DIY Hurricane ready solar array build, part 2! Off grid power!
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- I add on to the off grid hurricane ready solar array that I built at my shop. I am need of more power as I upgrade my solar equipment to more powerful components.
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Putting up plywood for hail storms is an option too. Simply standing the panels up is all you need to do for hurricanes or hail.
Andrew - glad I was able to reconnect with your channel on youtube. This array that you have constructed is fantastic!
Awesome, thank you!
Once i got the trees out my backyard i will start on one . Nice video
Great job. I like that you did not put it on the roof.
Me too! A barn roof is fine, but I do not like attaching to insulated roofs in case of a leak
Great work making the steel frames!!!👍🏼 Easy to remove and adjust. God bless.
Thank you for watching, God bless!
I love this series, keep them coming! Have you thought about a small windmill generator? I'm asking out of curiosity, not so much a suggestion. I know almost nothing about them but would be interested in seeing if they would help cover over night and over cast periods.
Yes it's on my future radar. I need to research it more.
Awesome job! Love how much thought you put into your projects. Cant wait to see more solar going up and getting energy independent.
More coming soon!
Looks awesome. Usually in an array I have the solar panel junction boxes all toward the center for east wiring
I thought about a single location.
Multi use deer skinnin rack. 👍💪
Yep!
Excellent design! I may have to use that when I get my solar setup going. Nice work!
Thank you
Everyone give the video a like, comment & please share the video. That pile of steel is $$$
Lol yep!
Looks good
Thanks
Part 9 of this series, I’m finally achieving my goal of 1MW 😂
Nice job brother! Great detail and keeping explanations simple.
1.21 gigawatts is my goal 😉
I've watched this video 4 times. I refuse to watch again. ❤
Thank you for watching
Great video . Great job on the solar racks too.
Thanks! 👍
Outstanding video! I just came across your channel and am impressed. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for watching
Need to make sure you have your metal building bonded to both your panel frames and the ground system so all items will be at same potential.
Have you considered adding a wind turbine to supplement solar for charging your batteries when it's cloudy or dark? Obviously the effectiveness would depend on if your area has consistent wind.
It's something I'm looking into for the future.
Great follow up video. I appreciate it. 👮🏻♂️👍Chip
Thank you for watching
Idalia really tested out your system. I'm looking forward to your future videos showing how your solar and home fared, hope you are good. If you don't have it yet, a Starlink might be great for you. My friend in Arkansas finally got his Starlink, it replaced his DSL which was his only option on the mountain he was on.
I need something as my cellular internet isn't work well after the storm.
Top class work very good job
Thank you
Your ingenuity and attention to detail never gets old!
Thanks Chris!
next project, pneumatic ball launcher for the star of the show.
It's actually been on my mind 😬
I would love to see that 😯
Compressor, tank, two valves, bit of tubing and a few fittings? Let's go.
awesome video great setup
Thank you
Amazing frame build. Curious, can you tell me what those frame lifters/in the shop jacks are called or a link to them? Watching you work with those on this build vs on ground on 1st build…..made my back feel better. Thx in advance.
Those are actually camper slide out stabilizers, commonly found on Amazon.
Hi... Nice work on the steel structure for those panels!!!
But, DIY doesn't mean you have to wing it... get yourself an inclinometer and look up the right angle for your solar panels at your location (whatever part of Florida that is) and set them up to maximize your solar production for the inverter inside.
Also, I see your using a Voltronic-based inverter (even if it say Orient Power on the cover) with LiFePO4 Orient Power battery bank without a Inverter-BMS communication cable... that's a big mistake!!! You should definitely communicate your inverter with the BMS of your battery bank, so it doesn't overcharge your batteries... you will void it's guarantee !!!
Voltronic-based inverters are known for not being very good on properly charging batteries... and LiFePO4 batteries are not suitable for voltaje-based charging/discharging, because they have a very flat line of charge/discharge voltaje, so the inverter will never know (based on their voltaje) it's actual State of Charge (SOC)... you could definitelity damage your batteries!!!
Last but not least, don't know why you put in another combiner box as you already had one installed with 3 pairs of MC4 conectors available... it looks to me that you are not fully using the possibilities of the first combiner box... just seems a little bit overkill.
Anyway, keep up the good work!!! Cheers!!!
Hey Andrew, awesome video! I realise this comment is a year after this vid was released, but I just had to ask you something...
At any stage, did you consider hinging the panel frames directly off the side of your building? That way, you could simply raise them up to the correct angle according to the season, and for hurricane protection, drop them back to the wall and fix them down. Protective covers (plastic?) could then be fitted over them to shield from hail and flying debris.
Are there code regulations that would prevent this, being attached to a dwelling?
Interested to hear your thoughts on this approach!
Michael, Brisbane Australia
I have considered this, no code that I am aware of.
I am curious for the solar panels absorption degradation overtime. Maybe you should keep a record and have a follow up of the degradation after a period of time. Also, when will be the threshold of degradation before you should replace the panels. I am only mention this because I recall looking at a manufacture solar panels specification and seen a chart showing the panels reduces their absorption once it is installed. To counter this, they would specify a lower panel rating as a buffer and the panels will show a higher absorption % at installing.
Here is the warranty specs from the manufacturer on these panels. 5 year 95% output warranty, 10 year 90% output warranty, 25 year 80% output warranty. Very hard to beat for the price, ease of replacement, weight and more.
Usually, the batteries will die much earlier than the panels. Batteries most likely will only last around 5-10yrs, depending on usage and quality.
Have you had any issue with where that angle brace/adjuster mount on the panel jig? I feel like mounting it in the middle would have been stronger, but maybe its just fine? That's the only design question I really have.
No issue, that square tubing is quite strong.
Overdue is what you do, and one more set of panels and those extra batteries would put you right over the top as to never need power for your shop 🥇
Agreed, working on that. Trying to scrape up the funds.
Hi, just found your channel..love it! Can you tell me why you moved away from the Ecoflow Delta Pro to the wall mount?
I still have a my Delta pro, plus another and two batteries in the house. I did this because on the wall systems are cheaper and can be built out bigger, plus I wanted to show diversity on the channel. With that said you need an electrician or knowledge in wiring to build your own on the wall system. They both have there pluses and minuses.
Love your how to videos Andrew. Man your good at what you do, very interesting. Love your videos and content. 👍👍❤️❤️🇨🇦
Thank you very much
Why didn't you use the rest fuses on the existing power combiner box to connect the new array?
Because that would bring a single wire into the building and it would be over amperage for one of my charge controllers. I needed a second protected wire coming in for my second inverter.
Hey Andrew at 4:04 in the video is that the high tech Harbor freight drill press I need to get me one.......
Lol sure is! A simple clamp like that makes a cheap horizontal drill press.
What’s the cost?
Don't put anything on your roof I agree with you I have 20 panels on my roof not even a year I got a bunch of leaks
It makes me nervous for that reason
Zombie apocalypse happens, I'm coming to your house.
Don't do that, I'll be looking 👀👀🤣
Great professionally done video! Thank you for what you are doing!
Thank you for watching
The solar array looks great! 👍
Thank you, looking forward to your install. You got a killer price on those panels.
@@TKCL Yes, they have good prices. But you have to buy at least 10 panels.
At 18 minutes in is where I am trying to comprehend the value of using (2) MPPT Charge Controllers to supply 500VDC/100Amps to our Absolyte GX (VLRA) 48v/2,000AmpHour battery bank... and if it is possible to accomplish.
Love it mate, Watching from Hobart Australia.
Thank you for watching
Great video Andrew! I’m out in Jasper FL area and have been looking for steel like that for a couple months. Where are you getting you’re raw materials? A place local? Been wanting to try that shallow well and build some bear proof feeders. Now looks like a solar array is in my future…if I can find some metal!
Keep up all the good work you do brother.
Highly recommended J&W Welding supply in Tallahassee. Great prices and a very nice owner.
Thanks, I’ll look into them!
You’re the man I will like it trying to figure out what I wanna do my soul panels thought about putting on on a.m. cart with wheels on it because the sun and a bunch of trees I’m trying to get everything hooked up I don’t have a stove I live in a trailer I remodelled it like a log cabin am thinking having two different types instead of altogether one for the well pull the water up to the house and then one to the house I’m thinking I’ll probably need 200 votes for panels 200 W for the well and 200 W for the house because that’s what I have for the trailer 200 W box and I think my water well is it because the sun in the area I don’t know I’m just trying to figure this out I do like your brackets were you done that I miss welding things like that up used to build stuff but then I came a pipe welder and I’m trying to live off grid I’m retiring early retirement in April but just trying to learn to watch learn all I can about solar panels already got a hunter want set up but I got to get a better power inverter I only have a 400 and I have a 375 I think converter it’s not enough to run what I want to run off of it so I got to get it 2000 watt
I'm all about solar. You did an amazing job with that design. It's one of my designs I have seen, actually. Practical and functional. I might have to borrow some of your ideas to build my own. I installed my 10kw system on my building, but now I am looking at building the ground mount system that I regret not doing from the start. Great video! Love the build!
Thank you for watching
thanks for added input concerning amps vs watts...not being electrician I get confused at times and your explaining in detail helps me....
Glad you enjoyed it
I am the same way! Every new video I wonder if I am doing more damage than good! LOL!!
Now that's gonna catch some sun! Looks awesome! And I'm totally gonna steal that technique with the clamp on the drill! That's a new one for me
It's a back and arm saver for sure.
For the long-term life of your 6x6 pressure treated support poles, please cover the 45-degree angle cuts at the top of the poles with some kind of rain protection such as metal, roof shingle, or waterproof sealant like rubber etc. Every house in my subdivision has a three-rail pressure treated fence with 6x6 pressure treated support poles cut at 45 degrees to shed rainwater and entire fence painted. A majority of support the posts have rotted out from the center out even with the painted 45-degree top angle cut because the end grain over the years soaked up the rain into the center of the post. The internal rot was so slow that it wasn't noticed until many years later. Then it was too late for any kind of repair so the only solution was to replace the entire post.
Not a bad idea
yea or some metal post that sits in the concreed i don't know if they make them so big
Hi, Andrew! Excellent video. Ruger is a good companion.
He sure is!
Hello Andrew...nice, informative video. What is the wall thickness of the steel tubing with which you fabbed your ground mount? Thanks!
Thank you for watching. It's 14 gauge.
Nice rig, but, why use 100 watt panels? For not much more you can get 4-500 watt panels. More production on the periphery means more use. If you laid the 500 watt panels on the ground or flat against the garage, you'd get more power from them than the angled 100 watt panels, thus saving all the need for welding, moving, etc.
The cheapest 400 watt range penels I could find is over 3 times the cost of my 100 watt panels. So they are not a "little more" money. Yes they are cheaper per watt. The biggest reasons are weight, bulk, more expense to replace if damaged and they do not provide me the voltage, amperage and wattage flexibility that 100 watt panels do. I test all kinds of solar equipment on my channel and need flexibility from a single panel up to several thousand watts.
i love the panels, but add some 10kwh to taht solar array, 2.4kw is a lot of power. add some AGm or LiFeSo4 and do some video. Happy follower from Africa-Kenya
Takes money, I'm saving up. Just got another 5kwh battery and 6500 watt inverter. I plan to be at 20-30kwh of battery capacity.
Awesome addition to the solar panels. Finally got caught up to the video
You've been busy!
Now you can add a motorized folding function so you can use an app from anywhere to change the angle or hit the retract and have them flip over and fold panel side flat against the building. Don't say no. Just needs a couple linear motors or even hydraulic could probably work. Chain drive. Did you see the story about the homeowners who lost their insurance because they had too much solar on their house? The ins company called it a risk. Maybe because of all the Amazon solar fires but they didn't explain what the risk was. Those poor homeowners are now scrambling to find other coverage. It's ridiculous.
I'm hearing more and more of insurance dropping people in my state because of this. My workaround...... Install solar in my shop and trench a line to my house for power. Don't think they can say much about that.
Hurricane proof yes but time proof too wood and concret😢
Thx a lot sir for all your efforts. There's no more need for a combiner box when using the proper inverter. I'm talking about the newest EG4 18K-PV. This thing is a beast yet, very easy to install.
You know, 0.85 dollars per watt is not what I call cheap, though I guess it might be for 100W panels.
It is for a quality 100 watt panel. I can get huge and bulky panels for as low as 57 cent a watt. Those usually have low efficiency and are so heavy and bulky they don't fit the break down nature of my build.
and which is more cost effective, between buying second hand solar panel and new solar panel, which is which.
In the short term the cheap panels. But in the long term who knows. You never know the life remaining in the used panels.
Kelley. will you be giving your audience the total cost of items minus the free labor? Thanks.
I haven't added it due to no one requesting it. Last I remember it's somewhere around $2800 for panels and materials.
Looks great Andrew and expensive .. Great job as always
Not necessarily.... About $2500 in the entire thing. Seems reasonable to me for what it provides.
This is so versatile and looks very nice to boot! Always impressed 💜💜
Thank you
Great video
What do u have plugged into your battery that is taking 1054 watts?
My shop lights alone pull over 1000 watts. I have freezers, refrigerators, AC units ect.
What size Square Tubing did you us?
2 inch for main frame, 1 1/2 for adjustable sub frame.
Nice design but have you thought of putting a support arm at the front of the frame since the elevation arm is so far back?
I have, but it's not as heavy or stressful as it appears.
Where are the batteries...
On wall 5kwh battery inside, another just ordered. I like the out of way clean look.
Great idea, thanks for sharing. As far as hail protection I will bolt angle iron on top edge on my setup.
Andrew, another fantastic build.
Thank you
Very nice and well explained.
Thanks Bud
Thank you for watching
If the storm is that bad, do you think that shop will survive?
It's engineered to 155 mph. I sure hope so.
Looking like sunny days ahead... :-) How about a cost break down so far, if I'm close it must be around 6 grand....🙂
Solar array, all panels and materials are close to $2500-2800. If you add the inverter and battery it's around $5500.
HOWdy T-K-C-L, ...
Thanks for the UPDATE & addition of 12 more Panels
COOP
the WiSeNhEiMeR from Richmond, INDIANA
...
Thank you for watching
Seeing you work like this reminds me of how strict code is here in EU. Nice structure there!
Well then . Lol
Got it!
Brilliant video and info.
Not that I need that kind of power in or out but I find it really interesting.
About to build a solar cart/trolley with 2x 174w panels for my small back yard in the UK to charge Ecoflow River Mini, River Max and Rive Pro power stations.
Also have an OG Delta 1300.
Will also be adding a 2nd array at my photo studio to run my laptop and monitor whilst shooting.
Would love to have a land and property where I can build a larger array but all in good time.
I also have plans to build a trolly/cart panel array.
Approximately how many years for the ROI on just the panels?
2.5 ish ???
3 to 3.5 over all ???
Good guess, full cost of the panels, materials and all would take me about 2 1/2 years at my current average shop electric bill.
nice set up. well done Sir.
Thank you for watching
Wondering why the small panels if your going a higher voltage? Way less expensive per watt to go use panels from Santan solar .
If your talking their blemished or cracked panels, sure they are cheaper. I don't want used or damaged panels. Their 100 watt panels for example are $100, I have right at $80 in mine. I like the small panels, easy to relace, lightweight, cheap to replace should I get damage and they give me major flexibility on voltage and amperage for all the equipment I test on the channel. Their large panels don't offer me this flexibility and I just priced their cheapest 455 panel vs 4 of mine. Your talking $70 savings for the same output. Not a huge savings overall for dealing with the bulk and weight. Their efficiency is quite low on those panels too.
@@TKCL Yeah I buy palettes of there 250 W snal trail panels I've installed more than 20 pallets of those panels and I maybe have 2 bad panels and it 35 bucks a piece they're hard to ignore. The small panels really are easy to maneuver I don't like installing panels much over 250 W by myself.
You made it look so easy, and I loved that you built a bed under it, weed control. 🙌🏼⭐️🌟✨ You made it look professional and very clean.
Thank you for watching
I went through a little different thought process for my climate. Deep snow is a problem so roof top solar installs are preferred. I have 54 panels at 345 watts each on a south facing barn roof top. The barn has a new standing seam metal roof... not exposed fasteners. No roof penetrations. Wires go through the eave. Racks clip to standing seams. No battery. We have a grid tied system. We get full credit for everything we produce up to the amount we use. We get paid only about 25% for over production.
I see a lot of people with those systems, I just prefer to have batteries and true backup power. Makes me sleep better knowing its there.
I want to hire you to do this in my yard! Is that something that you do?
No, I'm lot for hire. Sorry
I AM IMPRESSED WITH YOUR INGENUITY.
WE ENVISAGE A PORTABLE FOLDING GROUND MOUNT THAT WE CAN COLLAPSE, LOCK & SECURE WITH BALLAST IN THE EVENT OF HURRICANES. YOU ARE GIVING ME IDEAS. THANKS
Thank you for watching!
Good idea EMP - proof
Not necessarily, those wires coming inside can bring that to my equipment. I'm not sure the surge protector helps in that situation.
Ferrites also help around wires.
Setting up this awesome system, and still had time to Play kickball with your dog, that was very cool💪👊
That's my buddy!
The solar project is coming along nicely. Does your local power company offer an option to sell them your excess solar power? Thanks for the video.
I don't believe mine does. The one a few counties over seems to be phasing it out. Sadly people are not getting the solar support they once thought.
Great vid! Loved the idea with the clamp driving the drill. Never saw that before. Welding is one of the most useful skills to learn.
That tip definitely helps
Very neat, tidy, and stable. Love it.
Thank you!
Great job my friend!!!
nice redneck drill press! oh boy i see a solar farm in your future!🧙♂️
That drill press works great!
@@TKCL beats the ol foot drill press! lol
Why metal rather than wood or hard plastic
Severe thunderstorms here, I want the strength.
Nice setup, looking forward to more videos
Coming soon!
Just saw your video this morning. Cool idea!! Like the setup!
Thank you
Nice
😎😎😎
👍🏿
👀
I may have missed it on an earlier post. Why did you use 100 wattt panels? Hoping to try this later this year.
Easy to replace, cheap, allows a lot of flexibility with wiring and altering voltage/amperage ect.
Great video, very informative.
Glad it was helpful!
Weld nuts onto each bolt hole location. Then you can just use an impact to run them in and out of any location. Minimized tools and increased speed.
About half are welded on. I should take weld the rest.
great video thank you !
Glad you liked it!
Can we get an entire parts and price breakdown of this solar project you've done so far?
It's be a while before I can get a list together. My full cost for all materials and panels is in the $2800 range.
As always well done Andrew.
Thank you