Quick and important correction! My math was wrong in the calculation- I should have used the 12v calculate the amp hours, not 120v. So starlink is using way more than what I said. I've since added 2 more batteries and it's keeping up nicely. My bad, I'm (clearly) not an expert. Lol
Andy !!! Panels make over their rated voltage when its cold ... 4s on those panels total will BLOW your mppt in winter . You need them in 2s2p mate !!!!
if you are just going to leave the extension cable connector ends on the grass like that, at least silicone the crap out of it and add something to hold them together like maybe a knot? for that matter silicone the wire nut box too. nothing worse than melting some cables and possibly starting a fire 😂😂
Hey Babe, can you stand by with the Fire extinguisher? What!!!!!!!! Famous last words (lol). You are super smart Andy. I wish I could do half of what you do every day. I had a good day today, I watched this video. Thank You.
PV Voltage goes up when it gets cold starting at the VOC at 70F. You are going to fry your charger! Put 2 in series and then parallel the 2 series strings. That is only 9 amps. 100 watts divided by 12.6v is 8 amps drain on batteries. With 2 RV deep cycle batteries you would be lucky to get 10 hours with Starlink, lights, Heater, etc. "A typical deep-cycle RV battery will be rated around 80 amp-hours, which in theory would supply one amp for 80 hours. However, in reality, if you discharge a lead-acid battery (what you likely have in your RV) more than 50% of the rated capacity you will greatly shorten the life span of the battery. Therefore, when calculating the reserve amp-hours of your RV’s batteries, the usable power will be 50% of the rated capacity"
I've been watching you for years now and the one thing I truly love about you is that you don't make this crap difficult and confusing. It's always in laymans terms and just a regular joe way of doing things. Love your video's
I am pretty educated in diy solar and this was fun to watch. Nice job. Get a victron mppt charge controller when you can afford it and keep the other as a backup!
The lord uses all things for his glory... an you my friend he has pegged to the red line. You never fail to give me a few minutes away from my world. Ya busted your " cluck cluck " as you would a took the time to make a video of it so someone in Cunningham tn could forget his world for a few minutes. Talk about paying it forward. You my friend are a poster child. Think you from tn 👍👍
Short and sweet, I like it! 2 pieces of advice from someone that has built numerous RV solar setups.......1) put fuses or circuit breakers on the wiring just coming off the panels and then another coming just off the batteries. This allows you cut power safely in an emergency or for diagnostics. 2) switch to lithium batteries and relocate them inside the trailer if your area gets below freezing in the winter. You'll double your usable amount of energy instantly and prices have come down bigtime in the last year. Can get a single 12v/200ah for $400-ish that will blow your deep cycle LA batteries away in performance and longevity.
This is one of the kind of videos I want every doctor and lawyer who speaks down to people like him to see… so when it hits the fan, and they can’t eat, they know where they messed up.
I love a small system. I also supplement with these 'Solar Lights Outdoor-Security Powered-Pendant Led-IP65 - Porch Light with 16.4Ft Cord Remote Control' and I even how to inside of my camper and like two outside of my camper. And I have some of the rechargeable solar light bulbs that come with the little solar panel which takes forever for them to charge but you can recharge them using a usb. They really help when the weather is not the greatest
I love the resourcefulness. Having mismatched batteries, even if they’re the same batteries but with different age and usage is less than ideal. If you find any extra change in the cushions maybe look at a replacement to two 6 volt golf cart batteries. Also, make sure you aren’t getting shade from that tall pole on one side of your panels. Keep on keepin’ on.
love it....i have been running a similarly engineered system in my garage for over two years now. powers everything in my garage including my pellet stove and a new additon this summer a 9K btu minisplit to cool my workspace.......be wary sir you have entered into a area that is addictive. one can never have to much solar, you have been warned......lol
Nice Work man. Everyone Needs to build or have installed an Off Grid Solar System for "WHEN" The Grid goes down.(It doesn't have to be perfect) Like your Crimps but they work. Gas powered generators will be useless during Total Grid failure as No fuel stations will be open for business. IF you can get your hands on four 100ah Lifepo4 batteries later on & double your panel size you will be in business.
That was Brilliant, love the way you wing it. Back to maths, look at the wattage of all devices for 24 hours, Ac and DC, add up and divide by your system voltage. You have your amps watts and voltage. You can now size your battery bank.Inverters are power suckers, they take 20 % power to run and convert DC to AC and Back to DC and steal power when you sleep, best switch them off after use Use lighter plug ins 12 volt. If you can buy Buck converters ,work well to if you running higher DC voltages like a computer. Use inveters only to run high wattage AC devices like washing machine. All DC appliances use DC where possible, its a huge saving on a small or big system
Andy,instead of taping the wire nuts in an exposed area,take a tube of exterior sillycone and barely clip the end of the nozzle off to its smallest opening size,insert into open end of wire nuts and squeeze that handle until filled,wipe edges to assure full adhesion and call it did for the next 15 years or so.. Yes you can still twist the wire nuts off after curing if you need to change something or just cut the wires and use new nuts.. The sillycone will prevent water instrusion whereas tape will not,plus it helps to keep the wire nuts from loosening or being messed with by critters as they don't cate for the taste of sillycone... Just a thing I learned many years ago doing something pretty much along the same lines as this...
Andy, I am not in any way trying to give you a hard time. The only suggestion I have is make sure you are not getting shade across your panels, a small amount of shade (that post next to them) can reduce your amount of electrical output by 75 percent or more.
More correctly, it power limits the entire system to the output of the weakest link ;) Additionally, a bolt sticking up perpendicular to the surface of the panel is handy to adjusting the angle. Just make the smallest shadow, and you're spot on, "it'll be okay" cause it works
I know that's true with a lot of older solar panels but I know there's some newer ones that that's not true for I don't remember what the different names for them are but it kind of depends on which kind of solar panel he has as to whether that's true or not.
Can confirm, a 3” heat pipe casting a shadow over my panels makes a huge difference as the sun moves across and gets rid of the shadow. Panel optimizers help but are costly.
One really important item to remember when building your own solar setup...hook the charge controller to your batteries first. Otherwise the solar power has nowhere to go and will burn out the controller. Also, if you want to get a little tricky and pick up an extra 6 hours of sunshine per day, face your panels east and west (instead of south)
Yeah I actually saw a company that I shouldn't say a company I think there's a couple of them doing it but they're making vertical solar panels that instead of being mounted like these are supposed to be used in like as panels on a fence and things like that for the same reason that gives you more power in the morning and in the evening rather than in the afternoon when no one's there
@@blade5054 There is a vertical solar panel that collects from both sides of the panel. (can't remember what they're called) The problem I see with those, there is almost no solar collection between 11am and 1pm... you're losing 3 hours of light
That is just false. Panels hooked up to a charge controller without a battery will not burn it out. That is what they are designed to do. They do not need a battery to function.
@@chriswhinery They are BiPolar (or bifacial)panels. putting them verticle instead of a slant fixes a lot of problems. Esp in the winter. To get more charge, they have experimented with reflective material on the ground (in some cases, white rock) on both sides of the panels to reflect up to the panels when the sun is above them. They are getting good results. See the vids on this.
Very cool! I have 10 similar panels to provide the bulk of my power to 4 Lifepo4 100ah batteries. They don't produce much until the Sun swings towards the south. At the start of the Summer i added 4 panels that face directly to the east. Gives me a great boost that carries me through without using batteries other than the night.
You build solar panels the way I installed a 4 ft satellite dish. Leaned it against the house on top of patio cover, pointed it with a compass, a protractor and an old Satellite TV Guide. Fured up the receiver & fine tuned the dish by wedging a couple of hard cover books under one side. Then I let 'er wobble...
Love you're content and ive been here from the start with envy, 😅 have to say the dogs actions spoke volumes ahaha he was expecting the worst... but on that note it can only be a win when the worst gets scuppered 👌 love from the UK
You're amazing, Andy! I know I say that on about every video comment, but it's true! Also i had to watch the video again cause someone in the comments said something about the dog in the background, hilarious! 🤣 You are so good at putting things together and jerry rigging stuff to make it work! I am that way with "stuff," not electrical, building stuff, etc. Stuff that don't make a real big difference. Like a broke statue that stands up by using thread and Elmer's glue to keep it standing. (Yeah, when I was a kid and I happened to hit it and it broke. 😬 Anyway, no one found out and my behind was spared!😂) Great video and miss seein Carlos and the kids. Pray all is well with them and that the solar system works out great! God bless.🙏🏼😊
Well hell Andy if I knew you personally and knew you know Solar I'd hire you to install my system. Company doing my install keeps wanting more paperwork, I just want my system installed. Enjoyed this video keep it up.
Having built my own solar system to similar code as you have done, I can tell you that Lithium batteries are worth getting. LifePo4 type. They will not degrade if you leave them discharged but you can't charge them below 35 degrees they need to be inside.
Good morning from Cape Cod ⛵ I'm certainly glad you don't got your nuts hanging out 😂 this looks like a very useful upgrade for you and the family Andy, I'm also surprised when things work out first try 🤣 thanks for another great video and may God bless you and the family ✌️🇺🇲
Hey Andy: Great video! And, by the way, a few gobs of RTV in the right places will make that box wrather tight. Just make to drill a weep hole at the bottom. On a completely unrelated side note, check with Ellsworth Farmer's Exchange on propane. We have a 250 gallon tank running our two RV's for heat, cooking, etc. Also, Blane's in Traverse City has 8D batteries for a reasonable price. They are not deep cycle, but between the solar panels and the generator, in the shortest days of winter, an 8D should still get you through with no problem. Steve in Alba
Good basic overview to get one started - thanks! Just a word of caution based on my experience (very recent). 12v panels are fine for smaller off grid setups like RVs and cabins. I built a 12v system (600w) for emergency use but decided to grid tie it since the panels were just sitting there. What I found is newer 12v panels are not compatible with grid tie inverters. The newer 12v panels produce much more voltage than expected. The voltage is too low in parallel and too high in series. Grid tie inverters are meant for the larger 300 to 400w panels that have a Vpk around 34v. So… if you want off grid and grid tied, then spend the extra for good 400w bifacial panels.
Love this Andy! Have had the idea of running a small solar system at home for just a bunch of small stuff. This answers a bunch of my questions. Thanks, Larry
Have a 400 watt sysyem similar to yours. I am able to charge 3- 12 volt 100 amp glassmats easily eveyday when there is a sunny forcast. Usually I can cook a meal w/hoteye and toaster oven and hit top charge before i loose the sun. Good clear days, plus a load of cloths in the washer. 2200 watt inverter.
Renogy makes good stuff, I was going to put a 100 watt system together for my cargo trailer/toy hauler camper but found a 100 watt suitcase of theirs with the built in waterproof controller fit my needs better, I can park in the shade and put the panel in the sun. Just a simple DC system, some LED lights, a 12 volt vent fan, and USB charging outlets does more than I need.
Kick that solar up and add some more batteries and maybe you could add a mini split. It would heat and cool your chicken house. I added one to my RV. I live full time in my RV and it has lowered my electric bill to almost half. Do not buy a Wister Cool. I bought mine on Amazon for about $700 and it is amazing. Just throwing it out there for you to think about for either living arrangement you have for the chickens.
Split systems are great... magic devices and laws of thermodynamics are dammed. And if you run them 24/7 in most places it is more efficient than just on when you want it.
also I bought a 800w horizontal wind generator for my build when I'm stop for long periods of time cause I got a solar build for the top of my camper since this can run at night helps with my batteries
Hey Mr , deff would consider adding more batteries when you can to make the lifespan longer . Also look at making. A battery box , coolers work well just need a small vent for hydrogen 😅 will help in winter to keep available output up :)
I know you said you got your solar panels from Amazon. Can you put a link so other people can look at them and see if they could use that. I would really appreciate it I would like to have some power at my place and solar is the only way to go.
I have a complete solar setup on my truck, not only do i have enough to keep the winch system charged at all times, i can run lights, water and a few items if needed while out on the farm or hauling/camping
Just a suggestion on your trailer batteries. When using multiple batteries, it is necessary to connect your wires correctly. Right now, your trailer is only connected to the first battery, this will shorten the life span of that one battery. If you connect the positive (going to the trailer) to one battery and the negative (going to the trailer) to the other battery, then you'll draw from the batteries equally. You should connect your solar charging in the same fashion.
A 200AH lithium battery would work great for you. Amazon has good off brands. Still a little pricey but I think you'd like the benefits. Lasts longer, no need to vent, cold matters less and best part, you can run them empty without damaging them.
Cool video man solar really is that simple. Most modern LiFePO4 batteries or Lithium Ion batteries have a BMS with all kinds of protections also most charge controllers nowadays have all kinds of protections built in. Yes using fuses is recommended but in a pinch in many cases you can get away with things because of all the modern circuit board upgrades. That being said, youd much rather lose a fuse than some expensive component, so fuse em.
Thanks for the video, I tried to do it cheaper... 1. Can fashion your own mounts with screws, and free scrap wood and free scrap plastic and save about $10/panel. Looks like you didn't use treated wood, so could skip the scrap plastic. 2. Looks like you got a Renogy Rover 100V panel input, 30A MPPT 12/24V battery charging charge controller ($130 separately). Does have load control circuit (max panels=24V*30A=720W) 3. At 77F, the open circuit voltage (OCV) on the panels is 24.3. In the cold/winter, the panels get more efficient, so the OCV will go well over 25V and 4 in series will go well over 100V which is the max for that charge controller. You'll have to disconnect 1 panel during winter. Doing 2S2P and doubling the current to half the voltage may start to get unsafe with the extension cord+you have to buy y adapters to make a 2S2P configuration. 4. You can get on Amazon a reliable 150V panel input, 40A MPPT 12-48V battery charging and bluetooth charge controller for $120. No load control circuit (Max panels=48V*40A=1920W) On Amazon, 400W panels like yours regular price $220 or $285 for bifacial (will work with your mounting height and setup and get more power overall especially in winter). Going to a local solar supply store and 400W can be as cheap as $110 total. Shipping is usually more expensive than panels for small systems-bulk buy with your neighbors. 5. You already had a lead acid battery, but per kWh stored, LiFePO4 batteries are much cheaper, last much longer, don't waste near as much energy when charging and are much safer (but you'd put them inside the trailer rather than out). You mentioned 70Ahx2=140Ah (safely discharge marine batteries to 50%). About $2/usable Ah for LiFePO4 on Amazon. So, if you didn't have batteries lying around, might as well get 2x100Ah for 2x$200=$400 and then you can make a 12V (parallel) or 24V (series) battery system. 24V allows thinner wires and double the solar panels vs 12V. Just for the solar part: Charge controller $120+panels $220= $340 from Amazon(as low as $230 with local panel pickup) vs $400 for the kit in the video and you additionally get year round operation (with 150V maximum panel voltage), about 3x more power expandability and bluetooth monitoring. You would lose load control if you want to turn lights on automatically when the sun goes down or a central switch to turn your DC network on and off manually (not big enough to handle an inverter). My guess is that most people ignore the load control circuit anyway...why many charge controllers have just dropped it as a feature. Sorry to pick at the setup, but have to shout out to those with fewer arms and legs.
I have 4 200 watt Grape Solar panels on my camper. Using a Victron solar charger and a Victron smart shunt to monitor the system via bluetooth. Only 1 battery. I dont have 120 volt yet, just the 12 volts. I added cigarette style 12 volt power ports to charge phones and works with any car style adapters. Next project is to move everything to a shed i haven't built yet. Put more batteries in there with an inverter to make shore power to plug in the camper.
Andy !!! Panels make over their rated voltage when its cold ... 4s on those panels total will BLOW your mppt in winter . You need them in 2s2p mate !!!!
So i was watching and interested and then i noticed the blue pickup and my minds telling me his truck isn't blue but thats a blue truck , Andy got a new truck ? Did i miss an episode? And by the time my mind came back to focus there was the young Andy and the chicken
You should balance your batteries. Positive to negative battery to battery. From charge controller to batteries positive wire on one battery and negative on the other, do the same for your RV. They will last longer and have less strain on a single battery before balancing.
Hey man, I know you mentioned cell service sucks where your at. Is it a particular service that sucks? I ask because if ATT is decent, do they offer firstnet where you’re at? If so and the service is good you should look into that, being in the fire service. You get one hell of a deal, and priority over the network 😉.
Sorry to hear! Once you have the solar addiction there is no help. You are probably already lying awake at night now thinking of bigger panels and batteries! Welcome to the group! 😂
Quick and important correction! My math was wrong in the calculation- I should have used the 12v calculate the amp hours, not 120v. So starlink is using way more than what I said. I've since added 2 more batteries and it's keeping up nicely.
My bad, I'm (clearly) not an expert. Lol
LOLOL. Love your math!!! May God continue to bless you and your family always!!!
Andy !!! Panels make over their rated voltage when its cold ... 4s on those panels total will BLOW your mppt in winter . You need them in 2s2p mate !!!!
Stuff happens...
Auphonic is another audio thing to have a look at the issue you were talking about a few weeks ago with removing unwanted music.
if you are just going to leave the extension cable connector ends on the grass like that, at least silicone the crap out of it and add something to hold them together like maybe a knot? for that matter silicone the wire nut box too. nothing worse than melting some cables and possibly starting a fire 😂😂
Use the concrete block from the sawdust blower for your tire mounting tool.
LOL! - the dog when you plugged it in!
Scared the bejebbus out it
Had to watch it a second time to see the dog. Worth it!
😂😂😂, I may have peed a little...
Ditto..! The dog was already curious, but certainly FREEKED out for a few seconds.. I replayed it a few times and couldn't stop laughing.
This is the first time I've come across your videos. Loving your wit and down to earth style. Better than so many other homestead channels out there.
Thank you so much! I try and keep things real.
Watched a hundred videos on solar, first one that made sense of the numbers. Well done sir.
That was my goal. Because I watched a hundred to wrap my head around it and be able to spit it out concisely for you. 🤣🤣🤣
@@andyslittlehomestead6705 indeed, thanks for simplifying it for us cretins.
Hey Babe, can you stand by with the Fire extinguisher? What!!!!!!!! Famous last words (lol). You are super smart Andy. I wish I could do half of what you do every day. I had a good day today, I watched this video. Thank You.
PV Voltage goes up when it gets cold starting at the VOC at 70F. You are going to fry your charger! Put 2 in series and then parallel the 2 series strings. That is only 9 amps.
100 watts divided by 12.6v is 8 amps drain on batteries. With 2 RV deep cycle batteries you would be lucky to get 10 hours with Starlink, lights, Heater, etc.
"A typical deep-cycle RV battery will be rated around 80 amp-hours, which in theory would supply one amp for 80 hours. However, in reality, if you discharge a lead-acid battery (what you likely have in your RV) more than 50% of the rated capacity you will greatly shorten the life span of the battery. Therefore, when calculating the reserve amp-hours of your RV’s batteries, the usable power will be 50% of the rated capacity"
I've been watching you for years now and the one thing I truly love about you is that you don't make this crap difficult and confusing. It's always in laymans terms and just a regular joe way of doing things. Love your video's
@10:10 The reaction of that dog.... priceless.
hahah i came to the comment section just for that
My son built a system just like that, to power our battery operated tools on an off grid property. It works great!
I am pretty educated in diy solar and this was fun to watch. Nice job. Get a victron mppt charge controller when you can afford it and keep the other as a backup!
The lord uses all things for his glory... an you my friend he has pegged to the red line. You never fail to give me a few minutes away from my world. Ya busted your " cluck cluck " as you would a took the time to make a video of it so someone in Cunningham tn could forget his world for a few minutes.
Talk about paying it forward. You my friend are a poster child.
Think you from tn 👍👍
Short and sweet, I like it! 2 pieces of advice from someone that has built numerous RV solar setups.......1) put fuses or circuit breakers on the wiring just coming off the panels and then another coming just off the batteries. This allows you cut power safely in an emergency or for diagnostics. 2) switch to lithium batteries and relocate them inside the trailer if your area gets below freezing in the winter. You'll double your usable amount of energy instantly and prices have come down bigtime in the last year. Can get a single 12v/200ah for $400-ish that will blow your deep cycle LA batteries away in performance and longevity.
Love the super simple down too earth approach
Great production and editing values on this one. Keeps me laughing and smiling.
This is one of the kind of videos I want every doctor and lawyer who speaks down to people like him to see… so when it hits the fan, and they can’t eat, they know where they messed up.
I love a small system. I also supplement with these 'Solar Lights Outdoor-Security Powered-Pendant Led-IP65 - Porch Light with 16.4Ft Cord Remote Control' and I even how to inside of my camper and like two outside of my camper. And I have some of the rechargeable solar light bulbs that come with the little solar panel which takes forever for them to charge but you can recharge them using a usb. They really help when the weather is not the greatest
I love the resourcefulness.
Having mismatched batteries, even if they’re the same batteries but with different age and usage is less than ideal. If you find any extra change in the cushions maybe look at a replacement to two 6 volt golf cart batteries.
Also, make sure you aren’t getting shade from that tall pole on one side of your panels.
Keep on keepin’ on.
love it....i have been running a similarly engineered system in my garage for over two years now. powers everything in my garage including my pellet stove and a new additon this summer a 9K btu minisplit to cool my workspace.......be wary sir you have entered into a area that is addictive. one can never have to much solar, you have been warned......lol
Look forward to your videos every week! Keep it up!
Great video Andy
I always enjoy your sense of humor. Now you need a shirt that says At least my aren't hanging out. I think plumbers would love it
You take way too much pleasure in making sparky heads explode. I love watching you jimmy rig all this stuff. Reminds me of my grandfather.
Actually Reads Instructions. Then amazed when it works
Nice Work man. Everyone Needs to build or have installed an Off Grid Solar System for "WHEN" The Grid goes down.(It doesn't have to be perfect) Like your Crimps but they work. Gas powered generators will be useless during Total Grid failure as No fuel stations will be open for business.
IF you can get your hands on four 100ah Lifepo4 batteries later on & double your panel size you will be in business.
That was Brilliant, love the way you wing it. Back to maths, look at the wattage of all devices for 24 hours, Ac and DC, add up and divide by your system voltage. You have your amps watts and voltage. You can now size your battery bank.Inverters are power suckers, they take 20 % power to run and convert DC to AC and Back to DC and steal power when you sleep, best switch them off after use Use lighter plug ins 12 volt. If you can buy Buck converters ,work well to if you running higher DC voltages like a computer. Use inveters only to run high wattage AC devices like washing machine. All DC appliances use DC where possible, its a huge saving on a small or big system
Andy,instead of taping the wire nuts in an exposed area,take a tube of exterior sillycone and barely clip the end of the nozzle off to its smallest opening size,insert into open end of wire nuts and squeeze that handle until filled,wipe edges to assure full adhesion and call it did for the next 15 years or so.. Yes you can still twist the wire nuts off after curing if you need to change something or just cut the wires and use new nuts.. The sillycone will prevent water instrusion whereas tape will not,plus it helps to keep the wire nuts from loosening or being messed with by critters as they don't cate for the taste of sillycone... Just a thing I learned many years ago doing something pretty much along the same lines as this...
I like it. May work that one in. Thanks!
They make silicone weatherproof wire nuts but honestly a tube of silicone is probably cheaper.
Andy, I am not in any way trying to give you a hard time. The only suggestion I have is make sure you are not getting shade across your panels, a small amount of shade (that post next to them) can reduce your amount of electrical output by 75 percent or more.
More correctly, it power limits the entire system to the output of the weakest link ;)
Additionally, a bolt sticking up perpendicular to the surface of the panel is handy to adjusting the angle. Just make the smallest shadow, and you're spot on, "it'll be okay" cause it works
I know that's true with a lot of older solar panels but I know there's some newer ones that that's not true for I don't remember what the different names for them are but it kind of depends on which kind of solar panel he has as to whether that's true or not.
@@blade5054only if they have diode bypass setups in certain configurations, they still make the panel effectively useless
Glad your nuts aren't exposed. Thanks.
Can confirm, a 3” heat pipe casting a shadow over my panels makes a huge difference as the sun moves across and gets rid of the shadow. Panel optimizers help but are costly.
This is my new favorite channel
One really important item to remember when building your own solar setup...hook the charge controller to your batteries first. Otherwise the solar power has nowhere to go and will burn out the controller.
Also, if you want to get a little tricky and pick up an extra 6 hours of sunshine per day, face your panels east and west (instead of south)
Yeah I actually saw a company that I shouldn't say a company I think there's a couple of them doing it but they're making vertical solar panels that instead of being mounted like these are supposed to be used in like as panels on a fence and things like that for the same reason that gives you more power in the morning and in the evening rather than in the afternoon when no one's there
@@blade5054
There is a vertical solar panel that collects from both sides of the panel.
(can't remember what they're called)
The problem I see with those, there is almost no solar collection between 11am and 1pm... you're losing 3 hours of light
That is just false. Panels hooked up to a charge controller without a battery will not burn it out. That is what they are designed to do. They do not need a battery to function.
@@eriksanders2032
Oh look...
solar expert has entered the chat 😆
Maybe you didn't read the directions.
A lot of people make this mistake.
@@chriswhinery They are BiPolar (or bifacial)panels. putting them verticle instead of a slant fixes a lot of problems. Esp in the winter. To get more charge, they have experimented with reflective material on the ground (in some cases, white rock) on both sides of the panels to reflect up to the panels when the sun is above them. They are getting good results. See the vids on this.
About the box.
Thinking that it’s safe is like saying
I got ran over by a car. At least it was a Ford.
Enjoyed the video. Thanks for sharing
Very cool! I have 10 similar panels to provide the bulk of my power to 4 Lifepo4 100ah batteries. They don't produce much until the Sun swings towards the south. At the start of the Summer i added 4 panels that face directly to the east. Gives me a great boost that carries me through without using batteries other than the night.
This was good stuff... entertaining as all get out! Thanks!
Amazing job Andy, Bro you made it work with what you had other than all that fancy stuff everyone be showing on TH-cam...Peace
You build solar panels the way I installed a 4 ft satellite dish. Leaned it against the house on top of patio cover, pointed it with a compass, a protractor and an old Satellite TV Guide. Fured up the receiver & fine tuned the dish by wedging a couple of hard cover books under one side. Then I let 'er wobble...
Thanks so much my friend. I really appreciated this video. I learnt somethin !!!
Great job Andy.
i haven't laughed out loud in months - after the suspense if this would work ... thank you Andy!
Love you're content and ive been here from the start with envy, 😅 have to say the dogs actions spoke volumes ahaha he was expecting the worst... but on that note it can only be a win when the worst gets scuppered 👌 love from the UK
You're amazing, Andy! I know I say that on about every video comment, but it's true! Also i had to watch the video again cause someone in the comments said something about the dog in the background, hilarious! 🤣
You are so good at putting things together and jerry rigging stuff to make it work! I am that way with "stuff," not electrical, building stuff, etc. Stuff that don't make a real big difference. Like a broke statue that stands up by using thread and Elmer's glue to keep it standing. (Yeah, when I was a kid and I happened to hit it and it broke. 😬 Anyway, no one found out and my behind was spared!😂)
Great video and miss seein Carlos and the kids. Pray all is well with them and that the solar system works out great! God bless.🙏🏼😊
Well hell Andy if I knew you personally and knew you know Solar I'd hire you to install my system. Company doing my install keeps wanting more paperwork, I just want my system installed. Enjoyed this video keep it up.
Love yinz too brother! Keep feeding us with entertaining videos!
Nice job Andy ty Boorah 😊
Dude, you are great! This is educational and entertaining! Excellent editing also. Thank you for your efforts!
Having built my own solar system to similar code as you have done, I can tell you that Lithium batteries are worth getting. LifePo4 type. They will not degrade if you leave them discharged but you can't charge them below 35 degrees they need to be inside.
Love the 12 gauge next to the bed my man 💯💯
And now.... i understand how solar works! Thanks Andy !!!
Sweet photons. I don't know if you're particles or waves, but you go down smooth.
Good morning from Cape Cod ⛵ I'm certainly glad you don't got your nuts hanging out 😂 this looks like a very useful upgrade for you and the family Andy, I'm also surprised when things work out first try 🤣 thanks for another great video and may God bless you and the family ✌️🇺🇲
Hey Andy: Great video! And, by the way, a few gobs of RTV in the right places will make that box wrather tight. Just make to drill a weep hole at the bottom. On a completely unrelated side note, check with Ellsworth Farmer's Exchange on propane. We have a 250 gallon tank running our two RV's for heat, cooking, etc. Also, Blane's in Traverse City has 8D batteries for a reasonable price. They are not deep cycle, but between the solar panels and the generator, in the shortest days of winter, an 8D should still get you through with no problem.
Steve in Alba
Good basic overview to get one started - thanks! Just a word of caution based on my experience (very recent). 12v panels are fine for smaller off grid setups like RVs and cabins. I built a 12v system (600w) for emergency use but decided to grid tie it since the panels were just sitting there. What I found is newer 12v panels are not compatible with grid tie inverters. The newer 12v panels produce much more voltage than expected. The voltage is too low in parallel and too high in series. Grid tie inverters are meant for the larger 300 to 400w panels that have a Vpk around 34v. So… if you want off grid and grid tied, then spend the extra for good 400w bifacial panels.
Love this Andy! Have had the idea of running a small solar system at home for just a bunch of small stuff. This answers a bunch of my questions. Thanks, Larry
Have a 400 watt sysyem similar to yours. I am able to charge 3- 12 volt 100 amp glassmats easily eveyday when there is a sunny forcast. Usually I can cook a meal w/hoteye and toaster oven and hit top charge before i loose the sun. Good clear days, plus a load of cloths in the washer. 2200 watt inverter.
Enjoyed the video Andy thank you God Bless y'all
Renogy makes good stuff, I was going to put a 100 watt system together for my cargo trailer/toy hauler camper but found a 100 watt suitcase of theirs with the built in waterproof controller fit my needs better, I can park in the shade and put the panel in the sun. Just a simple DC system, some LED lights, a 12 volt vent fan, and USB charging outlets does more than I need.
Kick that solar up and add some more batteries and maybe you could add a mini split. It would heat and cool your chicken house. I added one to my RV. I live full time in my RV and it has lowered my electric bill to almost half. Do not buy a Wister Cool. I bought mine on Amazon for about $700 and it is amazing. Just throwing it out there for you to think about for either living arrangement you have for the chickens.
Split systems are great... magic devices and laws of thermodynamics are dammed.
And if you run them 24/7 in most places it is more efficient than just on when you want it.
Commenting here just to give a boost to his visibility. Like to support Andy
Subscribed 😂
You remind me of me when I was a lot younger.
Regards from Australia 🦘🦘
Another solid video, Andy. Love the content!
Love you and Carlos more than you know. 😊
also I bought a 800w horizontal wind generator for my build when I'm stop for long periods of time cause I got a solar build for the top of my camper since this can run at night helps with my batteries
Hey Mr , deff would consider adding more batteries when you can to make the lifespan longer .
Also look at making. A battery box , coolers work well just need a small vent for hydrogen 😅 will help in winter to keep available output up :)
I know you said you got your solar panels from Amazon. Can you put a link so other people can look at them and see if they could use that. I would really appreciate it I would like to have some power at my place and solar is the only way to go.
This was very funny... Thanks for the video. Really enjoyed it.
Great sense of humor! Nice resourcefulness also.
Thank you for adding "let er wobble" to my vocabulary
I say it all the time now lol😂
Time to do some sketchy shit doda doda hope i get away with it doda doda great video as always
I have a complete solar setup on my truck, not only do i have enough to keep the winch system charged at all times, i can run lights, water and a few items if needed while out on the farm or hauling/camping
Great job. Keep your eyes out for a lithium battery in the cold climate it will be a game changer. Way better than deep cycle batteries.
Just a suggestion on your trailer batteries. When using multiple batteries, it is necessary to connect your wires correctly. Right now, your trailer is only connected to the first battery, this will shorten the life span of that one battery. If you connect the positive (going to the trailer) to one battery and the negative (going to the trailer) to the other battery, then you'll draw from the batteries equally. You should connect your solar charging in the same fashion.
A 200AH lithium battery would work great for you. Amazon has good off brands. Still a little pricey but I think you'd like the benefits. Lasts longer, no need to vent, cold matters less and best part, you can run them empty without damaging them.
Congratulations that’s awesome Andy 👍
I think the dog knew the shit was going to hit the fan.
9:13 Dont stress about it Andy, my fancy shop I built entirely supplied by and run on extension cords run to outlets etc 😂
If you keep using the same extension cords over time they just turn into cords at the end.
Cool video man solar really is that simple. Most modern LiFePO4 batteries or Lithium Ion batteries have a BMS with all kinds of protections also most charge controllers nowadays have all kinds of protections built in. Yes using fuses is recommended but in a pinch in many cases you can get away with things because of all the modern circuit board upgrades. That being said, youd much rather lose a fuse than some expensive component, so fuse em.
Great job ….. as always ❤
Thanks for the video, I tried to do it cheaper...
1. Can fashion your own mounts with screws, and free scrap wood and free scrap plastic and save about $10/panel. Looks like you didn't use treated wood, so could skip the scrap plastic.
2. Looks like you got a Renogy Rover 100V panel input, 30A MPPT 12/24V battery charging charge controller ($130 separately). Does have load control circuit (max panels=24V*30A=720W)
3. At 77F, the open circuit voltage (OCV) on the panels is 24.3. In the cold/winter, the panels get more efficient, so the OCV will go well over 25V and 4 in series will go well over 100V which is the max for that charge controller. You'll have to disconnect 1 panel during winter. Doing 2S2P and doubling the current to half the voltage may start to get unsafe with the extension cord+you have to buy y adapters to make a 2S2P configuration.
4. You can get on Amazon a reliable 150V panel input, 40A MPPT 12-48V battery charging and bluetooth charge controller for $120. No load control circuit (Max panels=48V*40A=1920W)
On Amazon, 400W panels like yours regular price $220 or $285 for bifacial (will work with your mounting height and setup and get more power overall especially in winter). Going to a local solar supply store and 400W can be as cheap as $110 total. Shipping is usually more expensive than panels for small systems-bulk buy with your neighbors.
5. You already had a lead acid battery, but per kWh stored, LiFePO4 batteries are much cheaper, last much longer, don't waste near as much energy when charging and are much safer (but you'd put them inside the trailer rather than out). You mentioned 70Ahx2=140Ah (safely discharge marine batteries to 50%). About $2/usable Ah for LiFePO4 on Amazon. So, if you didn't have batteries lying around, might as well get 2x100Ah for 2x$200=$400 and then you can make a 12V (parallel) or 24V (series) battery system. 24V allows thinner wires and double the solar panels vs 12V.
Just for the solar part:
Charge controller $120+panels $220= $340 from Amazon(as low as $230 with local panel pickup) vs $400 for the kit in the video and you additionally get year round operation (with 150V maximum panel voltage), about 3x more power expandability and bluetooth monitoring. You would lose load control if you want to turn lights on automatically when the sun goes down or a central switch to turn your DC network on and off manually (not big enough to handle an inverter). My guess is that most people ignore the load control circuit anyway...why many charge controllers have just dropped it as a feature.
Sorry to pick at the setup, but have to shout out to those with fewer arms and legs.
I have 4 200 watt Grape Solar panels on my camper. Using a Victron solar charger and a Victron smart shunt to monitor the system via bluetooth. Only 1 battery. I dont have 120 volt yet, just the 12 volts. I added cigarette style 12 volt power ports to charge phones and works with any car style adapters. Next project is to move everything to a shed i haven't built yet. Put more batteries in there with an inverter to make shore power to plug in the camper.
I have heard that grounding a solar system can make it act like a lightning rod although your panels may not be high enough to worry about that
You really amaze me! Thank you for sharing 👌
Great job, brother. I learned something new today. 😊
Andy !!! Panels make over their rated voltage when its cold ... 4s on those panels total will BLOW your mppt in winter . You need them in 2s2p mate !!!!
If you ever want to expand there are bifacial panels that are very efficient when set up vertically in orientation east-west.
As always tgus video should be rated a fire hazard...good stuff!!!
"...threw some terminal ends on 'er and let 'er wobble." Backwoods wisdom, y'all.
So i was watching and interested and then i noticed the blue pickup and my minds telling me his truck isn't blue but thats a blue truck , Andy got a new truck ? Did i miss an episode? And by the time my mind came back to focus there was the young Andy and the chicken
Love it, Andy
Ain't stupid if it works, perfect for a chicken house. Impressed you even used boujie Renogy parts!
omg thank you! ive been needing this!
You should balance your batteries. Positive to negative battery to battery. From charge controller to batteries positive wire on one battery and negative on the other, do the same for your RV. They will last longer and have less strain on a single battery before balancing.
I'd trust that over some of the professional installations I've seen.
Great video. Keep em coming!😂
Great video!
Hey man, I know you mentioned cell service sucks where your at. Is it a particular service that sucks? I ask because if ATT is decent, do they offer firstnet where you’re at? If so and the service is good you should look into that, being in the fire service. You get one hell of a deal, and priority over the network 😉.
Dude, awesome video.
Thank you❤❤❤
It went right the first time. Imagine that. When you read instructions
Hello from your Minnesota neighbor!
man you're hilarious and very informative. thank you for the video
Subscribed🤙🤙🤙🤙Extremely Helpful
Sorry to hear! Once you have the solar addiction there is no help. You are probably already lying awake at night now thinking of bigger panels and batteries! Welcome to the group! 😂
Andy how big is your property?
It looks to be about the size I would get