We got some new solar panels yesterday and today I installed them. It was long and tedious and would of been much easier if I waited for Addie to get home to help. BUT I wanted to surprise her by having them all hooked up when she got home.
We used to only have 4 panels. 2 were 100watts 12vdc each and 2 were 50watts 12vdc each. Now we have 2 more at 100watts 12vdc each…
This is a picture of the original solar panels:
And here is the process I went through to add the new ones:
These are the new ones 🙂
First I unplugged everything then checked each individual solar panel with a voltmeter:
Then I ensure I have enough cable connectors to connect 6 panels while maintaining a 12vdc setup. If you wire them another way you get 24vdc or more…
Here I take a 2way cable and attach a 4way to it for negative side and then repeat for positive side. this will allow me to connect a total of 8 solar panels. I am hoping to get 2 more of these next month.
Then I connect them to the lines going into the cabin:
Now I have to redo the top of the turntable so it can accept more panels. Keeping in mind I only have six right now but want to get two more later…
I add some 2x4s to widen and lengthen the table but forgot to photo it 😦
But here is a shot of the brackets I mounted for attaching the solar panels:
And here is the first solar panel setup…
Now to get the rest attached. This was the hardest part…
I wish they were all the same shape and size but every time we go buy new panels the ones we got the time before are no longer around. No worries though because they still work. You just need to get creative when installing them 🙂
Here is a picture of their wiring…
And we are all done now. Just need to turn the fuse box back on and wait till morning to see if they still work…
We are using 100watt 12vdc 5amp monocrystaline solar panels. They start charging about an hour before sun rise and continue to charge until about an hour after sunset. They charge off the full spectrum of light. Our eyes can only see white light. Even after the sun has begun to set and it looks dark to us, there is still UV light pouring down on us for a bit. These panels can also charge with up to a foot of fresh snow on them.
Hope you enjoyed the article 🙂
Visit FixedByDoc.com for lots more on Off Grid Living with Doc and Addie
You say about panel. But i want to know, which battery is used to store this solar energy. Are you electrician? Superb creativity.👈👊👊👊👊👊
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i posted a battery blog right after this one. i think it should answer your question i hope.
here is the link...
https://steemit.com/homesteading/@fixedbydoc/what-are-the-best-bateries-for-off-grid-solar-and-wind-turbine-use#@everittdmickey/xedbydoc-re-everittdmickey-re-fixedbydoc-re-everittdmickey-re-fixedbydoc-re-everittdmickey-re-fixedbydoc-re-everittdmickey-re-fixedbydoc-re-everittdmickey-re-fixedbydoc-what-are-the-best-bateries-for-off-grid-solar-and-wind-turbine-use-20171122t060943606z
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Thank you so much.
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:) you're welcome...
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Very, VERY interesting.
I'm rebuilding a small houseboat...8ft x 24 ft. At some point I intend to install (about) 6 x 20(ish) square foot of solar panels (batteries will be in a 'keel-box')..
What you are doing relates.
Keep us updated..
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I suggest agm batteries. i used them and they are great. good luck with your build :)
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Great! You answered a question I had that I didn't even ask..yet.
along that line...tell me more about these AGM batteries. I'm about to start on the battery box..how tall/wide/long are they? What do they cost? I expect to have a box (under the floor) about ten or twelve foot long, dunno exactly the depth and width yet.
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I will post another blog right now that explains all about the batteries i use.
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that'd be GREAT.
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already up for you :)
i'm fast huh? lol
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I suspect you cheat...Like I do.
I have dozens of posts primed and ready to go.
going there now.
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actually i own fixedbydoc.com and am transferring many of my blogs/articles to here for more exposure :)
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Nice write up. Following.
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thank you...
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@originalworks
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The @OriginalWorks bot has determined this post by @fixedbydoc to be original material and upvoted(1.5%) it!
To call @OriginalWorks, simply reply to any post with @originalworks or !originalworks in your message!
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Nice job calling in those voters from minnowsupport big guy
Yeah boy! :)
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I like how you showed everything as you went along. What a nice surprise for your wife! I bet she was happy.
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she was very happy. cant wait to see the power we get tomorrow. will post an update blog on them tomorrow. im guessing we will hit dump mode with any luck. thanks glad you like the style i wrote in :) i try to make it look as easy as it is...
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Nice job Doc. I've been looking into getting solar and my knowledge is preschool level. I actually understand quite a bit better & look forward to more solar posts.
What would you recommend for van dwellers? 50 watt? 100 watt?
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look at everything you want to use that requires electricity. add up the wattage the devices tell you they use. then double that. when it comes to batteries quadruple the total amps you need. start with that and try it out. you may need a little more or less. that is how i did it :) i need 1000watts solar and 800ah worth of batteries.
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Congratulations @fixedbydoc, this post is the most rewarded post (based on pending payouts) in the last 12 hours written by a Dust account holder (accounts that hold between 0 and 0.01 Mega Vests). The total number of posts by Dust account holders during this period was 3291 and the total pending payments to posts in this category was $763.89. To see the full list of highest paid posts across all accounts categories, click here.
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Stop this comment.
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Congratulations! This post has been upvoted from the communal account, @minnowsupport, by campervanelvis from the Minnow Support Project. It's a witness project run by aggroed, ausbitbank, teamsteem, theprophet0, someguy123, neoxian, followbtcnews/crimsonclad, and netuoso. The goal is to help Steemit grow by supporting Minnows and creating a social network. Please find us in the Peace, Abundance, and Liberty Network (PALnet) Discord Channel. It's a completely public and open space to all members of the Steemit community who voluntarily choose to be there.
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Looks like Elvis hit this post with a bot trail and a couple of bigger bot votes from @minnowsupport
Nice Elbus!
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Congrats they will make a big difference for you.
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thanks. my goal is to eventually have 1000watts total. I have been living off 300watts for 4yrs now. Plus a 600watt wind turbine.
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We have 400watts on our camper and we need more desperately, plus more batteries. One thing that helped us was converting all the lights to LED.
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we could all use more batteries lol... i only have 400ah worth and need/want 1000ah lol...
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Well done, I like what you do!
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thanks :)
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What I especially like is how well you documented everything and are ready to answer questions about what you've done and why. Really good job sir
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thanks...
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That is an amazing! I have always wanted to attempt some solar panels. You have a GREAT set up.
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thank you. weve been on solar for 4yrs now and nice to get some new panels.
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Fascinating post. I so want to go solar and have looked multiple times at doing it myself, but am so intimidated. We have friends of friends who did it and live completely off the grid... so I know it can be done, but electricity isn't my thing beyond changing some plugs and outlets. It is fantastic to see your set up and to be walked through the testing of the old and installation of the new. You've encouraged me to revisit this. Nicely put together post with great information and images. Thanks!!!!
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thanks and glad to help. all the instructions for solar power are written at a 5th grade level and is basically plug and play for simple setups. im sure you will do fine. just follow the instructions that come with your equipment and all will be good :)
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Very informative post and has built loads of confidence in me. Basically, I am not the kind of person who is technically inclined and I tend to stay miles away from these gadgets and equipment. But this post with lucid details and vivid pictures gives me a lot of confidence to attempt such adventures in future.
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glad to here. hope you have some fun with it :)
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That's some handy and nifty work there and with all the knowledge u did a great job.Would love to learn stuff like these 😊
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thanks. i learned everything i know about solar from reading the directions on equipment and watching YouTube...
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I would love to make the switch to solar power, but I do find much of the technical side of it daunting; so perhaps reading your articles will help break down that daunting-ness.
following, with great interest :)
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I have some videos of me installing all the batteries and controllers as well. I will get them up today hopefully for you to see.
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Excellent, much appreciated. :)
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Just finished posting the article and videos about how I installed the equipment for you.
Here is the link:
https://steemit.com/homesteading/@fixedbydoc/how-i-installed-our-solar-and-wind-power-equipment
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Good for you . Enjoy power autonomy ! Wish i could afford it too...
resteem
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thank you... i will be posting an update soon showing the power...
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Great post. So how many items can you now run with the new panels in place?
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it is more about not draining the batteries than the number of items. my entire home is 12vdc. i run a water pump, wifi, two computers, lights, and some misc gadgets. i don't have a need for anything else. fridge is nonelectric.
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We're having fun doing similar.
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:) good stuff...
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Thanks for posting this. We are wanting to go solar as well, one of these days. :)
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