diy solar

diy solar

You're killin' me Will!!!

Fortunately for me I already had most of the tools. I previously had no need to make very large custom cables so I only had crimpers capable of handling up to 8 ga. wire. Everything else was acquired over the decades of building everything I could. The problem for me is the batteries. Everything else is easily affordable (for me). Lifepo4 batteries are another story. I could spend $16k for batteries alone if my wallet (and wife) allowed it.
 
BoloMKXXVIII said:
Lifepo4 batteries are another story. I could spend $16k for batteries alone if my wallet (and wife) allowed it.
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Point out to her that over 20 years you will have spend less by buying large up front than replacing lead batteries. Though in my case I have never had a wife for 20 years so there's that..... 7 is my record. 7, 1, and 5.
 
18 years married, 20 years so far single. Life is Good.

I had all the tools I needed except an MC4 crimper. It's all the damn bits and pieces and parts that are killing me. Can't tell you how much I've spent at Tractor Supply in fasteners and lugs. BTW, they have the cheapest prices on nuts and bolts, sell most by weight rather than package, much cheaper.
 
Rider said:
18 years married, 20 years so far single. Life is Good.

I had all the tools I needed except an MC4 crimper. It's all the damn bits and pieces and parts that are killing me. Can't tell you how much I've spent at Tractor Supply in fasteners and lugs. BTW, they have the cheapest prices on nuts and bolts, sell most by weight rather than package, much cheaper.
Click to expand...

I love the fasteners by weight there. Never have to write stuff down and you can throw it all in one bag.
 
I'm sure this question has been asked on a thousand threads already, and if I'm redundant, my bad, kill me now, but has anyone had any experience with the solar panels offered by Harbor Freight? Now that's another place that when I go there, I have to take only the exact amount I need for my specific purchase or risk financial disaster. Seriously, I leave checkbook and debit card at home; I don't do credit, it only benefits the banks, I save instead. A 24v thing-a-majigger I have no use for, but it's only $17.95? Oh hell yeah, in the basket it goes.
 
Cajunwolf said:
I'm sure this question has been asked on a thousand threads already, and if I'm redundant, my bad, kill me now, but has anyone had any experience with the solar panels offered by Harbor Freight? Now that's another place that when I go there, I have to take only the exact amount I need for my specific purchase or risk financial disaster. Seriously, I leave checkbook and debit card at home; I don't do credit, it only benefits the banks, I save instead. A 24v thing-a-majigger I have no use for, but it's only $17.95? Oh hell yeah, in the basket it goes.
Click to expand...
Consider yourself killed...

Seeriously though, the Hf panels kits are grossly overpriced for the quality and output, and are only useful if you want a single battery charger with a pair of bulbs...
the only good thing about them is availability...
 
Will Prowse said:
Haha!!! Oh man, good tools are the best. You guys crack me up. I'm starting to realize that building these power systems is a bit addicting...
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Don't stop I have learned a lot from you, also I know you have did a lot of testing on batteries what is the best one for a beginner like me? In doing a 24v system.
 
Supervstech said:
Consider yourself killed...

Seeriously though, the Hf panels kits are grossly overpriced for the quality and output, and are only useful if you want a single battery charger with a pair of bulbs...
the only good thing about them is availability...
Click to expand...

Cool, thanks for the info, I pass by them all the time, but they looked a bit cheezy, and the tool word triggered Harbor Freight which reminded me of the panels in the first place. I'm looking for an inexpensive panel to mount on the luggage rack of my 2K Grand Cherokee to maintain the 12V battery I keep in the back to power the little 400-watt inverter I use for things like small power tools, my laptop, and anything else that I might need power for while out bouncing around in the woods and such. I already have two Renogy 100 Watt 12 Volt monocrystalline panels for my boat, but that's a bit more than I need for this purpose plus the cost. Right now I keep it charged off of the Jeeps alternator but I don't like doing that. I would like two separate and isolated systems.
 
WillyNilly said:
Cajunwolf, Out of curiosity, where are you from?
Click to expand...
I was born in Texas, Bay City to be exact, and moved to Lafayette, Louisiana after the 10 grade from Baytown, Texas because my dad, who was an engineer in the oilfields, was transferred there. Went to Lousiana University, which was USL or the University of Southern Louisiana at Lafayette at the time, where I studied engineering. I had a career in the oilfields all over the world, married two Cajun women, Children with one, remarrying, and moving back to Houston, where I live now with my daughter.
 
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