Solar Experts

[Machias]

Based off living off grid 15 years I would pay to have power brought in. More difficult to get mortgages, loans, insurance and resale value etc. Plus its expensive and pain to deal with. My home owners insurance went up tenfold after sold house because located in a fire area ( surrounded by trees). My agent told me very difficult now to get insurance if live in a remote forested area. This was due, according to agent, to all of the insurance claims from the California fire a few years ago.

I just want to say a huge thanks to everyone for their inputs.  Really been torn over this the past couple of years.  We started this endeavor fully committed to going full solar, not because we are trying to save the planet or any of that BS, but because we knew going in what the cost was going to be to bring power in and we are in a spot perfect for solar.  The plan was to start the house build last year in the spring.  But that is when we started applying for a construction loan and found out after being rejected by dozens of places that you cannot get a construction loan for a home that is off the grid.  Pretty frustrating.  Then we finally decided, ok, we'll bite the bullet and bring the power in...which I'm pretty sure we will do this summer.  In the meantime I am just trying to find a small system to support the nighttime use of the CPAP.  Thanks again!!

We've come to that realization as well.  It will pay for its self, heck guys buy a pickup truck for $65,000 every day.  This will raise my property vaule a bunch and it will all be worth it.  Thanks!

[Hilltop123]

Is 65,000 what they are charging to bring in power? If so, than yes I would have to say I agree with you, for  property valve, resale, it is the right choice. Bringing in power was not an option for us.

[Machias]

I just want to say a huge thanks to everyone for their inputs.  Really been torn over this the past couple of years.  We started this endeavor fully committed to going full solar, not because we are trying to save the planet or any of that BS, but because we knew going in what the cost was going to be to bring power in and we are in a spot perfect for solar.  The plan was to start the house build last year in the spring.  But that is when we started applying for a construction loan and found out after being rejected by dozens of places that you cannot get a construction loan for a home that is off the grid.  Pretty frustrating.  Then we finally decided, ok, we'll bite the bullet and bring the power in...which I'm pretty sure we will do this summer.  In the meantime I am just trying to find a small system to support the nighttime use of the CPAP.  Thanks again!!

https://www.harborfreight.com/100-watt-solar-panel-kit-63585.html Try this for just your CPAP

I will try it out, thanks Russ!!

[Machias]

Is 65,000 what they are charging to bring in power? If so, than yes I would have to say I agree with you, for  property valve, resale, it is the right choice. Bringing in power was not an option for us.

Yes!

[Russ McDonald]

I just want to say a huge thanks to everyone for their inputs.  Really been torn over this the past couple of years.  We started this endeavor fully committed to going full solar, not because we are trying to save the planet or any of that BS, but because we knew going in what the cost was going to be to bring power in and we are in a spot perfect for solar.  The plan was to start the house build last year in the spring.  But that is when we started applying for a construction loan and found out after being rejected by dozens of places that you cannot get a construction loan for a home that is off the grid.  Pretty frustrating.  Then we finally decided, ok, we'll bite the bullet and bring the power in...which I'm pretty sure we will do this summer.  In the meantime I am just trying to find a small system to support the nighttime use of the CPAP.  Thanks again!!

https://www.harborfreight.com/100-watt-solar-panel-kit-63585.html Try this for just your CPAP

I will try it out, thanks Russ!!

I have seen some You Tube video of people powering a pretty large part of an off the grid cabin.  I have this setup for my travel trailer.  Haven't set it up yet though.

[b0bbyg]

I just want to say a huge thanks to everyone for their inputs.  Really been torn over this the past couple of years.  We started this endeavor fully committed to going full solar, not because we are trying to save the planet or any of that BS, but because we knew going in what the cost was going to be to bring power in and we are in a spot perfect for solar.  The plan was to start the house build last year in the spring.  But that is when we started applying for a construction loan and found out after being rejected by dozens of places that you cannot get a construction loan for a home that is off the grid.  Pretty frustrating.  Then we finally decided, ok, we'll bite the bullet and bring the power in...which I'm pretty sure we will do this summer.  In the meantime I am just trying to find a small system to support the nighttime use of the CPAP.  Thanks again!!

https://www.harborfreight.com/100-watt-solar-panel-kit-63585.html Try this for just your CPAP

I will try it out, thanks Russ!!

I was going to get this but then found one here for just a little more  https://www.renogy.com/ 
The advantage of this one was it could be expanded to 400Watt and the harbor freight could not.  Also one panel instead of 3-4 smaller panels.

Either will work I just wanted one that could expand if I decided I wanted to down the road.

[Machias]

I just want to say a huge thanks to everyone for their inputs.  Really been torn over this the past couple of years.  We started this endeavor fully committed to going full solar, not because we are trying to save the planet or any of that BS, but because we knew going in what the cost was going to be to bring power in and we are in a spot perfect for solar.  The plan was to start the house build last year in the spring.  But that is when we started applying for a construction loan and found out after being rejected by dozens of places that you cannot get a construction loan for a home that is off the grid.  Pretty frustrating.  Then we finally decided, ok, we'll bite the bullet and bring the power in...which I'm pretty sure we will do this summer.  In the meantime I am just trying to find a small system to support the nighttime use of the CPAP.  Thanks again!!

https://www.harborfreight.com/100-watt-solar-panel-kit-63585.html Try this for just your CPAP

I will try it out, thanks Russ!!

I was going to get this but then found one here for just a little more  https://www.renogy.com/ 
The advantage of this one was it could be expanded to 400Watt and the harbor freight could not.  Also one panel instead of 3-4 smaller panels.

Either will work I just wanted one that could expand if I decided I wanted to down the road.

So which one on that site would you recommend?  100w expandable...which one?  Thanks

[Stein]

If you are already running generators, why not buy a deep cycle battery and inverter?  I think you mentioned 90 watts, that's a small inverter that wouldn't be very expensive.  The whole setup would be simple and you likely already have a battery charger, so maybe $200-300 tops for a big battery and inverter.

[Machias]

If you are already running generators, why not buy a deep cycle battery and inverter?  I think you mentioned 90 watts, that's a small inverter that wouldn't be very expensive.  The whole setup would be simple and you likely already have a battery charger, so maybe $200-300 tops for a big battery and inverter.

I already have the DC adapter and it runs much longer on the DC adapter, so I really just need the battery, but it would be nice if it recharges all day while I'm at work, with the solar starter kit and have the generator charging as back up on cloudy days. 

[kselkhunter]

Semi related to solar, but since the fridge topic came up here is a unique alternative that I've looked into.  Meant for vehicles, but the power draw is extremely low at only 0.77 amps for the CFX-50W model.  Would need a few of them, and they can be configured as either fridge or freezer.   But the tiny amperage draw really saves on battery usage:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072K11QTG/ref=twister_B07GSMC11N?_encoding=UTF8&th=1 

I know it probably sounds odd to have that instead of a standard standing traditional fridge or freezer....but for off grid applications the power savings are significant.   

[b0bbyg]

I just want to say a huge thanks to everyone for their inputs.  Really been torn over this the past couple of years.  We started this endeavor fully committed to going full solar, not because we are trying to save the planet or any of that BS, but because we knew going in what the cost was going to be to bring power in and we are in a spot perfect for solar.  The plan was to start the house build last year in the spring.  But that is when we started applying for a construction loan and found out after being rejected by dozens of places that you cannot get a construction loan for a home that is off the grid.  Pretty frustrating.  Then we finally decided, ok, we'll bite the bullet and bring the power in...which I'm pretty sure we will do this summer.  In the meantime I am just trying to find a small system to support the nighttime use of the CPAP.  Thanks again!!

https://www.harborfreight.com/100-watt-solar-panel-kit-63585.html Try this for just your CPAP

I will try it out, thanks Russ!!

I was going to get this but then found one here for just a little more  https://www.renogy.com/ 
The advantage of this one was it could be expanded to 400Watt and the harbor freight could not.  Also one panel instead of 3-4 smaller panels.

Either will work I just wanted one that could expand if I decided I wanted to down the road.

So which one on that site would you recommend?  100w expandable...which one?  Thanks

This is the one I bought instead of the Harbor Freight unit.  If you are just looking for small starter I think this would work and it could be expanded to 4 100 watt panels.
https://www.renogy.com/renogy-100w-12v/starter-kit/

My goal is to use this in the winters in the barn/greenhouse for lighting with the battery out of my camper that otherwise just sits around does nothing, hunting season I can pull the battery back to the camper.   

[Stein]

If you are already running generators, why not buy a deep cycle battery and inverter?  I think you mentioned 90 watts, that's a small inverter that wouldn't be very expensive.  The whole setup would be simple and you likely already have a battery charger, so maybe $200-300 tops for a big battery and inverter.

I already have the DC adapter and it runs much longer on the DC adapter, so I really just need the battery, but it would be nice if it recharges all day while I'm at work, with the solar starter kit and have the generator charging as back up on cloudy days.

Gotcha, I just figured you were going to run the generator after work anyway and you could charge the battery while it was running anyway.

[Machias]

 

[Caseknife]

Our system that EcoDepot in Spokane installed in February has 310 watt panels.  We are on the grid, so no batteries, and each panel has a micro inverter.  We have exceptional southern exposure, no shading at all and on Thursday, each panel put out on average 2 kwh of power.  Hope that helps.

[Machias]

I went with the Harbor Freight 100w system.  Setup was super easy.  I went with this one for now because delivery of the expandable system from Renogy was several days away.  I will probably still get that one as well.  One thing I don't understand is the charge controller.  Even reading the manual, I don't understand.  It says hold this button and you can see the voltage, and click this button to raise or lower it, but it doesn't say what it should read and why you are raising or lowering the reading.  I can't find anything on  the net to explain what my settings should be or why I would raise or lower the voltage.  Just scratching my head.  I was able to set it up to my type of battery and that is about all at this point.