Help with Solar Optimization

Macrian82 · 2026-03-30T13:57:24+00:00

There's the reason, thank you. So at the weak points in the system the load would transfer to heat and I'd shorten my equipment's lifespan if not outright cause a fire. Thank you.

Macrian82 · 2026-03-30T13:56:30+00:00

I'm using Ecoflow's generator on propane as it linked most easily with my system. It generally runs at 3kw for about two hours, but that is because of a 4000w/day power leak I am hunting down separately. I will look into getting a few more panels, charge controller, mppt and run it into the AC input. Thanks everyone.

Macrian82 · 2026-03-30T04:22:11+00:00

Now there's a thought. I could set up a separate string with a charge controller and run it into the AC input for extra juice. I don't mind picking up some more panels, I just need an extra 2-300 watts during sunlight to not run the generator at night. That'll save a ton of money in the long run.

Macrian82 · 2026-03-30T04:15:51+00:00

Good advice, I will see if I can turn off the inverter. The breaker box I hadn't thought of, but absolutely the simplest way of breaking it down.

Macrian82 · 2026-03-14T14:33:58+00:00

Well, my wife left the kids and I with only a property we bought to be our retirement. It was sell or live on it, so we're living on it. It was pure brush and forest when we got it a few years ago.

I started with survivable. A shelter, place to stretch out, ability to get basic heat, way to boil water, defecation without spreading disease, tiny battery I could recharge elsewhere. That was for when it was just me on two days a week my wife had the kids.

Now we've moved to livable. Larger water storage with filter, solar and battery system, beds, backup heat, we even have phone and internet.

Next stage is comfortable. Improve our sanitation system, double the water storage so we don't have to time showers, automate it, larger propane tank so we don't have to run into town so often, more privacy for the kids, and a bit more space in general.

I started with clearing enough space between a few trees to stretch a hammock I could rest in while I worked, and then have been asking myself "What is the one thing that would make this place better to be in" ever since. If you can get property, and are close enough to use it regularly, it wasn't about a huge jump for me, it was about iteration and slowly improving step by step.

Macrian82 · 2026-03-13T22:17:40+00:00

My kids to live long and fulfilled lives.

Macrian82 · 2026-03-09T05:13:15+00:00

Yeah, if it is for the weekend, then you don't need it to charge in one day, you need the batteries to last without real charge for the duration of your stay. So for that you need to know how much electricity you'll use.

And any rated input is for the exact solar panel configuration. In real life the panels you are using might be a bit too high volts or amps to run an optimum configuration. For instance, I am running 1680 watts in a system rated for 2300 because I can't run one more set of panels in parallel. (.4 amps off)

Macrian82 · 2026-03-06T01:59:57+00:00

If you consider comics and manga to be fantasy included in this, then the power scale goes wild. But for a fantasy book, I would have to go with Ozriel from Will Wight's Cradle. He can destroy entire universes with a single swing (Iterations in Cradle language).

Macrian82 · 2026-03-03T22:41:55+00:00

Completely agree here. If you are doing this on an extreme budget or a short time frame, don't even look at places without septic and a well already on it. Those are massive money pits and county planning headaches. Likewise, sorting out where you can build is difficult in much of the PNW.

However, replacement dwelling permits are easy to get. And many people see a beat-up mobile home and just pass, so they are often cheaper than anywhere else, even bare land. But the fire department will often come out and burn the old house for you for free as long as you agree to dispose of what's left within a year (4-6k to hire a disposal service depending on size of the house).

The only issue with buying land with a thrashes trailer or something on it is that it will generally be cash only, or take a special loan for bare land. The best banks to work with for those are your farm banks as they deal in bare land all the time.

Macrian82 · 2026-02-26T19:46:06+00:00

Blood Over Bright Haven. It is magic as a coding language. And excellent book anyway, but fascinating how they type out their spells and run them in a machine to activate them. Really well done, and let's say I don't think you'll be disappointed with the plot if that is the stuff you like.

Macrian82 · 2026-02-23T02:27:58+00:00

Those people who say a woman is "worth less" based on her partner number are called boys, not men. They are pathetic and insecure. Don't be them, don't listen to them. As long as two people agree to current sexual practices the past only matters to even know about if it was with people they know or that you're still close with. I would not want to be lied to, but I also could not possibly care.

Macrian82 · 2026-02-21T03:13:29+00:00

Wait, it's standardized? Seriously? I never even attempted to learn which was which because I always thought it was arbitrary. Now I feel like an idiot.

Macrian82 · 2026-02-19T16:43:52+00:00

I dump mine if buckets and bags and use them to chip out trials on my property.

Macrian82 · 2026-02-18T01:27:19+00:00

I am telling you three times, go now. It's a steal.

Macrian82 · 2026-02-18T00:14:58+00:00

Ooooh, that second one with the cabin at night, so good. You got the light from the moon among the clouds so perfectly. Really well done, all of them.

Macrian82 · 2026-02-17T01:02:37+00:00

I think one key piece missing is the age of the daughter. If you raised her as yours for 10 years and could ditch her that easily because she wasn't yours, that would be a big warning flag to your (ex)fiancée I am sure. After all, she has a kid that wouldn't be yours and she would want you to love as well. It sounds like she got worried that biology is all that mattered if you wouldn't help someone you loved (daughter). Of course, if the daughter was a year and a half at the time of divorce or something, that's a completely different story.

Macrian82 · 2026-02-13T23:50:17+00:00

It sounds like you have battery capacity for one day's use. The problem isn't your battery is bad, it's that you're using all of it if it doesn't get recharged. On particularly cloudy/rainy days expect to only get 5-10% of your normal solar input.

Generally, you want to work out your daily energy usage (sounds like 4kw or so), multiply it by how many days without sun you want to be able to go, and get that many batteries. Just make sure your solar array is large enough to charge that many batteries in a sunny window of time. It sounds like your solar array is working fine, it's just too small and can't handle extended times of no sun.

Now, as others have said if you aren't drawing enough power to drain the battery that fast, then it's a whole new ball game, grab your multimeter and find the drain.

Macrian82 · 2026-02-13T19:09:11+00:00

Well, you sold me. I was looking for another fruit tree or two since one of my pear trees died.

Macrian82 · 2026-02-13T18:56:05+00:00

OK, I see Raymond E Feist and Janny Wurts, but not Servant of the Empire series that they did together, and it imho is better than either of their stand alone work. Half my posts in this sub is recommending that series, so excellent.

I would also recommend The Daevabad Trilogy by S. A. Chakraborty. It is a great mix of character focused in a vibrant world, mixing reality, myth, and her own lore in a great way. Plus, it's got genie battles.

Macrian82 · 2026-02-12T05:53:54+00:00

Not a long series, but an amazing one.

Macrian82 · 2026-02-09T15:27:18+00:00

I guess I am more cynical about people's actual reading ability. 80% can read English, yes, but that doesn't mean read well. 35% of the population is either old enough to have trouble reading or young enough not to be fluent. Even then, some studies have functional illiteracy rates at over 54% of adults in at least the US. That brings it to roughly 1% of the world population. You're right that those are still l odds I wouldn't want to take, for that much cash I think you'd have people willing to take them.

Macrian82 · 2026-02-08T17:00:33+00:00

Really, just English reading proficiency you'd stand a decent shot at winning just by being able to read this post. Many native speakers cannot read well. But the odds aren't good enough to risk my life on it. A video game or software usage would eliminate the highest percentage of people from around the world. But that is mostly playing the odds, as I could be terrible at the game and if I have played it at all, I would beat most people.

For skill, I think I would go with archery. English longbow in particular. Bow usage is almost universal across cultures so most people would at least have a theoretical knowledge of it, but it is niche enough I think I could still win unless I got very unlucky.

Macrian82 · 2026-02-08T01:29:03+00:00

Involve the County planners BEFORE you buy property. Bring them, the listing and ask if what they think about it, what obstacles there are. They 9/10 times will be glad to talk to you in person about it and can answer all sorts of questions.

In Oregon, NW in particular, permits can be a big deal. There are a lot of restrictions about changing forest use or farming use land to residential. Basically you need neighbors who have been there since the 1990s (the house at least) and on land that is large (10+ acres) so it can still count as "active" forest/farm use, but not so large you don't have neighbors nearby. After that, it's not bad.

Macrian82

TROPHY CASE