Roast my first build for off grid cabin

iwasforcedtopickausername said:

Not much to roast here. Really nice looking setup.

One thing to suggest, if you have to run the inverter continuously, if you have the budget, is to go woth a Victron Phoenix inverter. Super low idle consumption.

You may also be able to discharge the battery before charging it. You could also, in theory, always have a thermostatically controlled heater connected to the load output of the solar charge controller. The load would be set that only when it's sunny, does the thermostat get activated. Could activate at 5C or something. Probably won't take much to heat that tiny space.

Another idea, probably not worthwhile, is if the batteries were above the inverter and all, those could help heat the batteries some.

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TechnoTime said:

Is this possible? Such a solution never crossed my mind, but that most definitely would be the best way to wire it.

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TechnoTime said:

These are the load setting I found. If I figure out correct ON/OFF volts, I can quicky re-wire my thermostat to SCC instead of fuse box.
My 2x panels are 300w with Voc=40, Vmppt=32.83 in series (so Voc=80). Which value do I use to calculate cut off voltages?
Panels should bring in more than 40w (2x20w heating pads) in order to turn on load. 40/600=0.067. 80*0.067=5.36V - this is the breakeven point.
I would use ON Voltage 6 V, and OFF voltage 5.5 V, both with 0 delay - sounds about right? I don't have much time to test it as I'm flying away day after tomorrow.

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iwasforcedtopickausername said:

Hmm. Is that battery voltage or panel voltage? Does seem like if it's PV it will work. If battery, it'll be on all the time.

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TechnoTime said:

Okay looks like it's battery voltage and there is no way to program load using solar array as variable. I can program specific times, but I already have timer switch doing it. Gonna test it out tomorrow, but hopes are not high.

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