Thinking of buying a cabin that’s “off grid.” Anyone have experience with solar power living? I’m specifically wondering what kind of maintenance is involved with solar systems that power off grid homes. We would only be at the cabin a few days a month most of the time…except during long vacations. Is it even possible to maintain a total-home solar system in this kind of situation?
Many people have hunting cabins around here with no power. They use low voltage lights or propane lights. Then they have propane fridge, propane stove. If you have solar, you need batteries to store up the power so you can have lights at night. References :
If you are not going to be living at the residence, maybe your best bet would be using propane.
If you are serious about solar power, it is doable, but expensive.
Maintenance is generally low for the solar cells. The trade off is the batteries, which have to be changed from time to time, and the problem of rodents chewing the wires (recommend using metal shielded wires).
The other problem of solar cells is the problem of theft. (since you are not goign to be living there) References : My friend.
Since you said you were specifically wondering about maintenance, I will assume that you have already researched what size system you require as a result of the total power you need, the latitude of where your cabin is, the total average hours of sun available through the various seasons, etc. The primary maintenance concern is your battery status. To compensate for overcharging I will assume you are using a charge controller. During hot weather your batteries will need more water (distilled only) than in cool or cold weather. To keep rodents away, spray the wiring with peppermint oil. Make sure battery cable attachments to the batteries are coated with an acid preventative. If you do indeed have a total home system it will be quite large. I have a system I have used for 5 years to supply my requirements except heating, hot water and cooking. For that I use propane. I use my barbecue (propane) as an oven when needed (great to cook pizza…better than a regular oven…use the upper warming rack). I use a 12v refrigerator from Sundanzer…..works great even in very hot climates…115 degrees. I have 6ea. 75 watt panels that I tilt twice a year in spring and fall. If you have a large family, use hair dryers, microwave, basically anything with a heating element or constant use motor…then my size system would not work. But I do run my stereo or TV 12 – 16 hours a day when I am there. I generally make meals that do not take hours and hours to cook to save on propane. If your system is oversized or you do not go and use your system monthly then rig something up to use a little power so that your batteries will not always be at 100%. Any other questions, just ask. Good luck! References : Have my own system in use for 5 years. Same set of batteries.
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Thinking of buying a cabin that’s “off grid.” Anyone have experience with solar power living?
I’m specifically wondering what kind of maintenance is involved with solar systems that power off grid homes. We would only be at the cabin a few days a month most of the time…except during long vacations. Is it even possible to maintain a total-home solar system in this kind of situation?
Many people have hunting cabins around here with no power. They use low voltage lights or propane lights. Then they have propane fridge, propane stove. If you have solar, you need batteries to store up the power so you can have lights at night.
References :
If you are not going to be living at the residence, maybe your best bet would be using propane.
If you are serious about solar power, it is doable, but expensive.
Maintenance is generally low for the solar cells. The trade off is the batteries, which have to be changed from time to time, and the problem of rodents chewing the wires (recommend using metal shielded wires).
The other problem of solar cells is the problem of theft. (since you are not goign to be living there)
References :
My friend.
Since you said you were specifically wondering about maintenance, I will assume that you have already researched what size system you require as a result of the total power you need, the latitude of where your cabin is, the total average hours of sun available through the various seasons, etc. The primary maintenance concern is your battery status. To compensate for overcharging I will assume you are using a charge controller. During hot weather your batteries will need more water (distilled only) than in cool or cold weather. To keep rodents away, spray the wiring with peppermint oil. Make sure battery cable attachments to the batteries are coated with an acid preventative. If you do indeed have a total home system it will be quite large. I have a system I have used for 5 years to supply my requirements except heating, hot water and cooking. For that I use propane. I use my barbecue (propane) as an oven when needed (great to cook pizza…better than a regular oven…use the upper warming rack). I use a 12v refrigerator from Sundanzer…..works great even in very hot climates…115 degrees. I have 6ea. 75 watt panels that I tilt twice a year in spring and fall. If you have a large family, use hair dryers, microwave, basically anything with a heating element or constant use motor…then my size system would not work. But I do run my stereo or TV 12 – 16 hours a day when I am there. I generally make meals that do not take hours and hours to cook to save on propane. If your system is oversized or you do not go and use your system monthly then rig something up to use a little power so that your batteries will not always be at 100%. Any other questions, just ask. Good luck!
References :
Have my own system in use for 5 years. Same set of batteries.
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