Wow. I am trying to build a solar system for my sailboat. I want to run very few electronics, cb radio 5-6 hrs, cd player/ am/fm 6 hrs, led mooring lights 6 hrs, and have some room for growth like charging cell phones etc. I currently have only a marine fuse panel and zero batteries. My plan- calculate my desired amp hour per day consumption, multiply by 2 to prolong battery life, wire to the fuse box, then buy charge controll and solar panels. It sounds fine, but I have no experience, pls help.
i would like to study the solar energy , specifically in installation the solar module and in grid - direct way ??? please if any one knows any information about institute giving this courses reply to me .thanks
Did you connect your main lights too? Or just lamps etc? If so, how did you do it...for there are no plugs from the main lights and the wires are in the walls.
Could you buy a 2000 watt inverter for the washer / dryer?
For the fridge......hmmm......perhaps a few extra panels and another battery especially for the fridge and freezer, but then in the winter, when energy produced is at a minimum, you might not need the fridge if you store food in a cooler area of your house.
I want to build a system to run just a portable air conditioner. The manual says it is 900w and 115v to run. I need it to run for at least 8 hours. What do you think?
@ZX9RinHollywood Air conditioning is a huge drain on a battery bank. They pull that 900 Watts (or more) the majority of the time that the AC is running. Also i've heard that it takes 2 to 6 times the Wattage to get the compressor to kick on. and it kicks on and off a lot. You would need a good size inverter (i'm guessing you would need a 2500 watter or more), probably 10 times more panels and 10 times more batteries. (if you want to run it all day).
sweet system. Thanks for sharing. small scale grid-parallel solar like this is can be so simple. but i'm not sold on the 1A panels from HF. With big PV modules less than $2 per Watt you can have a system this size with a single panel. Way less wiring hassle! Is your system grounded?
good luck with those amorphrious panels they will only last about 3-5 years they wear out fast.. you need mono or poly cells ONLY for any kind off life time
Props on the vid, and am using a killawatt meter here myself, good tool. Assuming 180 watts in per hour of sunshine, lets say 12 hours a day 365 on the generous side, would generate 788 Kwh yearly at equivelent 6.1 cents per Kwh (my local price PacPower) hour = $48 savings per year? Divide $48 into $1300 cost, so it would take about 27 years to recoup cost on this? And that's assuming the panels and everything lasts that long? Please, check my math, I'm just really curious? Thanks, Rich.
Was just wondering why you chose not to run the computer only from solar.
I understand the large appliances because of power requirements, but seems the computer would be small enough to run only from solar. I am about to do the same setup as you and found your video to be the most informative to match what I am trying to do.
@CanaansCrossing Thanks. I'm glad you found the video informative. The computer is small enough. My new computer only uses 59 watts max. (including the montior). I chose not to run it (or the new computer) on solar mainly because it's a modified sine wave inverter. I don't want to chance 'stressing out' the computer. When I get a pure sine wave inverter, I will.
@desertsun02 An electronic engineer may want to correct me on this but i believe computers will run just fine on a modified sine wave (monitors im not so sure) as they are converting to DC via switch mode transformer and will 'clean' the power. With that said, power supplies are rather inexpensive if a fault does occur (given you are using a standard ATX form-factor case and not slimline). The one thing i have been told only to run on pure sine is a compressor/motor.
I just recently bought the same system and bought 4 sets, which equals 12 panels like you have in your set-up. I noticed that you only used two of the charge controllers. Does that mean that you have two sets of panels hooked up to each charge controller? Has that worked out okay. I'm fixing to put mine together next weekend. Thanks for sharing your video. It was very helpful.
@Shameonfed I only use one 25 amp hour charge controller that I bought from fry's electronics (the little white box). I use the other charge controllers as 'voltmeters' only. they are not hooked up to the solar panels. i'm glad the video was helpful.
Are you not afraid that your solar panels get stolen? Why not mount them on the roof? And why is the tv on the floor ;) Nice setup though. Looks good and it looks like it fits your needs perfect.
Maybe get a grid tie inverter as well, and just save the bank energy for whenever the power goes out? That way you don't waste any power when the batteries are full, and it would technically be powering your washer, ac, and fridge
The amorphous panels are good in low light. If and when you augment your system with polycrystalline, larger panels, you'll enjoy still having the amorphous 15 watts. I recently added a panel like your system, to my 1300 watt polycrystalline setup, and I am trying to optimize it strictly for pulse charging with back emf spikes for conditioning and desulphating batteries. Nice setup.
Check out my solar power system I've built and give some feedback please, also find a full description of all components I've used and how I've connected everything together. Cheers
you just let these vent into your living room . ?????not so good. love the whole idea of it . but i had 6 in my room and it stunk and i had to move them outside in the cold. but i too have the harbor freight tool panels . i have 3 sets for 9 panels . and thay alone will charge all 6 800 plus amp batteries. and all my batteries i got for 10$ each at local auto service stations on tradins . i ran them on a pulse motor homemade and charged them trickle at the same time and thay usualy come back
@YoungAndPrepping and Hydrogen gas (H2) should not be used in airships (like the Hindenburg).
I found a news story about a boat (Belle of Washington) explosion.
"it appears hydrogen gas, likely given off by the vessel’s batteries, was ignited by some source, possibly a battery charger. Hardin said the battery compartment was not ventilated. "
So, I will make sure not to seal up batteries up in a non-ventilated container.
Since H2 is so light, it should dissipate upwards real fast.
@PatriotTeaBagger Power bill before $40-$45 (w/o AC). now about $25. $20 of that is fees/taxes. with AC on 24/7 (June, July, August) add $75. total bill for last year about $540. total summer bill - around $300. rest of year - about $240
another thought...all are welcome to comment and add to the discussion.... for 80 bucks you can get a grid tie inverter, so after the batteries are charged (for night time enjoyment) you could plug into the grid while away and have 180 watts an hour going to reduce the cost your electric bill. I'm new to this...so be gentle...but does this make economical cents (pun intended)
Nice set up, almost like mine. I bought my deep cycle batteries at Wal-Mart also and so far they have lasted close to 5 years. I only run my home office and my camper off of it.
@desertsun02 The secret is to get the batteries all at the same time so they are balanced. You don't want one battery weaker then any of the others. Also, I check and fill the water level, if needed once a month. A little maintenance goes a long ways. For the money, you can't beat Wal-Mart prices on deep-cycle marine batteries.
@Xringer I was using two 100 amphour batteries, now I am using three. I am using two invertors, a 400 watt and a 200 watt invertor. I have my system set up to float at 13.8 volts and my shutdown voltage is 10.5. You see how I am using my system on a short video I made that is on my channel. I made it while I was using just two batteries. ( The batteries are more imprtant then the amount of solar panels. All the solar panels do is charge the batteries.)
@nhralph I'm going to be using my system for back-up power, in case of power failure during basement flooding.
I need to run my sump pumps. (And lighting is nice too).
But, during the day, I want to take some stuff off the grid and run it off the inverter. So, I'm going to be using a 500w PV array to both charge the 48v bank and run 200 to 400w of my home's loads.
I've read it's not good to let a back-up bank sit at full charge. It needs to be cycled, a bit, to make it last.
@Xringer i usually discharge the system down to 50-60% full. most inverters (including the one i use) will automatically shut the system off when the batteries are 50% discharged.
@Xringer the 12 volt inverters cut off at 10.5 volts, but the batteries at that point only read 10.5 volts due to the load of the inverter and anything that you are running lights, tv etc... as soon as the inverter shuts off, the voltage of the battery jumps up to 11.6v or 11.7v and then the batteries' voltage slowly climbs up to 12.0v or 12.1v within 20-40 mins. i run my battery bank this way all the time.
@Xringer hi. in the 3 years i've been running the system it has always bounced back. if you're running a lighter load it will take a little longer to bounce back. i have seen it bounce back to 12v even when i was only running one 15w CFL.
@cruz47144 not at all. i used brand new extension cords. rated up to 1625 watts. just drape them loosely so there is no tension on the cords, make sure there are no sharp bends in the cords, make sure they are tightly plugged together and don't put them under anything like carpet or rugs etc...
@desertsun02 how much are the actual solar panels that u showed outside ur house? i really wanna do something like what u'v done! can u imagine if everyone in the world done this?? it would be amazing, but the goverment wouldnt be happy, cos it would ruin their power industry, thats why they dont want it to happen, they could easily fit solar panels on everyones house but they'r too greedy for money
@MrSweatyZombie i paid about $200.00 per set for the panels. i've seen them as cheap as $140.00. if you wait for a sale, you could pick up 4 sets for about $600.00
Great video... Can you please send me the schematic and material list because this is exactly what I want to configure. I can send you some information on free energy if you respond... Please send to Greg at: ggibney0856 at earthlink
DUDE! Powering a window unit by using the sun would be the coolest thing in the world! Because your blowing cold air in your face all thanks to the sun!
hi desertsun02: i have bought the same solar panels 12 of them. but have a 1200w/3200w 12v dc 115 ac modified sine wave inverter. i understand i should have purchased a pure inverter. have not bought the batteries yet. my panels are approx. 60 ft from the house. my storage unit for the batt is next to them. i want to run a big screen tv -stereo- vcr-vhs-computer -fan-light or two. all in one room. don't really know how to hook this up. like your set up and could you give me instr. step by step
@davettalashley I usually use 1000w one (bottom one). That one and the 400w one are from Harbor Freight Tools. 150w one is made by Wagan Tech. and is from Fry's Electronics. I use that one mostly for charging NiCAD/NiMH batteries (AAA,AA,C,D,9v) using a battery charger from Harbor Freight Tools. It also has a 5v charging port. I power everything I can with solar charged batteries (flashlights, remote controls, caller ID, digital camera, mp3 player, even video camera that shot this video)
Hey I have a 12v battery and based on what I've heard 6v golf cart batteries are the way to go I only have about 100 watts of solar but can I have 2 golf cart batteries 12v and 1 12v battery until the 12v dies then have only 6v batteries
@jonathans1212 6V golf cart batteries are a good option. The batteries you use in your battery bank should all be of the same type and roughly the same age.
@desertsun02@desertsun02 Better yet there's a 400watt solar system with a grid tie inverter for $1,500 on eBay, sellers name is "HI_IQ". Also note that until December 31st, 2010 you get 30% back from the federal government in the form of a tax rebate. Total cost would be around $1,000 and would plug directly into your home so there are no batteries or anything. You could, of course, use a battery setup also to power your home off batteries at night.
@jonathans1212 Go to energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index and look up the rebate. Basically you file your taxes and add this on and you'll get the money back, 30% of what you paid not including labor.
@helloman1976 Requirements At least half of the energy generated by the "qualifying property" must come from the sun. The system must be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) or a comparable entity endorsed by the government of the state in which the property is installed.
$1,300 for everything? Wow and those solar panels are tiny too so that's pretty impressive. What was your power bill before and after the install? If you are 90% solar, which I'm just guessing based on your video, then the solar panel setup could easily pay for itself in 12 months or less. Very nice setup!
@helloman1976 I've recently seen the 3 panel set selling for $140 and 1000 watt inverter for $67. If you wait for the sales you could probably get everything for $950 to $1000. Power bill before $40-$45 (w/o AC). now about $25. $20 of that is fees/taxes. with AC on 24/7 (June, July, August) add $75. total bill for last year about $540. total summer bill - around $300. rest of year - about $240
@Luis29999 The charge controller is used to prevent over charging of the battery bank. They can be purchased at stores that sell solar panels including Harbor Freight Tools and Fry's Electronics
Have you ever thought about swapping out a few of those 15w cfls for the 0.9w or 1.8w led bulbs? I have also seen some DIY solar setups that use a chest freezer to replace a refrigerator. Chest freezers have superior insulation compared to a stand-up refrigerator and the cold air doesn't rush out on the floor when you open the top. You can run most chest freezers for 24 hours using a 200ah battery,a single 80w solar panel and a seperate thermostat (to stay above freezing temp).
@elbeghast As energy-efficient and long lasting as LED light bulbs are, I decided against using them for 'whole house' lighting at this time, due to their lack of brightness and high cost. I'm currently only using LED's in, landscape lighting, under cabinet lighting, LED flashlights, and a 28 LED shop worklight.
Very nice. am getting closer, almost backwards in my approach. I have a 1500/3000 watt pure sine inverter & a 1800 too.
Glass panes I have found, and about 2.6 KW of cells to build into panels. I see these panels and cells keep getting cheaper over the past 6 months or so, I guess many US firms have packed it in and moved to China.
@jettlesschan the electric bill is about 25% lower in the winter months. only about 10% lower in the summer months though, due to the fact that my central ac accounts for for a very large part of the bill and does not run off of the solar system.
Get those batteries out of the house, your suppose to have the batteries in a vented room. The reason is that when the batteries charge they give out deadly gases.
@tmjump96 batteries do put out a very small amount of hydrogen when in the final stages of charging. it is a very small amount that would easily dissipate in a large room. (the air in an average room of a house is completely exchanged with outside air every 4 hours or so just from air entering around windows doors etc...)
@Tomthetoolman100 - i'm still running the same system (12 panels and 4 batteries). the whole system has held up very well. i've recently started running leaf blower/vac, hedgetrimmer and other power tools off of the solar setup. i've also been able to run the washing machine (the system needs to be fully charged for the battery bank to be able to handle the power requirement). the panels are getting about 10 hours a day of sunlight.
would it be possible to do this setup with one 5 watt solar panel 1 battery and one 400 watt inverter. because all i want to power is several things in my room. if not what quantity of the items i would need and whats the total watts i would need? i would really appreciate any advice or help. thank you
a 5 watt solar panel would take to long to charge the battery. for running a couple of lights, radio, tv, computer, small fan for a few hours a day, you would probably want to have 2 batteries and two 45 watt 'harbor freight' solar panel set ups. with this particular system, i would use a charge controller that can handle at least 7 amps.
well im getting a 15 watt panel, a 7 amp charge controller, and a 400 watt inverter. but all im puring is 1 light for about 1 hour a alarm clock, and a tv for about a hour a day. and by the way you have a nice setup.
Have you thought about using a GRID TIE inverter? That way if you are at work, or not home you get a credit or money back from the utility company... just an idea
I would think that if its tied back into the city grid to feed power back then it would have to be setup by a professional to the city's set standards and it would be very expensive.
I might be wrong though.... but in my small town in florida they will let you feed the grid but you wont receive any money for it... just a pat on the back and a very small tax break.
@madcyborg - yes, i did look into that. i use all the power that the system generates though, so i wouldn't have any extra power to sell them back. regarding inverters in general, i have thought about buying a 'pure' sinewave inverter. home depot sells a 1000 watt one for about $269.00
take a 1000 watt microwave for example - if you ran it for 1 hour it would have taken 1000 watts, 2 hours = 2000 watts, 3 hours = 3000 watts, etc.
same thing with solar panels, if they have the maximum amount of sun they can and are putting out the maximum amount of power it will be 180 watts per hour of electricity being stored into the batteries.
Fucking no. Watts is a measure of power. Power is the time-rate of energy usage, measured in Joules per second. Watts per hour suggests a time dependent rate of energy consumption.
A 100W bulb uses 100J in 1 second, 200J in 2 seconds, and 300J in 3 seconds. At each and every instant and span of time in those 3 hours, it is using 100W of power.
Solar panels are measured in watts and the watts is measured in amp hours and amp hours is also watt hours which is why a battery gets charged. It puts out so much power every hour. If it didnt get put out every hour it would just be watts or just amps and the battery would never charge.
No no no. Power is measured in watts (1W=1J/s). Amps are a measure of current (1A=1C/s). An amp-hour is an amount of electric charge, not power (1 ah=3600C). A watt-hour is an amount of energy (1 wh=3600J) and means something very different than watts/hour or amp-hour. Please search Google or something and stop posting misinformation.
Diffuse light passing through thin clouds might mean 300 W/m². In very bad weather conditions with thick, dark clouds, light intensity could fall to 100 W/m² with only 5 Watts produced per hour.
So please stop saying that I dont have MY facts straight when it is YOU that dont have them straight and telling me to research.
take a 1000 watt microwave for example - if you ran it for 1 hour it would have taken 1000 watts, 2 hours = 2000 watts, 3 hours = 3000 watts, etc.
same thing with solar panels, if they have the maximum amount of sun they can and are putting out the maximum amount of power it will be 180 watts per hour of electricity being stored into the batteries.
any dangers in hydrogen gas leakage from the batteries? i thought thats why they say not to have them in your house.. please enlighten me as I am new to all of this
batteries do put out a very small amount of hydrogen when in the final stages of charging. it is a very small amount that would easily dissipate in a large room. (the air in an average room of a house is completely exchanged with outside air every 4 hours or so just from air entering around windows doors etc...)
yes, the electric bill is about 25% lower in the winter months. only about 10% lower in the summer months though, due to the fact that my central ac accounts for for a very large part of the bill and does not run off of the solar system.
How are your batteries holding up? I also bought a walmart battery (everstart maxx 29) deep cycle 125 ah, but don't know how long they will last (everybody tells me they die in less than 2 years). I only need one battery, so I'm thinking about getting a trojan or optima deep cycle battery.
The batteries are holding up well. They are a little over 2 years old now. I 've heard of some people getting 5 years. A lot depends on charging and discharging them correctly.
That's good to know (most of the trouble I've been hearing about is the regular starting batteries, only 1 issue with a deep cycle group 24) I have to exchange my battery for another everstart tomorrow, because it has almost no water in the #3 cell (first day I got it, 48 hours ago). I knew something was up when I charged it (6 amp charger) for 8 hours and hooked it up to my battery load tester and it didn't do so well. Hopefully my next everstart experience will be better.
Just picked up the Harbor Freight system $200.00 on sale 1000 watt inverter $90.00 I plan on 3 more kits when I can afford it.I Noticed a system without useing automotive cables and a copper water pipe hammered flat to make the 4 battery conections in paralle with the batterys on a rack out side in a lock box looks safe to vent the gas caused from charging.Plan on running a backup 12 volt sump pump and lights with my system to start with yours looks good this system will pay for its self soon.
You can reduce your power consumption by unplugging those CRT TVs when not in use. Or toss the CRTs & get some LED/LCD tvs, they use less than half the power of a CRT (Plus HD Viewing)
dude, i love it when motivation and determination outweighs perfection. great stuff bro. keep up the great work. My system includes wires everywhere too, and i don't mind a bit.
i bought solar panels, inverter (1000 watt) and killowatt meter at harbor freight tools, the batteries (deep cycle) from walmart, got the battery cables from checker auto and i bought the charge controller from fry's electronics
Thank you for sharing this with us! Awesome work!! I especially appreciate you telling us where you purchased your equipment. Have you thought of a wind turbine? I think we all need to be more proactive in making our own power. Food 2 for that matter. If you look up where our power bill money goes, it gets interesting real fast.
hi can you hook all charge controlers up to system to charge batteries faster? what im trying to say is all batteries connect +to- and all hf charge controllers to each battery 3 panels to each controler 1 charge conroler to each battery
Nice small setup there, try getting better quality panels when you upgrade, i got the same ones and they dont make the rated power of 15 watts, i get only 8-9 watts avg. Greetings from sunny Jamaica.
you have sunforce panels I looked and yes they get hotter and reduce the wattage the TOPRAY panels have nice aluminum rails dis-patting the heat better
good to know. yes the TOPRAY panels from Harbor Freight (the ones i have) continue to work perfectly. when the sun is directly overhead, the panels will actually generate slightly more than 3 amps per hour (per 3 panel set), even when the air temp is 115 degrees.
A chest freezer or chest fridge use less power than their standup counterparts, and are not such a drain on the battery bank. Just a thought. Hi from sunny FL
I have all 12 panels going through just one 25 amp charge controller (the little white box sitting on top of the harbor freight charge controllers in the video). i use those 2 harbor freight charge controllers to monitor the voltage of the battery bank only.
Did u notice any difference in the electric bill....I have 300 watts in solar panels, they are all 10 watts and bolted together with there unique design....Would it be worth to go further and spend on batts, controller and inverter....I have never used them but they do .5 amps each to .6 amps, total about 18 amps at 13 volts
yes, the electric bill is about 25% lower in the winter months. only about 10% lower in the summer months though, due to the fact that my central ac accounts for for a very large part of the bill and does not run off of the solar system.
What's the name of the 150 inverter cause I want to buy that
donohuematthew6 22 hours ago
Wow. I am trying to build a solar system for my sailboat. I want to run very few electronics, cb radio 5-6 hrs, cd player/ am/fm 6 hrs, led mooring lights 6 hrs, and have some room for growth like charging cell phones etc. I currently have only a marine fuse panel and zero batteries. My plan- calculate my desired amp hour per day consumption, multiply by 2 to prolong battery life, wire to the fuse box, then buy charge controll and solar panels. It sounds fine, but I have no experience, pls help.
icearnett 1 week ago
why do you keep the batteries in the middle of the room, I mean id do that too that but err well ...forget it
LOPEZdJUNGLIST 2 weeks ago
i would like to know what u mean by sine wave inverter , i know what inverter mean but sine wave inverter new for me can u explain ???
ahmed0509099601 1 month ago
i would like to study the solar energy , specifically in installation the solar module and in grid - direct way ??? please if any one knows any information about institute giving this courses reply to me .thanks
ahmed0509099601 1 month ago
Great video, thanks.
Did you connect your main lights too? Or just lamps etc? If so, how did you do it...for there are no plugs from the main lights and the wires are in the walls.
Could you buy a 2000 watt inverter for the washer / dryer?
For the fridge......hmmm......perhaps a few extra panels and another battery especially for the fridge and freezer, but then in the winter, when energy produced is at a minimum, you might not need the fridge if you store food in a cooler area of your house.
GardenDavesProjects 1 month ago
How about the fredge
bedrocbedrock69 2 months ago
@bedrocbedrock69 it takes a few more panels and a few more batteries to run a fridge
desertsun02 2 months ago
I want to build a system to run just a portable air conditioner. The manual says it is 900w and 115v to run. I need it to run for at least 8 hours. What do you think?
ZX9RinHollywood 3 months ago
@ZX9RinHollywood Air conditioning is a huge drain on a battery bank. They pull that 900 Watts (or more) the majority of the time that the AC is running. Also i've heard that it takes 2 to 6 times the Wattage to get the compressor to kick on. and it kicks on and off a lot. You would need a good size inverter (i'm guessing you would need a 2500 watter or more), probably 10 times more panels and 10 times more batteries. (if you want to run it all day).
desertsun02 2 months ago
what brand is you panel? try sunpower man 1 panel run at 230+ watts 72 cells
jjgg263804 3 months ago
sweet system. Thanks for sharing. small scale grid-parallel solar like this is can be so simple. but i'm not sold on the 1A panels from HF. With big PV modules less than $2 per Watt you can have a system this size with a single panel. Way less wiring hassle! Is your system grounded?
IslandEnergySystems 4 months ago
Nice work on your system and the video. Thanks for sharing this.
efender1966 4 months ago
SANDWICH MAKEER LOL LASY
swat007jp 4 months ago
LOL, nice ninja weapon collection!!
N0ENEMIES 5 months ago
good luck with those amorphrious panels they will only last about 3-5 years they wear out fast.. you need mono or poly cells ONLY for any kind off life time
HomeDistiller 5 months ago
Props on the vid, and am using a killawatt meter here myself, good tool. Assuming 180 watts in per hour of sunshine, lets say 12 hours a day 365 on the generous side, would generate 788 Kwh yearly at equivelent 6.1 cents per Kwh (my local price PacPower) hour = $48 savings per year? Divide $48 into $1300 cost, so it would take about 27 years to recoup cost on this? And that's assuming the panels and everything lasts that long? Please, check my math, I'm just really curious? Thanks, Rich.
rich0319726 5 months ago
Pretty nice setup... Any update on that one?
cheapsolarpanels1 6 months ago
i love how your house looks, and no offense, but your hallway looks like it needs a new theme
killer65456 6 months ago
U write down in few comments that u upgreat ur system.so plz upload ur new video.and show us the real power of solar
03219110853 7 months ago
Would you post a list of what are needed to build this system for a beginner? Thanks a lot.
professorlisama 7 months ago
you have a machine that makes your sandwichs? i want a sandwich maker
Nick1814 7 months ago
did you use the solar energy to power the cam corder to record this :)
Anddosdd 7 months ago
What about the stove
mrsmagandelatour 8 months ago
Hi desertsun02,
Was just wondering why you chose not to run the computer only from solar.
I understand the large appliances because of power requirements, but seems the computer would be small enough to run only from solar. I am about to do the same setup as you and found your video to be the most informative to match what I am trying to do.
CanaansCrossing 8 months ago
@CanaansCrossing Thanks. I'm glad you found the video informative. The computer is small enough. My new computer only uses 59 watts max. (including the montior). I chose not to run it (or the new computer) on solar mainly because it's a modified sine wave inverter. I don't want to chance 'stressing out' the computer. When I get a pure sine wave inverter, I will.
desertsun02 2 months ago
@desertsun02 An electronic engineer may want to correct me on this but i believe computers will run just fine on a modified sine wave (monitors im not so sure) as they are converting to DC via switch mode transformer and will 'clean' the power. With that said, power supplies are rather inexpensive if a fault does occur (given you are using a standard ATX form-factor case and not slimline). The one thing i have been told only to run on pure sine is a compressor/motor.
Sethjxl 2 months ago
I just recently bought the same system and bought 4 sets, which equals 12 panels like you have in your set-up. I noticed that you only used two of the charge controllers. Does that mean that you have two sets of panels hooked up to each charge controller? Has that worked out okay. I'm fixing to put mine together next weekend. Thanks for sharing your video. It was very helpful.
Shameonfed 9 months ago
@Shameonfed I only use one 25 amp hour charge controller that I bought from fry's electronics (the little white box). I use the other charge controllers as 'voltmeters' only. they are not hooked up to the solar panels. i'm glad the video was helpful.
desertsun02 9 months ago
Are you not afraid that your solar panels get stolen? Why not mount them on the roof? And why is the tv on the floor ;) Nice setup though. Looks good and it looks like it fits your needs perfect.
metro2002 9 months ago
Thanks for the video- What would be the max storage capacity with this system?
dwtdmf 9 months ago
Maybe get a grid tie inverter as well, and just save the bank energy for whenever the power goes out? That way you don't waste any power when the batteries are full, and it would technically be powering your washer, ac, and fridge
72fr250 9 months ago
The amorphous panels are good in low light. If and when you augment your system with polycrystalline, larger panels, you'll enjoy still having the amorphous 15 watts. I recently added a panel like your system, to my 1300 watt polycrystalline setup, and I am trying to optimize it strictly for pulse charging with back emf spikes for conditioning and desulphating batteries. Nice setup.
KyleCarrington 10 months ago
Lots of cables!!!!
RrahimStruja 10 months ago
Check out my solar power system I've built and give some feedback please, also find a full description of all components I've used and how I've connected everything together. Cheers
dashony 11 months ago
GOOD SHORT VIDEO, NOT TOO COMPLICATED BUT TO THE POINT. I HAVE A SET OF THESE PANELS
energyman1988 1 year ago
I am very impressed.
moneybags125125 1 year ago
you just let these vent into your living room . ?????not so good. love the whole idea of it . but i had 6 in my room and it stunk and i had to move them outside in the cold. but i too have the harbor freight tool panels . i have 3 sets for 9 panels . and thay alone will charge all 6 800 plus amp batteries. and all my batteries i got for 10$ each at local auto service stations on tradins . i ran them on a pulse motor homemade and charged them trickle at the same time and thay usualy come back
theonethatgoofs 1 year ago
LEDs will give you the most run time of all the lights
Munymuny200 1 year ago
@Munymuny200 very true. LED lights use 90% less power than conventional bulbs.
desertsun02 10 months ago 2
@YoungAndPrepping and Hydrogen gas (H2) should not be used in airships (like the Hindenburg).
I found a news story about a boat (Belle of Washington) explosion.
"it appears hydrogen gas, likely given off by the vessel’s batteries, was ignited by some source, possibly a battery charger. Hardin said the battery compartment was not ventilated. "
So, I will make sure not to seal up batteries up in a non-ventilated container.
Since H2 is so light, it should dissipate upwards real fast.
Xringer 1 year ago
Nice setup ! I think i going to setup something like this soon ! my bills are sucking my wallet dry everytime !
MrGHOSTFAN 1 year ago
@YoungAndPrepping If a battery didn't have a vented cap, wouldn't the cap just pop right off?
Like during the first heavy charge?
Xringer 1 year ago
@PatriotTeaBagger Power bill before $40-$45 (w/o AC). now about $25. $20 of that is fees/taxes. with AC on 24/7 (June, July, August) add $75. total bill for last year about $540. total summer bill - around $300. rest of year - about $240
desertsun02 1 year ago
where did you get the solar panel
webkinzhamster571 1 year ago
@webkinzhamster571 harbor freight tools
desertsun02 1 year ago
another thought...all are welcome to comment and add to the discussion.... for 80 bucks you can get a grid tie inverter, so after the batteries are charged (for night time enjoyment) you could plug into the grid while away and have 180 watts an hour going to reduce the cost your electric bill. I'm new to this...so be gentle...but does this make economical cents (pun intended)
toddac1 1 year ago
Nice set up, almost like mine. I bought my deep cycle batteries at Wal-Mart also and so far they have lasted close to 5 years. I only run my home office and my camper off of it.
nhralph 1 year ago
@nhralph 5 years. that's great. i got about 3 years out of the walmart batteries. probably close to 1000 charge/discharge cycles total.
desertsun02 1 year ago
@desertsun02 The secret is to get the batteries all at the same time so they are balanced. You don't want one battery weaker then any of the others. Also, I check and fill the water level, if needed once a month. A little maintenance goes a long ways. For the money, you can't beat Wal-Mart prices on deep-cycle marine batteries.
nhralph 1 year ago
@nhralph Are you using 4 batteries too? And, how many watt hours (on average) are you using each day??
Also, I wonder what discharge voltage you are allowing?
I'm just getting my 48v bank started. Almost wired. Using AutoZone Marine Deep Cycle.
I would like to make these last for 5 years too.. :)
Thanks,
Rich
Xringer 1 year ago
@Xringer I was using two 100 amphour batteries, now I am using three. I am using two invertors, a 400 watt and a 200 watt invertor. I have my system set up to float at 13.8 volts and my shutdown voltage is 10.5. You see how I am using my system on a short video I made that is on my channel. I made it while I was using just two batteries. ( The batteries are more imprtant then the amount of solar panels. All the solar panels do is charge the batteries.)
nhralph 1 year ago
@nhralph I'm going to be using my system for back-up power, in case of power failure during basement flooding.
I need to run my sump pumps. (And lighting is nice too).
But, during the day, I want to take some stuff off the grid and run it off the inverter. So, I'm going to be using a 500w PV array to both charge the 48v bank and run 200 to 400w of my home's loads.
I've read it's not good to let a back-up bank sit at full charge. It needs to be cycled, a bit, to make it last.
Xringer 1 year ago
How is your battery bank holding up?
When you use them at night, how far down do you discharge each battery?
I'm working on a similar system, but I'm using a 2.5kw 48v inverter
and have 500w of PV (on a tracking mount). I'm hoping to make
the (4) marine (Autozone) batteries last at least a few years.
Xringer 1 year ago
@Xringer i usually discharge the system down to 50-60% full. most inverters (including the one i use) will automatically shut the system off when the batteries are 50% discharged.
desertsun02 1 year ago
@desertsun02 My inverter (Sun 48V Stackable) shuts down at at 40 volts, which is 10v per battery.
Info and charts I've seen on the web indicate that 11 volts is a bit too low to discharge a lead acid battery.
It seems that when a battery hits 10-11 volts too often, it shortens it's life span.
The two small 12V inverters I own, cut off at 10.5 volts, which is still too low, IMHO..
Xringer 1 year ago
@Xringer the 12 volt inverters cut off at 10.5 volts, but the batteries at that point only read 10.5 volts due to the load of the inverter and anything that you are running lights, tv etc... as soon as the inverter shuts off, the voltage of the battery jumps up to 11.6v or 11.7v and then the batteries' voltage slowly climbs up to 12.0v or 12.1v within 20-40 mins. i run my battery bank this way all the time.
desertsun02 1 year ago
@desertsun02 I understand. But, I wonder what will happen if the load is very light??
If the inverter is only taking a few watts off the bank and slowly brings it down to 10.5 volts?
Will it really climb back up to 12v? What would be the SOC % if it only climbed to 10.6v?
My inverter cuts off at 10v, so I would need an extra heavy load to get a good bounce-back... :(
Thanks,
Rich
Xringer 1 year ago
@Xringer hi. in the 3 years i've been running the system it has always bounced back. if you're running a lighter load it will take a little longer to bounce back. i have seen it bounce back to 12v even when i was only running one 15w CFL.
desertsun02 1 year ago
@desertsun02 We've been have a lot of snow melt and rain here. It's causing basement flooding.
I tested the backup system for 4 hours and it worked very well..
But, it was mostly sunny then, so there wasn't much of a discharge rate.. The panels took up 98% of the job..
The charger was still in 'Float' mode after 4 hours.. LOL!.
Running 3 pumps (300w each) off-and-on and a deep freeze in the basement. Lights and PC stuff up stairs.
It's nice being prepared..
Cheers,
Rich
Xringer 10 months ago
Would this system also be compatible with a grid tie inverter?
skierKid13 1 year ago
@skierKid13 I tested my 1200w powerjack GTI using marine deep discharge (Autozone) batteries.
And, I was amazed at the current it was drawing. It blew a 20A fuse. It's okay with a 35A fuse, but would kill the batteries pretty fast.
Maybe a 300-400 watt GTI would work okay.. But, it might get a bit warm. Since a battery bank might look like a really high amperage solar array..
It might be safer to just use panels with a GTI..?.
Xringer 1 year ago
get 6 volt deep cycle and u will be set
wifebeater756 1 year ago
Nice set up...I especially like your ninja training gear on the wall :)
tomguy33 1 year ago
Huh no kids no pets all good
conejoxxx 1 year ago
How do you keep your place warm during the winter?
AlternativePowerMan 1 year ago
@AlternativePowerMan natural gas furnace
desertsun02 1 year ago
hehe nice
next tiem buy one fo the 300w panels taht hsould duble ur stuff of the bet
ABOSOLUTEKNOWLEDGE 1 year ago
The Oil companies are trying their best to stop free energy ideas from spreading to common ppl.
We need to put an end to this corruption ,start generating your own electricity now.
Visit LT-MAGNET-MOTORdotCOM and get the blueprints . Join the Revolution!!
slipshodcoqbgg 1 year ago
Doesn't having cords running all around the house frighting?
cruz47144 1 year ago
@cruz47144 not at all. i used brand new extension cords. rated up to 1625 watts. just drape them loosely so there is no tension on the cords, make sure there are no sharp bends in the cords, make sure they are tightly plugged together and don't put them under anything like carpet or rugs etc...
desertsun02 1 year ago
did you really bought those batteries for 72 bucks a piece?
youtubsuxfv 1 year ago
@desertsun02 how much are the actual solar panels that u showed outside ur house? i really wanna do something like what u'v done! can u imagine if everyone in the world done this?? it would be amazing, but the goverment wouldnt be happy, cos it would ruin their power industry, thats why they dont want it to happen, they could easily fit solar panels on everyones house but they'r too greedy for money
MrSweatyZombie 1 year ago
@MrSweatyZombie i paid about $200.00 per set for the panels. i've seen them as cheap as $140.00. if you wait for a sale, you could pick up 4 sets for about $600.00
desertsun02 1 year ago
Great video... Can you please send me the schematic and material list because this is exactly what I want to configure. I can send you some information on free energy if you respond... Please send to Greg at: ggibney0856 at earthlink
Thanks
ggibney0856 1 year ago
i guess if u have a bank of batterys a least 30 batterys of 300 watts each you could run your frigd no?
plus another 400 watts solar panels too!
to recharge your baterias tambien no?
kricotas 1 year ago
@desertsun02 did u really bought the battery on walmart for 72 dollas? they are really cheap
youtubsuxfv 1 year ago
@youtubsuxfv yep, that is all they cost.
desertsun02 10 months ago
this is awesome he has this kick ass setup and hes like "ahhh nothin but a little thang" lol grat video
DudeWithaPage 1 year ago
DUDE! Powering a window unit by using the sun would be the coolest thing in the world! Because your blowing cold air in your face all thanks to the sun!
wwjoshdew 1 year ago
@wwjoshdew i agree. that would be awesome.
desertsun02 1 year ago
Awesome!
Thumbs UP video. IM waiting on FedEx as I type,, I have one kit on the way.
WORRO01 1 year ago
I had no idea such a small set up could run so much stuff...
ShockAndOdd 1 year ago
hi desertsun02: i have bought the same solar panels 12 of them. but have a 1200w/3200w 12v dc 115 ac modified sine wave inverter. i understand i should have purchased a pure inverter. have not bought the batteries yet. my panels are approx. 60 ft from the house. my storage unit for the batt is next to them. i want to run a big screen tv -stereo- vcr-vhs-computer -fan-light or two. all in one room. don't really know how to hook this up. like your set up and could you give me instr. step by step
mrbruno581 1 year ago
Great video. Thank you for sharing it with us. :)
I would really like to know more about your power inverters. I can't tell which ones you're using.
davettalashley 1 year ago
@davettalashley I usually use 1000w one (bottom one). That one and the 400w one are from Harbor Freight Tools. 150w one is made by Wagan Tech. and is from Fry's Electronics. I use that one mostly for charging NiCAD/NiMH batteries (AAA,AA,C,D,9v) using a battery charger from Harbor Freight Tools. It also has a 5v charging port. I power everything I can with solar charged batteries (flashlights, remote controls, caller ID, digital camera, mp3 player, even video camera that shot this video)
desertsun02 1 year ago
@desertsun02 Thanks for the information! I appreciate it. :)
davettalashley 1 year ago
Hey I have a 12v battery and based on what I've heard 6v golf cart batteries are the way to go I only have about 100 watts of solar but can I have 2 golf cart batteries 12v and 1 12v battery until the 12v dies then have only 6v batteries
jonathans1212 1 year ago
@jonathans1212 6V golf cart batteries are a good option. The batteries you use in your battery bank should all be of the same type and roughly the same age.
desertsun02 1 year ago
@desertsun02 @desertsun02 Better yet there's a 400watt solar system with a grid tie inverter for $1,500 on eBay, sellers name is "HI_IQ". Also note that until December 31st, 2010 you get 30% back from the federal government in the form of a tax rebate. Total cost would be around $1,000 and would plug directly into your home so there are no batteries or anything. You could, of course, use a battery setup also to power your home off batteries at night.
helloman1976 1 year ago
@helloman1976 how do u get the rebate
jonathans1212 1 year ago
@jonathans1212 Go to energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index and look up the rebate. Basically you file your taxes and add this on and you'll get the money back, 30% of what you paid not including labor.
helloman1976 1 year ago
@helloman1976 Requirements At least half of the energy generated by the "qualifying property" must come from the sun. The system must be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) or a comparable entity endorsed by the government of the state in which the property is installed.
toddac1 1 year ago
$1,300 for everything? Wow and those solar panels are tiny too so that's pretty impressive. What was your power bill before and after the install? If you are 90% solar, which I'm just guessing based on your video, then the solar panel setup could easily pay for itself in 12 months or less. Very nice setup!
helloman1976 1 year ago
@helloman1976 I've recently seen the 3 panel set selling for $140 and 1000 watt inverter for $67. If you wait for the sales you could probably get everything for $950 to $1000. Power bill before $40-$45 (w/o AC). now about $25. $20 of that is fees/taxes. with AC on 24/7 (June, July, August) add $75. total bill for last year about $540. total summer bill - around $300. rest of year - about $240
desertsun02 1 year ago
how does the cost of your system compare to your electric bill at the end of the year?
fudgedogbannana 1 year ago
very informative well done a lot of good info keep up the good work !!!!!!!!!!
MrGarrys51 1 year ago
What is the power charge controller for? Lol and where can I buy them? Thanks
Luis29999 1 year ago
@Luis29999 The charge controller is used to prevent over charging of the battery bank. They can be purchased at stores that sell solar panels including Harbor Freight Tools and Fry's Electronics
desertsun02 1 year ago
you leave the batteries on the floor in the room?
phardcare 1 year ago
You could try using a grid tie
coolio8444 1 year ago
you need to go big to save big money
nuclearthreat545 1 year ago
Nice system ..
How long have you used the batteries ? how long are they suppose to last , considering daily charge and discharge
uthayak 1 year ago
@uthayak The batteries are about 2 years old. How long batteries last can vary widely. I'm hoping to get at least 3 years out of them.
desertsun02 1 year ago
Nice video! =)
Have you ever thought about swapping out a few of those 15w cfls for the 0.9w or 1.8w led bulbs? I have also seen some DIY solar setups that use a chest freezer to replace a refrigerator. Chest freezers have superior insulation compared to a stand-up refrigerator and the cold air doesn't rush out on the floor when you open the top. You can run most chest freezers for 24 hours using a 200ah battery,a single 80w solar panel and a seperate thermostat (to stay above freezing temp).
elbeghast 1 year ago
@elbeghast As energy-efficient and long lasting as LED light bulbs are, I decided against using them for 'whole house' lighting at this time, due to their lack of brightness and high cost. I'm currently only using LED's in, landscape lighting, under cabinet lighting, LED flashlights, and a 28 LED shop worklight.
desertsun02 1 year ago
Very nice. am getting closer, almost backwards in my approach. I have a 1500/3000 watt pure sine inverter & a 1800 too.
Glass panes I have found, and about 2.6 KW of cells to build into panels. I see these panels and cells keep getting cheaper over the past 6 months or so, I guess many US firms have packed it in and moved to China.
Did I miss your charge controller/regulator ?
CTOL1 1 year ago
@CTOL1 Oh a 25 amp one cool
CTOL1 1 year ago
how much do you save on bills
jettlesschan 1 year ago
@jettlesschan the electric bill is about 25% lower in the winter months. only about 10% lower in the summer months though, due to the fact that my central ac accounts for for a very large part of the bill and does not run off of the solar system.
desertsun02 1 year ago
Been watching a lot of DIY PV project, yours is really simple but great.
r2b274 1 year ago
Ingenious, thanks I will try it too.
pambalafolle 1 year ago
how much was the panels and where from
Tomthetoolman100 1 year ago
@Tomthetoolman100 i bought the panels from Harbor Freight Tools. a 3 panel set cost about $200.00 but i have seen them for $169.00 a set on sale.
desertsun02 1 year ago
Get those batteries out of the house, your suppose to have the batteries in a vented room. The reason is that when the batteries charge they give out deadly gases.
tmjump96 1 year ago
@tmjump96 batteries do put out a very small amount of hydrogen when in the final stages of charging. it is a very small amount that would easily dissipate in a large room. (the air in an average room of a house is completely exchanged with outside air every 4 hours or so just from air entering around windows doors etc...)
desertsun02 1 year ago
Thanks for sharing , good vid bro .
bowtau9 1 year ago
Are the batteries on the floor? I hear that you lose charge if the are. Is that true?
rocket27 1 year ago
@rocket27 keeping batteries on a floor should not affect their ability to retain a charge.
desertsun02 1 year ago
@rocket27 dont listen to that crap where ever you hear it think about it!
allen2688 1 year ago
Are you messing with your panel setup. I have now 4 HF 45 watt kits 125 watt panel and a 3 five watt panel and 8 watt and a 13 watt connected.
I literary made my meter spin backwards need better cam for the meter to see it spin backwards.but it does spin backwards.
Would like to see a update vid from you
1kzrider 1 year ago
hi everybody! I'm new to this, some people use 2 6 volt batteries in tandem instead of one 12 volt. what is the advantage?
dancindutchweasel 1 year ago
I like your system i am in the process of building a system like this in my room. with those panals how many hours a day are they getting sun light?
and you need to do an update to let us know how it is going thanks
Tomthetoolman100 1 year ago
@Tomthetoolman100 - i'm still running the same system (12 panels and 4 batteries). the whole system has held up very well. i've recently started running leaf blower/vac, hedgetrimmer and other power tools off of the solar setup. i've also been able to run the washing machine (the system needs to be fully charged for the battery bank to be able to handle the power requirement). the panels are getting about 10 hours a day of sunlight.
desertsun02 1 year ago
Very cool system. I am jealous. Thanks for the awesome video.
mattwj2002 1 year ago
would it be possible to do this setup with one 5 watt solar panel 1 battery and one 400 watt inverter. because all i want to power is several things in my room. if not what quantity of the items i would need and whats the total watts i would need? i would really appreciate any advice or help. thank you
jakeskatesgood 1 year ago
a 5 watt solar panel would take to long to charge the battery. for running a couple of lights, radio, tv, computer, small fan for a few hours a day, you would probably want to have 2 batteries and two 45 watt 'harbor freight' solar panel set ups. with this particular system, i would use a charge controller that can handle at least 7 amps.
desertsun02 1 year ago
well im getting a 15 watt panel, a 7 amp charge controller, and a 400 watt inverter. but all im puring is 1 light for about 1 hour a alarm clock, and a tv for about a hour a day. and by the way you have a nice setup.
jakeskatesgood 1 year ago
Have you thought about using a GRID TIE inverter? That way if you are at work, or not home you get a credit or money back from the utility company... just an idea
madcyborg 1 year ago
I would think that if its tied back into the city grid to feed power back then it would have to be setup by a professional to the city's set standards and it would be very expensive.
I might be wrong though.... but in my small town in florida they will let you feed the grid but you wont receive any money for it... just a pat on the back and a very small tax break.
unclesonnyonutube 1 year ago
@madcyborg - yes, i did look into that. i use all the power that the system generates though, so i wouldn't have any extra power to sell them back. regarding inverters in general, i have thought about buying a 'pure' sinewave inverter. home depot sells a 1000 watt one for about $269.00
desertsun02 1 year ago
@desertsun02
why so expensive?
there is one invereter 1500 pure sineway
for a 200.00 free shiping
any way good video soon i will made my too
kricotoy 1 year ago
@kricotoy a 1500 watt pure sine wave inverter for $200.00 is a good deal. i've decided to buy A Xantrex prowatt sw inverter.
desertsun02 1 year ago
"180 watts of power - per hour"
What? Check your units. I think you just mean "180 Watts."
diin2live 1 year ago
desertsun02 is 100% correct, it is "per hour"
take a 1000 watt microwave for example - if you ran it for 1 hour it would have taken 1000 watts, 2 hours = 2000 watts, 3 hours = 3000 watts, etc.
same thing with solar panels, if they have the maximum amount of sun they can and are putting out the maximum amount of power it will be 180 watts per hour of electricity being stored into the batteries.
Logman91 1 year ago
Fucking no. Watts is a measure of power. Power is the time-rate of energy usage, measured in Joules per second. Watts per hour suggests a time dependent rate of energy consumption.
A 100W bulb uses 100J in 1 second, 200J in 2 seconds, and 300J in 3 seconds. At each and every instant and span of time in those 3 hours, it is using 100W of power.
lrn2energy
diin2live 1 year ago
Look it up then.
Logman91 1 year ago
Solar panels are measured in watts and the watts is measured in amp hours and amp hours is also watt hours which is why a battery gets charged. It puts out so much power every hour. If it didnt get put out every hour it would just be watts or just amps and the battery would never charge.
Logman91 1 year ago
No no no. Power is measured in watts (1W=1J/s). Amps are a measure of current (1A=1C/s). An amp-hour is an amount of electric charge, not power (1 ah=3600C). A watt-hour is an amount of energy (1 wh=3600J) and means something very different than watts/hour or amp-hour. Please search Google or something and stop posting misinformation.
diin2live 1 year ago
(paragraph continued)
Diffuse light passing through thin clouds might mean 300 W/m². In very bad weather conditions with thick, dark clouds, light intensity could fall to 100 W/m² with only 5 Watts produced per hour.
So please stop saying that I dont have MY facts straight when it is YOU that dont have them straight and telling me to research.
thanks very much.
Logman91 1 year ago
If you aren't trolling, you are most certainly retarded. Take a look at Wikipedia's page on power. You are blatantly wrong. You lose.
If you are a troll, fuck you.
diin2live 1 year ago
desertsun02 is 100% correct, it is "per hour"
take a 1000 watt microwave for example - if you ran it for 1 hour it would have taken 1000 watts, 2 hours = 2000 watts, 3 hours = 3000 watts, etc.
same thing with solar panels, if they have the maximum amount of sun they can and are putting out the maximum amount of power it will be 180 watts per hour of electricity being stored into the batteries.
Logman91 1 year ago
Hopefully, you are using Energy Star appliances. :)
nomoreremakes 1 year ago
any dangers in hydrogen gas leakage from the batteries? i thought thats why they say not to have them in your house.. please enlighten me as I am new to all of this
IamDemetri00 2 years ago
batteries do put out a very small amount of hydrogen when in the final stages of charging. it is a very small amount that would easily dissipate in a large room. (the air in an average room of a house is completely exchanged with outside air every 4 hours or so just from air entering around windows doors etc...)
desertsun02 2 years ago
Thanks!
IamDemetri00 2 years ago
Question, did you lower you montly light bill? if you do, please state how much % thanxs.....
saturbo1107 2 years ago
yes, the electric bill is about 25% lower in the winter months. only about 10% lower in the summer months though, due to the fact that my central ac accounts for for a very large part of the bill and does not run off of the solar system.
desertsun02 2 years ago
How are your batteries holding up? I also bought a walmart battery (everstart maxx 29) deep cycle 125 ah, but don't know how long they will last (everybody tells me they die in less than 2 years). I only need one battery, so I'm thinking about getting a trojan or optima deep cycle battery.
sirmasterpimp 2 years ago
The batteries are holding up well. They are a little over 2 years old now. I 've heard of some people getting 5 years. A lot depends on charging and discharging them correctly.
desertsun02 2 years ago
That's good to know (most of the trouble I've been hearing about is the regular starting batteries, only 1 issue with a deep cycle group 24) I have to exchange my battery for another everstart tomorrow, because it has almost no water in the #3 cell (first day I got it, 48 hours ago). I knew something was up when I charged it (6 amp charger) for 8 hours and hooked it up to my battery load tester and it didn't do so well. Hopefully my next everstart experience will be better.
sirmasterpimp 2 years ago
@sirmasterpimp Trojan all the way men, they come with many years of warranty.
saturbo1107 2 years ago
Just picked up the Harbor Freight system $200.00 on sale 1000 watt inverter $90.00 I plan on 3 more kits when I can afford it.I Noticed a system without useing automotive cables and a copper water pipe hammered flat to make the 4 battery conections in paralle with the batterys on a rack out side in a lock box looks safe to vent the gas caused from charging.Plan on running a backup 12 volt sump pump and lights with my system to start with yours looks good this system will pay for its self soon.
kinbigbird 2 years ago
You can reduce your power consumption by unplugging those CRT TVs when not in use. Or toss the CRTs & get some LED/LCD tvs, they use less than half the power of a CRT (Plus HD Viewing)
RikterZilla 2 years ago
very true. my CRT TV draws 4 watts when it is off but i've heard of one that draws 76.
desertsun02 2 years ago
dude, i love it when motivation and determination outweighs perfection. great stuff bro. keep up the great work. My system includes wires everywhere too, and i don't mind a bit.
fencekid 2 years ago
The Killowatt meter is a must have- I dont know what I would do without mine!
jsmythib 2 years ago
i certainly agree with that.
desertsun02 2 years ago
were did you buy this set up?
arrivatulesdgo 2 years ago
i bought solar panels, inverter (1000 watt) and killowatt meter at harbor freight tools, the batteries (deep cycle) from walmart, got the battery cables from checker auto and i bought the charge controller from fry's electronics
desertsun02 2 years ago
how much cost you for every thing solar panels and batteries thankx
hotcuts6064 2 years ago
Thank you for sharing this with us! Awesome work!! I especially appreciate you telling us where you purchased your equipment. Have you thought of a wind turbine? I think we all need to be more proactive in making our own power. Food 2 for that matter. If you look up where our power bill money goes, it gets interesting real fast.
TacticalN8 2 years ago
thanks for the comment. not much wind where i live or i would definitely look into getting a wind turbine.
desertsun02 2 years ago
Hi,
Have you considered trying a grid tied inverter?
phylthie 2 years ago
hi can you hook all charge controlers up to system to charge batteries faster? what im trying to say is all batteries connect +to- and all hf charge controllers to each battery 3 panels to each controler 1 charge conroler to each battery
fanman1981 2 years ago
no, the charge controllers just 'control the charge' but they will not 'add to the charge'
desertsun02 2 years ago
Nice small setup there, try getting better quality panels when you upgrade, i got the same ones and they dont make the rated power of 15 watts, i get only 8-9 watts avg. Greetings from sunny Jamaica.
Lanny615 2 years ago
you have sunforce panels I looked and yes they get hotter and reduce the wattage the TOPRAY panels have nice aluminum rails dis-patting the heat better
1kzrider 2 years ago
good to know. yes the TOPRAY panels from Harbor Freight (the ones i have) continue to work perfectly. when the sun is directly overhead, the panels will actually generate slightly more than 3 amps per hour (per 3 panel set), even when the air temp is 115 degrees.
desertsun02 2 years ago
Sorry comment was for the guy who is in Jamica running the sunforce commenting on the over heating of panels.
I have 4 HF 45 watt kits home also. Not all in place yet. Using a 250 watt grid tie right now and works great.
1kzrider 2 years ago
A chest freezer or chest fridge use less power than their standup counterparts, and are not such a drain on the battery bank. Just a thought. Hi from sunny FL
mrbuki77 2 years ago
can you tell me how is the 12 panel connected to the 2 charge controller and 4 batteries? I would like to copy your setup.
TheConradmov 2 years ago
I have all 12 panels going through just one 25 amp charge controller (the little white box sitting on top of the harbor freight charge controllers in the video). i use those 2 harbor freight charge controllers to monitor the voltage of the battery bank only.
desertsun02 2 years ago
Dude, you dont keep those batteries in the house do you. Nice set up though.........LATER FROM THE WEST COAST...............
doug2877 2 years ago
Did u notice any difference in the electric bill....I have 300 watts in solar panels, they are all 10 watts and bolted together with there unique design....Would it be worth to go further and spend on batts, controller and inverter....I have never used them but they do .5 amps each to .6 amps, total about 18 amps at 13 volts
7501234 2 years ago
yes, the electric bill is about 25% lower in the winter months. only about 10% lower in the summer months though, due to the fact that my central ac accounts for for a very large part of the bill and does not run off of the solar system.
desertsun02 2 years ago