Solar Setup Question

[JOsmund999]

I know there are a number of threads on solar. I've read through many of these and can't quite get my hands around a plan.

I have a 30' x40' Morton Building with no power. I'd like be able to keep a trickle charger on a Utlity Tractor, a Mower and a UTV. I would also like to have an outdoor securty /safety light.

My building faces the North ( security light need ) but I have a sunny South facing back wall.

It looks like individual solar units for each of the 4 needs would be easiest but the idea of putting up 4 solar panels and running 4 wires to each battery / light seems less than optimal. Does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to meet my goal?

Thanks in advane for any suggestions.

 

[kd3pc]

you will need a panel, mppt controller, a couple of batteries and the units in close proximity to the battery bank and/or the trickle charger and each other.

If you can not get the units near enough to easily connect them to the charger, then you may need 4 "solar systems".

The panel needs adequate exposure to the sun, or no power generated.

 

[theoldwizard1]

It looks like individual solar units for each of the 4 needs would be easiest but the idea of putting up 4 solar panels and running 4 wires to each battery / light seems less than optimal. Does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to meet my goal?

One 200W-320W polycrystalline panel, MPPT charge controller, a couple of golf cart batteries and a pure sine wave inverter. Run NM-B/Romex from the inverter to where you need 120VAC. Depending on the size of the inverter, you can run other 120VAC tools.

The inverter and the charge controller ate the liming factors, so consider buying over sized.

The "all-in-one" kits are way over priced and you do not get the best quality.

 

[ericm]

Most of the solar battery chargers can overcharge the battery. All the good chargers I know of are 120VAC

 

[JOsmund999]

One 200W-320W polycrystalline panel, MPPT charge controller, a couple of golf cart batteries and a pure sine wave inverter. Run NM-B/Romex from the inverter to where you need 120VAC. Depending on the size of the inverter, you can run other 120VAC tools.

The inverter and the charge controller ate the liming factors, so consider buying over sized.

The "all-in-one" kits are way over priced and you do not get the best quality.

Thanks. Let me do some work on this. So for trickle charging, I’d just use the same units I have at home and plug them in to this system. Correct?

 

[kbeefy]

I don't think you need an inverter, do you?
And personally I wouldn't use a MPPT controller for this project unless the prices have come down drastically.

You might want 2 controllers, one for your trickle charge needs and another to charge your storage batteries for the lighting.

 

[Git]

I think I would look into one of the 'kits' like this one from Home Depot. You need to provide at least one 12-Volt deep cycle battery for storage

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Grape-Solar-100-Watt-Off-Grid-Solar-Panel-Kit-GS-100-KIT/203505908

 

[dcg9381]

I've done this a number of different ways. You have 4 batteries that will all have different amounts of charge and will all handle being charged differently. IE - you're going to need 4 individual charge controllers.

That being said, I think you could run all 4 charge controllers off a single solar panel. I'd pick something in the 200-300 watt range. Those 4 controllers handle the battery loads individually.


The other idea seems to be that you use a panel, charge controller, and feed large batteries in your place - basically creating a bank of power from which you trickle charge the stuff in your barn. I don't like this as much as those chargers downstream of the large bank will draw power 24/7, perhaps unnecessarily...

For these sort of operations, you really don't need a ton of sunlight... Sure, facing south is best, but for trickle charge operations, you just really need an hour or two every now and then.