Solar powered lights

[Travis Kelcee]

Anyone else using solar to run their lights?

12k split phase off grid inverter
4500 watts of solar panels
45Kwh of LFP batteries

1 CMH light

 

[Creeperpark]

Anyone else using solar to run their lights?

12k split phase off grid inverter
4500 watts of solar panels
45Kwh of LFP batteries

1 CMH light

Thats exciting friend. Can you post a photo of your setup so we can see what it takes to run a CMH light with solar?

 

[exploziv]

How much did that cost to install? Do you pay any other electricity besides that?

 

[Travis Kelcee]

How much did that cost to install? Do you pay any other electricity besides that?

Inverter - $800
Solar panels (2000 watts) - $1700
2 - 48 Volt LFP batteries - $7000
Wiring - $700

I built the system to serve as my backup "generator" without solar panels originally. My location is horrible for solar or so I thought. Turned out I could get full power out of the solar panels 4 hrs a day on a sunny day. Cloudy days I get about 25%.

I run my critical loads off grid 24/7 , ie. 12k BTU mini split, refrigerator, freezer, lighting, CMH light, exhaust fan and internet. Electric Hot water heater, electric dryer, 30K BTU mini split and most of the light and outlet circuits still on grid. My electric bill is about 1/2 of what it was prior to the install. Roughly $100 - $150 a month which is pretty good considering the whole house is electric.

 

[Travis Kelcee]

Thats exciting friend. Can you post a photo of your setup so we can see what it takes to run a CMH light with solar?

I copied this setup, mine lives in faraday cage so you would not be able to see the system if I took a pic. It's completely covered with a military grade faraday cloth.

 

[Travis Kelcee]

I used higher quality, higher capacity batteries that what is shown in the pic above. Those 2 batteries have a higher Kwh capacity than the 6 batteries shown above. You don't need this much battery power to run a CMH off grid 24/7.

 

[Travis Kelcee]

How much did that cost to install? Do you pay any other electricity besides that?

Also should mention that you can operate in a gray area buy building your own solar "generator" as far as permits go. I've never heard of anyone being required to get a permit until it gets connected to your house electrical system. Tied in to a code compliant transfer switch you'd only have to get a permit for the transfer switch install, which would not include your solar "generator".

WORD OF CAUTION: 48volt batteries can kill you. The 2 I have are capable of outputting 400 amps. It's important to know what you are doing when it comes to DC power. Also proper grounding, surge and lightning protection of your solar panels to avoid fires.

Lithium Iron Phosphate is a much safer battery chemistry that what they use in EV's. So the risk of fire is very low compared to the occasional flaming Tesla you see on the news.

I ran circuits off the inverter output independent of house system and simply landed the new off grid outlets next to the existing ones where the freezer and other things were located.

I have a separate dual fuel portable generator that can run the rest of the house if the grid is down as well as charge the batteries in the event of 5 days or more of rain (no sun).


For anyone interested in learning more I suggest you follow Will Prowse on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/@WillProwse

 

[Hiddenjems]

Taylor swift is ghey.

Sorry had to do it.

 

[Travis Kelcee]

Taylor swift is ghey.

Sorry had to do it.

And unattractive, both physically and spiritually.