Good job it was informative that you aren’t overly technical electrically but yet you were able to set up the system with your son’s help, this kit looks very well packaged, designed and prepared for assembly. Nice to see you gentlemen enjoying your time together! Cheers!
Nice video. I can see how excited you are with your new solar project and i share your enthusiasm as i have a small system of 200 watts. Greetings from sunny Jamaica.
Nice kit and Renogy is good. The only thing I would change is, I would want a MPPT charge controller. The one they included is a PWM charge controller. mppt is way more efficient and will provide much more power to the battery. In his application the pwm would probably be fine.
The Solar panel Face should be pointed South and at an angle that is equal to your Latitude of 10 degrees for maximum input from the Sun. This is during the summer months. Come Fall and Spring it should be raised at an even steeper angle. So Where I am in Michigan I am at the 45th Parallel so I have My Panel tilted at 55 degrees for Summer . Your panel is lying flat on your roof which by looking at the pitch is a 4-12 at best which is just 18 degrees. So your panel is lying much to flat and needs to be raised up. Try raising the panel on more of an angle and you should see your numbers greatly improve. Thanks for your video.
You never said as to what you were using it for, after the inverter ..What do you use it for. and did it meet your needs, or do you feel you need to up it some more ?? That's what I'"m interested in knowing. One battery How much AC power do you get off the inverter let say to run Lights at night time for over 5 hours or so. A refrigerator all week long 24/7 things like that..Thanks other wise It looks great for what I seen you do so far.
I can tell you with one battery you are not going to run much . Especially at night . If you make the plunge look for batteries like golf carts , hand forklift batteries . Junkyard and everywhere . I got lucky and got both .
Make sure the charge controller is setup to the correct battery type you're using. Remember to follow manufacturer install steps in the right order for the system you purchased.
Great video, just a quick question. I have my shoreline powered all ready to go on my 7x14 cargo trailer, next is my solar. I already have a 30amp and 1500W inverter, and 12v battery. I would like to get a 200W solar panel to used for lights, and charge my laptop. no tv, but would like to get a 12v cooler to use. my question is will a 200W solar panel work? or do I need more watts?
It's not really that simple... It will really depend on a few things. - geographic location - season (amount of sunlight available) - shading - the tilt of your panels - type of solar panel - cleanliness of your solar panels Additionally, 1. How many amps are you going to pull with the connected devices daily? 2. Will you have an in-line battery that will act as a power reservoir to your inverter? If so, what are the amp hours of that battery? Can your solar panel and charge controller produce enough amps to recharge your battery daily? Remember, under real-world conditions, the amount of amps a solar panel produces may vary between 50-100% of the advertised value. For example a 100watt panel in peak weather conditions should produce around 5.56A. Double that for a 200watt panel. But remember, in a real world scenario only expect around half of that. If the weather is bad, expect even lower results. So you will need to calculate PEAK sun hours per day, then the amp hours per day you will use against the amp hours of a battery and amp production of the solar panel and determine if collectively you can run the devices from your setup and more importantly if your panel will produce enough amps to recharge the battery in enough time to use it again the next day.
What is the difference/benefits from running a 100wt MPPT or a 100wt PWM? ... both offered by Renogy with only $11 difference..? I will be purchasing this set-up, but unsure of MPPT, or PWM version.
With this inverter, we are running an automated chicken door, a single LED light and during the winter a 50watt water heater that has a built in thermostat. For your second question... That's a great question that comes with many variables. You will need to find an inverter that complies with your amp & watt draw requirements for the equipment you'll be running from it.
@@Rj-nh1df Since the original install of the solar panel, I've modified it with a custom built panel stand I made... I'll do a quick video of it soon to show everyone what it looks like and how it is built.
Not necessarily. Remember, the batteries are your "bucket" of charged energy that you get to use. The more batteries, the bigger the bucket... You can add more panels to your setup without increasing your batteries. This will just allow you to charge the batteries you have quicker. Just keep in mind the max load that your solar charge controller can handle and ensure you follow manufacture instructions for adding more panels and if you're adding more batteries ensure you follow rules for electricity so you don't overload your planned circuits and your inverter. So do your homework and understand the full difference between in parallel vs in series. In short, connecting batteries in series increases voltage, but does not increase overall amp-hour capacity. All batteries in a series bank must have the same amp-hour rating. Connecting batteries in parallel increases total current capacity by decreasing total resistance, and it also increases overall amp-hour capacity. AGAIN, DO YOUR HOMEWORK and consult a professional if you aren't comfortable.
Yes, up to the max load capacity of the solar charge controller. After that you will need to upgrade your solar charge controller. Also be mindful of how you add panels. There is a difference of in series or parallel. When wiring solar panels in parallel, the amperage (current) is additive, but the voltage remains the same. ... When wiring solar panels in a series, the voltage is additive, but the amperage remains the same. This is VERY important to your solar charge controller and your batteries. The moral of the story is, IF you don't know how to do this... hire a professional or you can damage your system.
GISIAN 300 WATT true sign wave inverter, he shows it working in the video. It's small, my 800 watt (THOR) will run my full size frig. TV and 2 lights. I tested it for like 3 hrs. My 400 watt did not start the frig.
Your inverter is drawing more current than you think. If you are leaving it on all the time, it will run down your battery on cloudy periods. Seriously, an mppt controller will work much better.
$196 for the Solar Starter Kit amzn.to/2GAVwPQ $16 for the Watt Meter amzn.to/38etlS1 $60 for the Inverter amzn.to/3l3iRIL $80 for the Deep Cycle Marine Battery There were some ancillary costs for some lumber to build the battery shelf... Since the original install, I have moved the panel to a stand alone home made post mount (I'll do a separate video on that to show)... with that came some lumber and hardware cost along with an additional solar panel cable. Solar Panel Extension Cable $77 amzn.to/3kXl2xw So my estimates is total cost of the setup as it stands now is around $480
@@ScottyD when i watched your video u had the 300 WATT but instead you posted the 600 WATT link I searched for the 300 WATT and no where to find so where did you buy the 300 watt ? or no longer continued
@@litahsr.8226 The link I shared is the one we purchased, however the product itself seems to be different on Amazon. It looks like it's now a 600watt inverter.
You are confusing polycrystaline panels with amorphous panels. Look up the difference. Poly panels are just as good as mono, they are just less efficient/require more surface area.
It's the Achilles tendon of owning a solar system. If it cannot produce energy in the overcast conditions where you live and it will be installed, it's all for nothing... Even the best panels will struggle or not produce at all of the cloud cover is thick enough. Also panel placement is key... I've done a change to this system since it was installed where I placed my panel. The original location was not optimal. My new location is about as best as I can get for where I live. If you want to see a separate video on that, comment and let me know.
Good job getting your son involved in the project.
This is what dads should do.
Great job Scotty. This was very useful. Thank you!
My Renogy starter kit came today. This video is helpful. Thank you!
Good job it was informative that you aren’t overly technical electrically but yet you were able to set up the system with your son’s help, this kit looks very well packaged, designed and prepared for assembly. Nice to see you gentlemen enjoying your time together! Cheers!
Thanks... I wanted to show that with just a little bit of research and basic abilities and know-how, anyone can put one of these systems together.
Nice video. I can see how excited you are with your new solar project and i share your enthusiasm as i have a small system of 200 watts. Greetings from sunny Jamaica.
Great video! My Renogy unit arrives on Friday - can’t wait and I’ll definitely watch this again!
Thanks!
Nice kit and Renogy is good.
The only thing I would change is, I would want a MPPT charge controller. The one they included is a PWM charge controller.
mppt is way more efficient and will provide much more power to the battery.
In his application the pwm would probably be fine.
I own a 20 amp Renogy Rover Elite and it is too large and won't allow the case to close. Oh well.
This helped me decide to get one, thanks for posting all the links!
You need to add some fuses to your lines as well as a breaker to your load side
Thanks for the advice... any specific fuses and breakers you'd recommend?
Indeed a very beautiful backyard! Thanks for sharing.
That extra port is for a Bluetooth device that tells you what everything is doing, bts 1 I think. Awesome video for people who are starting out.
Thanks bro, great video 🥳
You're very welcome... glad it helped you!
Great video There is another type of solar panel it is called Amorphous solar panels. They can charge in cloudy or from moon.
Good job. Thanks for the honesty and great instructions.
Glad it was helpful!
The Solar panel Face should be pointed South and at an angle that is equal to your Latitude of 10 degrees for maximum input from the Sun. This is during the summer months. Come Fall and Spring it should be raised at an even steeper angle.
So Where I am in Michigan I am at the 45th Parallel so I have My Panel tilted at 55 degrees for Summer .
Your panel is lying flat on your roof which by looking at the pitch is a 4-12 at best which is just 18 degrees. So your panel is lying much to flat and needs to be raised up. Try raising the panel on more of an angle and you should see your numbers greatly improve.
Thanks for your video.
Thank you, this was very helpful and well explained.
You never said as to what you were using it for, after the inverter ..What do you use it for. and did it meet your needs, or do you feel you need to up it some more ?? That's what I'"m interested in knowing. One battery How much AC power do you get off the inverter let say to run Lights at night time for over 5 hours or so. A refrigerator all week long 24/7 things like that..Thanks other wise It looks great for what I seen you do so far.
that have calculating charts at Renogy .com. most appliances or t.v. list volts and amps used. volt x amps=watts
I can tell you with one battery you are not going to run much . Especially at night . If you make the plunge look for batteries like golf carts , hand forklift batteries . Junkyard and everywhere . I got lucky and got both .
He replied..., 'to run a chicken coop' a few times. But video was informative.
@@
Loved it scotty ❤️
it's been a few months do you like it?
Outstanding video. Thanks for the info
Glad it was helpful!
Great video! How did you get your inverter to work? Mine is not letting power out.
Ensure you have it setup to manufacturer recommendations. I simply followed that and it worked with no issues.
@@ScottyD Thanks. I didn't change anything, I followed the instructions.
Maybe you could help me. I purchased the same system however mine won’t turn the battery light on and doesn’t seem to work
Make sure the charge controller is setup to the correct battery type you're using. Remember to follow manufacturer install steps in the right order for the system you purchased.
I'm using it to monitor power harnessed into my power box
Cool should be good for my hunting spot
Great video, just a quick question. I have my shoreline powered all ready to go on my 7x14 cargo trailer, next is my solar. I already have a 30amp and 1500W inverter, and 12v battery. I would like to get a 200W solar panel to used for lights, and charge my laptop. no tv, but would like to get a 12v cooler to use. my question is will a 200W solar panel work? or do I need more watts?
It's not really that simple...
It will really depend on a few things.
- geographic location
- season (amount of sunlight available)
- shading
- the tilt of your panels
- type of solar panel
- cleanliness of your solar panels
Additionally, 1. How many amps are you going to pull with the connected devices daily? 2. Will you have an in-line battery that will act as a power reservoir to your inverter? If so, what are the amp hours of that battery? Can your solar panel and charge controller produce enough amps to recharge your battery daily?
Remember, under real-world conditions, the amount of amps a solar panel produces may vary between 50-100% of the advertised value. For example a 100watt panel in peak weather conditions should produce around 5.56A. Double that for a 200watt panel. But remember, in a real world scenario only expect around half of that. If the weather is bad, expect even lower results. So you will need to calculate PEAK sun hours per day, then the amp hours per day you will use against the amp hours of a battery and amp production of the solar panel and determine if collectively you can run the devices from your setup and more importantly if your panel will produce enough amps to recharge the battery in enough time to use it again the next day.
What is the difference/benefits from running a 100wt MPPT or a 100wt PWM? ... both offered by Renogy with only $11 difference..? I will be purchasing this set-up, but unsure of MPPT, or PWM version.
Mppt are 30% more efficient but more expensive. Worth the extra
What did you run with this inverter? Any recommendations for running portable AC, LED lights x2, LED TV?
With this inverter, we are running an automated chicken door, a single LED light and during the winter a 50watt water heater that has a built in thermostat. For your second question... That's a great question that comes with many variables. You will need to find an inverter that complies with your amp & watt draw requirements for the equipment you'll be running from it.
@@ScottyD Thanks for sharing and for your responses. UA-cam has become ultimate in leaning new hobbies. I appreciate your help!
@@Rj-nh1df Since the original install of the solar panel, I've modified it with a custom built panel stand I made... I'll do a quick video of it soon to show everyone what it looks like and how it is built.
Always thought you hooked up positive first... 🤔
YES, always do the ground wire last.
Me too. Wondering why he says this so firmly. Must be a reason.
got another question i'm totally new for this to me if you add to more panels does that mean more batteries ??
Not necessarily. Remember, the batteries are your "bucket" of charged energy that you get to use. The more batteries, the bigger the bucket... You can add more panels to your setup without increasing your batteries. This will just allow you to charge the batteries you have quicker. Just keep in mind the max load that your solar charge controller can handle and ensure you follow manufacture instructions for adding more panels and if you're adding more batteries ensure you follow rules for electricity so you don't overload your planned circuits and your inverter. So do your homework and understand the full difference between in parallel vs in series. In short, connecting batteries in series increases voltage, but does not increase overall amp-hour capacity. All batteries in a series bank must have the same amp-hour rating. Connecting batteries in parallel increases total current capacity by decreasing total resistance, and it also increases overall amp-hour capacity. AGAIN, DO YOUR HOMEWORK and consult a professional if you aren't comfortable.
@@ScottyD ok thank you very much for the info
Can you add more panels to this kit at a later date?
Yes, up to the max load capacity of the solar charge controller. After that you will need to upgrade your solar charge controller. Also be mindful of how you add panels. There is a difference of in series or parallel. When wiring solar panels in parallel, the amperage (current) is additive, but the voltage remains the same. ... When wiring solar panels in a series, the voltage is additive, but the amperage remains the same. This is VERY important to your solar charge controller and your batteries. The moral of the story is, IF you don't know how to do this... hire a professional or you can damage your system.
Just wondering, what type of inverter are you using? Thanks!
GISIAN 300 WATT true sign wave inverter, he shows it working in the video. It's small, my 800 watt (THOR) will run my full size frig. TV and 2 lights. I tested it for like 3 hrs. My 400 watt did not start the frig.
Your inverter is drawing more current than you think.
If you are leaving it on all the time, it will run down your battery on cloudy periods.
Seriously, an mppt controller will work much better.
where is the 29 hm deep cycle marine battery link ???
I bought that at a local auto parts store.
@@ScottyD ok i'll check it out was thinking to do there first
what was your total purchase cost, before install ?
$196 for the Solar Starter Kit
amzn.to/2GAVwPQ
$16 for the Watt Meter
amzn.to/38etlS1
$60 for the Inverter
amzn.to/3l3iRIL
$80 for the Deep Cycle Marine Battery
There were some ancillary costs for some lumber to build the battery shelf... Since the original install, I have moved the panel to a stand alone home made post mount (I'll do a separate video on that to show)... with that came some lumber and hardware cost along with an additional solar panel cable.
Solar Panel Extension Cable $77
amzn.to/3kXl2xw
So my estimates is total cost of the setup as it stands now is around $480
Can I get a 600watt with a 100 w panel? I just want to hook up WiFi and cameras around my building
I'm a little confused by your question... Are you asking if you can get a smaller inverter or what specifically are you asking?
@@ScottyD when i watched your video u had the 300 WATT but instead you posted the 600 WATT link I searched for the 300 WATT and no where to find so where did you buy the 300 watt ? or no longer continued
@@litahsr.8226 The link I shared is the one we purchased, however the product itself seems to be different on Amazon. It looks like it's now a 600watt inverter.
You are confusing polycrystaline panels with amorphous panels.
Look up the difference. Poly panels are just as good as mono, they are just less efficient/require more surface area.
You don't carry a pocket knife on your person that you could have cut the tape on the box?! Gentlemen always have a knife.
100 w can we watch 20 w tv night 6 7 hours or no shans 😉
Am I the ONLY person that noticed that it's always cloudy out in solar panel videos? 🤔
It's the Achilles tendon of owning a solar system. If it cannot produce energy in the overcast conditions where you live and it will be installed, it's all for nothing... Even the best panels will struggle or not produce at all of the cloud cover is thick enough. Also panel placement is key... I've done a change to this system since it was installed where I placed my panel. The original location was not optimal. My new location is about as best as I can get for where I live. If you want to see a separate video on that, comment and let me know.
Wow 44 minutes huh
Tooooooo slow