$7,000 Dollar Cabin Gets OFF GRID SOLAR SYSTEM

[@TheWhitetailtrophy]

Thanks for the info on what will work for a small cabin

[@markwitkop7022]

You have probably consider this. If you panels were 12 feet off the ground, they would see the sun more durring the day. Also, trimming the top 30 feet off of a couple trees would help alot.

[@frankmaze1972]

One of the most informative videos I've seen so far. 🙂

[@NYCamper62]

I'd say switching the panels to 2s2p was a good move to combat shading there. I can also see you with 2 batteries there at some point and maybe using some pvc conduit for the wire run. Ok thats a small inverter but it should be hooked up to the battery. Nice cabin btw, cheers.

[@benjones8977]

I would also consider getting another four solar panels and wiring them in series parallel/ also. Then you would be able to double your solar input. Then you could get a 1500W inverter. And when you get more money get another Battle Born Batteries.

[@davidpotter9462]

I just got two of those HQST panels about a month ago. I had fourteen 100 watts panels but couldn't run the window air conditioner very much. My panels are all different sizes and brands. I have kind of the same problem. The barn shades part of the panels after 5 p.m. So I have four on the West side and four that are on the North side far enough away to not be shaded. I have the panels hooked up in pairs, 41 volts open circuit, on my 24 v. system. The smoke from Canada has made it here, so I'm only getting around 800 watts. About five days ago it showed 1030 watts for awhile. The max on my 4215 BN controller is 1040 watts.. I have twenty big marine batteries for the battery bank. I added a 600 watts wind generator in March. They sent a 12 volts one but it was supposed to be 24. No trees here. I made some frames for some of the panels out of square pipe. The frames made them heavier so the wind doesn't throw them around. One of my first three panels got broken that way so that frame is the heaviest, lol. I think those two are like yours. I put two in each one. I ran a pair of #14 wires for two frames or four panels, which seems to help. There's four pairs of those going to the controller. I had 1200 watts of the panels facing the 🌞 Sun this morning. I flip four of them around noon from morning to evening. So I have 800 in the afternoon after the batteries are charged. I tried hooking up the panels 63 volts, and I didn't get as much wattage. There's a voltage that the controller will produce more watts at, mine says 33 volts. Mine runs at about 34.1 or around that. So it's pretty close to the optimal voltage. So, that means I can't put the panels very far away. That's why I am only getting a thousand watts on sixteen hundred watts of solar panels. Eight of the panels are forty feet away. But having the optimal voltage lets the charge controller run cooler. I had mowed by the building so I had moved all the panels out away. They all have plugs so I mowed and forgot to hook 800 watts of solar panels back up. LOL. So this morning I was like what the heck. Then I remembered. So I went and plugged them in and the amps went to 33.1, but the voltage stayed at 24.9. It has to have more amps to charge the batteries with the air conditioner on. So I had to turn the air conditioner off and let the batteries charge. I've got a gallon of distilled water and a pint of sulfuric acid that I'm going to mix and I have 120 cells to check and add water to. It's going to be 100 or over, for nine days. Adding water will let the batteries run closer to 80 degrees. That little hole of light will just get smaller as the trees grow. You can cut it while it's small, or cut it later when it's Great big. Probably need to top some trees, let some light through them. That's where you cut the top out. I would have already been chopping wood 🪓. Whatever was on the Southwest would be stacked drying out. 😅 Well one of these days, if you get the panels bug again, I bought a pair of 100 watts mono panels for $147. I bought the same pair before but they were $10 less back then. Same exact panels. So that's $73.50 each, not bad. They're really high output. I wouldn't mind having ten more of them. My uncle thought I was getting too many when I had 1200 watts, but I had to get four more to run everything else and charge the battery bank too. I usually run the air conditioner for awhile then let the battery bank charge awhile. Then when the batteries are about full, I turn it on . Then the panels will stay up with the air conditioner, freezer, mini fridge, three fans, etc. , and charge the battery bank. Today I had some wind power too. It always helps. You can't put one up unless you put it in a tree top. You have a lot of chainsaw work that could improve your solar, and or wind generator power system. Besides your panels will get hot without any breeze, and won't put out very much. Might be what it's already doing.

[@gregoryostrander2672]

Very nice job!

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

Thank you very much!

[@desmondsharpe5397]

Nice set up! I have similar shade issues that results in much lower production. I've killed a few marine batteries by drawing them down too deep. The non led acid batteries are beyond my budget right now. One thing I did notice is that the watts produced increase once the controller goes into bulk mode. The Tru potential for your set up can be seen at peak sunshine and a low battery.

[@jasonbroom7147]

How many marine batteries can you afford to kill (and replace) before you make the smart decision and go with a lithium iron-phosphate battery, with low-temp protection?

[@scottjenkins6972]

Very cool. I need to get my solar setup done soon.

[@troyyarbrough]

I have a shade problem as well. I made a 800 watt solar array (series/parallel) and I also made it portable. it's on skids so I can move it side to side to capture more hours of sun as the shade starts to cover my panels.

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

Yeah this winter it's been an issue with one of the constant draw systems in the cabin. Definitely not ideal being in the woods.

[@mr.goodwin2082]

You got to get above the problem... Tether a blimp covered in flexible solar panels

[@liamalepta8003]

Thank you for your videos. I bought a 12x32 shed which I am working on. You showed the video about on demand water heater and those lights. The water heater i contemplated how i would do that, grey water system. I found a on demand water heater and a 12v water pump on amazon for 200 usd. Pulling from a 55 gallon rain collection drum, filtered, from rain gutters from my roof. It rains a lot where i live and this system is great. I have the luxury of charging the two 12v car batteries at a house, It was your video that enlightened me about the water heater. I had already planned on gray water but i never knew those on demand heaters existed. It works great. I rigged up my off grid like a RV. My next tackle will be solar and possible wind energy collection. Maybe a steam power turbine to generate, because my area it rains a lot and there is many times no sun. Thank you for you videos.

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

Awesome. Glad to hear it.

[@davidbalgosky4107]

You would be best to run them all in parallel, you would not be over the amperage ratting of the controller but would minimize the impact of shading

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

I have them in series and parallel now. 2 in series and then paralleled together. This seems to be the best combo so far.

[@Randy-jg6uy]

Very nice

[@christineberanek]

Very cool information. I don’t know if you’ve addressed this is another video, how do you keep mice from working their way into the cabin? They are relentless!

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

Haven't had a problem so far. I made sure that there are absolutely no holes or openings anywhere. Also, since we don't live there we don't keep food there, so I'm sure that helps a lot.

[@khalifaalnuumani2990]

Nice Cabin could you share the dimensions ,I have a plot by the Lake good project for rent that can be your rustic home-away-from-home for a few days or a few weeks. Thank you

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

12x24

[@Theoppositeofchaos]

Keep an eye on that stump under your panels you might have side branches growing soon

[@juanallen2145]

I’m looking at building a similar cabin next year. Would you build the same size cabin if you had to do it all over again?

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

Yes. its a nice size. just depends on your needs.

[@richardanderson358]

can you provide the information on the circuit breakers you used?

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

amzn.to/3uyvUbV

[@tracy2762]

what do you think about 2010 crv? i found a used with 115,000 and its ex l..i have been thru the funky a/c problem with i think 2007 and had it replaced. i guess the heat from the engine wears them down .too close. also looking at 2015 odyssey ex l..same miles. i know the van is a rarity but it seems they only changed the oil every 8 to 10 thousand miles. thanks for any thoughts.

[@cherylkitchen]

So far over my head. I need to do some learning.

[@malzimus]

Have you had any issues with mice or squirrels or other critters chewing on the wires with them being above ground?

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

Just installed this system and so far so good. I may put them in a conduit and bury them though. So far its so I can move the panels around if necessary, which I've had to do a couple of times.

[@cooltrkin]

It sounds like you have choices to make. No.1 shade or solar. No.2 what alternative you want, for back up and support. And No.3 how you can have more solar for cheaper. My systems panels are 6, 255 watt Canadian solar. 38.00 a piece. My batteries are two power queen 300 ah. they are 989.00 bucks a piece. I have 3 charge controllers. Because instead of one big system I have 3 systems for individual rooms. I have two power inverters. One is a 4000 watt pure sine wave And another 1500 watt modified sine wave. My main system is 24 volt My others are 12 volt systems. OK it looks like your going to be cutting some trees in the future. Have a good day.

[@liamalepta8003]

I have a question about your great set up. Where can I find those lights on the remote control dimmer and what guage wire ? I'm getting a off grid place set up. I've completed purchasing every possible power and hand tools. That's the expensive part I think. I decided a pre built shed to cabin just because how costly lumber is. Doing osb interior walls with panel wanescot, mdf chair rail all throughout and tobacco glaze paint. Actually if painted well, osb has a nice texture , more durable than sheet rock and it's cheap, sheet rock and tongue and groove is really expensive now. Found decent faux wood flooring for cheap at a discount supply store. I have most materials to start, but the pre build shed actuality works out the cheapest because of such high lumber prices I suppose they charge you for the building, yet if bought lumber the extra waste. The high cost of materials was the reasoning . Another thing, with osb walla as opposed to sheet rock, weight and structure durability I took in account because I'm making it portable, building in one location and going to have it moved to another in the future I'm on land with family no problems, however when I find land at recession prices (if this world problem persists) I will move the cabin and block and level there My set back years ago was I had to let go of tools. The 2008 recession wiped me out... this time I'm prepped and equipped

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

Here are the lights amzn.to/3EHeujo and here is the dimmer wireless switch amzn.to/3VAm05q

[@JonOffgrid]

id keep adding more panels i am at 6000 kw trying toget to 10 kw but cook system there keep going cheers

[@f1s2hg3]

Excellent job now do my cabin! Okay 👍

[@yonsookkim184]

4😊

[@user-dr2pg8fk2i]

That cannot be $7k worth of gear. Where did you get it all? Also, look at Tigo for optimizers and bury those PV lines.

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

The cabin costs 7,000 not the solar gear

[@mikejones-vd3fg]

simple solution - you make a robot that runs around with the panels chasing the light avoiding shadey spots in the forest - solar robo tracker. Ok not so simple, but definately the only solution to this shadey problem.

[@malzimus]

Algorithm munchies 😀