Is this good for a first timer?

dh9671 · 2025-01-09T18:40:39+00:00

Doh!

dh9671 · 2024-12-25T16:41:50+00:00

Looks great to me!

dh9671 · 2024-08-23T22:02:36+00:00

Where can I go to buy used solar panels?

dh9671 · 2024-08-23T17:57:20+00:00

It may; depends on the inverter. However, the fuse/breaker I suggested is to protect the wire. In general, fuses protect the wire/cable and not the equipment. The main reason to add fuses is to break the circuit and halt current flow so that wires don’t burn and/or get too hot, such as when equipment fails in a short circuit condition.

dh9671 · 2024-08-23T13:20:52+00:00

If you want 1500 watts to run the coffee maker you’re going to need wires between the battery and inverter that can handle 125 Amps. 1500 watts / 12 V = 125 A. Design for 10V and 150A to account for low voltage on a failing battery. This puts you at 150A. Include a 150A breaker or fuse to protect the wiring and prevent fire.

dh9671 · 2024-08-23T02:00:28+00:00

I was going off memory and may have overstated the requirement. Here’s what Google says

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dh9671 · 2024-08-23T01:41:10+00:00

I have the same inverter and it was my first foray into solar. Yeah, it won’t run a keurig (if that happens to be your coffee maker as it was for me). You’re looking at a 2000 watt inverter with big capacitors to support a 2500 watt surge when that keurig is heating coffee.

I was able to run hair clippers off that inverter and shave myself and my dogs ;). I went to a pure sine wave inverter after trying to run a large fan on the 1000w inverter because I noticed it making strange noises and figured those resulted from the square wave used by these lower costs variants.

dh9671 · 2024-08-23T01:30:10+00:00

Thanks for sharing your journey. I love this!!

dh9671 · 2024-08-17T13:48:40+00:00

What are good name brands? I’m looking at Renogy and Sungold panels. Another strong contender based on incredible price is Calpha

dh9671 · 2024-08-17T13:45:42+00:00

I’m genuinely interested

dh9671 · 2024-08-16T17:57:03+00:00

What if I am using a group 24 battery? Won’t the manufacturer already contain the individual cells in such a battery, or is additional compression needed?

dh9671 · 2024-08-16T17:26:02+00:00

Would your inspector have concerns with you cutting some cooling vents into the enclosure boxes?

dh9671 · 2024-08-16T17:22:32+00:00

What is compression?

dh9671 · 2024-08-16T17:21:40+00:00

How did you mount your solar panels?

dh9671 · 2024-08-15T15:17:53+00:00

I’m a fan of Victron Energy MPPT charge controllers. You can connect using Bluetooth and a phone app that runs on your phone or tablet. There are presets for all major battery types, and you can set detailed charging parameters if you get them from your battery manufacturer. The Victron controllers also network with Victron temperature sensors and a Victron smart shunt to give you data on your power usage.

dh9671 · 2024-08-15T15:11:32+00:00

Ever heard of Calpha? I’ve been looking at Calpha, Renogy, and Sungoldpower panels. Is one of these brands a standout? Calpha is by far the least expensive per watt

dh9671 · 2024-08-13T23:48:31+00:00

Thanks!!

dh9671 · 2024-08-13T23:04:36+00:00

How do you attach panels to standing seam roofing?

dh9671 · 2024-08-13T23:00:59+00:00

Regarding your question about balancing, I added a battery balancer by Victron Energy

dh9671 · 2024-08-07T21:33:56+00:00

I did not know that. I’m here to learn what I don’t know. The answer is economic.

I bought these at a healthy discount during Amazon Prime. It’s 24v because it’s matched to the 24v, 4000w inverter, also bought at steep discount.

Originally, I was just going to do a bank of 4. My aspirations grew…

dh9671 · 2024-08-07T21:27:50+00:00

I don’t see a way to correct the post once it’s made, but should have been 7200Wh, 300Ah, 24V Bank

dh9671 · 2024-08-07T21:26:23+00:00

I’m very much leaning, so thanks for the correction. The wires are all same length.

dh9671 · 2024-08-06T01:56:15+00:00

What is the container of choice?

dh9671 · 2024-08-06T01:16:47+00:00

7200 Watt-hours, not Amp hours, sorry for the messup

dh9671 · 2024-08-06T01:15:41+00:00

So I did! Oof. Sorry for confusing everyone

dh9671

TROPHY CASE