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diy solar

diy solar

Just getting start

lazydiabetic

New Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2025
Messages
2
Location
New york
I'm just getting into the solar world here. I know the bare bones basics. I plan on doing a tiny house and I plan on piecing everything I need for my system over the next few months or so. I started with EG4 6000xp. Probably a bit more then what I need but I figure if I need more then I would be able to build on.
I'm looking for recommendations on solar panels and battery option on kind of a budget.
I'm leaning more towards server racks style batteries for simple expandability. I could go eg4 and just do a eg4 system. I know some batteries have communication issues with eg4.
I also have been watching YouTube and people recommend the aptos panels. I want experience people opinions and ideas for other options.
There are like a million options probably most will work.
 
Step 1: Stop buying things!!!

If you don't have a plan in place you're going to end up with a mess. You're running a 6000xp in a tiny home? Do you need that 240v split phase power? Are you going to have enough space for enough panels to reach the working voltage it calls for? Do you need communication or do you really want to delve that deep?

Are rackmount batteries really the best option? Would a vertical battery fit better? Rackmounts aren't really the best budget option per kwh all the time.

Let me go grab my blurb, you've got some homework to do. 😉
 
Blurb time!

Well, I'll start the default answer to these questions and we can work from there. Here's you To-Do list:

1: Power audit! This will give you some important information on how big your inverter needs to be as well as how much battery capacity you'll need. There is a link in the FAQ section (I think, or someone here will post it shortly) so fill in the blanks and see what it comes up with. You'll probably need some sort of Kill-A-Watt to get accurate measurements. Are you going to be running a 12v system? 24v system? 48v system? What are the specs on your solar panels? VoC? Vmp? Being as this is a new build, throw together a wish list of what you want and estimate on the high side.

1a: Where do you live? Speccing out a system for Scotland is a LOT different numbers than Arizona due to the amount of light you actually get. Someone here can post the link to the PVwatts.com or JCR Solar Uber-Sun-Hours calculator sites to help figure out how much you'll have to work with. That will be a box in the Power Audit form.

2: Parts list: You don't need a make & model list, just a parts list to start from for reference. You'll need an inverter, a MPPT charge controller, fuses, shunt, buck converter, batteries, wire, etc. Once you have a basic list it can be fine tuned to make & models after that. If you're looking at the All-In-Ones check for correct voltage outputs (120v or 240v Split Phase for North America, 220v Single Phase for European type areas) and make sure it has enough capacity for a little bit of growth and fudge factor.

3: Budget!: Steak is great but doesn't mean anything if your wallet says hamburger. :) Figure out what you're able to spend now vs what you'll have to cheap out on now and upgrade later.

4: Tape measure! Figure out where you're going to stick all the stuff you'll need. A dozen 3000AH batteries sounds great until you're sleeping on the floor because there's no room left for a bed. Is there a compartment that can house all this stuff? Will the server rack batteries fit? Are you going to have to make space? Physics can be pretty unforgiving.

5: Pencil out what you think you need and throw it at us so we can tell you what you've missed (because we ALL miss stuff the first go-round :) ) and help figure out which parts and pieces you're going to want to get.

Well that's the thing about solar systems, there is no 1-Size-Fits-All answer. Your system will need to be designed to fit YOUR needs. When you design and built the system, it's not going to be the perfect system for me, or Will or 12vInstall or anyone else, but it Will be the right system for You and that's the goal.

As for where to get started, let me throw my standard blurb in here to help point you in the right direction. There's going to be a lot of math and research involved, but that's going to be a LOT cheaper than just buying parts off of someone's list and finding out that it doesn't do what you need.

Don't panic on the Power Audit, you'll actually be doing that a few times. When you do the first pass put in ALL the Things that you might want. AirCon? Sure. Jacuzzi? Why not. MargaritaMaster-9000? Go for it.

The second pass will be the "I Absolutely Need This To Survive" list that isn't going to have much on there.

The third pass will be the "This is what is realistic" audit that you'll use to design the rest of the system.

The Power Audit is going to tell you 3 primary things: 1: How big does your inverter need to be to power your loads? 2: How much battery bank do you need to last $N number of days with krappy weather? and 3: How much solar panel will I need to install to refill those batteries in a 4 hour day (the average usable sun hours rule-of-thumb).

Once you know what you Want and what you Need and what your budget can Afford there will be somewhere in that Venn diagram where those three things meet.

After that, THEN you can start looking at parts.

Yes, it's a long drawn out process, but it's worth it in the end. Not every house has the exact same floorplan, not every vehicle is the same make & model, and not every solar system is designed the same.

Another thing to consider when doing your power audit is HOW you use your power. As a great example, we had a new user on here a while back trying to figure out power for his tiny home. He ran through the power audit multiple times and kept coming up with needing a 10kw+ inverter for a tiny home.

I pointed out that if he promised NOT to make espresso in the blender while frothing it in the microwave while his hair dryer was going, he could easily get away with a 3kw unit.

So, HOW you use your power is also a significant part of designing a system. If there was one single design that worked for everyone, there would only be one system for sale.
 
I probably shouldn't use term tiny house. I mean it is technically is a tiny house( shed converted)However I want everything that a normal house would have. obviously I won't be have everything. Shed is already wire for basic outlets and some lighting that will be getting changed. An possible hooking up small work shop with 240 equipment. But first POWER AUDIT lol
 

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