Ask HN: What is the best small off-grid solar kit today?
I'm looking for small off-grid kits that include a battery for consistent output of about 1000 Watt Hrs per day, and are simple to install by myself
15 comments
You can make your own extremely easy.
1kWh is about 85 Amp Hours. You'll need at least a 160Ah battery if you don't want any extra storage. Usually you will need to at least double that for days when you don't have much sun. I would suggest you need at least 400Ah worth of batteries.
Then you have to figure out how much sun your panels are getting to determine if you can fully charge your batteries in that time for the rest of the day.
You'll most likely only need a few 100W panels. This means you'll be looking at <$1k for the batteries and <$1k for everything else, including a cheap controller.
Size? Well expect this entire thing to weigh around 500lbs!
1kWh is about 85 Amp Hours. You'll need at least a 160Ah battery if you don't want any extra storage. Usually you will need to at least double that for days when you don't have much sun. I would suggest you need at least 400Ah worth of batteries.
Then you have to figure out how much sun your panels are getting to determine if you can fully charge your batteries in that time for the rest of the day.
You'll most likely only need a few 100W panels. This means you'll be looking at <$1k for the batteries and <$1k for everything else, including a cheap controller.
Size? Well expect this entire thing to weigh around 500lbs!
Thanks for this reply. Maybe I'm not understanding something, but 1kWh per day converts to about 42 Watts. Why would I need several 100W panels? Is the power rating of the panels a peak, before efficiency or lack-of-sun losses are taken into account?
You only get real power out of your solar for a few hours a day, at best. This needs to be enough to supply power to your equipment during those hours while also (hopefully) giving your battery bank a full or near full charge.
Your panels will pretty-much work 24/7 though. I've gotten half an amp from the moon on my 2x 100w panels.
> Is the power rating of the panels a peak, before efficiency or lack-of-sun losses are taken into account?
Yeah. They can actually put out a tiny-bit more, but don't expect them to. Plan for them outputting peak 70% of what they are rated for, actually.
Your panels will pretty-much work 24/7 though. I've gotten half an amp from the moon on my 2x 100w panels.
> Is the power rating of the panels a peak, before efficiency or lack-of-sun losses are taken into account?
Yeah. They can actually put out a tiny-bit more, but don't expect them to. Plan for them outputting peak 70% of what they are rated for, actually.
What about those batteries, is lithium an option?
Get your wallet out. Your tissues, too, because what you're about to see is going to be eye-watering:
https://battlebornbatteries.com/
I looked at them for RV use, though, and folks seem to be happy with them. Too rich for my blood, I ended up going with AGM for now.
Oh, and they have kits, too. Just add solar panels:
https://battlebornbatteries.com/product-category/battle-born...
https://battlebornbatteries.com/
I looked at them for RV use, though, and folks seem to be happy with them. Too rich for my blood, I ended up going with AGM for now.
Oh, and they have kits, too. Just add solar panels:
https://battlebornbatteries.com/product-category/battle-born...
Wow. ~$1k/100ah for those babies. Dang.
Sure! Just incredibly expensive.
This is a great question, I hope we get some good answers in here. Cheap reliable off grid power set ups could provide a huge boost to everyone. Imagine moving to your new place, and just running a few panels up a pole right above the tree line.
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I personally have a Goal Zero setup with the Lithium-based Yeti 3000 (3000W), and a pair of the Boulder 200 solar panel briefcases, totaling 400W. Albeit expensive, went with this option for the ease of installation - 1 wire per solar panel plugged into the Yeti, and It Just Works. No complaints besides from my wallet.
What about https://ironedison.com? I’m interested in nickel iron batteries, sounds like they last longer and can handle more abuse then lead acid and lithium ion... would love to hear if anyone has experience with them
Researched this recently and came across this which appears to be the best solution in the field currently, though price prohibitive. http://solarips.com/power-tower/
Wonder how pricing compares with http://www.jouleboxpower.com/. The batteries seem to be the large cost in these energy storage solutions. Removing them and using hydrogen in propane tanks may reduce costs significantly.
Those are really neat, thanks for sharing!
I have heard Renogy, or the Goal Zero Yeti