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I use Westinghouse iGen generators because they have a true 1 button start with an automatic choke. Some gens have a push button start, but they still require a manual choke. Westinghouse works great starting itself. I use an igen4500df connected to my 700 gal propane tank so no worries about...

I'm using a Switchbot to remotely control my generators. https://us.switch-bot.com/collections/all/products/switchbot-bot I have not allowed the inverters to actually control the gen because there are a few times where the generator won't start on 1 button push. The system doesn't have the...

I’m off grid. My primary inverter is an MPP5048 running 120/240 split phase output. For split phase out, the MPP requires split phase input for a generator. This means a big, loud, open frame 7000W or larger generator. I wanted something much smaller and quieter for battery charging. I also...

Check around on Facebook or craigslist for some older propane heat stoves. You can get a nice looking enamel unit that is pleasant to look at for $500 or so. Make sure it is direct vent, as you already said. Preferably get one that includes vent pipe. That stuff is shockingly expensive...

Small generators are usually lacking auto start features. You have to spend up for larger units for autostart. There is a DIY alternative though. First you need a generator that actually does have a true push-button electric start. Many generators have an electric starter, but they still...

Given all the other headaches associated with building a house, you should definitely consider if you want to fight the solar battle too. $15k for the power install is painful, but ultimately a LOT easier. You can still work toward a future solar install by making good choices for your...

As with most things in life, budget is key. If you want to build out a big system as a property upgrade, that's fine. However, that's a lot of solar spend for a location you plan to leave idle from December to April. If you were staying there over the winter, all those extra panels would be...

As others have said, a big piece of the puzzle is your expected usage. Do you have gas or propane? Your big electric power consumers are home heating, water pumping/pressurizing, water heating, clothes dryer and stove. If those are gas, your electric needs will be easy to solve. The more of...

Here's a steel cable tie option from amazon that has more reviews, and it doesn't have a huge "Idong" imprint on the side :ROFLMAO: https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Tool-Stainless-Steel-cable/dp/B019GMDGW6

Evaluate solar-assistant as an alternative. I have the MPP app, not growatt. Perhaps the growatt app is much better, but the MPP app is trash. Solar-assistant is tremendously better.

That's an interesting little unit. But I don't know that it will do enough for you. 2.5 gallons will come up to temp pretty quickly and only takes about 0.5kwh. On a good solar production day, your excess power is 8kwh. Is this little heater enough of a diversion load to be worth the...

I'm interested in this topic also. I want some panels on a trailer so I can move them seasonally. I'm in the forest in the PNW with 100' trees around. The sun is a moving target seasonally and the trailer would let me get some production during months when my primary array won't see any sun...

In the Parallel section of the manual, it just says to refer to the single unit PV connection instructions. Nothing indicates that special consideration is required for the PV inputs when in parallel mode. Each unit has its own MPPT controller, which would drive charging of the battery bus...

It's hard to tell from the picture, but if tall trees are the problem, could you put the panels on the North side of the pond? Seems like they would have a clear view to the south and the cable length isn't that much farther than your D spot.

I've thought about that, but the higher arc potential of the DC makes me nervous. I'm in the national forest. If "something happens", I think I would prefer 240VAC. I've been considering using 2 of those 4-to-1 microinverters to give me 8 panels with 240AC output for transmission. I...

As Dank Farrik alluded to, you're missing a huge component in your price calculations: Your time! If you want this to be a big learning exercise in solar power, then go the DIY route and you will learn a lot. You might even get the solar bug and start putting panels on your roof :) Your time...

That 48V charger looks nice, but as you say, it is pricey. You can buy 2 inverter generators for the price of the 1 48v charger. It also seems like it would be pretty loud. It also wouldn't work for my batteries, which are 40V to 49V. "Capable of charging any battery chemistry between 48-59v"...

I'm in a similar condition, but for me in winter it is the trees that block the sun. My 4kw array generates about 90 watts when the sun only gets halfway up the trees lol. I am working (on paper) on a trailer with panels that I can roll out to a spot that has better southern exposure since the...

"small" and "120/240" never happen together. Anything that puts out 240 split phase is always 7kw or bigger and rarely an inverter generator. I use westinghouse for both my 240 split 9kw generator, and 120V 3kw inverter generator. They were the only ones I could find that had all my required...

If the LV5048 is providing 120/240 split phase, it definitely won't like the 120V from a smaller generator. I also had to do some tuning on my 9kw 120/240 generator. It was producing power at 59Hz. The LV5048 didnt like that. I had to bump up the frequency to 60Hz using a manual adjustment...

The inverters don't get hot at all. If you're running it so hard for so long that heat becomes a problem, you're probably running out of battery soon anyway :) They cool themselves with internal fans that spool up or down depending on the load (or solar input). When they crank up, they make...

I don't see where you ever specified if your LV6048 is setup for 120/240 split phase output. I assume that is true since you are looking for a battery charger alternative to work with your Champion generator that puts out 120VAC. You would need to set your battery charger SPF3000 to SOL...

SPF 3000TL LVM-ES It's pretty slick as a battery charger. The unit is powered off (power switch off), but it turns on automatically when it sees the utility power come up. The switch is off, so the inverters stay off. But it will see the batteries and start charging them. When the utility...

It depends on how your inverter is setup too. If you are using 120/240 split phase output, your generator input also has to be 120/240 split phase. This limits your choice of generators to larger units. I have an MPP5048; basically the same inverter as you. I use a 9kw open frame generator...

Do you already have a generator picked out? For a small, quite inverter generator, check out the westinghouse iGen4500DF. It runs nice and quiet on propane. Most importantly, it has electric start WITH an electric choke. True push-button remote start. You can start the gen without going...

Growatt and MPP are basically the same unit. I have an MPP5048 and Growatt 3000. Both use 60w, not the 100w listed. Double that of course if you have 2 3kw units in parallel. The extra utility from having everything in 1 unit is nice. Until... They start to act squirrely on you. These units...

Very cool. I was on the beta list but cancelled when AT&T updated by nearby tower to 5g. Even the 4g had been working well handling all my remote work needs, streaming, etc. I couldn't stomach the 100w 24/7 extra power needed for Starlink. I could definitely go for 35w. I've got a sweet...

To the OP: KEEP THE UTILITY POWER! :) For $20/mo, it is the cheapest backup power you can get. I just finished my first winter off grid. Dealing with the generator for backup power is a hassle, noisy, not spouse friendly and expensive option. Just the cost of a decent $1000 generator would...

As has been mentioned, the propane fridge is less efficient overall and worse, it is burning hydrocarbons inside your house to deliver that poor efficiency. When it fails, it presents more risk in terms of fire or gas leak (ours leaked). One advantage of a propane fridge, it keeps running if...