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diy solar

diy solar

Complete Off-Grid House - 3000 sqft Ranch - Michigan

@Daddy Tanuki - Thank you for the many points! Having said that, there is a lot of information in the last 21-pages and I hope the forum recognizes how open I've been to taking feedback and adjusting my plans.

As noted, I have a few critical constraints:
  • Space - The supermajority of my property is classified as a preserve, leaving me a small parcel to 1) Build a House and 2) Build everything else I need (Pole Barn, Solar, etc.).
  • Diesel - Literally makes me ill to smell. No bueno and not a viable solution.
With that said, I've acknowledged the following:
  • Generator - Must have and will be powered using propane
  • Load Calculations - Necessary and I will calculate them (FYI - I'm an Engineer by background, I understand these calcs but just needed someone who has experience doing these projects to point out what I need to worry about vs. not).
  • Demand & Usage - I have conceded numerous times that the numbers I've calculated are highly skewed based on the HVAC system which is sized currently at 5-Tons per the HVAC company; however, these numbers are a pure guestimate considering that my floor plan is not yet complete and they haven't been able to do a formal analysis to determine how much I really need.
==> Therefore, we will adjust as required once the floor plan gets ironed out and the HVAC analysis is performed.

Until then, I work with the calculations I have - get a great education from the gurus on here - and come up with a plan which would then be modified once the final numbers are in-hand.

The flow currently is: Panel Design (vs. real-estate) ==> Battery Design (vs. where it will be located) ==> Inverters (location) ==> Connections (sizing, quantities, etc.)

I really appreciate everyone's help!
 
Over9000 said:
@Daddy Tanuki - Thank you for the many points! Having said that, there is a lot of information in the last 21-pages and I hope the forum recognizes how open I've been to taking feedback and adjusting my plans.

As noted, I have a few critical constraints:
  • Space - The supermajority of my property is classified as a preserve, leaving me a small parcel to 1) Build a House and 2) Build everything else I need (Pole Barn, Solar, etc.).
  • Diesel - Literally makes me ill to smell. No bueno and not a viable solution.
With that said, I've acknowledged the following:
  • Generator - Must have and will be powered using propane
  • Load Calculations - Necessary and I will calculate them (FYI - I'm an Engineer by background, I understand these calcs but just needed someone who has experience doing these projects to point out what I need to worry about vs. not).
  • Demand & Usage - I have conceded numerous times that the numbers I've calculated are highly skewed based on the HVAC system which is sized currently at 5-Tons per the HVAC company; however, these numbers are a pure guestimate considering that my floor plan is not yet complete and they haven't been able to do a formal analysis to determine how much I really need.
==> Therefore, we will adjust as required once the floor plan gets ironed out and the HVAC analysis is performed.

Until then, I work with the calculations I have - get a great education from the gurus on here - and come up with a plan which would then be modified once the final numbers are in-hand.

The flow currently is: Panel Design (vs. real-estate) ==> Battery Design (vs. where it will be located) ==> Inverters (location) ==> Connections (sizing, quantities, etc.)

I really appreciate everyone's help!
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@Over9000 you have been the most open minded person I have seen on this sight to date. that being said, you have a lot of things to consider, i feel that if I do not let you know of my concerns IRT you setup then I have done you a disservice. One day you will come up with something that effects me and i will allow the same open discussion, as I value the input bey everybody. I want you to go solar... as much as if economically feasible... One last thing I have said it repeatedly stay away from generac. they have a great add program. i hang out on several forums that deal with small to medium engines as well as several professional only forums (gotta show a license to join). and generac is the biggest PITA for everyone involved.

I think you can do this, but it will involve a generator... probably diesel do to requirements. go bio diesel mixed with propane and you will be happy in the end.

i wanted no genset and due to limited real estate i have to live with a diesel backup (for me its sound... i hate the sound of a droning engine).

cheers and best of luck to you in 2025 and to your family
 
Daddy Tanuki said:
@Over9000 you have been the most open minded person I have seen on this sight to date. that being said, you have a lot of things to consider, i feel that if I do not let you know of my concerns IRT you setup then I have done you a disservice. One day you will come up with something that effects me and i will allow the same open discussion, as I value the input bey everybody. I want you to go solar... as much as if economically feasible... One last thing I have said it repeatedly stay away from generac. they have a great add program. i hang out on several forums that deal with small to medium engines as well as several professional only forums (gotta show a license to join). and generac is the biggest PITA for everyone involved.

I think you can do this, but it will involve a generator... probably diesel do to requirements. go bio diesel mixed with propane and you will be happy in the end.

i wanted no genset and due to limited real estate i have to live with a diesel backup (for me its sound... i hate the sound of a droning engine).

cheers and best of luck to you in 2025 and to your family
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I have taken great note to exclude Generac from consideration! Thank you!
 
Earlier today when I was checking SA to many times at work I smiled at how well the ground mounts were performing compared to the snow covered roof mounts...

1000012979.jpg

@Over9000 #1 is the roofs with 5,670W of panels, they are angled poorly for this time of year. (MPPT 2 is currently unused.) #2 is the ground mounts; MPPT 1 is 5,180W of panels aimed S and angled for time of year, MPPT is 3,700W of panels aimed SW and angled for this time of year.

When I got home and went out to empty the coal stove ash bin the roofs were still partially covered and the ground mounts were completely clear...
 
At least that's starting to melt off. My roof mounts have been snow covered for 2+ weeks. Even the ground mounts (~45°) were covered for a couple of days (ice, so it didn't brush off). The 6 panels on my shed (~60°) were clear though.
 
Well all you guys did was solidify my design direction for the ground mounts!

I've been quiet for a few days because I found out a few days ago that my home's architect drove off a cliff last weekend after his wife apparently left him. He did not survive. As a result, I've been scrambling to find a new architect and signed on the line with one this morning. A setback for sure, but we'll get it back on track.

Before you ask, I'm going to wait a few months before I bug his widow / estate for my refund. $10K can buy a lot of panels.
 
Over9000 said:
Well all you guys did was solidify my design direction for the ground mounts!

I've been quiet for a few days because I found out a few days ago that my home's architect drove off a cliff last weekend after his wife apparently left him. He did not survive. As a result, I've been scrambling to find a new architect and signed on the line with one this morning. A setback for sure, but we'll get it back on track.

Before you ask, I'm going to wait a few months before I bug his widow / estate for my refund. $10K can buy a lot of panels.
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I would find the attorney handling the estate and contact them as soon as you find out. I would not wait.

I've been in a few legal situations in now 38 years in business. Never wait.
 
Zwy said:
I would find the attorney handling the estate and contact them as soon as you find out. I would not wait.

I've been in a few legal situations in now 38 years in business. Never wait.
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I figure I should give it a week at least. I only found out because when I called, his widow picked up and told me what happened and I was pretty shocked (and so was she). She literally said "he took his own life by driving off of a cliff", but he had told me previously that he was delayed because she was divorcing him and kicking him out. At any rate, I didn't use that as the opportunity to say "your problem lady, now, give me my money back or he's not the only one that's going to be buried". I figured that would be insensitive.
 
Over9000 said:
I figure I should give it a week at least. I only found out because when I called, his widow picked up and told me what happened and I was pretty shocked (and so was she). She literally said "he took his own life by driving off of a cliff", but he had told me previously that he was delayed because she was divorcing him and kicking him out. At any rate, I didn't use that as the opportunity to say "your problem lady, now, give me my money back or he's not the only one that's going to be buried". I figured that would be insensitive.
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Yes, that would be.
 
Over9000 said:
I figure I should give it a week at least. I only found out because when I called, his widow picked up and told me what happened and I was pretty shocked (and so was she). She literally said "he took his own life by driving off of a cliff", but he had told me previously that he was delayed because she was divorcing him and kicking him out. At any rate, I didn't use that as the opportunity to say "your problem lady, now, give me my money back or he's not the only one that's going to be buried". I figured that would be insensitive.
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Keep us posted how this works out. Sadly this sounds like several situations I've personally seen. I bet others have as well. Husband secretly buried in debt (often gambling), likely has cashed in the 401k, etc., might have even got a 2nd mortgage on the house and turns to suicide in attempt to get his family back to flush once with the life insurance. I fear your $10k is long gone.
 
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Brucey said:
Those are basically the highest wattage panels on the market. They are larger than a sheet of plywood and heavy. You'll have better luck looking for say Canadian solar in 695W etc.

a1solarstore.com

Canadian Solar 695W Solar Panel 132 Cells Bifacial CS7N-TB-AG-695 Wholesale 31 panels per pallet (min 3 pallets) - A1 SolarStore

Canadian Solar 695W Solar Panel 132 Cells Bifacial CS7N-TB-AG-695 Wholesale 31 panels per pallet (min 3 pallets) at A1 SolarStore
a1solarstore.com a1solarstore.com
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94x51

It gets a little dicey when something is this huge. I think the ~400W panel is about as large as I like to deal with (around 45x70), but if you are paying someone else, ...

In my youth I walked two 4x8 (48x96) sheets of 5/8ths up a ladder onto a roof with walk strips nailed down. Not on a bet these days. It definitely saves real estate to go big if you can make them fit.
 
Daddy Tanuki said:
They say a picture paints a thousand words… 1508 on Monday the 6th so battery is at 70% that gives me at a minimum 3 more days of crappy weather before I need to fire up the generator. you need to plan for a generator as your house is 3.6x my bungalow/cabin/whatever you call it I heat with wood currently, though the plans are for a outdoor WMO boiler to heat the house with. see my threads IRT this project.

you want no diesel smell appear to have cash laying about in piles so I would go with a propane or diesel propane generator burning bio fuel and propane instead of diesel. anything less in regards to a generator is a waste of money in your case. I said it earlier but avoid generac like aids or covid.. i would look towards a real generator that could fire up for 3-4 hours and fully charge your bank while powering the house at full tilt.. something like a cummins c10006dr but setup for biodiesel and propane. much more efficient fuel wise very little diesel smell and it will outlast your life span. ps they run 40-50 k used... i lay that out there as you are still talking insane numbers of use. going offgrid means learning to adjust your usage and your comfort envelope. you ahve not looked at this point in the calculations yet.

if you truly go through with this, you will either seriously downsize your usage or you will buy a cumminsc1000 generator. its one or the other cousin.
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I dunno, I disagree on the genny. I do agree that would be very cool, but as long as you have inverters, you should only need to provide about half-again to double your average use to charge your batteries up when solar sucks. I would also want two, so I can withstand a failure or maintenance problem. 8-10KW should be about right. Probably have to run a 30% duty cycle to keep the batteries at a reasonable level.
 
Daddy Tanuki said:
no it wouldn't 10k is a lot of cash... thats like 1/6 of the US average yearly take home pay... thats a lot...
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Well, you are an insensitive bastard. I always knew you were! :ROFLMAO:

I understand where you are coming from but the body should probably be cold before bringing it up. Lukewarm probably not a good idea..........

The money probably is gone. I wonder if builder's/construction insurance would cover this. They wouldn't mess around on recovery of the funds, the lawyers would be filing as the car went over the cliff and before it hit the ground.
 
Zwy said:
Well, you are an insensitive bastard. I always knew you were! :ROFLMAO:

I understand where you are coming from but the body should probably be cold before bringing it up. Lukewarm probably not a good idea..........

The money probably is gone. I wonder if builder's/construction insurance would cover this. They wouldn't mess around on recovery of the funds, the lawyers would be filing as the car went over the cliff and before it hit the ground.
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i understand, but there are times when sensitivity has to go out the window to avoid getting bent over... i lost all sensitivity to that in 1985 at MCRD... learned it real quick...
 
Tomorrow I'll call her up and say "hey, my project's not dead - just your husband is. Check better be in the mail before he hits the casket."

He wasn't even that great of an architect. Oh well.

The internet is so cruel :ROFLMAO:
 
Over9000 said:
Tomorrow I'll call her up and say "hey, my project's not dead - just your husband is. Check better be in the mail before he hits the casket."

He wasn't even that great of an architect. Oh well.

The internet is so cruel :ROFLMAO:
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Even though a sad event, Was just thinking probably better now on the house design etc. before the project was 1/2 through, and then need to find and have another architect pick up the pieces mid project.
 
Over9000 said:
Tomorrow I'll call her up and say "hey, my project's not dead - just your husband is. Check better be in the mail before he hits the casket."

He wasn't even that great of an architect. Oh well.

The internet is so cruel :ROFLMAO:
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Chances are she drove him to suicide. I really have no clue but if you look at the shit women say online these days I would not put it past one…
 
Over9000 said:
Drove him to suicide - nice touch!
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unintentional, but it is what it is. these days women are the casue of most divorces, and men are the victims in 99.9% of the cases. lately it has turned around as far as the legal issues, but it is still rough on a man who is honest and faithful... the I got bored does not work any more for a male, then it does for a female...
 
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