willh
New Member
You are correct it is snowy, but this is being designed for 3 seasons, and mostly summer. Spring, summer and early fall are quite nice in this area, a 5 day stretch of rain would be very uncommon.
Off Grid Cabin - Will this work as intended?
- Thread starter willh
- Start date
Horsefly
Solar Wizard
Facing east? 18 degree tilt? Partial shade? Yes you have lots of issues.
willh
New Member
I do fully agree that the system is under paneled, was just hoping it would work out haha. Thankfully the system has capacity for more panels without any issues if need be. What do you find your system produces on a sunny day in the summer?
Horsefly
Solar Wizard
The thing about production, is that the PV array and the SCC will only deliver what something will consume. So unless I have a table saw on, it's a bit hard to know what the maximum production is.
My 6 panel, ~1700W PV array (facing due south, 40° tilt) actually has come real close to producing the nameplate rating of 1700W. But we are at 9,000 ft elevation in Colorado, bright sunny day, and it was probably near the middle of the day (I don't remember). I only know because the well pump turned on and there were a couple of other loads, pulling everything the panels could deliver.
willh
New Member
If someone steals these panels they are welcome to them, not easy access to this cabin. lol. This array will be facing due south and adjustable tilt but likely in the 45* range. No shade issues, looking down a long stretch of lake.
I'm a little confused but I think I know what you are saying about power consumption. I'm guessing that your batteries are normally running full so you have to run loads to even see what your panels could produce? Good situation to be in.
I'm a little confused but I think I know what you are saying about power consumption. I'm guessing that your batteries are normally running full so you have to run loads to even see what your panels could produce? Good situation to be in.
Steve_S
Offgrid Cabineer, N.E. Ontario, Canada
My danby is 120V. When it starts it pulls close to 6A and then while running (which is not very long at all) just a bit under 4A from my battery bank, as I can see it with my Mislar Solar software & smartshunt.
I'm FT Offgrid, running 120VAC, with 2Kw of Solar slightly further North of @willh in Ottawa. I typically use 3.5-4.0kWh per day. Solar is fixed ground mount @ 45 Degrees and it all works. Due to my increase in LFP to 1190AH as I changed from 428AH Lead it would be ideal to add another 2Kw os solar with another 75A+ SCC.
Edit, in case you cannot see my Signature, this link here will give you more info which may be helpful. (it is dated and I have to update this after I complet my overhaul)
diysolarforum.com
I'm FT Offgrid, running 120VAC, with 2Kw of Solar slightly further North of @willh in Ottawa. I typically use 3.5-4.0kWh per day. Solar is fixed ground mount @ 45 Degrees and it all works. Due to my increase in LFP to 1190AH as I changed from 428AH Lead it would be ideal to add another 2Kw os solar with another 75A+ SCC.
Edit, in case you cannot see my Signature, this link here will give you more info which may be helpful. (it is dated and I have to update this after I complet my overhaul)
My DIY off-grid Cabin setup in Ontario Canada (24vdc-120vac)
NOTICE: UPDATING November 2022 WIP Good Day everyone, Overview: There is no grid here, no phone lines, cell is so-so (to be polite) so satellite internet is here (not bad actually). I do not have 240VAC, this is a 120V system only. My Solar Panels are mounted separately from my Powerhouse...
diysolarforum.com
willh
New Member
I'm seeing about 4ish hours in May which is the earliest it would get opened. A little less than that in September when it would get closed up.
willh
New Member
I think Steves numbers are pretty useful for what I am imagining actually. He is saying that he is using 3.5-4kws with 2kws in panels. I would be at a 1:1 ratio where he is 2:1 (consumed kw : array size kw)
willh
New Member
That math seems far to conservative, you must live in a very gloomy place with terrible weather. lol. I worked for fly in outfitters in the past in Northwestern Ontario that would run a DC fridge off 400w panels and 2 t105s may-oct. Not used gently either, beer and food for 8 guys week after week.
Steve_S
Offgrid Cabineer, N.E. Ontario, Canada
Horsefly
Solar Wizard
Ok, that actually makes a little more sense. You seemed to be pretty skeptical about solar, and said you had your panels facing east (certainly not optimal), 18° tilt (way, way, suboptimal), and partial shading. I thought you were just jaded because you had a really bad solar setup, and not just because you are in the dreary PNW.
Horsefly
Solar Wizard
Whoops! I take it back. Your panels are ACTUALLY at 18°. Yikes! You need to do something to tip those up towards the sun. You know, that glowing ball you see on the horizon.
The accepted reference for solar panels: degrees from horizontal is the "tilt" of a panel. The normal "easy" recommendation is set your panel tilt equal to the latitude of your location. If at the equator, tilt to 0° (flat horizontally). If at 40° latitude, set your tilt to 40° from flat. If at 75 deg latitude, set your panels to 75° tilt, i.e. almost vertical. All of this is adjusted based on how and when you use the solar, and can be adjusted if you have the ability to adjust it.
Horsefly
Solar Wizard
I guess I'll just say that it makes sense why you think it requires so many panels to power a fridge. ?
Horsefly
Solar Wizard
Actually, the direction of the panels does matter quite a bit, even if it is cloudy. I think your impression of solar has been severely biased (maybe I should say "clouded") by your setup. I get a surprising amount of solar on days even when it is cloudy and rainy.
Maybe solar isn't the right solution in your case. Sounds like an exercise in frustration.
Steve_S
Offgrid Cabineer, N.E. Ontario, Canada
This thread certainly went sideways... Hafta wonder how helpful it will be to the OP now...
@Checkthisout create your own thread.
@Checkthisout create your own thread.
Rednecktek
Solar Wizard
The what? I know not of this ball you speak of! ?
My wife had to go jump start the battery on my driveway lights and shed the other day. The 300w of panel on there and it's up to 4 weeks before the system gives up. That's an improvement I guess?
Checkthisout
Solar Wizard
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2021
- Messages
- 4,890
Ah true. I'll clean it up.
As the op stated, his past experience has shown that 400 watts of panels will support the load he wants to run. He's putting in just under 1000 so all should be good.
Last edited:
Checkthisout
Solar Wizard
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2021
- Messages
- 4,890
I ran the numbers on the solar calculator.
The difference in output between the setup I have now and "tilting the panels and then pointing them more south is shown in the screenshots. I don't believe this calculator factors in rain, fog and trees. Looks like it's doing OK for where it is. Thanks for the feedback though.
Attachments
Horsefly
Solar Wizard
I can't really read your screen shots, so I'll just take your word that you are satisfied with what you already know. I think you are convinced of what you think and satisfied. Good enough. Best of luck to you!
Just another data point for reference.
My parents cottage is in Western Newfoundland and we have 1200W of solar panels on the roof with 1100Ah of flooded lead acid cells at 12v. We have one of the unique 12/24v fridges. A 12V ~25A DC water pump, 12v DC lighting, and a 12v 1000w motormaster inverter running a TV, sat receiver, cell booster, laptop chargers, etc... We always have a surplus of power in the summer and fall. I don't have any data for the winters yet, I'm traveling there next week to check on the system. Everything is turned off except for the charge controller maintaining the batteries. In the summer we also have their motorhome plugged in. That is where we stayed when we visited for two weeks last summer.
They did run into some power shortages last spring before they bought the 12/24v fridge and they were powering the RV fridge in the motorhome. The RV fridge was consuming something like 3 to 5 kWh a day. The new fridge only 0.5kWh/day.
While I was there in July most days we produce in excess of 6kWh and the charge controller would be in float mode most of the day. In float mode it was only outputting around 200W. We had way more power than we needed. The TV and satellite receiver, cell booster, laptop chargers, etc... were running all day. I also had a fan running most nights.
They still have their Honda generator that dad mostly uses to power large tools. Stuff like an aircompressor and table saw. Smaller tools and battery chargers run fine off the inverter.
My parents cottage is in Western Newfoundland and we have 1200W of solar panels on the roof with 1100Ah of flooded lead acid cells at 12v. We have one of the unique 12/24v fridges. A 12V ~25A DC water pump, 12v DC lighting, and a 12v 1000w motormaster inverter running a TV, sat receiver, cell booster, laptop chargers, etc... We always have a surplus of power in the summer and fall. I don't have any data for the winters yet, I'm traveling there next week to check on the system. Everything is turned off except for the charge controller maintaining the batteries. In the summer we also have their motorhome plugged in. That is where we stayed when we visited for two weeks last summer.
They did run into some power shortages last spring before they bought the 12/24v fridge and they were powering the RV fridge in the motorhome. The RV fridge was consuming something like 3 to 5 kWh a day. The new fridge only 0.5kWh/day.
While I was there in July most days we produce in excess of 6kWh and the charge controller would be in float mode most of the day. In float mode it was only outputting around 200W. We had way more power than we needed. The TV and satellite receiver, cell booster, laptop chargers, etc... were running all day. I also had a fan running most nights.
They still have their Honda generator that dad mostly uses to power large tools. Stuff like an aircompressor and table saw. Smaller tools and battery chargers run fine off the inverter.
