How To Set Up A Simple OFF-GRID Solar System | DIY Camper Build - Part 13

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  • Опубліковано 24 лют 2023
  • I set up a simple OFF-GRID solar system for my DIY #tinktube camper build. To my 50-watt solar panel, I connect a solar charge controller, a lithium iron phosphate deep cycle battery, and a 500-watt inverter. Amazon affiliate links below to the products I used for this build.
    Tinktube Discount Code: tinktube.com/?coupon_code=gre...
    50 Watt Solar Panel: amzn.to/41rmf64
    500 Watt Inverter: amzn.to/41oTOWc
    10 Amp Charge Controller: amzn.to/3xShvc4
    12.8V Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery: amzn.to/3ksePi8
    Join this channel to get access to perks:
    / @greenshortzdiy
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 24

  • @edwardnewbins
    @edwardnewbins Місяць тому

    Nice work! Thanks!

  • @joeyhardin1288
    @joeyhardin1288 Рік тому +3

    I really want to set one up for my house. Thank you. God Bless and stay safe.

  • @jasonbroom7147
    @jasonbroom7147 Рік тому +5

    Major rabbit-hole...but so worth it! I started with about the same size setup and have gone deep into this topic, since then. NOTE: That is a PWM controller, so make sure your panels get FULL sun. Any shading at all and output will drop to almost zero. Two things you'll experience fairly soon including really noticing how many days are not really sunny, and you'll obsess over having a nice sunny day when your battery is already fully charged. You'll start to dream up ways to use the power you have stored, but not TOO much, because you don't want to run out. That's when things start to scale! ;) Keep in mind that you can power 12v DC loads directly from the controller. It will use solar power when that is coming in and providing enough amps, otherwise it will draw from the battery. This is far more efficient than going through the inverter, which typically will suffer 10-15% worth of conversion losses. Also, volts*amps=watts...so, the wattage coming through the panel and into your battery is the simplest way to understand how productive it is. If you ever decide you would like to try building an LFP battery from components, let me know and I'll be glad to step you through it. Not hard at all and it allows you to build a lot more capacity, at a reasonable cost. (That system won't really provide much for your camper build, as it is just too small.)
    ***You have that listed as a "24V Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery", in your description. It's a 12.8V battery with 24AH (amp-hours) worth of capacity.***

    • @GreenShortzDIY
      @GreenShortzDIY  Рік тому +1

      Thank you, Jason. Lots of great insights here. I have noticed that I’m already thinking differently about the sun. Funny, it has been mostly cloudy and rainy since i made this video. :-) I fixed the battery info in the description. Thank you for catching that. One question I have…how will I know when the battery is full? Thank you for watching.

    • @jasonbroom7147
      @jasonbroom7147 Рік тому +1

      @@GreenShortzDIY - The battery has a BMS, or Battery Management System, inside the case. It is a small circuit board with mosfets that control charging and discharging. It is programmed to curtail charge current at around 14.4 volts and then allow current in again when it drops below a certain threshold. You can't tell actual SOC (state of charge) without a shunt or hall effect sensor. Voltage is not a good indicator of SOC, with LFP batteries, because they maintain a flat voltage level throughout most of their discharge cycle.

  • @LLampen
    @LLampen Рік тому +4

    Would be a really good idea to have fuses and to ground the inverter. The battery probably has a BMS with some level protection & balance, but actual fusing is great for preventing an unseen miss fortune event. Nice project, keep it up!

  • @garrycremin4202
    @garrycremin4202 7 місяців тому +1

    Thank you so much for this video.I've watched so many confusing clips.........volts....ohms....ampage etc. This was just simplicity. Even the way you placed the parts on the table was perfect. As I'm typing this I've set up a solar system on my own table and its already charging my phone.Great vid.

    • @GreenShortzDIY
      @GreenShortzDIY  7 місяців тому

      Glad it helped, Garry. Thank you for letting me know.

  • @emaglott
    @emaglott Рік тому +1

    Face your fears! It feels good knowing that you have done it! That is a great little system for your trailer. Looking forward to seeing the next video about it.

  • @juliehenderson1672
    @juliehenderson1672 Рік тому +2

    You did it! Congrats! 👍

  • @rudyfisher7660
    @rudyfisher7660 Рік тому +2

    If I was you I would take it put it on a roller round plastic Box that you can put all your parts in your battery your inverter and solar charger so that way they won't get wet and then you set your solar panel mounted on top of the Box and you'll be able to move it around whatever you want

  • @BaldYak_OSRS
    @BaldYak_OSRS 15 днів тому

    Always connect positive first then negative.

  • @GinaKayLandis
    @GinaKayLandis Рік тому

    Yay I love that you took the bull by the horns, got through this, and proceeded slowly enough that your audience could (with possibly little knowledge of conversion from solar to electrical power) take note of each step!
    I will admit some concern with the modified sine wave inverter, though. If a laptop, tools, etc are to be charged or run on this setup, a modified sine wave inverter will work twice as hard as a pure sine wave inverter to complete the task. This issue serves to cause the powered delicate or wire-wound equipment to fail sooner than if receiving pure sine wave power.
    Still, impressive, and your connection sequencing will be in my pocket for my travel van!

  • @Zbee167
    @Zbee167 5 місяців тому

    Good stuff! Thanks for sharing.

  • @terrysincheff6682
    @terrysincheff6682 Рік тому +1

    Thank you for all the good information.
    I see one of your patreons is Joe Scott. Is that the same Joe Scott with the "answers"?

  • @traviss589
    @traviss589 Рік тому +1

    Nice going. Electricity is kinda intimidating.

    • @GreenShortzDIY
      @GreenShortzDIY  Рік тому +1

      Ha! I am with you. Thank you for the encouragement. Thank you for watching.

  • @OligosFew
    @OligosFew Рік тому

    Can you show us how to setup a strait DC system too please? I have lived off grid in the past and I know I don't need much, a few lights, a fan or 2, which I would use a dc, a DC fridge/freezer and a DC water pump. No need to lose electricity on conversion. Truly we don't need much, we have just become spoiled and those things I want are largely luxuries new to the human experience.

  • @kathleenmead9259
    @kathleenmead9259 Рік тому

    great job!

  • @ninaday6442
    @ninaday6442 Місяць тому +1

    Why not connect the inverter to the load terminals?

    • @sdtruth619
      @sdtruth619 Місяць тому

      did he ever explain this?

    • @GreenShortzDIY
      @GreenShortzDIY  Місяць тому

      I’m not sure of the answer. I’m still learning about solar power myself. But, I’m sure others on UA-cam have answered it.