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Thanks for that info, I am meeting with a inspector today. I will ask some questions.

From everything I learned here I was able to construct a Solar Powered gate opener. It gets its power of 200w from a cheap Solar kit I bought at harbour freight. But I added a strong battery & inverter. You can see the complete set of videos to how I gathered parts, test runs & final build in a...

Added the first thing that really makes the trip to my ranch much easier. Using a cheap Harbor Freight Solar Power kit & adding some things I learned about hear. I made a solar powered gate opener. This video is the completed working video. Look on my channel for past videos on how I built it &...

I designed a very simple solar powered gate opener using Harbor Freights basic solar power kit. I added a battery, inverter, gate opener & a fake rock to hide it all in. See it here:

I agree, actually I know this will be the stuff I need to shoot for if I expect my solar system to really work for me. As I said in from the beginning. I'm not building a solar system for fun or recreation. Currently i'm building a solar system of necessity. And I should build it right from the...

You maybe correct, or something similar. I know so little about solar power right now, I'm not sure what I really need.

We are currently facing huge delays in permit approval, also the cost of permits keeps going up each month that passes. Honestly I want as little to do with inspectors or permits as possible. That's why I want a off grid solar system. Until my plans on repairs get approved I am not allowed to...

In our area most ranchers our pulling there propane tanks out and going to grid electricity. I guess currently its a much cheaper way to go in our area. My ranch is fortunate that the system they decided to go with for all the heating & cooling needs is a state of the art brand new technology...

I know I will build my solar system larger & with a inverter. But until I get my permits cleared to repair the fire damage from the city I can't do much. I am currently off grid with no power. I use a large generator most of the time & a small solar system all the time.

I know I will build my solar system larger & with a inverter. But until I get my permits cleared to repair the fire damage from the city I can't do much. I am currently off grid with no power. I use a large generator most of the time & a small solar system all the time.

Everything sounds great except my ranch has no propane, no Tank, no lines, no furnace. It was all removed and replaced with a AC/Pro Mini (AC & Heat) per room as needed. In fact everything is electric. Water heater, washer, stove, etc. I am in the foothills of the San Bernardino mountains of...

I wonder, is it more efficient to run a electric tank water heater or tankless? In any event it seems I will run a supported Solar controller. And maybe have it run just some things like my Mini AC/Pro & my garage. Grid everything else.

We are heavy users, I love my music loud on old analog equipment. I do a lot of welding (mostly Mig & Arc) & I play with old vintage electronics. Just look at my YouTube channel. I'm into everything vintage electric. I have one of the largest picture tube TVs (CRT). I run a old vintage computer...

I'm looking at the new electric tankless water heaters. They seem to be very energy efficient.

Maybe I could start with a grid support system, I like the dual solar controller above. I may build that to start. Have it run just my mini AC/pro & garage.

I think I will tie just some things into my solar system. Like my Mini AC pro.

Then I won't be doing that for now.

It looks like this controller can connect to the grid so that if you exceed this controllers demand the grid takes over. Is that correct, if not is there something out there that will do that?

Tankless electric water heaters draw far less power, but adding everything up.... I agree, I don't know if I can swing this power unit. I wonder if building a modest solar power unit & share it with the grid might help my energy bill.

I agree, I don't know if I can afford to build something this big. I just started using the energy audit I was directed to above. Wow nice tool, but my needs will be crazy high!

Thank you for the link, I will go & learn!

Actually running the generator is not a big deal, it runs everything I need even my air compressor. Currently I'm living with my daughter in the town of Menifee. We only go out to the ranch to work on it, oh and unload all my stuff. I could have dropped a utility pole in for $1800 but my...

So as I mentioned in earlier posts, I bought a ranch that caught fire. It was put out rather quickly, actually the fire department caused more damage then the fire did. I feel the building department of this area overreacted and "Red Tagged" the ranch. Until everything is repaired the county...

I think I can swing 23 panels, where do I get them???

Thank You, it was hard going for a while.... Sure, I still have family in San Diego. So I go by Oceanside all the time.

It's not just my computers, I have a 1952 Dodge M37, two 1982 Honda Passports & one 1972 Honda Trail 90. A 1972 Trihull built by Roy Rogers! So you see I need power! LOL to keep all this things running. I will start with Panels I guess. Then I need something that will control everything. I want...

TRS-80's started it all for Radio Shack! At one time the Shack sold more computers then any other manufacturer!

I think I will shoot some video on how I'm getting on with this Solar power kit. I will post it on my channel. The first thing I want to do is buy solar panels. The RL was a great system for the day. Most Tandy computers were built with Navy spec parts. Made in America, so that's why these...

I don't want to spend all I have left. But I do want to build something that will eventually pay for it self.

Thanks for all the input & references. I have a lot of homework to do. Actually I'm beginning to realize this is going to be a monumental task. I also have a YouTube channel & I host a very large Facebook group called "All Things Tandy Radio Shack". So in my hobby room or I called it the Tandy...

I know nothing about what I use in power. But I know I have no gas & no electric. I have a small electric water heater, electric stove & a mini pro AC / heater. It sit on a 8 beautiful acres at the edge of the San Bernardino mountains. It's a small ranch, three small bedrooms, tiny dining room &...

Worked all my life then got sick. Had to sell my home in San Diego. But this is not a sad story! Equity was so high I was able to pay off all my medical & other debt. When it was all done I was debt free & I had enough to look for a ranch! Or I thought... Long story short I bought a distressed...