Sort by time | Sort by thread (beta)

Link to this comment:

Share to:
see all

All Comments (217)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • so far...that is the coolest cooler ive ever seen! anyone know where can i buy it?? any sites??

  • It will take 10 Years - to pay you back on Commercial Solar Panels

    If you want to make this time short to 1-2 Years

    There is a website that explain how to Build your own Solar Panels

    just for a fraction of the Retail Price today

    Just go to Google and Search with the keyword...

    "Top DIY Solar Panels Review"

    Choose the First Result (Remember to Skip The Advertisements)

  • Dan you would be able to use your bulbs a lot longer if they were all led lights 12 volt to match your panels. you wouldn't be using 200 watts thats for sure maybe a 1/10 of that for leds. they don't cost that much on ebay. you have to wait a while for shipping but its worth it in the end. i have led edison bulbs that only use 6 watts and every bit as bright as a 60 watt bulb.

  • Dan, I wanted to tell you, a 30 to 40 percent of electricity is lost to heat charging batteries. I didn't know this for a long time.

  • hi nice video i have a cuestion i would like to conect 5000 btu ac 1200 watts to a 4 deep cycle battery and i have 2500 watts inverter for how long do i can run the ac with 4 batteries

  • do you use solar trackers?

  • I think this would be great for someone in an emergency situation that needs their Insulin kept cool.

  • Comment removed

  • Comment removed

  • @1990suzuki Hi,

    Search "dc inverter"

  • Comment removed

  • Comment removed

  • denise is hot

  • Denise, you are great on camera talent! Smooth with the dialog!

  • Hi Dan,

    Will I be needing some sort of charge controller as a go-between from the solar panels to the batteries to regulate the charging process as to not overcharge the batteries?

    Secondly, are solar charge controllers the same thing as a smart battery charger? Thanks.

  • Deep Cycles Batteries are capable of 80% drainage, then recharged, but the life is greatly reduced, you want to go to 50%, then recharge if you want your investment to last. Dont promote draining so far down.

  • Comment removed

  • Thanks for the good work on helping people become more energy independent companies! I see all these videos but no one has made the all important video on how to make your own roof solar mounting kit. It's great to have all these panels all made and wired together but it doesn't make any sense if we don't mount them to our houses right?

  • Very good video and easy to understand. Although I must say that the best part of the video is geting to see your pretty wife. My wife weighs about 375 pounds, has red kinky hair (under her arms), only four teeth and smells like a drawer full of screw drivers and thats after she's spent alot of time getting all purdied up. Lucky you.

  • Crazy, total a day we use around 20kw a day. That is a lot of panels and batteries lol.

  • how long do pannels last???

  • Im new to the solar world ive been studying solar systems for a while now and understand it well though i have a few questions

    1# Can you leave the system running during the day and overnight linked to a battery bank without problems?

    2# What would you recommend as a 1st system would 600w be fine for a small home

    3# Using a grid tie converter to a ac socket what would be the maximum time to keep it connected or can it be left 24/7

  • SHTF day is close. I just found your videos and am building my solar power battery setup this week. I have everything I need including a charge meter. Thanks for the great advice on the kind of batteries to use. I am purchasing some today to add to my setup.

    Peace and Prayers,

    RFT

  • Good practical info!

  • Very good tutorial as usual. It's good to see the lovely lady Denise also. Thank you for some very good, useful information. Glad you mentioned the issues with computers. I have ruined one trying something like this, but it was an 'emergency' and I had no choice but to try it. Wish I had seen your video earlier. :)

  • When charging or pulling from a parallel battery bank your positive and negative, in and out leads should be attached at opposite ends so the charge coming in and going out is equalized across your bank. Otherwise your first battery will be well  or over charged and your last under charged and the bank longevity will be compromised.

  • hi i need to knw that, if i need to run an airconditioned of 1500 watts the panels of how many watts i needed and if i add fridge as well than how many more panels i need to run both appliances!!!

  • hi i need to knw that, if i need to run an airconditioned of 1500 watts the panels of how many watts i needed and if i add fridge as well than how many more panels i need to run both appliances!!!

  • Hot again

  • very nice very educational. i am learning from your videos! thank u

  • to dan rojas i bought 45 watt solar kit from h.f. it doesnot perform like it should

    runs 14 volts for about a week then it goes to 18 volts will not run 5 watt lites

    it should run the lites without a battery but will not it only flickers. chinese are selling an under functioning product.

  • looks like ur growing pot in ur back yard........Awesome....

  • @Redboykc420 looks like you to find out how one looks like first.

  • @dannysx16 I think u meant to say need to find out first lol....and I have seen more plants than you have in a magazine.......Also learn what a joke is ......

  • @Redboykc420 yea kinda jumped the gun on that one. I kinda thought that it was a pretty decent one though. But on the real note, yea you should research how one looks like.

  • @dannysx16 Dude give me a break...Your telling a stoner to figure out what a marijuana plant looks like....I've been around kid I'm pretty sure I've seen a few....It's all good though who gives a F$#%,.....You did notice the end of my name is 420 right? You do know 420 right?

  • @Redboykc420 Haha i don't think that they are dumb enough to post a video that would incriminate themselves, you wanna be stoner. Also, by the logic of the argument you were giving me i guess i can call myself Sargent Dan and that would make me a cop too huh?

  • @dannysx16 Dude you obviously don't smoke your a high strung prick who doesn't get what a joke is....You are most likely a crackhead.

  • @Redboykc420 haha you are right I am a crackhead, great joke

  • Hey Dan , how is it that you know so much , are you an electrical engineer?

  • Denise your beauty have more power than any source of power....

  • Wait, the bikes pulling the horse?! :D

  • Enjoy your videos...they've been a great intro to simple solar. Question: I have one HFT panel (15w), a 7 amp charge regulator and a 200w inverter connected to a deep cycle battery. I'd like to add more 15w panels...do I simply link them all to the battery, via splicing them into the one charge regulator, then to the battery terminals? Thanks

  • Dan and Denise...I've watched approximately 500 of your videos...that's right. because, when I watch one, then I watch it again with my wife! We are total fans now...and we are going to asking for a lot and a lot and a lot of advice as we slowly build to get our house off the grid... :)

  • @lrb1e39 :-) Thank you for enjoying our videos:-) Let me know if you have any questions.

  • @GREENPOWERSCIENCE if you have a string of panels, can't you run them all to one inverter or would you need one for each panel? some dude has 45 micro-inverters on each of his panels; seems like a few large ones would be cheaper and more efficient

  • I saw you used a controler in the diagram but you didn't talk about it. I'm confused about the output. Does it come from the control, inverter or both?

  • This video.. cool.  wiki wiki cha boom ba. Merry Christmas Yo

  • great thats very helpfull thanx.

  • A dude on a bike towing a horse. What the... Right in the middle of an alternative power presentation

  • I like the Rojans, I think they and people like them have the right thinking that we should all consider our individual energy needs. I have a small solar system that cost £50 including junk yard batteries. I have a 1,000 watt inverter but my refridgerator uses a 12 volt motor,all my lighting is 12 volt my computer is also low voltage as are my cordless tools, My TV is mains powered at 230 volts here in the UK but i manage to run it all evening after work without using all of my stored power.

  • These people must live near a highway. Their videos have a lot of traffic noise in he background.

  • Your video is awesome, great info. I also like the tidbit on horse walking... lol

  • Next video..... Please don't wear a bra!

  • thanks for the video... we just installed a small off grid 1K system in SEasia on a island where there is no power line...

  • I just expanded to building my own panels after purchasing 3 x 6 inch un-tabbed solar cells. I had read the instructions on how to proceed but your video TOTALLY clarified how to do it. Great job, and you can bet I will be watching all your tutorials.

    Pat Minns

    Laguna Niguel, Ca

  • Over size your battery bank Batteries last longest if only drawn down to 80% of rated capacity

  • Dan, are you an electrician by profession or an engineer of some kind? thanks, John

  • if adding exta panels increases the watts in this parralel system, will the volts from the panels be increased with each panel you add. or does the volts stay the same as with the case of the batteries. Great Video thanks in advance!!

  • Good info here!

  • thank you for explaining well,, may i have 1 question , what is this so called panel controller,, is this a device or something? thank you your video is clear...

  • Hey Dan a couple of questions what are the pros and cons of on the grid and off the grid? And you think you could help me built a system for a project for my self. Planning on buying my first home in about 2 months or so. Dont want to buy a simple system from ebay. And then to re-buy anther one later on. If you could help me built one so I could use some of the componets for the next future system. when I get my new home. Thanks Love your videos very helpful.

  • lol a guy riding a bike pulling a horse? only in America...

  • For those that know solar... If you were to make 2 solar panels each using 36 mono, 6x6, 4 Watt, 0.5 volt and 8 amp cells, what kind of batteries would you use? Also, how many batteries would you use? Probably 1 battery to each panel right? So if you were using 2 batteries for 2 panels like these what kind of inverter would you use, 24volt? Would appreciate.

  • So, how do you take the 12v harbor freight panels and hook them to a grid tie inverter that requires 14v input? What conversion tool do you use?

  • You're super pretty Denise!

  • Did she say "fusterating?" 

  • Hey guys...

    I just recently came across your videos, and LOVE EM!!!! I was curious, it's a little off topic, but do you ever do work with wind turbines?? I live in the pacific NW where there's LOTS of overcast days, and i'd like to use a system with both solar and wind. Unfortunately, I can't find very many "wind turbine" alternators that have consistant reviews. (i.e. windblue). Any suggestions or recommendations on turbine brands? I'd REALLY appreciate it if you know

    Cheers! jj.

  • Could you please recommend some affordable battery's I should be looking for?

  • I just want to say your videos are a delight! I am a DIY'er and have been looking for a resource like this for a long time.

    Despite the obvious benefits to the environment, the solar industry has just not been economically feasible for the average household (systems wearing out before they pay for themselves!).

    DIY seems to be the only way at the present time to mitigate these factors. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and experience!

  • I just want to say your videos are a delight! I am a DIY'er and have been looking for a resource like this for a long time.

    Despite the obvious benefits to the environment, the solar industry has just not been economically feasible for the average household (systems wearing out before they pay for themselves!).

    DIY seems to be the only way at the present time to mitigate these factors. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and experience!

  • I just want to say your videos are a delight! I am a DIY'er and have been looking for a resource like this for a long time.

    Despite the obvious benefits to the environment, the solar industry has just not been economically feasible for the average household (systems wearing out before they pay for themselves!).

    DIY seems to be the only way at the present time to mitigate these factors. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and experience!

  • thank  you for the great video

  • another small side note.. i don't know for sure but i believe its not recommended that you actually drain either battery to below 20% and as you said the regular automotive batteries are much more sensitive to draw down. either way in some cases batteries just wont take a charge when they are completely dead

  • Is there anyway you could just give us greenhorns a electricity class on amps, volts and watts. You know how to do the math with them and how to test for amps etc. I think you will probably save some frustration and shocks in the process for the not so in the know crowd.

  • ya inverter do not work when it"s to hot out side + inverter wont work when they get hot + inverter get hot fast + when the batteries go down that"s it on more power

  • Great practical video without all the hollywood and hype thank you from a Solar newb. Just so I understand the inverters role it really has nothing to do with the charge controller. The "load" of my solar system does not have to pass through the charge controller right? The CC and the Interter both hook directly to the battery? Thanks

  • Is the charger controller that comes with that kit truly one that will keep the battery from "over charging"?...or is it not that complex a unit.

  • SHE IS HOT !

  • Your wife's hot

  • Great description. But how do you prevent overcharging the batteries?

  • Thank you for the great videos. Very helpful! I have some questions...

    Do you anticipate a "stronger" deep-cycle battery being manufactured anytime soon, as opposed to having to use several batteries at a time?

    As far as gel batteries, can they be safely used inside the home without having to ventilate them?

    Again, thanks for your help.

  • @SciFiBMovieGuy Hi, all wet cell batteries should be in a well vented area in case of overcharging. I keep mine in a covered area outside. This enables short wiring on the DC side and a longer AC from a Grid Tie or regular inverter. MIT is working on some newer internal designs. I cant find the link. Google "MIT Battery"

  • @SciFiBMovieGuy you can use gel batterys inside a house but you can not put them in a sealed container

  • @SciFiBMovieGuy IF you want the ultimate deep cycle battery then look into finding an industrial fork lift battery. They will run a few grand but that's only a little more then the average battery rack, and the thing will last forever. I've seen those things still in use on tow motors at the corning factory after almost 40 years of recharging.

  • Dan what are the best deep cycle batteries? and ones that are easy to maintain. i am new to this and i saw some very confusing ones where you add distilled water??

  • @THEworldisbutaDREAM if adding water is confusing to you get deep cycle or lesure batterys that are jel baced or seeled

    both jel and sealed and deep cycle are bacicly the same thing

  • Dan, thank you so much for these insights! Question: Do they make any other typse of charge controller that will handle more than 2 units?

  • @pennguy45 ive seen them about just look on ebay etc

  • @therndvidm8ker104 Thanks for your reply

  • Dan you and your wife are great. Thanks for the info.

  • hail storm brakes solar panels?  Yes or No.

  • @nnnnnn7678 GOLF BALL SIZED or larger, yes. IF you have severe hail frequently, you can build a wire mesh cage, ugly but works. IF screens and car windows get broken, not much can survive.

  • @nnnnnn7678 yes it will But you can add the plexiglass plastic plate over the solar panel to protect from them.

  • @nnnnnn7678 hail storms won't "brake" solar panels, but they may "break" them.

  • Lots of good information out there... but anything from "Power4Home'' website - IS

    a SCAM.

    POWER4HOME - does NOT give REFUNDS by the way !

    So, head out to reputable companies , lots of help out there, power4home isn't one of them. cheers...

  • Don't run your batteries below 75% SOC if you can and absolutely avoid going below 11v

  • Dan says deep cycle batteries are designed to be totally drained. The truth is that they are designed to withstand a heavy drain better than others. You should never completely drain a battery. If you want to optimize the life of any lead-acid battery, you shouldn't drain it below 50%. So however much storage capacity you think you need, double that for your battery array, and then avoid draining it. Your batteries will last for a LOT of years this way.

  • Another point on Inverters: Modified Sin Wave is usually just a straight square wave. This is as simple as using a 60Hz timer to switch polarity back and forth. That's why these inverters can be produced dirt cheap. Pure sin wave inverters are much fancier but their cleaner power will mean motors will run using less power. For toasters, ovens, and other resistive loads, modified sin wave should work nearly just as well! Fantastic video all in all. Keep it up, Rojas!

  • love the scary horse @ the end!!!

  • i hope you can help. i'm building my panels. should, i build the panel to 18v or 12v. i'm told 18v for the panels. what do you suggest?

    thanks for the ear

  • Great video...start small first... that's the key...

  • Dan I live in Va where can a I buy 2 120w 12v solar panel and the hardware

  • Check our website "Solar Panels" there are links at the bottom.

  • Hi Dan, this is very helpful.

    Could you connect another three panels to the same charge controller you have to get close to 100 Watts?

  • @imigrantpunk Yes, each HFreight Controller can handle 6 15 watt panels or two units.

  • I don't need that thing from ebay 20 dollar is much money

    All i do P=U x I

    mostley you know P in Watts and U is mostly 230V

    for example 500 watt radiator use

    500=230 x I

    I= 500/230= 2,17 Amps

    easy

  • Awesome ! Great information Dan.

  • Great video thnxs!! I'm wondering how many 12v batteries you would need for for example a 200Watt load. 200Watt / 12 V = 16 Amps. And also how long the car batteries will last.

  • Solar technology is now almost perfect. Please let's bring down the prices so that we can all afford it.

  • This video is exactly what I've been looking for. Great vid, Thank you so much! :)

  • Can you show how to connect all solar and wind mill to the house panel ELECTRICAL panel .Can I just connect to the wires that they go from meter to the breaker panel in the garage .Thanks

  • @Channel1BLT Hi, for panel installs you need a licensed electrician. You cannot connect to your panel from a regular inverter or DC current, you will blow up:-0. The grid tie inverters are special devices that allow for a plug n play sort of but any house hook ups, get some pro help.

  • @Channel1BLT

    Since the panel supply (via your local elctric company) is out of phase of inverter output, You need a synchronizer switch (relay) before connect it to panel. Call an electrician.

    Inverter is a buffer which is installed after your windmill or solar panel and before consumers. (or Panel)

  • For ac tools that have brushes, universal motor, put 8 12volt batteries in series to run them. Hook the batteries in a series parallel. Use the tool at the series hook up and charge at the parallel hook up. The tools run smoother with good power and you don't need the inverter with it's inefficiencies.

  • I have solar panels installed at home...cheap and easy

  • 5 stars !

  • Thanks Dan, well explained, 5's

  • didnt know about the kill a watt device. very usefull. thank you.

  • Thanx guys! Very interesting! Go on!

  • i really enjoyed your video ...great info and the end was entertaining........

  • VERY useful video. Thanks!

  • Again, my most deep, profound, most sincere apologies. It was a lame attempt at comedy. I LIKE both Dan AND Denise, plus, I find thier channel very informative. My (vague) point was that "science guys" are, in general, dorky or nerdy. Denise is EXTREMLY attractive. Dan is cute. I swear, that any offense that I gave was entirely unintended. I humbly beg your forgiveness. I am NOT being sarcastic (for a change). PLEASE forgive me.

  • No Harm done. No need to apologize. I wonder that question myself. LOL

    Thank you for enjoying our work.

    btw, thank you to wjb and JIJ for the anti dork factor support:-)

  • geez, IT WAS A JOKE. Do you not get sarcasm? I even said he was a nice guy!

    Plus, I've never denied being shallow.

  • Just wondering how such a dorky guy (no offense) got such a HOT wife?? Guess ALL nice guys don't finish last!

  • What a rude and shallow thing to say Patriotgal1.

  • Wow, dont see the dorkfactor in GPS guy. I like HIM;-)

  • Wow! Denise has a great set of panels! ;-)

  • ROFL ! :'D

  • Bottom line is, if possible DO NOT connect different types of PV modules together be it in series or in parallel. Because it simply lead to all the other good modules dumping their current into the bad module in that series connection.

  • connecting the amorphous module to the three 15 watt panels will definitely reduce your array output current. in series connection, voltage add up and output current stays the same. if you got one bad cell/module connected in series, then your output current will be equivalent to the current of the lowest performing cell/module. Now where does the current from the other module going to go to? It will be dumped into the bad module/cell as heat! Hotter PV module tend to degrade more rapidly.

  • Great info, thanks for sharing. The bloopers are great too. :)

  • I like your videos!

    This may be a dumb question, but how do you check the level of the charge of the battery? Everything I've been reading says you don't want to run the deep cycle batteries below 50% (like 2 golf cart batteries). You say it is OK to run these dry? Won't it wear out a deep cycle battery as well?

  • i'm made a 200 watts panel . what kind of diode i need to made a corrent go one way? and also is good to run may laundry machine? tahnk you rojas famlily i like yours videos a lot .

  • Hi,

    The Diodes can be found on Ebay. Most charge controllers have them already and this should work.

    Not sure Washer or Dryer.

  • Comment removed

  • hi i also have hb panels,they work great,my ? is while charging the batteries my voltage reg will go from 12.9 to 12.2 when a cloud goes by or hangs around, is this normal. great video and great info.thanks

  • Hi,

    Yes that is fine, I recommend the following as a general system test. Take a small voltage tester (other than the HF controller). Test the panels with NO LOAD, bright sun should read above 20 V. No batteries connected open circuit test to make sure the controller is reading the same as the small meter, If yes, panels are fine, controller working perfect. Batteries connected 24 hours NO USE, just charging should reach above 12.7 V - 13.9 V if yes, they are fine. I think you are good:-)

  • thank you so much,now i will buy another hb system. love your videos ,keep em rolling

  • I like the Dog and pony show at the end ;)

    The comments about this energy - especially with batteries consuming more energy then it produces is valid, but not necessarily the end game.

    If Energy is stored in another fashion - say pumping water to a elevated reservoir during the day , or hydrolysis hydrogen separation - then micro-hydro recovery at night..or burning the stored hydrogen.

    Think about that 'free' 1,000W/square meter,

    It still has to be captured.

  • exactly. If solar was viable, entrepreneurs would already be exploiting it to the max yesterday!!

    no two ways about it - once the oil runs out, humanities numbers will be reduced

  • As shown it would produce 2 MEGAwatts over it's lifespan. it more than makes it's energy back

  • she is a hottie

  • Nice tutor, thanks for your time and effort

  • The girl is hot!!!!

  • This is really great & useful film, but you have to consult audio professional because the drill noise is very high so you have to relocate your Mic.

    Thanks

  • lol that was great

  • he's pulling the pony, riding a bicycle. Why not just ride the pony? lol

    great video as always

  • don could i charge my battery from the same inverter coming from the battery

  • Great videos Dan and Denise and well explained. Thanks for your replies too. Would it be possible to show us what calculations are required for the estimation of energy requirements of our electrical devices (i.e. do we need to know the vols, watts, amps ??) and the calculations required of choosing the solar panel, number of batteries, transformers etc, please? Thank you. Nicos

  • great pony blooper

  • hi so what would i need to power my home computer gaming rig to run on solar. id like to run it 24/7

  • I was thinking the same about my computer too, but a modern pc with 700-1000 watt p/s, memory, harddrives, monitors, mice, keyboards, and high end video cards might consume insane amounts of energy.

  • think its doable think we'd need to know how much amps and wattage is required also an inverter if you find anyone on the net that has done it let me know :) likewise

  • The pony FTW!

  • Very well explained.

  • great outtakes!

  • Was that a solar powered pony? :) I am really learning a lot from these videos. Thanks for posting.

  • :-)

  • do you have to have all of the amp hours the same to hook up batteries in parallel?

  • you dont have to have all of the amphours the same. but keep in mind that the smaller one will drain quicker.

  • You dont want to draw down your deep cycle battery below 30% of it's full charge...ever. Ideally you want to design your system, taking into account your max amp/hr usage for one day, to ensure that you draw no less than 50% of your batteries full charge. Otherwise you will eventually cause premature battery failure. Ideally 50% but no less than 30%.

  • where did that pony come from?

  • OH__ he missed to install CHARGE CONTROLLER for the battery.

    From the solar panels you connect battery charge controller then to battery.

    You donnot want to overcharged or burn your battery.

  • really funny to watch a overloaded lithium battery ovaload t and burn though. lo :)