Building a DIY Solar Power System

[@lufia1624]

Yknow, I could make a constructive remark here and there about the presentation, but this was just really great to watch because it shows an older couple happily working together and staying mentally sharp and physically able. Seriously, you guys are inspiring and we need more of your content.

[@wisolutions]

They all do this when we are not looking :P Its hard to find a husband and wife that functions like they should but mine is like this with me we've been together 21 years couldn't ask for more.

[@birdness]

You literally have no videos posted. Why would you think you're qualified to make remarks about others presentations?

[@wisolutions]

Agree

[@jcberb]

I was telling myself that putting up solar panels on my own and building ground mounts was a lot of work and was debating about hiring out the work; then I see this video. I am totally ashamed of myself. This couple did a great job.

[@jeffvoight6586]

I've recently purchased a property so that I can build a NetZero home with solar and all of that. As I've been working on the property, I keep saying to myself, "I should have done this 20 years ago when I was younger," And, then HERE YOU TWO COME ALONG and make me realize that self-pity isn't a winning strategy.

[@capecoaster69]

Martha made the work easier! Excellent team work

[@DennyUGomez]

Probably the most relaxing solar DIY video I have seen. ❤

[@ramonalvarado9503]

Agree

[@DanielinLaTuna]

And the dog! Clearly picking up on their relaxed energy

[@ArizVern]

RETIRED 78, USAF, VFW. On an acre had to figure out how to use land and install solar panels. In 1970 in 6 years, build total electric 2200' home. Built 9' tall 30' to 60' ramada with four parking bays. Sun Power panels with SMA inverters in Feb 2009. Fifty foot behind home under ground feed 200 amp panel. Bought mini excavator. Zero electric $$ for last 15 years. With second electric car, Cybertrk coming.

[@kianakan96826]

69 yrs old USAF retired here

[@monroejosh]

This is beyond a doubt the best DIY solar power system video I have ever watched.

[@whiskeynvinylrecordcollect9019]

You folks are an inspiration. Most younger folks are afraid to get their hands dirty. This world is going to be in big trouble when people like you and I are no longer able to do this work.

[@MultiTasker888]

It'll be great for the few of us youngins that actually work with our hands to finally get the pay we deserve. Everyone my age is making almost double me in their cozy offices while im crawling under houses and get dirty every day. And I even got a construction management degree! It's no winder people don't want to work labor jobs when it pays similar to walmart

[@htsyami]

Don’t worry too much, we’ll have robots capable of this kind of work with minimal oversight by then

[@tomcoryell]

@@htsyamiDon’t bet on it….

[@Realismike]

My grandpa worked his a$$ off and did all kinds of stuff up until he physical couldnt move. I hope to be like him. He didn't complain, he just went and did it. We lost an entire generation of men that knew hard work. Looks like there are still some left.

[@Jon-ie8kk]

At first I was thinking "hurry up man"... than I sat back, relaxed, enjoyed, and learned a few things.

[@crystalworks1]

Sir, I hope my wife and I are able to still undertake projects together in this fashion when the time comes. I admire both your DIY installation, and your teamwork. Thank you for this video.

[@tomcoryell]

I’m impressed that you lifted 100 pound batteries!

[@frankripley5188]

What an outstanding video. I'm 70 and I've got 170 panels to install. After seeing this video....I'm not worried about my build. My wife and I are a great team plus I've got my granddaughter ready to jump in.

[@gmhomemovies2023]

Thanks for the comment. 170 panels! That's enormous! You got to video tape some of your build and share it with us.

[@markwitkop7022]

Pay back time is not the whole story. It is nice that, in the event of a power fail, your house will still be lighted. No dino juice had to be burned to make your power. Which means that people like the rest of us can breathe a little longer. Thank you for that. I love seeing couples work togather to accomplish a task. Very refreshing.

[@bothorsen4292]

Thank you, sir, I did indeed enjoy this. My wife and I are doing a bunch of projects together on our house and I enjoyed seeing the two of you working on this together. I came for the solar power system, but got quite a lot more. Very well done. And that "It's gonna blow, Captain" had me laughing loud, earning me some questioning looks from my wife :)

[@gmhomemovies2023]

@@bothorsen4292 thanks for your feedback. Good luck with your projects

[@groundspeed3954]

It's like I'm watching a video of me and my wife. We're in the same age cohort and are building an off-grid solar/battery system on our farm in Virginia. We're using the same batteries but opted to incorporate Victron components (charge controller, inverter, etc.). This vlog reinforces a key lesson: these systems don't go up overnight! There's a long learning curve and the DIY process requires perseverance and stamina. With time and patience on our side, we, the silver panther brigade (i.e., retirees) may be the growth engines for solar/battery power solutions!!!

[@DanielinLaTuna]

I love your dogs, especially the one at the beginning of the video! By the way, your bride Martha is a keeper, but you already knew that. What a blessing to have a partner so able, and willing, to help in a project of that scope.

[@Smedleydog1]

"It's gonna blow Captain" That got me chuckling.... You and your first mate did a great job. Very inspiring.

[@ibenglish]

This guy knows how to throw down some wood. Very solid looking solar structure

[@shidelsresthomestead6921]

Your video prompted my husband to tweak our off grid journey for our Canadian homestead, in Southeast Manitoba.

[@Lestat1759]

Hands down, sir, you are amazing ! A professionally built system. It was a pleasure to watch !

[@HifiGuard]

It's wonderful to watch you guys work. An older couple who have experienced and worked a lot together. Still a team, independent. Want to make it on their own, like so much so far in life. I wish you many more healthy years together. Be blessed!

[@digitalthunder7744]

Well done Martha, we all know you did most of the work :)

[@onlymise2758]

Hi Pal . I'm a solar Installer myself ..... Lord that was very impressive , I really enjoyed watching ... just one thing if I may .... timber in contact with the earth ( rot ) my friend ..... I'm sure you have it all thought out ... Good man setting the array to winter sun . when you need it most .... RESPECT to You & you're Wife from Dublin Ireland

[@kelvinnance8371]

It is great seeing couples work together because they want to, and this is what our younger generations need to see more often, so thank you for sharing your labors. I especially appreciate your use of such renewable sources as wood. Solar has certainly taken off, and it also appeals to my 'agrarian genes'. I am from southern Illinois, where the family farmed the great Midwest Plains and Ohio River Valley. I am certain "Solar Energy Independence" is to be driving a whole slew of business sectors in and around the Renewable Energy communities (from Industry Makers to Consumers) for quite some time yet, so great to see you helping to lead the way, right there 'on the ground'. Thank you again for your video! Blessings.

[@swiftgs2009]

Super Video TOP Greetings from Germany👌

[@jiminauburn5073]

Love how you are working as a team getting this done.

[@carolewarner101]

Wow, amazing job! You and your wife make an amazing team together. My husband and I are about your age and want to put in a system like this ourselves, so this was super inspiring! Congratulations to you both.

[@gmhomemovies2023]

Go for it!

[@carolewarner101]

@@gmhomemovies2023 Thanks for the encouragement! We are in Oregon. May I ask where you two are located? You really seem to know all about electrical. Is that your profession? If not, how did you learn how to do the electrical installation of all of that? Any links or resources you can share will be a bonus for us. Thanks so much for responding and posting your video for all to see!

[@gmhomemovies2023]

Hi Carole, we are located in Howard County, MD, USA. I worked in the IT business my entire career and picked up a lot from installing servers network equipment. Mostly I learned from being my own handy man. Here is a link to an excellent forum: diysolarforum.com/ I also read a bunch of books and watched many good KZbin videos. I bookmarked a lot of websites all about solar power. You need to learn about the sun angle, Oregon is pretty far north so will need more panels than me to get same power, but very doable. Good luck with your project.

[@carolewarner101]

@@gmhomemovies2023 Hmmm, that's true. We're approx. 5 degrees latitude further north here than Howard County, MD. We're already very familiar with sun angle, and will likely fabricate our ground mount with metal on a tiltable axis that will allow us to optimize the angle of our panels on at least a quarterly basis. We're also investigating the cost difference of going with micro-inverters as they allow for easy expansion and have over double the warranty time frame of most single inverter systems. However, given our Mediterranean climate here, we will be capturing the vast majority of our solar during the summer/fall/dry months as it barely rains here in summer yet is mostly cloud covered all winter and spring. Fortunately, we have an excellent microhydro site at our place, with over 100' of head and over 100 gpm flow the entire rainy season. That same spring can provide us with gravity feed water. So we are hoping to have summer solar and winter microhydro meet our power needs, combined with relatively modest electrical needs (extremely well insulated, well sealed walls and roof, no air conditioning, propane cooking/hot water, wood heat combined with heat pump for emergency/out of town back up, etc, etc). We also have the option of grid tying the system, although I am lobbying hard for an off grid system and possibly generator back up for the bare essentials just in case. My hubby is a physics professor with a complete grasp of all the electrical theory and I'm the wood worker/handywoman/DIYer type, so between us I think we can figure this out and make it happen. We are in the process of educating ourselves and I'm trying to convince my guy that with our various strengths, between us we could save the cost of hiring "professionals" to do our installation just as you two did. I believe the savings could be quite significant, plus we'd then have the knowledge and ability to maintain/repair the system ourselves for future savings. The only downside of that may be that it looks like the various state and national solar incentives are contingent on being installed by "professionals?" Not sure about this, so hoping I'm wrong about that. Seems like as long as everything is done to code and we pass the final inspection it shouldn't matter who installed it. Thanks so much for the link and input!

[@gmhomemovies2023]

Good for you Carole. The current 30% fed tax credit does not require professional installation. Our state has a $1K kickback, but it required a licensed electrician and electrical permit. I did DIY and couldn't get it.

[@RobertBeck-pp2ru]

My thanks for sharing this with everyone. You have a terrific helper with you George. Keep going with these projects. It helps you stay young.

[@alpachino468]

Your strength, stamina, and work ethic puts a lot of the younger generation to shame. Good on you, sir, for a job well done!

[@phillipneale6422]

zing amount of detail Pat. You and Martha made a great team. Best wishes from a retired electrician in the UK.👍

[@offgridatliberypoint]

Great couple. I bet you two have been working together for decades.

[@mikehenry5688]

SIMPLY AWESOME

[@rohawaha]

Thanks for all the work putting this video together, My wife and I are about to put in a similar system with the same solar panels where we live Holiday Florida . Not looking to go off the grid really just have power when the grid goes down . Our power grid here is old and weak and it seems the power goes out for a day or two every big thunderstorm comes through , and then there are always the hurricanes that can knock power out for weeks. I already built a 10' x 10' sound proof generator shed next to my workshop behind our home and I can feed power to my home through the 150 amp service panel I ran to the house for the shop. This will give me the option to charge my batteries using the generator a couple hours a day if needed and let my wife use the dryer and washer and central A/C , I installed 3 small 5,000 btu window units so we can sleep in cool temperatures without drawing too much battery power at night. I have been a marine electrician the last 20 years since I retired from the military. I'm 65 and my bride is 63 and we have been married 40 years, all three children are grown married and doing well and I finally have time to do all the projects I have been wanting to do. I doubt I will ever retire, I love having purpose and a full life. Robert & Beatrice Holiday Fl

[@solarairsystem]

Inspirational to say the least. Great to see you and the wife working together staying active. Keep them coming.

[@gumpster6]

You put a lot of work into building the system and making the video covering the whole process. I'm impressed - great job!

[@proudwhitesettler7746]

This was a timely video for me. I just received a setup very close to yours from Signature Solar. Same inverter/charge controller, three EG4 48V batteries. SS had some nice 455W panels on sale so I bought 10 of those. I await some warmer weather to start setting it all up. At 70 years old the cold is not near as much fun as it used to be. I don't have an electrical grid anywhere around me so off grid it has to be. You had some nice tips in your video and I thank you for it.

[@Chris-sz9vr]

70 yrs old and off grid...Respect

[@proudwhitesettler7746]

@@Chris-sz9vr It is at the family ranch where I was born and grew up. I set my retirement home up in the old bunk house where ranch employees once stayed. The ranch was always off grid, light was kerosene and coleman lanterns, water was from a gasolene engine pumping into a big pressure tank and from a windmill. Fridge and cooking range were propane. Heat was from wood. We got by perfectly well. A solar system seems terribly modern and almost like cheating.

[@EnGammalAmazon]

'George and Martha' (?) you did a great job on this video. I'm an educator, contractor, carpenter and logbuilder. I turly appreciate your attention to detail and methodical practices. This is one of the very best videos I've seen to date. This is something I will be doing in the next year. I have a very unique need for solar, inverters and batteries because I've been building log homes for over 50 years and I just bought a farm in Sweden. I'm in the process of moving and I am working on a hybrid Swedish/American power system in my shop so that I can use all of my specialized tools until I wear them out. I was overwhelmed for about a month looking at all the tools that i did not think I could take with me. Selling them here would only bring me about 5-10¢ on the $ and buying all the tools new in Sweden was not looking like a good option either since mine are all 'well trained' and will last at least as long as I do! Your video gave me additional ideas on how to deal with the difference in our US power system which is basically 2 phase (120 v./120 v.) 60 Hz. power and the Swedish system where every house has 3 phase (120 v./120 v./120 v.) 50 Hz. The good thing is that 99.5% of all Swedish homes has the three phase power. This will be great in my shop and house where I have some higher voltage items. As I buy new equipment it will be of the Swedish variety. The nice thing is that I can set up solar and use a Swedish inverter coming off a 48 volt battery system to create the 120 v./50 Hz./3 phase for the Swedish items and a second US inverter to convert the 48 volt to 120/60 Hz. Thanks again for a great video and a source of ideas for my needs.

[@awbean5254]

GREAT JOB! YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS & EXPLANATIONS WERE VERY INFORMATIVE! YOU & YOUR WIFE MAKE A GREAT TEAM!

[@daveallen924]

Great job! I was very nice to see a couple working together on a project like this. Big Thumbs Up!... Thank you for sharing.

[@alanday5255]

Helical piles would have saved you on some of your lumber cost. Its lovely to see you and your spouse working on this together.

[@mymainelogcabin]

Awesome video nice to see you put this together 👍🏾👍🏾

[@tomlampros7122]

As an engineer and installer with a 40 year career in solar, I'm very impressed. You've done a very nice job on both the structure and the electrical installation. I respect your choice of components, and appreciate your use of leftover components when possible. I look forward to hearing how the EG4 batteries perform over time, and the EG4 inverter. I'm about to install our own system with a Schneider inverter, Outback PV controller, and LiPO3 batteries, with some used 175W(!) Evergreen modules that were salvaged (for free) off a commercial installation. Congratulations!

[@BillHoward-lb4zb]

Quality work and video presentation, I enjoyed following the whole build process from start to finish.

[@petersvan7880]

Really enjoyed watching this informative video. Relaxing, no screaming guitars, bravo!

[@sgtcote1]

You inspire me to grow my simple 400watt 12v system into so much more. Thank you

[@frankgrunder8242]

Thank you so much for this information. Really impressed of the work both of you did . It inspires me to start my own build. Greatings from Sweden 👍⚡👍

[@scottrogerson1615]

Great video, I just learned a lot that nobody else has on this eg4 inverter

[@jeevespreston]

You two are an awesome team, much respect!!

[@nancyrobards3800]

Loved the video. You have a little time on me but not much, remind me of myself and wife working together. Great job!

[@nancyrobards3800]

Was on wifes account for some reason!?!

[@Val-xi4we]

Great video! You could even change your main hot water heater out for a hybrid, and then set it to hybrid only mode. You can even set temp/time, so that you bump the temp up a hour before you normally shower then lower a bit a while after that time.

[@5400bowen]

Nice simple channel name, I think I know what G and M stand for, that is cute, really.There is a simple elegance in the way this is done and presented. And being semi retired and spending a huge amount of time watching how 2 videos, it is really nice to not have the persons face in the camera constantly. Watching your methodical work, and the nice teamwork, along with the relaxed tone of the dialogue, is quite pleasant. Adding to it is the very judicious editing, showing each complete sub step, but not going to the vertigo encouraging sped up video. Quite nice.Oh, and nice truck too!

[@gmhomemovies2023]

Thanks for the kind words

[@iiinsaiii]

Great work 👏👏👏 nice job. Tip #1 Can’t tell how you got the wire connected to your battery bus bar. But the best way to connect them is one lead will be connected on top of the bus bar, while the other lead is connected to the bottom of the bus bar. If you have them connected to just the top, that top battery will get charged first before the rest of them will. Tip:#2 have a plan B. Like you said, when it’s cloudy outside you won’t get fully charged. So go get Signature Solar new EG4 48v 100amp charger and use a gas generator to charge your batteries. Hey, you never know with this weather these days and the time we live in. The grid can go down and you need to be ready. P.S. I have the new EG4 charger. Love it. Good luck & God Bless

[@gmhomemovies2023]

Thanks for your comment. Yes, I flipped the negative bus bar and connected the negative cable at the bottom

[@emblems4life726]

@@gmhomemovies2023 Good move and really EG4 should modify their cabinets to have them correctly installed from the factory.

[@keithw32123]

Payback time would be less if the price of retail electricity included the social cost of carbon emissions on society. Great team. Great video. Sorry your camera fell over.

[@jwsolarusa]

Very nice built. I really enjoy watching this installation. Finally, I will like congratulate Martha for here major role she played on this installation as very trained apprentice of yours. Thank you both for sharing this awesome footage of your partial off-grid solar and battery backup system. I have subscribed to your channel. God bless and have a wonderful life together.

[@ejennings98]

That is not going anywhere and great team work. Well done!

[@johntrout9585]

George, this is terrific. I peddled through the first 30 minutes and will repeat this afternoon. Your explanations are clear and thorough and it was great to see all the help you had in doing this. Very impressive you should share this on you chat room.

[@duncanjames914]

Thank you for sharing your experience in building this ground-mount system. I'm about to install my own small (1650watt) PV array connected to an Inverter/Charger/20kWh Battery/Gen back-up system for critical household loads. Your ground mount design would work for us. It was heartwarming to see you and your wife both work on this together. I'm of the same vintage and also work on projects with my wife (although sometimes reluctantly - lol). All the best.

[@gmhomemovies2023]

thanks for the comment. good luck with building your system.

[@grangenroses]

Greetings from France! Great job ! We will do the same thing here in a few months 👌🏻😊

[@richardhineline5018]

I really enjoyed this video. Informative and inspiring. Thank you!!

[@Nodularguy1]

Great install ! Thank you for the video.

[@rongray4118]

My wife and I are Loving the video!! Thank you!!

[@jerrykeyser2336]

Nice work good team work....

[@starkenterprises2371]

I have the same system in my living room waiting for installation! 16 380w panels in barn. Still gathering bits needed. About $12k so far. Like you, some materials I already have on farm to reduce cost. Will install this year. Thank you for this video. GOD BLESS GOD SPEED GOD WINS.

[@isovideo7497]

I hope you aren't installing it in your living room ;^)

[@Jennifer-007]

Wow, you’re incredible!

[@avoirdupois1]

I enjoyed the details about he parallel/series configuration and the cable runs. Important practical tips!

[@K1FILMS]

amazing job, I think I need to build my own when I buy a house.

[@tabauknight]

FANTASTIC, on all the work you both did.

[@volkerbosch9078]

Good work ! Greetings from Germany 🇩🇪

[@JohnThomas-ou2rn]

Sunday morning Zen with a cup of coffee. Thanks!

[@hegjon]

Thanks for the inspiration, you are a cute couple!

[@amithus9912]

Thank you for this. It is helping me make my own system. I really appreciate your time and energy to add recording and editing this. It's also really nice to see a successful happy couple working together. This is a "how to" video in more than one way.

[@diySolarPowerFunWithRay]

Nice build... smashed

[@starrvalley12]

Very nice setup

[@colormaker5070]

Be careful solar is very addictive. I started out a year ago with 120v EG46500ex and 2 lifepower batteries, 10 solar panels. Today I have dual eg46500 in split phase, 12 batteries and 40 solar panels and there new chargeverter. You have skills good luck on your venture.

[@allen35315]

Very addictive!

[@mikecif4123]

This was useful and showed me some things I hadn't considered. Thank you.

[@noname-vu5gq]

Great job, i enjoyed watching your video. I too want to commend the both of you on your teamwork and the high quality professional installation. Even the dog was standing guard while you both worked. Great job and I look forward to seeing more of your content.

[@RichardSteigmann]

Nice job 😁👍

[@rhinothumping]

Loved this video. I’m about to set my own system up this spring. Very easy to understand what you did. It just occurred to me that it might help to run a cord through each section of conduit as it’s buried so that it’s already in the conduit when it comes time to pull the wire. Watching these videos really helps me visualize what’s required to do the job. Thank you for posting it! 😊

[@daddio7249]

Rural Florida, no zoning. I have more room and am building two 42 ft strings, 12 panels each low to the ground. I started middle of August, much sweating. 71, I work slow and as of today I have one row built with five panels installed, should get five more tomorrow. Now that it is cooler and I have all the bugs out of my design I should get everything up this week. I got a three point post hole digger for my compact tractor. I got most of the inside wiring done during the hottest days.

[@larryreid8562]

This panel can put out close to 100 watts kzbin.infoUgkxOqI2yqX0XVrhR2BMJciTWrHJpG8FhJyg when positioned in the appropriate southernly direction, tilted to the optimal angle for your latitude/date, and connected to a higher capacity device than a 500. The built in kickstand angle is a fixed at 50 degrees. Up to 20% more power can be output by selecting the actual date and latitude optimal angle.The 500 will only input 3.5A maximum at 18 volts for 63 watts. Some of the excess power from the panel can be fed into a USB battery bank, charged directly from the panel while also charging a 500. This will allow you to harvest as much as 63 + 15 = 78 watts.If this panel is used to charge a larger device, such as the power station, then its full output potential can be realized.

[@phfen]

Amazing project, done as a couple. Sweet and impressive ! Thanks for sharing !

[@wadebrewer7212]

Man....i am considerably younger than you are sir....and i rented one of those post hole diggers....it....kicked....my....butt. Clay and rock here where im at. I poured concrete and built it from steel. Took me wuite a while to get it done...but wil likely withstand an F5. Nice work. Looks great and you did a fantastic job with the spacing and shading.

[@bearfact]

I have great respect!! You two are a great team an smashed that install! I wish I had your knowledge when my husband and I go into our off grid adventure. Very valuable information and appreciate you sharing. Enjoy the fruits of your labor.

[@davidpage2198]

Great video!

[@Mywhtjp]

Well done Sir.. Nice powerful system. I've collected 3700w of panels.. but can and will get more. Want about 5k. Gonna buy some land and go offgrid, probably this summer. I've seen some good reviews on that brand.

[@HumbleLife8]

Great Job You Two, Thank you for sharing your awesome solar project with us, I hit the like button and smashed that subscribe button just like you asked, we look forward to watching more updates on your solar journey together! GOD Bless you both, May the Lord continue to bless you both richly, abundatly, in all full measure!

[@meilyn22]

Great job, sir! If I lived close to you, I would've volunteered my time to help with the heavy lifting for free, of course. And also take that opportunity to learn from you. I enjoyed this video. It's the best DIY project on youtube. The team work between you and your wife was awesome as well.

[@Realismike]

The music has us all dancing. Dig it! I love solar.

[@PaleoKids]

Very impressed with your skills. Well done!

[@jerrycurls88]

Awesome! We need more people on solar!

[@rileyray68]

You, sir, are an inspiration... Job well done! I love it.

[@douglascyr7627]

Great job. Years of experience shining through. Highly recommend a heat pump water. My savings has been 75% over my old electric high wattage waterheater. Uses about 380 watts in the eco mode.

[@bobtraweek1414]

Nice work - looks great. Thanks for sharing!

[@MrDJLane]

Loved it and the set up looks perfect. I dont usually subscribe when people say Smash the subscribe button! But I did this time... Really good info as you went along. From here in the UK thanks.

[@BritishAnts]

Great video and set up! ❤

[@smplyavg]

Good for the both of you!!

[@volrathy1]

Amazing you 2 are awesome. If you guys can do it we all can do it.

[@GrammelVideo]

Great video, very informative and inspiring, thank you. Good work 💪🏼😊

[@theodorreich]

Great job, I wish I had your patience and organizational skills!

[@usetheforce9836]

This is really nice. Really nicely shot, edited and depicts a good overview of your project. Maybe, if you collected any of that footage, some brief (10-15 minute) nuggets going into some of the details could really help folks trying to replicate your efforts would be helpful. If they're of the same quality, I think you'd really start to see your subscribers grow. I' was actually surprised at how few you currently have with this strong of a video.