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Hartsvillecabin
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# Posted: 4 Jul 2023 10:17am
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Hi there - very new here but looking for some direction on getting a solar solution up and running. My cabin is remote in Western NY. I have very low power requirements - waterpump and lights - no fridge or AC and propane runs watertank and stove. I have a yamaha 3000w inverter generator that runs the water pump and lights when we need it - and it's the generator I am looking to replace. I got a quote for a system for $45,000 that would let me live there as if it were a house but I think it's overkill. I've looked at the Tesla system but there are no installers out there. I am not an electrician and feel out of my depth with buying a DIY system - or are they that easy??
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frankpaige
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# Posted: 4 Jul 2023 11:27am
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What do your visits look like? Are they short? Long term? Do you use a cooler when you are there. Are you able to drive in? Is there tree coverage that might prohibit a solar panel?
It was a learning experience for some of us.
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Hartsvillecabin
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# Posted: 4 Jul 2023 11:40am
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It's 100% drive in and i have about 4 acres of field/food plot so tree canopy isn't an issue. 3-4 day visits are the norm - April-December... later in the year when it's dark at 5 is when we really notice having to use the generator a lot. we do use coolers for the most part - the propane fridge is old and tends to freeze lettuce etc. we use a little jackery to charge phones and laptops but with 2+ laptops it doesn't last long. the water pump and lights are the biggest thoughts
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travellerw
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# Posted: 4 Jul 2023 01:07pm - Edited by: travellerw
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If you want to try and DIY a system, then I suggest you spend MANY MANY hours reading over at diysolarforum. Unfortunately, there is no shortcut and you won't get a proper answer just asking on a forum. Its a complex topic and to build a proper system, you must understand many concepts (this is why people charge so much).
Now with that said, the one thing you can do is a "power audit". Figure out all the things you want to run, how many watts they take and how long they will run in a 24 hour period. Do this for ALL items, even things you MAY want in the future.
e.g.
I have 4 lights in my cabin that are 4.5W each. The time of year depends on how much I run them, so I take the worst case in winter. I would run 2 lights for 5 hours in the evening before bed. So here is that math.
4.5 times 5 equals 22.5Wh per day
Repeat for all items, then add the Wh per day together.
Then you can take that number and times it by the number of days you usually stay at the cabin and you will have your power requirements for a typical stay (good practice to add 25 percent as a safety margin). That number is crucial to calculate and understand.
Based on your post.. I'm pretty sure once you have done that, you will find that you could easily be serviced by a portable power station (Bluetti or EcoFlow). Good power stations are rated by the number of Wh you can draw from them. So if the above number is lower than the rated Wh on the power station, then it will cover your needs. I'm guessing a $1000-$1500 power station will fit that requirement for you, but you will not know until you do the math.
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travellerw
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# Posted: 4 Jul 2023 01:15pm
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P.S. Once you do the math, I think you will find the Laptops are your biggest draws (assuming LED bulbs for you lights). While the pump draws a lot, it should be short duration.
You can also look into increasing the run time of the power station with solar. I think the EcoFlow and Bluetti support about 1500W at the sizes you would be looking at (they have built in solar controllers).
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Hartsvillecabin
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# Posted: 4 Jul 2023 03:55pm
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thanks travellerw! I was actually looking at the EcoFlow earlier. Once charged it'll run like a silent generator - it's making sure the panels will charge and keep it charged. doing the math is a helpful idea
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 4 Jul 2023 04:09pm
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NAZ Solar has a good, easy to use calculator I've used for our systems and those I have helped others here with.
HERE IS A LINK
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travellerw
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# Posted: 4 Jul 2023 06:28pm
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Quoting: Hartsvillecabin it's making sure the panels will charge and keep it charged. doing the math is a helpful idea
If it was me.. I would do the math and buy one that covered my needs without the panels. Then add the panels as a "bonus". This will keep you from the complexities like rain, clouds, bird poop, shading, ect. All of which have a giant impact on solar production and are pretty unpredictable.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 5 Jul 2023 06:05am
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You can just buy a solar generator and charge it at home or your generator.
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mj1angier
Member
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# Posted: 5 Jul 2023 09:08am
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I am getting an off brand Kill-a-Watt meter and going to plug in the different items for a 24 hr reading. That way I can know what it is drawing real world vs just trying to rough calculate it.
https://www.amazon.com/Suraielec-Calculator-Protection-Electricity-Electrical/dp/B08G SPLZBN/ref=sxin_17_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.749943ff-94bd-4679 -8f03-3b5488f65fae%3Aamzn1.sym.749943ff-94bd-4679-8f03-3b5488f65fae&crid=IUFDMU8EDDU8 &cv_ct_cx=kill+a+watt+power+meter&keywords=kill+a+watt+power+meter&pd_rd_i=B08GSPLZBN &pd_rd_r=18946d2f-4da3-4fbb-a9da-ecb65e437241&pd_rd_w=IedyD&pd_rd_wg=xpoOy&pf_rd_p=74 9943ff-94bd-4679-8f03-3b5488f65fae&pf_rd_r=7ESV77K1HVTK326WS023&qid=1688562037&sbo=RZ vfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=kill+a%2Caps%2C149&sr=1-1-2b34d040-5c83-4b7f -ba01-15975dfb8828-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&psc=1
My main item is this chest refrigerator that we have. I feel like it just sips power but can really put the cold out
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073WTNRJ2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF 8&th=1
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 5 Jul 2023 09:34am - Edited by: gcrank1
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[b][/b]Get a big enough AIO unit to power your intended devices for at least 2 days (more days is always better too) without a recharge.
If/when you run your gen for anything have it charging the AIO (all amps in is good amps). If I understand those correctly you can also charge them off your car? So, if you go for a road trip, chase ice or groceries, etc. you could maybe take the AIO along and get some recharge?
Taking it home for a recharge is what we do with our two 100ah 12v LFP batteries, we swap out as needed. Year two on this and its working well.
Last, imo, would be to set up some solar. We had it but Hate the Look of a ground array at our meadow and the roof is Not an option (shaded location and wrong orientation). Ymmv but the good news is you do not have to commit to solar to get and use an AIO (or separate LFP bat(s) and a Pure Sine Wave inverter (do Not get a MSW inverter!). Your energy peak load will determine how to size the inverter.
Btw,We only run the gen for hd tools and the microwave (discovered my 600w toaster runs fine off a 750w inverter). The low wattage nuker is just too handy for warming leftovers but we do have an LP stove (imo a 'must have').
I second the 'diysolarforum' to get educated but it can give you info overload, so take your time to digest it and stay focused on 'small scale' rather than 'whole house/turn key systems that emulate the grid power.
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old greybeard
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# Posted: 8 Jul 2023 10:44am
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I'm not too far from you, with similar usage. Using 2x200 watt panels into a renology mppt 30a controller, and 4 golf cart batteries. Batteries work fine when we arrive in winter and its 4 degrees. Generally just use a cheap 800w inverter, its fan doesn't run until 100w's are used. The bigger inverters have a almost constant fan and higher parasitic loss.
Mine are on the roof which takes a pole and cleaning when it snows, would have used a yard mount if sun position allowed it.
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Grizzlyman
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# Posted: 8 Jul 2023 10:29pm - Edited by: Grizzlyman
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Doesn’t have to be complicated. I bought a 2 panel kit on Amazon 3 years ago for $165. That has a charge controller with it. This feeds a 12v deep cycle battery. I have several lights in my cabin- all 12v led and even a 12v fan. The total amperage draw even if I run everything all at the same time without replenishing power is like 7 amp hours (including the fan). That means you could run the whole house all night on one charge. Realistically, counting the hours you run everything, it’s more like 3 nights on 1 charge.
Basically you use some battery at night, and the solar panel fills it back up during the day. It doesn’t have to be that difficult.
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Steve_S
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# Posted: 9 Jul 2023 02:05am
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I'll chime in on this a bit.
Today in July 2023, there are so many "Solar Generator" and Power Bank system like the Buetti's that "plug & play" setups make weekending & cabineering a hell of a lot easier.
System Scale... It does NOT have to be big or complicated ! I live OFF Grid, in Northern Ontario, I see temps go from -35C to +35C (-31F-95F) normal. I use ONLY 3.0 to 3.5 kWh per day. 3000-3500Watt Hours. and I run my Home on that.
People should go and check out these offerings from Bluetti and see what Plug N Play options are there... Also realize that such can come in handy "everywhere" like even your daily residence should power fail....
https://www.bluettipower.com/
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 10 Jul 2023 12:34pm
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The whole big elec power thing is a lot to swallow at once, just like the whole structure of a cabin.
I break things down into sub-systems of the whole big system.
Ie:
The array and wiring to
The SCC and wiring to
The Bat-bank and wiring to
The inverter and wiring to the cabin/service panel
The cabin wiring
Gen and wiring to the bat bank and maybe throughput to the inverter with auto-switching to the bat bank.
Abbreviating that down to the essentials is starting with the bat-bank, inverter and gen to make basic cabin power.
All that because I like the freedom to replace/upgrade my 'system' with components rather than a magic box that I cant do anything with.
But I do appreciate that many are not like me and just want turn-key elec power. That is where the AIO units shine; literally 'plug and play'.
Two years ago I bought two 100ah LFP batteries that easily equal 300ah of LA (conventional Lead Acid chemistry bats) to use my existing inverters (yes, I have multiples, dont we all, LOL), gen, home charger and solar). If I had none of that it may have been more cost effective, and EASY, to have bought a large AIO.
Fwiw, Steve_S has had good advise and nothing I could ever find a substantive disagreement with.
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travellerw
Member
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# Posted: 11 Jul 2023 07:42pm
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Amazon Prime day today.. Looks like multiple Power Stations on are on sale.. Thought I would post.
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