16.4KW Whole Home Off Grid Solar Installation with the Apollo Solar Generator

[@Sylvan_dB]

Pulling lube on the wires also makes a huge difference in the pulling tension required. It's amazing how well the shop-vac and a bag works to get a string thru the conduit. 😁

[@minutemanprep]

Yes I thought about using the lube but with how I broke up the runs it didn't seem necessary, plus the wires were very wet since it was raining.

[@fb510m]

Great job Ben!

[@minutemanprep]

Thanks!

[@solarcharging9743]

High frequency solar generators like the Apollo and the Delta units are a poor choice for an off grid system. They both offer a comparatively low surge capacity and reliability when powering inductive loads and can damage your appliances and even set transformer based appliances on fire during a catastrophic failure of a single MOSFET in their H-Bridge circuit. A much safer and more reliable choice is to install a hybrid, low frequency, transformer based, inverter charger coupled with an LFP battery pack

[@minutemanprep]

Fair enoug, that's one point of view. The majority of people after a system like this are not wanting to deal with any DIY setups. They want to pull it out of the box, have minimal setup and move forward. Both options are good in my opinion and I will be doing videos on how to do both.

[@USA-GreedyMenOfNoIntegrity]

My two Sol-Ark 12K’s work just fine. 19 months totally off grid. You just have to have the right equipment in your house to begin with.

[@minutemanprep]

@@USA-GreedyMenOfNoIntegrityThat's awesome. Sol Arks are incredible units.

[@solarcharging9743]

@rv10flyer84 That's because Sol-Ark is manufactured in the U.S. and they use high quality components such as brand name MOSFETs, caps, inductors and resistors that are all in spec. Unfortunately though, your Sol-Ark inverter will not last as long when compared to a high quality low frequency, transformer based inverter charger. The MOSFETs will eventually succumb to inductive surges a sooner than a low frequency inverter will.

[@Ojames600]

I was all excited until I heard the price 😲.

[@minutemanprep]

Yes it's not cheap, but still WAY cheaper than traditional solar installations. At my house to do the same install with a local company is $130k, but 4 Apollos, 4 batteries, 40 panels, plus labor and everything is closer to about $75k. That saves $55k which is indeed a ridiculous savings.

[@Ohiogrown89]

Do it yourself for half the price got quoted about same size system for right at 20k that's with 30kwh battery storage just have to do labor yourself

[@johnbrzezinski1446]

Interesting, but I thought that this video was going to explain how the Hysolis Apollo system would be connected.

[@minutemanprep]

Sorry I wasn't able to put that in this video. I have multiple other videos already filmed and in editing right now that will show how to do that.

[@katsshibainus3258]

So when I order the Apollo from you I can hire you to install the panels?

[@minutemanprep]

Absolutely! I'd love that. You can order here: poweredportablesolar.com/shop/ and email me directly about the install here: [e-mail] so we can work out all of the details.

[@JonathanEdwards-gt5eg]

Awesome! I work for a solar company and we install grid tired Enphase and Tesla systems mostly. For something like this, am I understanding correctly that this customer would not use the utility at all and simply use the power supplied by the solar array / batteries? I’m curious how all of this ties into the home. I know you may already do a video on this but that would be cool to see!

[@Glocktard]

This is a good question.

[@minutemanprep]

Correct, this is an off-grid setup, no utility connection.

[@Greenstar-dg9tx]

Hey guys if someone can answer my question it would be greatly appreciated. I’m building a off grid 20x20 cabin that I will be my primary living home and I have no clue what solar system to get to power my entire home. I will be needing to power the basic things a residential home needs. Please help if you can thanks I’m really slow with comprehending this stuff

[@minutemanprep]

I'd love to help! You can email me directly at [e-mail]. If you want a portable system I'd definitely do two Apollos for 240v power and up to 8.8kw of solar input. Depending on what you need to run will determine if you need extra batteries and how many. If you don't want a portable system there are other options with off-grid inverters that can be wall mounted and then a few different battery options too. I mostly just need to know what you need to run, your location, and if you want permanent or portable. Anything that uses heat, I need to know if it's on propane, natural gas, or electricity such as the stove, range, water heater, furnace, and dryer.

[@rongray4118]

Just subscribed from your mini split video... LOVE THIS ONE TOO!!

[@minutemanprep]

Thanks for subbing!

[@rongray4118]

@@minutemanprep we will be placing our very small 4KW system in a 40' sea container with solar array on top. Shortest distances possible. We will be feeding 48 volt Absolyte Battery bank... going to need to get to 12,000 watts ASAP.

[@stevenfrazier8939]

Wow, We have 14,6 kilowatts of Bi-Facial solar, 30 kilowatts of LiFePO4 batteries, and 12 kilowatts of inverter from EG4 18K PV and a 100 amp EG4 Chargeverter all for $16,500. Something is wrong with their equipment selection if it costs $75,000 plus. I am dumb founded by that.

[@adamsisernik4556]

Hi, your videos are great. We are from Slovenia and we have a CTC 9kw heat pump for heating water and rooms in the house and electricity is the only source of energy. We are considering upgrading solar collectors for water heating or a solar power plant with an Ecoflow Delta pro storage tank, as an aid to the heat pump or saving energy costs. What do you advise us?

[@minutemanprep]

I don't think there are any other options in your area so that should work.

[@billy-go9kx]

Well if you have money to throw away to pay for over spec construction and overtime...

[@gunnerjoe53]

You need to borrow that post driver from Engineer775 😊

[@chadvivi]

Good god it is NEVER ok to step on the solar panels. FML, great way to ruin the panel.

[@jnmc-vx4fw]

After reading about the EcoFlow delta pro ULTRA ….this system is really not good at all, nor does it come close to comparing to the ultra …Wait for the Ultra in Jan

[@jamesg6071]

I’d much rather have a server rack battery system and a larger inverter such as a solark or eg4 18k for less

[@minutemanprep]

Interesting you came to that conclusion. I do like the paper specs of the Delta Pro Ultra, but real world testing is always what's most important. The DPU does not have "dark start." Meaning it will not turn itself back on if it reaches 0%. The Apollo does. I will be doing a head to head comparison of the two when I get my DPU. The DPU is a great unit, on paper, but I am still leaning towards the Apollo even after seeing all of the specs of the DPU. The biggest advantage the DPU has over the Apollo is the new Smart Home Panel 2 that will also be released that allow for the Auto Transfer Switch option to work. The Apollo doesn' have that, yet.

[@etchediniron4249]

@@minutemanprepI don’t know about the DPU, but I know the Apollo can take a lot of watts and volts for charging too.

[@GoodmanMIke59]

This is impressive as heck. Interested in knowing the brand of panels, the Voc. Would be interested in knowing what the voltage drop was over that 340 ft. conduit.

[@cdonuts7335]

Me too! Interesting to know what real world voltage drop was? Also shame you didn't show the whole installation!

[@minutemanprep]

Thanks! They are the Hysolis 410w panels: poweredportablesolar.com/product/410w-solar-panel/ I didn't do a voltage drop test but I personally have run over 400ft at my cabin and have had zero issues. By having such a high solar input on the Apollo it really off-sets the voltage drop issue of long distance, especially being high voltage.

[@Just_An_Idea_For_Consideration]

Great info! Email you to get an install price.

[@minutemanprep]

Thanks! I'll get back to you asap.

[@rickdiego5]

I have one neoVolta backup battery that is 24 kW. It's not portable but it's been running for 3 years perfectly.

[@terrya6486]

What about a post pounder? No concrete needed.

[@MrThat0nekid]

$50,000+ investment

[@minutemanprep]

Yup, I don't have one yet. $50k investment.

[@MrThat0nekid]

@@minutemanprep that sky rack is a great system though… we are putting in a 300kW ground mount in Oklahoma right now and it’s been super great.

[@terrya6486]

@@MrThat0nekid Yeah that's a big investment.

[@HR12465]

Good Video... I have solar as well 😀

[@clarencewiles963]

Good video, and very informative.

[@minutemanprep]

Thanks!

[@Moes_Prep_and_Tech]

Noice

[@minutemanprep]

Thanks!

[@LetsTalkPrepping]

Can the Apollos be outside in the freezing weather?

[@minutemanprep]

No not really. They had a "dog house" built that is well insulated and then it's heated with a 60w bulb and it stays nice and warm inside. It's under their back deck

[@jnmc-vx4fw]

Cost

[@minutemanprep]

It depends, but I do go over that in the end of the video.

[@prosperityokechukwu1503]

where is the beginner guide

[@minutemanprep]

More videos to come.

[@Just_An_Idea_For_Consideration]

QUESTION: How do you determine distance between upright posts?

[@minutemanprep]

Use a shadow calculator. You must know the angle of the sun, the total height of the front obstruction, and the the base height of the rear array. This may help: easysolar.app/en/shade-calculator/

[@Just_An_Idea_For_Consideration]

Thanks but was interested in the distance between the vertical posts !--!--! how far between posts? thx

[@minutemanprep]

@@Just_An_Idea_For_Consideration Oh I see. That's determined in the engineering by Sinclair.

[@williamhanna5224]

Excellent !

[@minutemanprep]

Thanks!

[@PensacolaHomes4U]

Just WOW!!