short video describing a small solar power system that i set up at my house. it consists of twelve 1 amp solar panels (15 watts each for a total of 180 watts of power – per hour). i use it to run all lights (CFL’s), fans, tv’s, and stereos in the house. also the microwave, coffee maker, blender, can opener, sandwich grill, toaster, vacuum, computer and anything else i can think of. run time for lights/fans only is approx 8 hours. add in vacuuming, microwaving or toaster along with lights, tv and the fans and the run time is reduced to 4-5 hours a day. i bought solar panels, inverter (1000 watt) and killowatt meter at Harbor Freight tools, the batteries (deep cycle) from walmart and the battery cables from checker auto. total cost was about $1200 to $1300
Duration : 0:5:26
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
@jettlesschan the …
@jettlesschan the electric bill is about 25% lower in the winter months. only about 10% lower in the summer months though, due to the fact that my central ac accounts for for a very large part of the bill and does not run off of the solar system.
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
how much do you …
how much do you save on bills
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
Been watching a lot …
Been watching a lot of DIY PV project, yours is really simple but great.
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
Ingenious, thanks I …
Ingenious, thanks I will try it too.
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
@kricotoy a 1500 …
@kricotoy a 1500 watt pure sine wave inverter for $200.00 is a good deal. i’ve decided to buy A Xantrex prowatt sw inverter.
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
@Tomthetoolman100 i …
@Tomthetoolman100 i bought the panels from Harbor Freight Tools. a 3 panel set cost about $200.00 but i have seen them for $169.00 a set on sale.
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
@tmjump96 batteries …
@tmjump96 batteries do put out a very small amount of hydrogen when in the final stages of charging. it is a very small amount that would easily dissipate in a large room. (the air in an average room of a house is completely exchanged with outside air every 4 hours or so just from air entering around windows doors etc…)
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
how much was the …
how much was the panels and where from
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
Get those batteries …
Get those batteries out of the house, your suppose to have the batteries in a vented room. The reason is that when the batteries charge they give out deadly gases.
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
@desertsun02
why …
@desertsun02
why so expensive?
there is one invereter 1500 pure sineway
for a 200.00 free shiping
any way good video soon i will made my too
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
Thanks for sharing …
Thanks for sharing , good vid bro .
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
@rocket27 dont …
@rocket27 dont listen to that crap where ever you hear it think about it!
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
@rocket27 keeping …
@rocket27 keeping batteries on a floor should not affect their ability to retain a charge.
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
Are the batteries …
Are the batteries on the floor? I hear that you lose charge if the are. Is that true?
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
Are you messing …
Are you messing with your panel setup. I have now 4 HF 45 watt kits 125 watt panel and a 3 five watt panel and 8 watt and a 13 watt connected.
I literary made my meter spin backwards need better cam for the meter to see it spin backwards.but it does spin backwards.
Would like to see a update vid from you
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
@madcyborg – yes, i …
@madcyborg – yes, i did look into that. i use all the power that the system generates though, so i wouldn’t have any extra power to sell them back. regarding inverters in general, i have thought about buying a ‘pure’ sinewave inverter. home depot sells a 1000 watt one for about $269.00
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
@Tomthetoolman100 – …
@Tomthetoolman100 – i’m still running the same system (12 panels and 4 batteries). the whole system has held up very well. i’ve recently started running leaf blower/vac, hedgetrimmer and other power tools off of the solar setup. i’ve also been able to run the washing machine (the system needs to be fully charged for the battery bank to be able to handle the power requirement). the panels are getting about 10 hours a day of sunlight.
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
hi everybody! I’m …
hi everybody! I’m new to this, some people use 2 6 volt batteries in tandem instead of one 12 volt. what is the advantage?
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
I like your system …
I like your system i am in the process of building a system like this in my room. with those panals how many hours a day are they getting sun light?
and you need to do an update to let us know how it is going thanks
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
Very cool system. I …
Very cool system. I am jealous. Thanks for the awesome video.
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
well im getting a …
well im getting a 15 watt panel, a 7 amp charge controller, and a 400 watt inverter. but all im puring is 1 light for about 1 hour a alarm clock, and a tv for about a hour a day. and by the way you have a nice setup.
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
a 5 watt solar …
a 5 watt solar panel would take to long to charge the battery. for running a couple of lights, radio, tv, computer, small fan for a few hours a day, you would probably want to have 2 batteries and two 45 watt ‘harbor freight’ solar panel set ups. with this particular system, i would use a charge controller that can handle at least 7 amps.
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
would it be …
would it be possible to do this setup with one 5 watt solar panel 1 battery and one 400 watt inverter. because all i want to power is several things in my room. if not what quantity of the items i would need and whats the total watts i would need? i would really appreciate any advice or help. thank you
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
I would think that …
I would think that if its tied back into the city grid to feed power back then it would have to be setup by a professional to the city’s set standards and it would be very expensive.
I might be wrong though…. but in my small town in florida they will let you feed the grid but you wont receive any money for it… just a pat on the back and a very small tax break.
June 7th, 2010 at 6:04 am
Have you thought …
Have you thought about using a GRID TIE inverter? That way if you are at work, or not home you get a credit or money back from the utility company… just an idea