Retreat Design Part 4: Adding a battery bank to an existing Auto-start Generator

This video shows an existing retreat with an automatic start generator. We then modify the system by adding a back up battery bank, solar, charge controller and inverter. The goal here is to save fuel and to be able to run critical circuits off of battery and not diesel for up to 18 hrs a day.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Engineer775
• WROL
• Retreat
• SHTF
• Prepping
• Preparedness
• Diesel
• Generators
• Kubota
• AGM
• batteries
• Solar
• Hybrid
• off
• grid
• Battery
• Backup

[ChrisPCrunchy]

When will you get to the important stuff in prepping. Like prepper homebrew or home moonshine stills?

[engineer775]

@ChrisPCrunchy Ironhead41 has got that covered! : )

[honeybees1]

I'd love to see something on Enphase micro inverters and see youR wind TURBINE.

[engineer775]

@honeybees1 I have a video up where we took an Enphase system and added an battery backup up. We treated the AC from the Enphase like a backup generator and added a transfer switch. My focus is on battery backup systems so we don;t see a lot of enphase as that is not the way to go for backup systems.

[engineer775]

@honeybees1 I will be posting a wind video soon. 

[OBXSOLWIND]

Very Nice my Friend. That setup is a lot like mine. Keeping your generator off is the key. If you are looking for block heaters HOT START is a great source for diesel block heaters.

[engineer775]

@OBXSOLWIND Thanks for the lead. I am checking it out now. I was just going to go to NAPA and buy one! I should have check with you first! Thanks!

[dangledog]

That is an awesome system!

[dsarti1]

why would you use partical bord in the basement and not 3/4 in fire board for fire proofing? Looks like flamables are stored in that basement

[Timisso1337]

I'll be chillin' in the stone age. :/

[SuperOffgrid]

@jbhelix108 I have a solar system, off grid like this one, except no utility power. My solar panels are wired in series, provide a load voltage of approx. 78 volts at 600 watts. The high voltage keeps current low on the d.c. line from panels to charge controller, charge controller steps voltage down to 24 volts for batteries. Low current from solar panels keeps line loss down.  I'm using #8 copper line for this run.

[Alpineprepper]

I wish I was a millionaire...

[MrWafflesMonster]

Can you run the diesel generator with bio-fuel?

[NzMaze]

@sappha58 great idea, alot of the good quality 12v systems ie fridge/freezer are alot more efficent in there designs than conventional 120v Usa or 240volt Australia. Their insulation is also alot thicker which prevents loss of cold better. Not sure about stoves but ive heard of a few dairy farmers in New Zealand running methane wells to run the farms. Alot of methane in NZ land as its is volcanic active area

[FrontCortex]

Man I wish you lived next door to me! Awesome Work, Exciting!

[jbhelix108]

Do you experience much voltage drop from your solar panel to the charge controller?

[ssdwellah]

2 people disliked this because they work for Exxon Mobil