Like most people new to solar, I've read so much info I'm starting to confuse myself. Would appreciate some input as to the best direction to go with this situation. The details:
I have an off-grid cabin in the mountains in the central part of Utah. The cabin is mainly accessible from late May to early Nov and by snowmobile in the winter. Currently, the cabin is setup with propane mainly used for heat, hot water and cooking. I have a generator which also runs off the propane and currently supplies all energy for the cabin. Eventially, I want to create a system where I do not have to run the generator much but have it as a backup. I've been looking at the best way to stair-step my way into a full system, meaning I can't do it all at once, but would like to take steps to eventually get there.
The problem: the cabin is north - northeast facing. It sits back in very tall trees, almost a U-shape around the cabin. It does receive good sun light in the morning thru the mid-afternoon, but then starts ending up in the shade by mid-afternoon. The only ideal place to locate a solar panel array would be right in the view from the front of the cabin, which i do not want to do.
One of the big positives to the situation is I have an ideal setup for a micro-water generator, which is ultimately my plan, but I won't be able to take on that project for a couple of years. There is also a chance to include a wind generator as well. I'm thinking I could potentially use water, wind and solar for energy generation at some point. Ultimately water for the summer months (the water is not available in the winter) and then wind/solar for smaller needs in the winter.
For the upcoming summer, I want to be able to run a small refrigerator, freezer and Starlink, along with a computer and lights, but still need to research and monitor the sunlight to see how effective solar might be. I've calculated I will need about 6500 watts (or 6.5kWh if I did the math right) for each day to run these items. My plan is to create a 48v system. The system is single phase - 120v. No need for 220. I'd like to create the beginnings of my system by getting an inverter/charge controller along with a lithium battery (120 amp or there abouts) and use this for my needs this year. I plan to charge the battery while I run the generator in the evenings. After I monitor the sun this summer to decide if solar will work, I'll go down the road of how many panels and what I will need. I will also add batteries as I decide how much storage I eventually will need.
I am curious if there is an inverter/controller out there which I could get and eventually grow the system around the inverter, be that water, wind and/or solar? I'm really just needing to get the inverter and battery at this point to have continual power throughout the day but would like to get something that will work with what I eventually want to do.
I'd appreciate any thoughts or direction you might have!
I have an off-grid cabin in the mountains in the central part of Utah. The cabin is mainly accessible from late May to early Nov and by snowmobile in the winter. Currently, the cabin is setup with propane mainly used for heat, hot water and cooking. I have a generator which also runs off the propane and currently supplies all energy for the cabin. Eventially, I want to create a system where I do not have to run the generator much but have it as a backup. I've been looking at the best way to stair-step my way into a full system, meaning I can't do it all at once, but would like to take steps to eventually get there.
The problem: the cabin is north - northeast facing. It sits back in very tall trees, almost a U-shape around the cabin. It does receive good sun light in the morning thru the mid-afternoon, but then starts ending up in the shade by mid-afternoon. The only ideal place to locate a solar panel array would be right in the view from the front of the cabin, which i do not want to do.
One of the big positives to the situation is I have an ideal setup for a micro-water generator, which is ultimately my plan, but I won't be able to take on that project for a couple of years. There is also a chance to include a wind generator as well. I'm thinking I could potentially use water, wind and solar for energy generation at some point. Ultimately water for the summer months (the water is not available in the winter) and then wind/solar for smaller needs in the winter.
For the upcoming summer, I want to be able to run a small refrigerator, freezer and Starlink, along with a computer and lights, but still need to research and monitor the sunlight to see how effective solar might be. I've calculated I will need about 6500 watts (or 6.5kWh if I did the math right) for each day to run these items. My plan is to create a 48v system. The system is single phase - 120v. No need for 220. I'd like to create the beginnings of my system by getting an inverter/charge controller along with a lithium battery (120 amp or there abouts) and use this for my needs this year. I plan to charge the battery while I run the generator in the evenings. After I monitor the sun this summer to decide if solar will work, I'll go down the road of how many panels and what I will need. I will also add batteries as I decide how much storage I eventually will need.
I am curious if there is an inverter/controller out there which I could get and eventually grow the system around the inverter, be that water, wind and/or solar? I'm really just needing to get the inverter and battery at this point to have continual power throughout the day but would like to get something that will work with what I eventually want to do.
I'd appreciate any thoughts or direction you might have!
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