Howdy from South Phoenix.

[AZFergie]

Hello there.

I am planning a multi stage, multi building build on an acre in South Phoenix. First structures will be a 800 sq/ft 2 bedroom house, and a 1/3 acre yard using shipping containers to define parts of the exterior footprint of a space to store tools, cars and things. In a few years I will build a 6 car garage with a larger house above it.

I don’t really have data on how much power I might use or need, or how to set up the areas yet. Thinking I would like to design the roof of the houses with an optimal roof pitch and orientation for solar. The house loads should be small with r21 walls and r40 lid.

The containers will get insulation to the exterior, and a mini split or 3.. I have metal working tools and welders that I’ve never bothered to measure the energy consumptions during “normal use”. Its possible the yard will use more power than the house if I’m building things.

Thinking I may build the first house, find tools to measure loads and consumptions of different circuits, and try to design a system that supplies the majority of the power and cooling needs for the house and containers with solar and batteries. Thinking I will use the grid as a backup, and to supply power for a 100amp welder plug, and 3 phase converter to power my machine tools perhaps…

Starting down a rabbit hole with lots to learn, and looking forward to the journey…

 

[Daddy Tanuki]

Hello there.

I am planning a multi stage, multi building build on an acre in South Phoenix. First structures will be a 800 sq/ft 2 bedroom house, and a 1/3 acre yard using shipping containers to define parts of the exterior footprint of a space to store tools, cars and things. In a few years I will build a 6 car garage with a larger house above it.

I don’t really have data on how much power I might use or need, or how to set up the areas yet. Thinking I would like to design the roof of the houses with an optimal roof pitch and orientation for solar. The house loads should be small with r21 walls and r40 lid.

The containers will get insulation to the exterior, and a mini split or 3.. I have metal working tools and welders that I’ve never bothered to measure the energy consumptions during “normal use”. Its possible the yard will use more power than the house if I’m building things.

Thinking I may build the first house, find tools to measure loads and consumptions of different circuits, and try to design a system that supplies the majority of the power and cooling needs for the house and containers with solar and batteries. Thinking I will use the grid as a backup, and to supply power for a 100amp welder plug, and 3 phase converter to power my machine tools perhaps…

Starting down a rabbit hole with lots to learn, and looking forward to the journey…

in this post you can see my 40 x 40' container based shop. https://diysolarforum.com/threads/offgrid-cabin-development-projects.71584/post-1140498
currently have 5.6kW of panels and it runs the house (shown in later photos) which is 800 sqft and the shop with no issues. you can do it! I do use a 3 phase genset for welder, compressor and automotive lift as well as blast cabinet and a few other large tools. i could run a 3 phase inverter and power it all but i wanted a backup diesel genset anyway so it was cheaper for me to get the genset.

 

[k490]

Phoenix and APS requires UL 9540A if you plan on permitting I'm in Phoenix also. If you don't want to bother with permitting just want to do an off grid generator can do it through a transfer switch. This is what I did for now I might switch to grid tied in 2027 just because it's easier to use 100% of the solar power. We get such extreme heat in the summer power usage goes way up in the summer. Mini-splits are the way to go I put one in my garage really like it. Wish I had gone that route before I blew $8500 on my 4 ton rooftop goodman.