Hello from the high country of Colorado!

Hey,

So, let me start this out by saying that I'm really not THAT stupid. I'm the type of person who enjoys taking on a challenge and usually come out on top. Still, though, I think I've jumped off into the deep end of the pool with nary a single swimming lesson. Let me explain...

The wife and I are in our early 60's and are looking forward to retiring. We've got some acreage up in the mountains where we have begun the process of building our "retirement home". Naturally, electrical providers are not to be found anywhere nearby, so we will be going off-grid. I've done the calculations and have had numerous talks with solar providers to the point where I THINK I know what I'm getting myself into. I ran across this site a few weeks ago in my ceaseless quest to find easy answers to hard questions, and in the process I go from confident to overwhelmed in a matter of minutes. You all sure do use a lot of jargon!

Anyway, I've got a ton of things to do ahead of me, of which the solar power is but one. I'm putting in my own septic system and a cistern for fresh water. I will not only be putting in the solar system, but also roughing in all of the wire for the structure (and the plumbing, and, and, and). Be prepared for a lot of ignorant questions from me!

Welcome!! It sounds like you have a lot to do. Let us know when you have questions.

Welcome to NoCo. Am also "retired", living among the granite and Ponderosas, black bear, raptors and mullies.
The Project here is adding solar to renovated storage-shed-become-woodworking-man-cave.

Are you around pikes peak?

Closer to Laramie WY than to Fort Collins, north of Rocky Mtn Natl Pk.

The place I'm putting together is on the western flank of Pikes Peak near the town of Cripple Creek.

Great to have you all here. Solar can open a world of possibilities for remote real estate.

Beautiful country. I miss it. I lived in eastern Washington, and the black hills growing up. Hard winters! Be wary of cold panel high voltage.

I live by rhyolite...

Affordable solar guy, I have almost the same setup, but with a 72ah cam72 calb bank

Affordable Solarguy said:

...And that same charger, can be used in your home, once its complete, to run a 48 volt battery bank and 2,800 watts in panels. This is how you save money and buy smart. Everything is totally "up-gradable"

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Great info! I want to build something scalable.

Affordable Solarguy said:

this is what you need to start, I build it for a client for 1000 dollars. A portable solar power kit on a dolly. 2 killowatt battery bank (AGM deep cycle), 1000 watt pure sine wave inverter (2000 watt peak), 60 amp MPPT Make Sky Blue Solar Charge Controller, and 2 -100 watt , 12 volt (19-21 VOC) solar panels. Perfect to run most hand tools, but it chokes with my big worm drive skill saw. Who needs a generator, if you have one of these.

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That's a pretty cool setup! I like the idea of a portable solar generator!

Just out of curiosity are you in the Sand Creek area. I used to have 40 ac there bordering the state section.