Pamela Teele

I did use the calculator. I had the right idea as far as battery count. Just way off on other things. Very big help. I'm going to look into the cooler ideas, just not so sure how I could do it to prevent black bears from getting in them. Gotta love wildlife This is an experiment all new to me. Thanks for the ideas. I'll keep check for new useful tips too.

Kathy Burns-Millyard wrote:We just finished upgrading our solar setup today and I'm working on writing a detailed article about it soon. In short, it's a but more complicated than it first looks. The controller is key. Basic ones that come with the kits are PWM controllers, which do not allow you to get the maximum usage out of your panels. An MPPT is MUCH better but also much more expensive.

We used the 60 watt kit for a little over 3 years. Because of the way the controller works, we estimated the system have us about 24-30 watts an hour during peak sunlight. The new system is 100 watts and so far today - with clouds, dust and haze - we're getting about 70 watts an hour. Full sunlight will likely put us very close to or at 100 watts. HUGE difference and I'm thrilled

I'll try to post more details in the next few days as I have time.

I'm looking forward to reading it. I was wondering what size controller I needed.. I don't want to overload the batteries, but want to get as much usage as I can

The space heater I can do without. I was just going to us it until I could get a mass heater built. There is a wood stove so heat is covered for a little while. I'm just trying to figure out how many solar panels are needed to supply a good charge in the batteries and be able to run a few items my children enjoy. And if I needed 2 of the 1800 watt solar kits. Maybe a good started inverter, but look to purchase a larger one in the future? The small chest freezer is a must, cause I'll have a cooler type fridge that ice keeps cold.

grounding? running copper wire over a piece of plywood to 3ft piece rubar as a lighting post to protect the inverter. Will that be enough? I'm not sure the inverter will be enough. can you run 2? I have been looking to add an 1800 watt total home kit. But I'm not sure how much power that will give. Sales people around here have no clue when I ask questions. thank you.

I have a cabin that hasn't ever been hooked up to a power box. has some elect wires ran in walls to hook up a car battery to. I have purchased a few solar kits. I have one 60 watt 4 panel solar battery charger, 10 amp solar charge controller, a 80 watt 4 panel battery generator, 2000 watt cont/ 4500 watt max inverter. I am trying to get enough power to run a small chest freezer, 37 in flat screen, wii, dvd player, some lamps and possibly an ionic heater if wood stove burns out at night. gonna piggy back 10 truck batteries. New to all this and researching as much as I can but brain is overloaded researching this and reserching/ building a small animal far for my kids. Please help any way possible. trying to cut cost of things I don't need. Thank you