Oh yeah. Battery replacement lol. But that's every 10 years though -so they say.
I'm in the same boat. I've got a bunch of Bluetooth temperature and humidity sensors around the house and I have to change the batteries every 2 years. No fun
Why is solar so damn difficult?
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I'm in the same boat. I've got a bunch of Bluetooth temperature and humidity sensors around the house and I have to change the batteries every 2 years. No fun
We have an almost fully loaded 200amp panel for our all electric manufactured home. I have reduced our energy use by almost half. We even have to 25 amp breakers open for use. After I started researching solar for our house and spending time on this forum I learned a few things. First decrease load. Still working on that. Second buy quality equipment. We now have ready to install an Outback 8048A prewired system with 2 fm80 sec and the controller. Working on panels and will probably have an electrician do the electrical connection to the house. I have tried to talk to others about decreasing their electrical needs. Most are looking at the short term cost and not what it will save them in the long run.
Ampster
Renewable Energy Hobbyist
I have found solar a great learning experience. It is overwhelming in its entirety, but as with many complicated things in life if you break it down to simple elements it is easier to understand those elements. Then the big picture emerges.
i agree with this. But I dont think extra insulation is the key(that's what everyone defaults to)
yes. Ive found the large parts are easier than the small parts. Ive got inverters, panels, batteries, and about to buy charge controller.
but, all the disconnects and breakers and making sure its to code. and the conduit type, and what must be in conduit, and how to transition from pv wire to thwn- and grounding everything - thats the part im struggling with now.
I guess I should look into the mike holt reference that @EJansen mentioned
it’s hard to do extra insulation on a manufactured home without taking all the siding off. Not happening. I added a Micro air easy start to my non inverter heat pump. That dropped our energy use by about a third. I went to a on demand hot water heater which dropped it even more. I am in the process of changing out the 5 bulb fluorescent light fixtures in our garage to leds. We like to sleep cold so most of the time we don’t have heat or ac on. I am having two doors replaced as they are each about 1/2 inch too small for the space allowing outside air into our garage then house. We bought a 2 burner induction cooktop to try out and are extremely pleased with it. Many ways to improve on a houses energy demands. Trying to convince the better half to let me put a wood burning cook stove in the living room.
There's also the excellent guide to wiring, from victron, which is worth a read...
has nice pictures and diagrams in it too
The irony of YOUR post, is I could write almost the exact same thing...down to being the CONTRACTOR on my own house build...with my hands on nearly every trade...etc.
And your comment about it being the hardest thing I have ever learned...is spot on also...and my sentiment exactly.
But strangely, the intense satisfaction of nearly 100% of expected Solar Output last Monday, culminating 4+ months (and a 10+ year goal/dream) is somehow more satisfying than anything else.
I will say though, I had to back off my original goal, broke up the project in to phases. Instead of solarizing the WHOLE house, I started with the small project of solarizing the barn and work areas. The entire project became a lot easier for me to manage and accomplish.
Keep the dream alive!!
Attachments
I have one of those. I need to dig it out.
timselectric
If I can do it, you can do it.
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I went the exact opposite direction.
I have always made sure to turn off things that weren't being used. To keep the utility bill down.
I'm building a large enough system to get back my freedom. I want to do whatever I want, whenever I want. And not be concerned about it, at all.
I have always made sure to turn off things that weren't being used. To keep the utility bill down.
I'm building a large enough system to get back my freedom. I want to do whatever I want, whenever I want. And not be concerned about it, at all.
Checkthisout
Solar Wizard
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Solar is a Trade.
All Trades are 5 years to Journeymen while working under an an apprentice.
All Trades are 5 years to Journeymen while working under an an apprentice.
Samsonite801
Solar Wizard
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You didn't mention if you were on-grid or off-grid, but I might assume you're on-grid?
If you are on-grid (or anyone in that camp), I might suggest trying like a few-days drill (perhaps even in the various seasons), where you voluntarily turn off the grid power for some specified time window and maybe the drill can help to better understand about budgeting power/energy in more efficient ways.
When I got into solar, I started out off-grid, so it was a lesson for me right out of the gates, about my power usage from the beginning (especially when I was more lacking in KWh capability).
Now after living like this for 2+ years, the awareness is more like second nature. I'm still not at my fully planned power capability yet (with my big 48v system), as I am running only a 2800w 120v inverter and a 22KWh battery bank, with 3000w of solar, so I still have to watch how I use loads, and require generator to run large things like the welder or air compressor.
Of course I am by myself right now, with my family not out here yet, so that is a whole nother story about having to teach other family about it too when they come out. From what I understand kids are the hardest to get power consumption within bounds.
And since I have not built my actual house yet, all of this awareness about power consumption, also goes into how to better design a passive style home which can operate at a lower power consumption, so it's all interconnected.
I guess many older houses can be retrofitted to incorporate many of the passive home strategies (except for core items like home orientation to South, and such examples like that)...
Perhaps if you did a drill like that, maybe your better half would finally give the go-ahead on that wood burning cook stove in the living room faster hehe...
timselectric
If I can do it, you can do it.
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The journeyman.
"Who's on 1st, what's on second"
The truth is that as I am able to decrease our energy use by making the house more energy efficient, we will be able to do whatever we want. On top of that I should have enough power in reserve in case we decide there is another electrical appliance we just can't do without.
timselectric
If I can do it, you can do it.
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Yeah, I'm also increasing the efficiency.
But, I'm not going to be limiting my usage. Like only cooking during the day. Or washing clothes on sunny days. I won't be watching my solar production or battery capacity. To see if I can use a particular appliance.
