Modern Shed: Off Grid Bluetti Solar Power System

[@peterwest9447]

Very nice example of using some of the newest tools to make your life easier. So far I have a Jackery 300 that I got on Cyber Monday, last year. I paired it with a 100 W panel from Harbor Freight and it has worked great so far. I might consider moving it into my shed like you did.

[@NilesProductions]

Yeah, I’m super happy with the set up. Even happier that I didn’t have to dig a trench through my yard to run traditional power from my main breaker.

[@weekendhomeprojects]

You the greenest guy I know! Nice setup.

[@NilesProductions]

Lol, just trying to keep things nice and simple. Thanks!

[@criostasis]

Just got the smaller version and a 120w solar panel for my shed. I have a much smaller 10x10 basic shed but need to power my chargers for my electric lawn equipment. Glad I went this way! After watching you reminded me that I need to get a weatherproof outlet box to run the wiring through to the panel outside. I may set up my panel on a pole with a small motor controlled by an arduino and photo cell to follow the sun. One of my family friends has a big set up like that so I will ask him how he did it. Excited!

[@NilesProductions]

Sounds awesome! I’m pretty happy with my setup and glad I went solar.

[@JasonExplainsThings]

Awesome follow up Ben! I’m all about solar generators these days too. I got a little Bluetti EB55. Works great for charging devices, but trying to run my Iceco fridge while camping/overlanding proved its 530wh to be way too small. I found Bluetti’s solar panel to be overpriced at $500 so I bought an Allpower 200w solar panel off Amazon. That made the little Bluetti viable but it still ran out of juice overnight on trips longer than 2 nights. Flash forward to Prime Day! LOL. I got an Anker 757 power station which has 1500w/1300wh! These new solar generators are the business!

[@NilesProductions]

I think I would go with one 350 Watt panel instead of three 200 watt panels if I where to do it again. I rarely put out more than one panel at a time. I have put out all three thought a couple times as a test but one seems to do the job just fine for most of my charging needs. If I was working in my shed all day everyday I’d probably get a couple fixed panels for the roof.

[@jacobT1-g3l]

Awesome advice man you should teach a class

[@NilesProductions]

Thanks Jacob! Glad you enjoyed the video 🤙

[@carolmaplesden916]

i would pay good money to get a hands on class for something like this too bad there's not enough people that care enough to teach us but maybe i can find someone to hire to build me one of these that will let me help

[@NilesProductions]

I'm not sure what you do for a living but you could try and get hired on a framing crew for the summer. That way you wouldn't have to pay someone how to learn the trade they would pay you : )

[@robertlee6781]

I have an AC 200 Max as a fridge and freezer backup. I am getting another one and plan on doing what you did for my barn what you did for your shed. Like you, I don't want to deal with an electrician and also have to dig things up.

[@NilesProductions]

I'm super happy I went this route. Was thinking about picking up a second battery bank for longer power outages. So glad I didn't dig up my yard and go the traditional route.

[@shawnjoy6706]

Thanks for sharing. I would have gotten the AC200MAX too if not for the slow AC charging it has.

[@NilesProductions]

Did you find something faster? I’ve never let my unit get to zero but in theory it should only take around 4hrs to charge from flat with AC.

[@johnnymoore6730]

Nice review. One qualm I have with the AC200MAX is the BMS. It discharges quite fast even if it is on storage.

[@NilesProductions]

What is BMS? Is that when the unit is on but not powering anything?

[@matthewl.459]

@@NilesProductions Battery Management System. It's the system that manages the overall charging and balancing of the individual cells.

[@andrewfreeman88]

Your property is so beautiful, where is it? Let me guess Oregon or Washington?

[@NilesProductions]

Thanks Andrew! Glad you like it 🤙

[@euphoricmonk]

@@NilesProductions what State sir?

[@mouthfulacoque3580]

I'm going to need a battery for a while. How has the bluetti held up a year later? - you answered my question*2. I'm sold

[@NilesProductions]

About a year in with the Bluetti and it has been trouble free.

[@alabastardmasterson]

I dig it but are you leaning towards a fixed system yet? I ran power to my last shed then went the solar generator route to run most everything but the welder. I'm definitely going a different route this time around. I love my Bluetti 200 but will only use it as a dump charge next time around

[@alabastardmasterson]

*Dump charge bc I'll have hydro linked in

[@NilesProductions]

I’m still happy with my system. I don’t use it a ton and it fits my needs pretty well. If I was using the shed as a living space or worked in it more often I’d probably want a fixed system but for occasional use or powering my guitar amp it works perfectly.

[@OvertravelX]

Off topic - are you happy with the pier type foundation you chose? I’m about to start a “shed” and I’m in analysis paralysis over the foundation. Thanks!

[@NilesProductions]

I am happy with foundation I chose. I wanted my shed and deck to be up off the ground a little so that I would have a little raised perch to look out over my yard. There are a bunch of different ways to go about building a solid foundation, but with my minimal experience, pier and beam to me seemed like the most doable by myself at the time I built. If I were building something a little larger and was using it more as a garage type storage I would have done a concrete pad but then it would have been lower to the ground. If I was building it as studio or an second living space I might have gone with a foundation wall vs the pier and beam so the crawl space under the shed would have been better enclosed for insulation purposes. One of the bigger considerations though was it was spring 2020 when I started the project and everything was going to into full Covid lockdown. Cement trucks weren't delivering at the time and there was absolutely no way I was going to mix by hand the amount of concrete it would have taken to poor a wall or slab lol

[@OvertravelX]

@@NilesProductions I really appreciate the reply! I’m building this on some family land and I have a feeling that when I’m gone, no one will be interested in living there. I was thinking piers because then it could be portable/sellable instead of just being a tax burden. I don’t want a slab for sure. I have the cliché nice house in the burbs now, and I had to have the slab jackhammered up for a plumbing repair. Not building anything I can’t repair… Thanks again!

[@RandyDial]

Do you use the shed for more of storage or projects? If projects, how does it perform?

[@NilesProductions]

I use the shed for many different things. In order of importance I'd say: Storage, bike shop, gardening stuff. I also have my drum set setup in the middle of the shed so I can bang away without disturbing everyone in the house. LOL Been super happy with it and actually use it pretty regularly.

[@albertlopez85]

How long will that run a window unit?

[@NilesProductions]

The unit has a 2000 watt battery so if the AC unit draws 500 watts per hour it would last 4hrs on battery only. If it's a 1000 watt unit 2 hrs. If it's a sunny day my three 200 watt solar panels usually generate around 400-450 watts per hour. So the answer is it depends LOL

[@MrFredjsnj]

Your videos make me think that all this stuff is easy to do. Then I remember I can barely hit a nail on the head. Do you think a disaster like me who can’t tell a 2x4 from a pipe has any slim chance to build a shed, even if it takes me 2 years?

[@NilesProductions]

To be honest this was first shed I ever built. I figured if I got the foundation nice and square the rest would fall into place. So when I started I only purchased the materials for the foundation and floor just Incase things went sideways. I’m happy to report thought that by doing research, taking my time, and asking my carpenter friends a ton of questions I feel I set myself up for success. Like the song says, “You can do it if you set your mind to it.”

[@MrFredjsnj]

@@NilesProductions great tips. Thank you. I might start by doing a dog house just to get a feel.

[@NilesProductions]

@@MrFredjsnj I started with building skateboard ramps. It's a good idea start small.

[@danl8024]

@@NilesProductions The "rest wood fall into place"...the most appropriate Freudian slip ever! Your shed build video is amping up my confidence to tackle my project. Thanks for the detailed material list.

[@NilesProductions]

@@danl8024 I can't spell lol Good catch 🤣Edited to say "would" lol

[@gonrico]

Hey what camera equipment or guide did you use for this .

[@NilesProductions]

Shot the majority of this with a GoPro Hero 10. The drone shots were with my DJI Air. There are a couple iphone shots in there as well. Edited with Adobe Premiere

[@gonrico]

@@NilesProductions Very nice, which Iphone? It just looks so well done, amazing the current tech. I'm rocking a 6 still XD

[@NilesProductions]

The shots of my pup are from an iPhone 13.

[@John-sn4hl]

What was the total cost to build this shed?

[@NilesProductions]

The shed and deck were a little over $12k at the time I built it. The solar stuff was around $3g

[@bakaariiim]

​@@NilesProductions Bro, U are the best. GOD bless to You.

[@NilesProductions]

@@bakaariiim thanks for the kind words 🤙

[@victorbrown3155]

It's my bday i didn't see the roof of solar panels : ((((((((

[@NilesProductions]

Lol, yeah just the 3 portable panels. Happy Birthday Victor Brown