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My first solar system was fired up today! I am sharing pictures/details so the more experienced can critique as I don't know what I don't know. Component list: - 12 volt starter battery; probably about 70 to 80 amp hour (I know this should be upgraded, but it is what I had kicking around) -...

Thank you for the education! I was thinking of mounting the panel on the south wall of my shed above a man door perhaps as an "awning". I'm at 51 degrees N. Is there a handy online calculator that will tell me correct angle? With the winds we get around here, I'm not sure I would have a lot...

Thank you. I just noted that Victron Phoenix 12/250 inverter is rated for -40C. It has a programmable low voltage shut down which I can use to prevent over discharge of the battery and freezing of the electrolyte. I'm curious why the Victron Phoenix 12/250 is so inexpensive compared to the...

I don't use the "toys" that often......I have taken batteries out just as you suggested. Shed is too small and not enough doors, so sometimes I have to start the toys to get other things out of the shed. It's a pain when I'm lugging batteries around. One of the toys has a slow drain (not sure...

Thank you. I thought all marine batteries were deep cycle. I guess not. I checked mine. It is a starting battery. 675 MCA, but deep cycle is not mentioned. Went to their website and I see it would have cost me $10 more to get a deep cycle with similar spec's.....wish I had known. If I go...

Thanks Everyone. The new AC trickle charger I bought draws 0.5 W when it goes to float. I had it on three different batteries and it went to float very quickly. Thus, it is much less power draw than the old one.

Thank you for all the thoughts! @rin67630 : Thank you for the additional calculator site. I should clarify that I would like to use the system throughout the summer as well. I did say winter as that is my main challenge, but it will get summer use as well. I have one ATV where the battery...

@GXMnow. Thank you for that website/calculator. That is quite handy. 39 degrees is optimum year round for my area, with 1.85 kWh/m^2/day in December. 24 degrees is optimum for winter and would get me 1.93 kWh/m^2/day in December. Both angles are sharp enough I wouldn't expect them to hold...

If I did go the inverter route and used AC trickle charges, does anyone want to hazard a guess as to how many batteries I might need? What type of battery and what amp hour? I'm trying to get an idea of what the added costs might be as compared to using half a dozen charge controllers and...

Hi, I have a shed in my yard that has no power to it. The shed stores half a dozen "toys" that have batteries. I currently run a cord to the shed, and move a battery maintainer between the different pieces of equipment, during the winter, but I'm not as diligent as I should be. I would like...

Thank you......is there any way for me to know from the Victron data how much my panel would put out if it was connected to the grid? I'm debating putting in a grid connected system; can this off grid system tell me theoretically how much real world solar I get at my location?

Thank you very much for the feedback! The grounding plate is buried 29" below grade just outside the building. In summary: - I shouldn't expect this battery to last long in this service - if I want to make full use of my inverter, I should upgrade the wires to the inverter to 8 gauge and...

I have a small system. One 315W panel. It's been running for several years. When I download the solar history the Victron Smart Solar 100/20 MPPT it says I have an average yield of about 180 Wh per day. Most of these have been bright sunny days. Doesn't the yield seem low? Is the yield...

I agree....it definitely is a lot more complicated than Buck Controllers. I may still go that route; not sure. I'm not sure how to quantify the risk or even what the risks are with using uncertified equipment and insurance companies. Google tells me that fires/smoke do happen with buck...

I find this topic quite fascinating and I appreciate all the ideas! I have no background at all with buck converters.....are they pretty low fire risk? If I went with an inverter and battery bank, how many batteries would I require? Is there any chance my Marine battery for my boat could...

I just realized I have a 600W modified sine inverter in the closet.....that opened up the possibility of doing a test! Are these "car type" invertors suitable being used in "continuous" service in a solar project? It isn't rated for freezing temperatures and -35 to -40F are in play..... Here...

I'm looking at putting a small solar system in an unheated/uninsulated storage shed. I expect temperatures in the shed to drop to -40C (-40F) once every 5 years and below -30C (-22F) pretty much every year for a day or two. I need charge controller/inverter that can survive these temperatures...

Thanks everyone! 1) Is it possible to buy buck converters that are "certified" e.g. CSA, ETL, UL, etc.? I'm wondering about insurance implications? If I'm not going to be able to make the insurance company happy, I guess I could look at putting "non-certified" electronics in a cabinet that...

Thank you. All my batteries are 12 volts. I had understood from another website it wasn't a good idea to charge in parallel if the batteries weren't identical sizes/ages. Is that faulty thinking? I've definitely got quite the mix of sizes and ages of batteries. Some are AGM. Some are lead...