Off-Grid Living Group
Freesteading group focused on the discussion of off grid living.
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Off-grid, mobile, whole property solar system – Goals
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Off-grid, mobile, whole property solar system – Goals
Guess I’ll start it off.
I’m (slowly) moving from a suburb near Memphis to 6.5 acres on a ridge in Northeat Arkansas. It is (or was) totally wooded. I’ve cleared a bit and done a bit of earthworks, mainly for better access.Anyway, I hope to get the suburban house on the market very soon, and with the funds, begin investing more in my new offgrid homestead. For housing I have two options currently. A 5th wheel that I’ve essentially inherited, but need to get the spot all leveled and such before moving, as well as finding someone with a truck that can move it. To get it to the right spot, likely need a 4wd dually.
Anyway, one of the first really big ticket items I’ll jump on is a power system inside an enclosed trailer. I’m not going to start small and expand as expansion will likely need to occur soon and often, I’d rather build for what I’ll need in 5-10 years, now and once. Since I expect to power an RV, or cabin, or even a house, as well as a shop and whatever else a 1 person, 6.5 acre homestead may need, I’m going big, and blue.
A good welder, possible (but unlikely) well, dryers, air compressor, Mini-split(s), not only could consume a lot of energy no matter what, some of those have a pretty heavy hit on startup, so I’m going LF inverters from Victron, with two either 10k or 20k for 110 and 220vdc.
I’m looking at a “kit” from “Current Connected” which has most of the parts, other than the charge controller(s), batteries (I’ll likely go with the SOK stacks, possibly at least two), and more solar panels. I’ve got about 1.2kw and once they are sited (a bit more permanant siting) be looking for a large order of 2nd hand panels, possibly from Santan down in TX.
Ive been dabbling with solar for some years. Once I bought this land, got a bit more serious. Currently have two small systems, one portable to power a Starlink or other small loads (essentially a DIY Solar Generator in a plastic truck tool box using Amperetime Lipo battery and small victron electronics) and one on a shipping container I use for secure storage onsite, with Renogy electronics and a DIY 100ah 12vdc battery. Gives me lights, ham radio power, and can power small power tools.
Anyway, just need the funds, and the time. I’m budgeting at least 15-20k for all but the extra solar panels. Yep, big and blue ain’t cheap, but they are top notch and this isn’t a hobby system, its what I plan to completely depend on for 10-20 years.
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48 Replies
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With a welder, water well, air compressor, and dryer you are right to go with an LF inverter. Victrons are hard to beat. SOK batteries are really good (presume you are getting LifePo4), but you may want to check out EG4 batteries at Signature Solar. These are really good as well and may be slightly less expensive. Also, they have a better rack system in my opinion. Signature Solar is in Texas. SanTan is a good source for used panels. I believe they are actually in Georgia & Arizona. Good luck on your system build.
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Building an ICF house in Missouri, partially off grid. We have easy access to rural water, and the cost to tie in to local electric will be about $1,600 for a meter and trenching 400’… however, I’ve already got eight 5kwh LiFePo4 SOK batteries and two inverters waiting to be installed.
The problem I’ve ran into is that every solar component company I’ve talked to about designing a rack system and buying panels, racking and the rest of the BoS parts won’t even tell me which parts and panels I’d need to build a system! I’d prefer to buy the other stuff all from one company, so it’s been frustrating. May have one lead on a retired Navy guy who can help design it and has access to commercial 700-800w panels too. So, starting with the grid is the way I’ll have to go for now due to financial constraints. More important to get this house finished and hopefully get the wife and kids moved in within the next few weeks… pay down bills over the winter and resume building in the late spring.
Most loads will be solar or propane, such as the radiant floor. Water catchment is also in the works, at least for the gardens and our farm critters (only cows, pigs and chickens for now)
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Check out Missouri wind and solar just east of springfield MO. Even if you don’t buy from them; they’ll answer tons of questions. They also have YouTube videos on solar and wind
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I built my own racks and installed my own system. I went with mostly schnieder components and Simpliphi batteries.
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I built an off-grid solar system to power a 2600 sqft house. All big equipment was purchased from practical peppers and we like them. We have 8 batteries and 32 panels. My dad is getting a system designed for his 5th wheel and he’s getting 6 batteries and 16 panels. All that to say is pay for a good consulting from a pro. You may be able to do all/most of the work but the size of the system you noted is small. We have 2 of the eg4 batteries and love them, we plan on buying more. The SOK are also great but the stock is less consistent than eg4.
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Small?
This system (along with the chargers which are not in the “kit”
20kVA 120/240v Modular Industrial Off-Grid Power System – Current Connected
and 1 or two of these:
Fully Loaded 25kWh SOK 48v Server Rack Battery Kit – Bundle & Save – Current Connected
That’s like over $30k of equipment, plus all the bits and bobs.
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How did you go about finding good consulting from a pro who understands both solar and electrical and how they tie together ??? I am having trouble finding anyone who will even call me back. Titan Solar called me back but it was a woman from a call center and she couldn’t even answer the most basic questions, like if the systems they sell are tied to the main grid and go down when the main grid goes down. They also don’t service my area because I am an hour from the main big cities. So how did you find good consulting from a pro??? I have called 8 solar companies and went online to request quotes from them with my name, phone number, email address, physical address of my home, etc. I get call backs from what seems like Angie’s List type call services with people who cannot answer even the most basic of questions. UGH…how do I find an experienced, competent, knowledgeable solar consultant? I am in Pikeville, TN. Thank you in advance for any advice you (and anyone else) can give me.
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We called several before we could get anyone to call us back. Once we did finally meet with a company rep we were blown away by sticker shock. 60k for 12kw system. I can build a bigger system for 10k to 15k. Hope u find someone that will return a call.
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Thank you for responding! This solar system business is the wild, wild west, isn’t it? The person who quoted you $60k – was it a licensed electrician who is also a solar professional, who can design and install what you need that is specific to your needs? Or did you get the vibe it was just an expensive system being sold by a slick salesman?
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Actually it was a quote from a 5 star rated solar company. I had done a good bit of research and had desided that I would build the system myself. Just to make sure I had made the right choice I contacted the solar contractor. I called several before getting one to answer. After getting his quote ,I knew I had made the correct choice. In my vounty if I’m tied to the grid I do not get paid for the power I put into the grid and still have to pay $35 a month min fee. So I’ll be 100% off grid.
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I am so happy for you that you will be 100% off grid AND that you have the brain power to build it yourself! Good for you! Very cool! I don’t know enough about this solar stuff to even know what I don’t know. For example, I previously read that this getting reimbursed for solar power given back into the grid is a gimmick (or can be a gimmick) so I dismissed it as something I don’t need. But now I question if what I read is accurate info/true. Maybe it’s not a gimmick and is actually, something I need to strongly consider before writing it off as not a goal and not important and something to dismiss. I am so confused by this stuff and overwhelmed by it all. I aspire to be 100% off grid as well.
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You will need to check into the policy that your local power company has on solar to find out if they will pay u or not. My county won’t. They blow. As for not being able to do it yourself. You can do ANYTHING you set ur mind to. If u want solar YOU can build it. Just takes some planning and research and asking questions. There is alot about it I don’t know as well. All it takes to do anything is one word… start. Like I said if u want solar you can do it. I believe that you can. I’m no expert, hell I’m not even a novice at it but I’ll help explain stuff if u need it. If I don’t know I’ll help find someone that does. After all we are all in this bidenomics together.
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You will need to check into the policy that your local power company has on solar to find out if they will pay u or not. My county won’t. They blow. As for not being able to do it yourself. You can do ANYTHING you set ur mind to. If u want solar YOU can build it. Just takes some planning and research and asking questions. There is alot about it I don’t know as well. All it takes to do anything is one word… start. Like I said if u want solar you can do it. I believe that you can. I’m no expert, hell I’m not even a novice at it but I’ll help explain stuff if u need it. If I don’t know I’ll help find someone that does. After all we are all in this bidenomics together.You will need to check into the policy that your local power company has on solar to find out if they will pay u or not. My county won’t. They blow. As for not being able to do it yourself. You can do ANYTHING you set ur mind to. If u want solar YOU can build it. Just takes some planning and research and asking questions. There is alot about it I don’t know as well. All it takes to do anything is one word… start. Like I said if u want solar you can do it. I believe that you can. I’m no expert, hell I’m not even a novice at it but I’ll help explain stuff if u need it. If I don’t know I’ll help find someone that does. After all we are all in this bidenomics together.
I will call the electric company 1st thing tomorrow morning to find out whether or not they will pay or
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The grid tie, payback is very very location dependant, starting with the state. There may be grants by the state or federal, but those I’m not up on. As for getting paid for the electricity you generate, that can be either at the wholesale or retail rate, depending on state law.
When last I checked on that for Arkansas (maybe a decade ago?) the payback per kWh was at the retail rate (sounds good!), however when I looked carefully at the details, there was no rollover year to year, so if on the date the fiscal year the power company used, I had a credit, of any amount, it was zeroed out and we started from scratch for the next year (of course if I owed them, that wouldn’t get zeroed out, no surprise).
Also the fiscal year they used for this electricity payback, was situated such that it was pretty much garenteed I’d be paying. At the time of year when I’d most likely be generating more than I use, consistently and getting paid… the fiscal year ended, my credits wiped out, and I’d be back to paying.
Now, this may have changed, for the better or worse here. It may be different where you are, but the devil is in the details, and it pays to check. It may be great for you, it may not.
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This is awesome info! Thanks for taking time to type out all of this! God bless you and yours!
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I haven’t gotten any consulting. It will be complete DIY, other than possibly on the AC side a couple of neighbors are electricians, so they can give advice on that portion. I’ll be off grid, so no grid-tie.
I’ve been doing DC stuff pretty much all my life, as a DIY’er. Grew up on a farm, working on vehicles, tractors etc, building my own car stereo systems when younger, and worked in I.T. for 15 years, so building computers, servers etc. Been playing with solar for a few years on small-scale stuff, lately did an all-Victron system just to power a Starlink and get to know their small products to get ready for a large build. Even assembled a small Lithium Ion Phosphate battery from parts to gain an understanding on that part. I’m also a Ham Radio Operator for over 20 years.. so all that together, and constant research, I’m pretty sure I can put this together from a well-designed kit, and extra bits and bobs. If not.. well, it’ll probably be on Youtube.
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I would like to learn how to operate a ham radio. It’s on my list of things to do but just haven’t gotten to it yet…lol
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Contact this guy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWKpP-ZlWoA. If won’t come to you he may know someone in your area. Just don’t panic and get cheated. Hope this helps
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Thank you! I have recently been advised against using Sol-Ark, mainly because it is so expensive and I was recently told Sol-Ark now have competition that is just as good of a product for a lot less money.
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Just joined freesteading. Not sure if I am posting this in the right place or not. Does anyone know of a good solar system installer in the Pikeville, TN area? Thank you and God bless!
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I just got a price for a 12kw system for 60k. I’m thinking i can build a 15kw system with batteries and all for 10-15k. Already have some of the components gathered. Anyone else doing a large DIY solar system?
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I paid 53k for a 21k system. I did the work my self. I have a solar distributor coming to freesteading.com soon
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I’ll be looking forward to seeing what the distributor has to offer. These big solar companies are charging way too much.
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I finally heard back from a solar designer and installer. He quoted me $70k for a 10 kw whole house back up solar system with 25 kw hours of battery using Solar-Ark with built in central component, inverter & transfer switch. It is open source and compatible with any battery & is expandable. It is tied to the grid BUT can also go completely off grid when the grid goes down. The inverter is 150 lbs. Panels are waterproof & durable at perform at 80% after 30 years. Price includes them building racking system in my yard because I don’t want to put panels on my roof. It’s a turnkey job where they do it all. This is all according to the salesman who called me today.
Can anyone give me feedback about this Solar-Ark whole house system and the $70k price I was quoted? He mentioned “fortress”, “simplify”, and “homegrid” batteries that do well with the Solar-Ark.
Does anyone know if Solar-Ark and the 3 batteries mentioned are good brands, or not? And whether $70k is a reasonable price, or not, for what I am getting?
The team consists of a project manager, an electrician who will be onsite to do electrical work, 4 installers and one person who does the ground mount and digging trenches. Salesman also mentioned they are part of “Tungsten Solar” and they do a lot of work for TVA (TN Valley Authority).
They are 6 to 8 weeks out scheduling wise.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this or any questions I should ask the salesman? I (obviously) don’t even know enough about solar to ask the right questions.
All feedback is welcomed and appreciated! Thank you and God bless!
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We installed our own system. We tried Growatt and just had no luck with it. We swapped to EG4 and it’s been performing flawlessly. We have 6 of the EG4 batteries, 3 EG4 6500 inverters. I think all in all we spent under $25k for 19,500 watts. We bought a lot of used panels from Signature Solar. And 10 of the 540 watt hi facials. We learned used tubing from carports makes pretty good racking. We got creative with racks since we did not want anything on our roof. And our animals gained a little more shade.
We’re not completely off grid but if we were shut off, we’d make do easy enough.
Not regretting the system at all.
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That is awesome. I was going to use tesla 12.6kw batteries but have heard that they are not as good or safe as advertised. I am interested in how u built ur system. I’m doing a 24v system, what confuses me is hooking it all up and still not going over the parameters required. As in say 36 panels and still maintain 24v and staying withing voltage. Regular from bottom to top house wiring isnt an issue, but the solar i believe I am over thinking it.
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My husband could walk you thru what he did.
PM me if you’d like to talk with him.
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With the 6 batteries, is that enough for all ur power needs , say if it were cloudy for a week? I’m trying to decide if I need to get a few extra batteries for longevity.
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If you need some help, send me a connection request. I’d be glad to answer your questions. I have experience with installing a solar power system for my house.
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Here is our system
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Wow, that is an amazing system. Looks well built, very well planned and executed. I’m impressed. I hope my system is as well put together as yours. Thank you for the inspiration.
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Trying to find a solar designer & installer who is knowledgeable, experienced in solar and electrical, & trustworthy in the Pikeville, TN area who can design and install a good system for my needs, not just a cookie cutter system. Do you, or does anyone else, know of a good solar designer and installer in the Pikeville, TN area? Thank you and God bless you and yours!
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I am just now moving, in 19 days, out of the city and to the country in a very rural community in Pikeville, TN. Feeling desperate to get a solar system set up asap when I take possession of my new home and before the grid goes down and shtf. (Same for water catchment system. No well on the property). Don’t know much about solar energy, and overwhelmed trying to learn. Panic is setting in big time. Can’t seem to find anyone to hire who knows how to design and install a solar system for me. Wondering if I just need to have a Generac or Titan whole house system installed??? Does anyone on this platform who knows anything about solar have any opinions about the Generac or Titan whole house systems? I thought they were all tied to the main grid and if the grid goes down, the Generac and Titan systems go down with the grid, making those systems useless. But I could be wrong. Does anyone know? Also thought about just going online to that Shop Solar Kits website and buying the Ecoflow DPK-3 Delta Pro system for about $21,000, but then I need to find someone to help me set it up so it functions as it is supposed to. Not having any luck finding any solar system designers and installers.to advise if that Ecoflo DPK-3 system is what I need. I can’t even get anyone to call me back. I keep coming across solar sales people who want to sell me a one size fits all system and they only install what they sell. They won’t help me install the Ecoflo DPK-3 kit. Does anyone have any ideas on how to find a solar contractor who can help me? I appreciate any and all feedback and help. Thank you!
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I am not an expert. I am in a similar situation in PA looking at a 48V system. Do you need a Solar contractor to meet some requirement for solar credits or will a licensed electrician do?
I do not know about the Titan, All I could find was the all in one mobile uint. but I believe the Generac whole house generator will detect when the grid power is out and switch over to battery if you have the right transfer switch, etc.
The EcoFlow delta system is nice all in one solution. if the worst happens before you get assistance connecting it to your house, you should be able use them stand alone. They are plug and play. Angle the panels on something out in your yard, run PV extension cables through the window and into the units. Then extension cords to your important loads. You will be better off than most folks. your wife will hate you but the beer will be cold.
You can get roughly double the battery for the same price with something like this. https://www.mobile-solarpower.com/48v-complete-system-blueprint.html. If grid tied is important use different charge controllers. The ones listed are off grid. The down side is it is more complex to set up.
Just some thoughts.
thanks
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Thanks for taking time to reply! Sorry to hear you are in same situation as me in PA. Good luck and hope you get your solar up and going soon without any glitches.
I don’t know if I need a Solar contractor to meet requirement for solar credits or if a licensed electrician is what I need. All the electricians I have called tell me they do not do solar. Ideally, I want and think (??) I need an electrician who understands and has a lot of experience doing both electrical and solar.
I agree that the EcoFlow delta system is a nice all in one solution and are plug and play BUT the package I want to buy requires an electrician to install the smart panel box, transfer switch, etc. So far, the electricians I have called don’t do solar.
My wife? Haha I am a 57 year old (single, heterosexual) woman with a 2 year old grand baby who is probably coming to live with me soon and I am trying to figure all this out before shtf, the grid goes down, etc. UGH…
Thanks for the link! I will check that out.
I don’t know for sure, but my understanding is that I DON’T want or need to be tied to the grid, because if the grid goes down, my power would go down with it. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong (anyone??)
I am not looking for or depending on solar credits. If I get them, great, but my main priority is just to have back up power if the grid goes down, both for short term and also for long term, as in years or a decade or more (if my solar system powers me that long?)
I have electric hvac heat and air, and also propane gas heat in 2 fireplaces & the kitchen stove AND one of those propane gas fireplaces can easily be converted to wood burning because it has a 12 inch chimney pipe opening where I can put a wood burning stove. I plan to put an Obadiah Pioneer Princess wood burning cook stove there in that propane gas fireplace that can be easily converted to wood burning, and keep the other propane gas fireplace as another backup if I don’t have electricity to power the electric hvac heat and air unit.
I have a 500 gallon propane tank buried in the yard and plan to have another 1000 gallon tank or two buried in yard, too.
I found out today that Titan does not service my area in Pikeville, TN because it is too far out in the country and too far away from Knoxville, Nashville and Chattanooga.
I finally got a call back from Generac and scheduling an appointment with them for an estimate in 3 weeks after I take possession of the house I am closing on at end of month.
My understanding of the Generac Powercell system is that it consists of a battery, a generator and solar panels, so when the electricity goes out, all of the solar power stored in the battery, from the solar panels, powers the home for up to 18 hours, and when the the battery is depleted (when there is no sun), then the generator kicks on.
I am not sure (?) but I think (?) the generator gets it’s power from the propane gas buried in the yard, until the sun comes out, shines on the solar panels and recharges the battery again to keep it charged up.
This is my limited understanding of the Generac Powercell at this moment which may be wrong (?) Anyone, please, feel free to correct me as I obviously hardly understand enough about how it all works to even have much of a conversation about it.
I also learned today that the solar panels that Generac uses are enphase and solar edge panels. And I know nothing about either at this time. Looking for info about them now.
Please, if you or if anyone else here knows anything about this Generac Powercell solar system OR the enphase or solar edge solar panels they use, please, feel free to chime in here and advise me.
All info and advice is welcomed and GREATLY appreciated because I know so very little about any of this and I feel incredibly vulnerable, for both my 2 year old grand baby and myself, as a single, 57 year old grandmother who in all likelihood will be raising her starting very soon. I want to get a good backup solar system but I don’t want to hoodwinked into buying some expensive system that is not that great and that I don’t need. I don’t mind paying for a good, reliable system, but I need to make sure it is good and reliable for us.
Wondering if I should also buy the EcoFlo Delta system as an additional backup to my Generac system??? Or is that overkill? They are plug and play as you say, but I am admittedly overwhelmed at the thought of trying to figure all that out on my own. I have to ask people to explain this solar stuff to me as though explaining it to a 10 year old. Maybe an 8 year old.
Thanks again for taking time to advise me. I greatly appreciate you!
Let me know how your system goes and what you decide to use.
God bless you and yours!
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One of the concepts in Permaculture is “appropriate technology”, meaning not only appropriate to the need but a technology that can readily be operated, maintained, and repaired by the resources at hand or nearby: meaning people, knowledge, tools, and parts. If you are having this much trouble getting a system even spec’d and quoted, and this being when those selling and installing the system will get paid, how much trouble will there be after it’s paid for, when you need service? Sometimes, the appropriate answer is a smaller, less sophisticated system, or a different system altogether, but one that in a pinch, you have some level of understanding of, and can at least do general maintenance and repairs.
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You make good points here. And I am not opposed to a smaller, less sophisticated system, or a different system altogether, as you say. But smaller, less sophisticated and different from what? I don’t even have a starting point yet. I am trying to find a person, someone, anyone, to even call me or email me back to set up an appointment to come look at my home and advise me on ANY system, even a smaller, less sophisticated system. Anything.
Generac was supposed to call me this week, but they did not. And I think (? but not sure ?) the Generac Powercell system I was considering is grid tied or partially grid tied and if so, will probably not work for me. I want to be off grid so I am not dependent on the grid.
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A couple of really good youtube channels are “DIY solar with Will Prowse” and “Offgrid Garage”
Here’s a link to Wills beginners, 12/24 volt starting place (hopefully)
Build Your First Solar Power System! Beginner Tutorial Easily Explained, Budget Friendly – YouTube -
Thanks. Will check them out.
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I sent you a “connection request”, you can also go to my webpage, and my phone number is at the top right. Might want to send a text first, I often don’t answer calls that I don’t recognize, text or leave a message. https://www.hippocratesgarden.online
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Where do I go on the freesteading site to accept your connection request? Been looking for it on this site, but I don’t see it. Thanks
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Here’s the really simple concept as to whether a given system will “go down” with the grid.
Solar panels generate electricity. You can use it as it’s generated (during the day of course) or store it for later use.An “off grid” system uses batteries to store it. Thus, it is available even at night, at least until the batteries are discharged.
A “grid-tied” system, typically has no batteries and uses the “grid” as the storage system more or less. You use what you need while power is being generated, any excess going to the grid. Then whenever your needs exceed current generation output (at night, or just under heavy load) you pull power from the grid, just as if it were a battery. In this case, if the grid goes down at night, you’re out of power. If the grid goes down on a sunny day, you have the power you are generating to use, until the sun goes down.
Third option: “grid-tie with batteries”, which is simply a combination of the above two. It operates like a “grid-tied” system, with usually, a smaller battery set to use as backup, just as one typically uses a generator for backup power. In which case, grid goes down in daylight, no prob. grid goes down at night, you have what’s in your batteries to tide you over until either the sun, or grid comes back up. More batteries, more backup.
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Thank you for all of this great info and for explaining it in simple terms so I can understand it. Based upon this info, I don’t want a grid tied system and I don’t want a partially grid tied system. Because I strongly believe and think it’s only a matter of time before the grid goes down. Surprised it hasn’t gone down yet. I don’t want to be dependent on the grid in any way. So I need an off grid system installed.
Do you have any recommendations for how I can find a good solar system designer, installer, contractor who knows a lot about both solar and electric? I cannot get any solar contractors to call me back (I am guessing business is probably booming for them and they don’t even have time to call customers back or reply to emails). And every electrician I have called says they don’t do solar. And they don’t know anyone who does solar.
How on earth do you find a good solar designer and installer?
I know solar systems are expensive and I am prepared to pay for a good system, if I could just find someone who is knowledgeable, experienced, & skilled, who is trustworthy & will show me how it all works & what to do when it doesn’t.
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I can’t recommend any, because I have no knowledge or experience with any. I prefer to do it myself, acknowledging I’ll likely make mistakes, possibly costly ones. But I think a lot of the fear of electricity is misplaced. Respect, oh yeah, I’ve got a really really healthy respect of electricity, but not fear. Sometimes, just gotta jump in and do it.
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As I mentioned earlier i live off grid. My system has 28- 375w panels, 5 charge controllers, 3 6800 watt inverters, a breaker box and a battery combiner box. The batteries are 10 simplifi 3.8kwh phosphate batteries. I purchased everything from The alt e store. They have designers on staff to help you. I can pass on the mains guy contact info if you like, just private message me. Tag
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I would love to have the main guy’s phone number so I can call him to advise me. How do I private message you on this site? I haven’t figured this site out, yet. I did send you a request to connect (I think that’s what it’s called?)
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I sent you the info
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Thank you! I got it! I will contact him! Thank you so very much – I appreciate your help!
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