Post by Dave Simmo on May 21, 2018 22:55:35 GMT
Reflections Back on DIY Solar
Advice ( PLAN to Expand You Will. If you just want Lights and TV you will get by at 1000 watts easy)
I was just sitting Back an Thinking back to the Old Web Site and T Thought I would Share some of the Tricks I used to get to the 12 Volt world.
I have to admit the Old HF and Irontron Kits Were the way to Learn. Not cost effective but great for Learning.
I guess the biggest Decision was to enter the 12 volt world and stay there. In 2011 it was a foolish idea but it became a goal. However all things would not run on 12 volt. A inverter would have to be in the Mix. I will just go though how I remember it Started. And My Basic Needs were first Lights and a TV and Radio were first up and I refused to go for the High dollar 12 Volt appliances I had seen on the web, Ok I looked at our house like a car and it became Clear It could be done The Lights and TV with no Inverter. Then the Decision we would never go with A GTI inverter.
12 volt LEDs There were 12 volt LEDs for Lighting up RV , But thing had to be transparent to my wife. So We decide to Spend Time and Make a game of hitting Garage sales For Basic Dome Lights that could be gutted and Have the LEDs installed and room for a pull chain switch. We needed 22 to light up our house. It took a while but we got them, Made the modification and Call the company who made the LED Panels. The lights put out 510 lumens and only pulled 0.4 AMPs. TVs and DVD player I was surprised that these were not much of a Issue, If you look at the back of the TV DVD players on the transformer (That Brick on the Power Cord) If its say 12 volt out to the TV its a Breeze to make it work,
We Wired the Lights up with Romex 12 and 14 gauge. Mostly picked up from Garage sales. Some of the Lights had to have wall switches and this was so the system was transparent to my wife. Hey If she wont use it no sense in doing it. It took extra time but if mama aint happy nobody s happy and its a waste, The Hardest part of this was installing the wiring.
The Panels on the 12 volt side are All HF or Irontron 45 or 60 watt kits. I also now had spare components too .Two Golf Cart Batteries that have been in use since 2012.
The Basic Goals were met. We light up a 4000 sqft House TV DVD with this system. The awesome part My Wife who had been a skeptic noticed the Electric bills had dropped. I never saw a dime of the savings but she did and she was on Board Hard.
There were no inverters to this point. I am Color blind So I cooked a LED Panel. But that was on Me not the Panel,
Second I now knew I could do the Labor part of it. Then We took a good look at comfort. Fridge Cooling, These were not going to be simple. We Did find a 12 Volt Mini Fridge that worked well cooling but it just wasn't big enough. 12 Volt Fans Yep but not cool enough.
Cash was a Issue. This would have to be done in Steps
Cooling We went with two 4000 CFM Evap coolers we had them already and they Pulled 4.5 to 9 Amps. The Re fridge pulled 5 amps but it wasn't on all the time AC in 2012 was a pipe dream. The Evaps would be it and we have never had AC So it was going to be a step up.
Wiring was a Issue 10 Gauge wire was overkill to me but is was a Whole roll found a a estate sale.
Wiring the outlets proved to be just as tough at the Previous wiring was for the 12 volt system.
Then Came Mamas Demand The Washing Machine Had to be On it and the dryer. ( Both are tall orders for a rookie)
One I got all the Wires installed Wall sockets We Made a power room. We did want enough Juice so for this portion we went with a 8 golf cart Battery bank separate from the Light TV system.
Charge controllers I went with PWM, These are cheep and I could Keep a bench stock of them. In Six years only one Died. The MPPTs are said to be better But My Pockets are not that deep. Panels I went with 18 158 Watt panels ( 7 years Ago these were High Priced)
Then Came the inverters. HF 2000 watts MSW did the trick but left on it was a hog. I put it on a switch. It is on when needed. Then Came a waist a Pure Sin Wave inverter 1500 watt 3000 watt Peak
I don't think I can Mention the company Name. I bought it at around 200 bucks and I miss my cash.
Bought a HF 6000-10000 watt but it for some reason I could not run a Gas Dryer, I still have it as a back up.
I then found a Tripp Lite 2000 – 4000 watt It ran everything not all at once but it worked and It dumbed down when not in use. Its Been used now around the Five year mark and I have beat it daily.
Breakers were all 12 volt and found on line, Wire was found at Estates sales and we were not in a hurry so the thick wires needed were located on the cheep. I did have to do a lot of research into what amps went to what wires and how long the runs had to be.
Currently we are working on a 20 Panel Array and going For AC along with the remote well pump that is Six acres away.
Photos of our system are on this site, Thanks for reading. I am not a electrician or a professional solar installer. I am a goat Herder thats why the photos reflect the Hill billy look.
Batteries Keep in on the cheap while you learn, Rebuilt 6 Volt GC Bats don't cost much.
Advice ( PLAN to Expand You Will. If you just want Lights and TV you will get by at 1000 watts easy)
I was just sitting Back an Thinking back to the Old Web Site and T Thought I would Share some of the Tricks I used to get to the 12 Volt world.
I have to admit the Old HF and Irontron Kits Were the way to Learn. Not cost effective but great for Learning.
I guess the biggest Decision was to enter the 12 volt world and stay there. In 2011 it was a foolish idea but it became a goal. However all things would not run on 12 volt. A inverter would have to be in the Mix. I will just go though how I remember it Started. And My Basic Needs were first Lights and a TV and Radio were first up and I refused to go for the High dollar 12 Volt appliances I had seen on the web, Ok I looked at our house like a car and it became Clear It could be done The Lights and TV with no Inverter. Then the Decision we would never go with A GTI inverter.
12 volt LEDs There were 12 volt LEDs for Lighting up RV , But thing had to be transparent to my wife. So We decide to Spend Time and Make a game of hitting Garage sales For Basic Dome Lights that could be gutted and Have the LEDs installed and room for a pull chain switch. We needed 22 to light up our house. It took a while but we got them, Made the modification and Call the company who made the LED Panels. The lights put out 510 lumens and only pulled 0.4 AMPs. TVs and DVD player I was surprised that these were not much of a Issue, If you look at the back of the TV DVD players on the transformer (That Brick on the Power Cord) If its say 12 volt out to the TV its a Breeze to make it work,
We Wired the Lights up with Romex 12 and 14 gauge. Mostly picked up from Garage sales. Some of the Lights had to have wall switches and this was so the system was transparent to my wife. Hey If she wont use it no sense in doing it. It took extra time but if mama aint happy nobody s happy and its a waste, The Hardest part of this was installing the wiring.
The Panels on the 12 volt side are All HF or Irontron 45 or 60 watt kits. I also now had spare components too .Two Golf Cart Batteries that have been in use since 2012.
The Basic Goals were met. We light up a 4000 sqft House TV DVD with this system. The awesome part My Wife who had been a skeptic noticed the Electric bills had dropped. I never saw a dime of the savings but she did and she was on Board Hard.
There were no inverters to this point. I am Color blind So I cooked a LED Panel. But that was on Me not the Panel,
Second I now knew I could do the Labor part of it. Then We took a good look at comfort. Fridge Cooling, These were not going to be simple. We Did find a 12 Volt Mini Fridge that worked well cooling but it just wasn't big enough. 12 Volt Fans Yep but not cool enough.
Cash was a Issue. This would have to be done in Steps
Cooling We went with two 4000 CFM Evap coolers we had them already and they Pulled 4.5 to 9 Amps. The Re fridge pulled 5 amps but it wasn't on all the time AC in 2012 was a pipe dream. The Evaps would be it and we have never had AC So it was going to be a step up.
Wiring was a Issue 10 Gauge wire was overkill to me but is was a Whole roll found a a estate sale.
Wiring the outlets proved to be just as tough at the Previous wiring was for the 12 volt system.
Then Came Mamas Demand The Washing Machine Had to be On it and the dryer. ( Both are tall orders for a rookie)
One I got all the Wires installed Wall sockets We Made a power room. We did want enough Juice so for this portion we went with a 8 golf cart Battery bank separate from the Light TV system.
Charge controllers I went with PWM, These are cheep and I could Keep a bench stock of them. In Six years only one Died. The MPPTs are said to be better But My Pockets are not that deep. Panels I went with 18 158 Watt panels ( 7 years Ago these were High Priced)
Then Came the inverters. HF 2000 watts MSW did the trick but left on it was a hog. I put it on a switch. It is on when needed. Then Came a waist a Pure Sin Wave inverter 1500 watt 3000 watt Peak
I don't think I can Mention the company Name. I bought it at around 200 bucks and I miss my cash.
Bought a HF 6000-10000 watt but it for some reason I could not run a Gas Dryer, I still have it as a back up.
I then found a Tripp Lite 2000 – 4000 watt It ran everything not all at once but it worked and It dumbed down when not in use. Its Been used now around the Five year mark and I have beat it daily.
Breakers were all 12 volt and found on line, Wire was found at Estates sales and we were not in a hurry so the thick wires needed were located on the cheep. I did have to do a lot of research into what amps went to what wires and how long the runs had to be.
Currently we are working on a 20 Panel Array and going For AC along with the remote well pump that is Six acres away.
Photos of our system are on this site, Thanks for reading. I am not a electrician or a professional solar installer. I am a goat Herder thats why the photos reflect the Hill billy look.
Batteries Keep in on the cheap while you learn, Rebuilt 6 Volt GC Bats don't cost much.
