So in a couple years when we build our new house my goal is to do the solar system myself. I have been reading and watching a ton of videos (which is how I ended up here) but I am the type that I need to apply the knowledge in order for me to really remember it.
So that said I had a couple small projects I was thinking of to start working with solar a bit.
1: We had some electric fence for horses that runs off of a SLA battery right now and the battery has to be pulled and charged every couple of weeks. I was thinking of getting like a 50w panel and a charge controller and building a small rig so this could maintain itself (I might downsize the battery a bit once the panel is on to make it a bit more portable, or maybe a lighter battery chemistry). This setup does not have to contend with winter but it does have to be outdoors all the time
2: We are rebuilding a chicken coop. It will need power and wont be attached to the existing electrical. I was thinking of putting a few panels on the roof and then making the coop offgrid. It would mostly be for a few lights, small water heater (like 50w) and then a heat lamp (250w). This would be inside the coop but would have to contend with cold VT weather. I like the combo charge controller/inverters but I havent found any good quality but smaller ones (dont need a giant multi kw one for the coop). I also have an ecoflow Delta max 1600 which i thought about using but the fact it can only charge at/above 32F is an issue. It definitely gets way below that here in VT (But if i kept it in an insulated box I am not sure how much that would help)
The coop would probably be overbuilt but I want to try to simulate how the house would be but on a smaller scale. When we build our house it will be a grid tie in but for now offgrid stuff seemed a bit easier to start with. Also the main house (which is completely separate) already has solar so I know solar is viable for this location. When the chicken coop gets built we will make sure things like the pitch of the roof and direction are optical for solar
Thoughts?
So that said I had a couple small projects I was thinking of to start working with solar a bit.
1: We had some electric fence for horses that runs off of a SLA battery right now and the battery has to be pulled and charged every couple of weeks. I was thinking of getting like a 50w panel and a charge controller and building a small rig so this could maintain itself (I might downsize the battery a bit once the panel is on to make it a bit more portable, or maybe a lighter battery chemistry). This setup does not have to contend with winter but it does have to be outdoors all the time
2: We are rebuilding a chicken coop. It will need power and wont be attached to the existing electrical. I was thinking of putting a few panels on the roof and then making the coop offgrid. It would mostly be for a few lights, small water heater (like 50w) and then a heat lamp (250w). This would be inside the coop but would have to contend with cold VT weather. I like the combo charge controller/inverters but I havent found any good quality but smaller ones (dont need a giant multi kw one for the coop). I also have an ecoflow Delta max 1600 which i thought about using but the fact it can only charge at/above 32F is an issue. It definitely gets way below that here in VT (But if i kept it in an insulated box I am not sure how much that would help)
The coop would probably be overbuilt but I want to try to simulate how the house would be but on a smaller scale. When we build our house it will be a grid tie in but for now offgrid stuff seemed a bit easier to start with. Also the main house (which is completely separate) already has solar so I know solar is viable for this location. When the chicken coop gets built we will make sure things like the pitch of the roof and direction are optical for solar
Thoughts?