If you want cheap and low maintenance the plug into your local electric utility grid. If you want or need to be your own utility provider then cheap and low maintenance dont go hand in hand. You need to start doing your homework and learn everything you need to know if you want this to be cheap.
Need Help setting up a Small Solar system.
- Thread starter JOE G
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If you want cheap and low maintenance the plug into your local electric utility grid. If you want or need to be your own utility provider then cheap and low maintenance dont go hand in hand. You need to start doing your homework and learn everything you need to know if you want this to be cheap.
Jchonline
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Mike is correct. There is no cheap way to setup a solar system if you need a decent amount of power. Everything must be carefully calculated. If you plan on 4 battery tenders running all night then really you are just transferring electricity from a stored battery to your vehicle battery. Seems like a big waste (if I understand your initial needs).
TnAndy
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Go back and look at the exact same thread you posted on 9/24/2019
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/417712-solar-light-power-questions-small-2.html
I walked you thru a set up in multiple posts to do what you want. I suspect nobody is going to give you a more detailed explanation, so WHAT exactly are you looking for ??
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/417712-solar-light-power-questions-small-2.html
I walked you thru a set up in multiple posts to do what you want. I suspect nobody is going to give you a more detailed explanation, so WHAT exactly are you looking for ??
OP
JOE G
Gold Member
TnAndy i will go back and read that, the reason I started a new post as that one was asking slightly different questions and figured I would be more clear. I probably should have gone back though and re read it.
My Cheap may be different then others, I would like to stay under $500 but will go higher if needed. And by low maintenance I mean checking it monthly not daily.
My Cheap may be different then others, I would like to stay under $500 but will go higher if needed. And by low maintenance I mean checking it monthly not daily.
Travelover
Elite Member
I read your old post and I think the major difference is that you want to keep more batteries charged than originally. In any case, my post above should allow you to do that. If you decide to go with a pure sine inverter, this is a good one. It pulls a steady 0.5 amp even while idling, so there is some waste, there. Amazon.com: Samlex Solar PST-3 -12 PST Series Pure Sine Wave Inverter: Automotive
TnAndy
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Very near what I'd suggest...and did in the previous thread.
I'd go with a 200w setup since you indicate up to 4-6 small engine batteries to maintain.
Buy this for $286 Amazon.com : Renogy 2 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Solar Bundle Kit w/ 1 w Solar Panel, 3 A Charge Controller, 9in MC4 Adaptor Kit, A pair of Branch Connectors : Renogy : Garden & Outdoor
Buy a set of these, since the 9" extension cable that come with the above are useless. $17.49 This a a 20' extension cable you will cut in half.....plug one end into the positive of the branch connector that comes with the first kit, and the negative into the other. Will work as long as you mount the charge controller (from the first kit) within 10-12' of the panels (which I'd assume will be in the sunny part of your shed roof).
Then buy one of these: $21.59 Nice buss bar, connect on the BATT part of the charge controller, run 6 wires to your 6 batteries you want to maintain. Forget the "Battery Tender" units....the solar and charge controller will take the place of them. As Travelover said (and I previously said) it's a waste of money and energy to invert 12vDC to 120vAC, then plug in a Battery Tender to convert it BACK to 12v to maintain batteries.
As long as you keep at least one of the batteries in the loop, you can run your 12v LED lights for the shed off the third part of the charge controller. IF you are going to have all 4-6 machines out at one time, you will have to add an additional battery just to power the lights.
$326 total + the cost of an additional battery IF you end up needing it, not including some wire, some alligator clips to connect to the batteries or your lights. You could shave 100 bucks or so off this by going with just one 100w panel, but I think you're going to find you're better off with 2 and end up having to add one down the road, so you might as well go there to begin.
radios1
Elite Member
you'll need 3 times the solar panel wattage if you want power on a cloudy day.. much less sun..
Travelover
Elite Member
That is true, but all the OP is wanting to do is to keep a few batteries topped off including a battery for occasional lights. I think he'd be fine with a 100 watt panel, as that is all I need on my small travel trailer with LED bulbs.
radios1
Elite Member
where I am sometimes I get cloudy days with light rain for a full week!. if that's ok with the OP, then fine..
Travelover
Elite Member
I have a small tractor in my barn on a battery tender, so for giggles, I measured the draw during maintenance charging. It draws 0.05 amps at 118 volts AC, or measuring at the battery it is pulling 0.08 amps at 12 volts DC. This is about 2 amp hours a day per battery. A 100 watt panel should provide about 5 amps for 5 hours a day with sun, so 25 amp hours per day. In short, I think a 100 watt panel would suffice.