Hi everyone, boy this site is like drinking from a firehose. I love it. DIY solar checks all of the boxes of things that I love: Saving money (longterm), DIY, self-sufficiency , etc. I have a ton of thoughts rolling around, and was wondering if someone might spare a minute or two to ensure I'm not being a total idiot.
My wife and I bought 40 acres in the UP of Michigan, where I am originally from. I currently live in WI, about 4 hrs north. The property we bought is a lovely wooded parcel on a river, and we plan to eventually build a home there. I imagine a cabin, but the plans my wife has shown me are really houses. Right now, we have focused on cleaning up the land a bit, and clearing a little over an acre for some room to roam and for a 30x40 pole shed. I also plan to use this land for ground mount solar. The eventual house will be about 700ft from this location, and in a wooded area overlooking the river.
AAAANYWHO. We currently have a small 22ft camper that we have been using, which I put a 170W (160?) renogy panel and the 12V MPP all in one. I replaced the deep-cycle that came with the camper with a 100AH AGM. It is ok, but I would like at least 2 more panels.
This summer we are building a pole shed, and I would like to spend the winter/spring building a 48V battery with the 270AH cells that have become popular. I would also like to install 2-4KW of solar panels and a 3000W Growatt or MPP all-in one (or something similar).
My reasoning:
1.) I have put a deposit down on STARLINK service, and would like to have year round internet for monitoring the property. The dish alone is 100W, not including the router/camera, homeassistant box, etc.
2.) During the summer, we would like to get a non-propane fridge to run, and maybe be able to run the camper aircon during the day.
3.) This will give me some real experience with what works and what doesn't before investing on much more solar capacity for the house.
4.) If I find that the battery is more than is needed once the house is built I could use it in the house and put something smaller in the pole shed (I doubt I would run AC between the two (700ft)
Other thoughts/questions:
1.) I have so far settled on a basic unistrut+wood ground mount system, and hope to make it adjustable so I can angle it so snow cannot collect during the winter months. Maybe I'll use 3" pipe instead of wood if this damned lumber doesn't come down in price. I have read that vertical panels near snow do pretty well?
2.) Considering the used panels from santan, but money is less of a consideration that knowing they will be reliable
3.) I would like to have EVERYTHING in the eventual house be electric. I am envisioning mini-splits in bedrooms and an induction stove in the kitchen. I do not want to depend on propane delivery. We would probably do a wood stove in the living room, but that would be it. I have not sat down and figured out the actual needs, but I was wondering if anyone else just threw a ton of solar/battery capacity at the problem?
4.) Also, there is no reasonable/cheap way to bring in grid power.
Anyway, thanks for creating such a knowledge base for those just starting their journey!
My wife and I bought 40 acres in the UP of Michigan, where I am originally from. I currently live in WI, about 4 hrs north. The property we bought is a lovely wooded parcel on a river, and we plan to eventually build a home there. I imagine a cabin, but the plans my wife has shown me are really houses. Right now, we have focused on cleaning up the land a bit, and clearing a little over an acre for some room to roam and for a 30x40 pole shed. I also plan to use this land for ground mount solar. The eventual house will be about 700ft from this location, and in a wooded area overlooking the river.
AAAANYWHO. We currently have a small 22ft camper that we have been using, which I put a 170W (160?) renogy panel and the 12V MPP all in one. I replaced the deep-cycle that came with the camper with a 100AH AGM. It is ok, but I would like at least 2 more panels.
This summer we are building a pole shed, and I would like to spend the winter/spring building a 48V battery with the 270AH cells that have become popular. I would also like to install 2-4KW of solar panels and a 3000W Growatt or MPP all-in one (or something similar).
My reasoning:
1.) I have put a deposit down on STARLINK service, and would like to have year round internet for monitoring the property. The dish alone is 100W, not including the router/camera, homeassistant box, etc.
2.) During the summer, we would like to get a non-propane fridge to run, and maybe be able to run the camper aircon during the day.
3.) This will give me some real experience with what works and what doesn't before investing on much more solar capacity for the house.
4.) If I find that the battery is more than is needed once the house is built I could use it in the house and put something smaller in the pole shed (I doubt I would run AC between the two (700ft)
Other thoughts/questions:
1.) I have so far settled on a basic unistrut+wood ground mount system, and hope to make it adjustable so I can angle it so snow cannot collect during the winter months. Maybe I'll use 3" pipe instead of wood if this damned lumber doesn't come down in price. I have read that vertical panels near snow do pretty well?
2.) Considering the used panels from santan, but money is less of a consideration that knowing they will be reliable
3.) I would like to have EVERYTHING in the eventual house be electric. I am envisioning mini-splits in bedrooms and an induction stove in the kitchen. I do not want to depend on propane delivery. We would probably do a wood stove in the living room, but that would be it. I have not sat down and figured out the actual needs, but I was wondering if anyone else just threw a ton of solar/battery capacity at the problem?
4.) Also, there is no reasonable/cheap way to bring in grid power.
Anyway, thanks for creating such a knowledge base for those just starting their journey!