust system or even an old rusty pipe it will muffler the sound of the evais even if you connect the two with a rool of tin foil !!! The rustier the better sound wise ! Nice job add another cheap controller !
I use a similar "plug-n-go" wiring system for my campervan. Works great. Cheap and easy to problem solve.
@Malik Taylor It depends on your solar generator. I just use a heavyweight
AC extension cord for my AC appliances. For DC I use a 5525 barrel plug into an inexpensive 12 v RV style fuse box and then wire my lights, heater, etc from that box. However, different SGs use different types of connectors.
Thank you soooo much!! You made this so easy to understand! I have watch so many other channels that I just did not understand. Thank you for taking the time and you were so thorough and articulate in your explanation that I finally get it!! Going to save this video!!
THANKS FOR BEING HONEST.
This is perfect simple use of solar setup ...no fancy equipment ...no heavy load ...just simple enough to make work
Thank you!
That a cool setup lots of great info too. I'm picking up some solar panels and accessories so I can experiment myself ,would love to be off grid someday .thanks for the info again
Looks good except for one thing. Use a pair of battery terminals instead of alligator clips. A clip only has a small contact area, and will create heat, where a terminal won't. That heat is just lost watts, which looks like you need every one you can get.
Great ideas! I am just about to move off grid and the stove top oven is a brilliant idea! You also mentioned other things that I might not have thought of, like snow for dishes in the winter. Thanks!
i am offgrid ,and run a much bigger but still a buget system ,,let me know if i can help with qestions or other
Thank you! You explained perfectly! I've been looking at many video's for this purpose, yours is the best! Thank you from Indiana!
We have used the czcams.com/users/postUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y for probably 30 hours with our camper and it’s been great! The noise level is really only noticeable when running the AC and other appliances like the microwave, hair dryer, or coffee pot. It’s not huge like other ones and it has wheels so even at 90lbs, I can move it!
Loved your video! I love seeing real down to earth content. Nice cabin and property 😎
I want a system like that and power a pellet stove, internet box, and my tv. Id be in cabin heaven!
It's definitely easier than you might think. It's cool because you can be completely disconnected from the grid and still have all the creature comforts!
Thanks for the video. Most ones I clicked on stating they had a simple solar build, where all $2000+ systems. I just need enough for some lights and small tools in my shed lol.
I really like your video, including the production quality. I was raised to believe that you can have quality and convenience, at a higher price, or you could have convenience and lower cost, by compromising on quality. You seem to have chosen the latter option, across the board. The only thing I find kind of alarming is the complete lack of fuses on your system. There should absolutely be a fuse on the line from the solar to the battery and another on the line from the battery to the inverter. What you have wired up right now is a burned out cabin in the making...all for want of a couple of $20 resettable breakers.
Thanks for watching and for your comments. You are spot on and I should have mentioned in the video the entire system is fused. I have appropriately sized, inline 12V fuses between the solar panels and charge controller and between the charge controller and battery. Then the inverter has a built-in resettable breaker as well. You are absolutely correct, proper fusing or breakers should not be skipped.
Best video that suite my needs on all cases. Simple and cost effective both. Thanks so much for posting.
There's a lots of things to know about installing a solar system. I've been planning to have it in my tiny house in the future. Thank you.
13:50: some good uplifting broadcast from FOX.
Apart from jokes, good job mate. Love your setup, it really delivers.
I would advise you to use the Eco-Worthy version of this charge controller.
It is more programmable as far as min and max battery voltages and can be used to control relays and other devices.
One device I built is the grid/generator backup relay for reconnecting freezers and refrigerators to the grid when the battery goes below a certain value or the inverter fails.
Another device uses a smart switch to turn the system on/off at certain times of day or by voice control but you have to have internet.
There are many devices you can use in series with the Eco-Worthy output to automatically control the system.
I like the simplicity of this this... way to go...
i have one like that MPPT bit i went and bought Victron 100/30amp so i can rest better than trusting the cheap models .It might work also BUT you most always get for what you pay for.
Off the grid 22 years in Hawaii. It does not mean you are knapping flint in a cave.
What a great video!! Made me understand the whole concept! Great job on explaining it sir!
That was awesome I liked it that was as well done I like the way you doing the generator to that is pretty cool smart good job
Your idea now is mine 😅 if is cheaper
I’m going to be using
extension cord for my outlets ! Wishing you the best!
You can buy 12 volt DC LED bulbs, even standard base, that way you do not need to run your 120 volt inverter, It really saves because inverters are only around 85 % efficient,. Just put a inline fuse fuse close to your battery.
Lol, your awesome light switch cover! You won't see that everyday!!!
If it suits your needs, that is what is important.
Awesome set up. Some great ideas and a cheap way to have power. Some lithium batteries are good for -10 to +50 degrees Celsius though. Great idea for generator box no need to go overboard on expense also. Love watching you videos
Thanks for the feedback. Appreciate it!
I stacked my brush into a rope and when it's a good size use the rope to bundle and pull it with my quad or golf cart.
I have found that putting the brush and what u don't want and put it in low lying areas.
When it decintegrates it makes dirt. Nice!
That's a good suggestion. Thank you.
@@HemlockRidgeUSA Welcome!
I seen a country neighbor grow wheat (i think it is) and each time he cuts it he bales it..square and round ones and then dumps it into the areas he wants to be filled in. He has rolling acreage but does this closest to his house.
I have similar and I just dump my brush...leaves sticks branches into the areas that need dirt!
I wish you the best!
I want to thank you for a couple of things, one, it's a common sens/simple setup; two, it's not expensive; and three, how you wired your system up is very similar to what I am doing at my home. I have no plans to grid-tie my system. I'm not using a generator. I'm using my car's 110 amp alternator with my 12v car battery and a 1000 watt pure sine wave DCAC inverter. What I need is something for my refrigerator during a power outage. I have a 2100 square ft double wide on a foundation, so not your home but the same efficient concept though I'm all electric, so no wood stove. LED lights? I'm with you on those. A game changed. Thank you!
Thanks for the comment. Yes, led lights. Makes it so easy to be energy-efficient.
Nice place bud I’ve got an off grid cabin too it a lot of work but it’s so rewarding I get my best sleep up there it so very relaxing and quiet 👍🇺🇸
Thanks for the comment! Agree, little slice of heaven!
Thanks for this video! The info is just what we needed for our off grid cabin.
I replaced my small Renogy charge controller with one like yours, because it will charge a battery that is completely dead. I really like your cabin and solar system.
Thank you. Yes, I've been very happy with the charge controller. I'd like to add some additional panels in the future.
Well thought out - like the old saying says K.I.S.S. - thanks for showing your set up.
Nice camp. It appears everything you do has a purpose. CUDOS on the Coleman’ stove hack. Can’t wait to try it! 👍
Thanks for watching!
Love the video. KISS is how you do it and it only makes sense. Loess is more. Magnetic hooks on the roof could keep the panels secure as well. Great set up.
Great video! This was just the info I was looking for.
Pretty neat set up and awesome spread you got there 🤗
Can’t say anything but high-five! You built something that works for YOU. And it works great so kudos!
Thank you!
Your explanation of your solar set up is excellent. New subscriber. Thanks, from Hells Canyon, Frank.
I have now 4 Solar Panels on my roof. I purchased them over time.
I been using Solar since 2012.
The plug and play is easy to install, even for a 62 year old widow.
I purchased deep cycle Marine batteries again over time (one at a time) first, BECAUSE I purchased a supposedly 100w Panel that turned out to be an 18w ONLY from TSC store.
Yes, watch out for supposedly given wattages before you buy.
I use mine for charging my phone, using my lights, and Computer and to recharge my flashlights.
I also use small appliances with them. You have to look on the bottom of most of your appliances for wattage usage.
I too use my Hotspot for my computer because of lack of signal strength.
Sounds like a great setup! You are so correct in that the panels are often falsely advertised has having more juice than they do. Enjoy your off grid setup. It sounds great.
Thanks for the video, sir! I am considering this same set up for my undeveloped land!
👍👍👍👍👍👍 Excellent job. 😊
Considering the fact that you were on a budget.
Interesting setup. Thanks for sharing. Curious why your lighting isn't 12volt? Yes the led bulbs are more efficient. But take it a step further and use 12volt led bulbs or even better use 12volt light fixtures. Also, not sure if 12volt "smart" TVs are available, but I do know that 12volt regular TVs are. Just my thoughts in regards to using the "least" amount of inverted power because it's more efficient and drains the battery slower to power as many things as you can with 12volt dc instead of inverting dc to ac. Love all the woodwork in the cabin. Must be a nice place to retreat to and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Thank you. Yes, it's a great sanctuary to get away. Good point on the 12V. I do have a DC pendent light, but yes the other fixtures are 120V. At the time, the 12V led bulbs were so expensive, I decided to just get 120V AC bulbs. Definitely a tradeoff in some efficiency, but they still use so little juice, it has been an issue. I think they draw 3-4 watts each. Thanks for watching and the good thoughts-
if your system fits your needs , then its a good system ,,i started with a very simmilar setup , now i have a 3kw solar 24v 16kw storage,,but still a buget system
That’s very cool, just today I was wondering if you could put a toaster oven on solar in summer, and no it is 1200-1400 watts. But winter you can use that wood stove oven you have anyway, didn’t know about them. Cool system, even a Jackery one for 1500$ is still a pretty awesome price for off grid power, cheers🎉
Really enjoyed watching some of your videos. A sharper chain will make short work of your brush. Sometimes, a simpler approach to solar is better AND cheaper.
Thank you Stephen. Yes, you are spot on. It was getting toward the end of video and chain was getting dull. Needed to stop to sharpen it and I should have. Thanks for watching!
@@HemlockRidgeUSA My intention was not to criticize. I know when I'm cutting with a dull chain, it's so much more work. Thanks for the great videos.
This is a wonderful set up for your specific needs. Great job.
Great video, absolutely nothing wrong with your little system. Keep it simple !!
Great video. Lots of good info influencers don't always share. 😊 I was thinking about getting a car battery & everything I need to charge it from AC wall outlet then converting it to chsrge my small power banks.
Excellent video, I think that once you jump into the current of alternative energy, all kinds of ideas will continue to develop. This is a nice easy, intelligent system that serves a specific purpose, add a solar air heater, and a solar water heater for just a few more dollars, but bottom line, it does not take much, its up to us where we want to direct our energy. Thanks buddy
I use x9 12volt LTO batteries for colder states, in parallel too. With a 1000 watt off-grid all in one system.
Also one LTO battery I use to run my truck!
Thanks for the detail. I'll have to check those out.
I like the setup you have, that's a great way to have peace of mine
If you have a 12 volt system and you plan on just using 12 volt solar panels that are not going to have very long runs of wire -
A PWM is a better choice - a 12 volt panel is going to generate 20 volts peak -
The pwm will keep the voltage at 14.7 volts peak and reduce the current out put down to 25 milleamps per. 100 amps of battery once the battery is fully charged -
With the 12 volt system were the solar panels are near the battery or batterys a PWM controller is a better choice -
A good MPPT controller uses a transformer to step the voltage up or down from the solar panels -
If you have five 100 watt panels that are 100 ft from the house its more efficient to hook them up in series to generate 100 volts -
In that case a MPPT controller should be used -
A PWM has almost no loss in power conversion compared to a MPPT controller -
when used off 12 volt sollar panels to charge a battery of equal voltage -
With a MPPT controler there will be up to 30% loss of energy when converting solar panel voltage to usable charging voltage to the battery or batterys -
As ive said if the solar panels are at a distance say of more than 30ft from the battery a MPPT is a better choice -
Also you should comnect the solar panels in series to supply a higher voltage to the MPPT controller -
there will be a convertion loss from the higher voltage to a lower voltage -
Also on Amazon there are PMW controllers sold as MPPT controlers for about $40 dollars -
There not MPPT controlers there high end PWM controlers -
you would need to look up on You Tube for a comparison of the two controlers -
With a PWM any time you convert from a higher voltage to a lower voltage there can be a loss of 95% of the solar array out put -
A PWM controler does not step down voltage through a transformation its a solid state switcher -
Phenomenal video from start to finish 👏
Enjoyed all what youve put together and shared here. Thank you
i like it good job just putting mine to gather 3000 watts you make it look ease and simple
That oven thing on the stove is cool. I like that.
Thank you. I did a video review on it if helpful: czcams.com/video/dj76sLg3RDM/video.html
Lead-acid batteries should never be depleted more than 50%.
Remember that an inverter will take 4-5Amps DC to make 1A 120VAC.
A 400W inverter is only good for 3.33 Amps max, and will not last long.
Maybe it will be good to run a flat screen TV but not much more.
Look at the user manual for what the continuous load can be.
A 1000W inverter wired into another circuit would be better, 8.33Amps.
Each appliance should have a discrete inverter rated for that load.
And you can stack charge controllers with separate PV arrays.
As an electrician, I can say it's very interesting with how you did all this and not exactly to code...... but I am also impressed at the price you did it for... I often wondered why you couldn't use a car battery and car inverter and hook solar power to it... I guess, that's basically what you did... This is like having a solar powered Car with no motor.... powering you house... I don't know that I can say it's super safe or recommended.... but good work doing it cheaply and getting what you needed for a lot less.
So passive aggressive! Just say nice work without all the “I would’ve “
Here in England, we are adding solar to our houses because grid electricity has become so expensive lol. Great video Cheers
Agree. I believe the same will happen here in the States. Rates have skyrocketed recently. Thanks for watching.
I really like your set up there. Thank you for doing the video. I have an old camper in the woods that I recently put solar on. I have a single 190w panel with a 20 app mppt controller on. Used it last month and was so happy to not need to run my generator.
My solution to low amperage battery chargers was to mount a 100 amp car alternator to an old wood chipper engine. I can charge my two deep cycle batteries like yours in about an hour now.
I wish I knew more about solar. I would like to add another panel to my system but not sure if I should.
@@basails45 while I am not an expert, I don't think it would hurt having two panels. On cloudy days it will help charge your batteries faster. Worst case if you have too much solar, the MPPT controller won't use it all. Enjoy!
@@HemlockRidgeUSA thanks for the info.
That controller is actually pretty good and very inexpensive at about $15 for the 60 amps. I found out that at about 9 amps the controller with turn charging On and Off because of its thermal protection so adding a large piece of back plate or even a small 12 volts micro fan that uses only a few milli amps will bring the charging amps up and make it more efficient. I have been using mine for over two years and right now its output is 15 amps. I am doubling my solar panels so I just gor a 60 amps Epever controller.
Good idea. Thanks for the tip!
It's a nice place you truly are blessed
I like it; super simple and cheap. I did notice some cable connections laying on top of the panel; not sure how much that will affect the efficiency of your panel.
Good point. Probably minimally, but some nonetheless. Will have to move those off there.