Eartheasy * Skip to navigation [n] * Skip to content [c] * Skip to footer [f] Navigation* Shop /[1]/* Guides /[2]/* Blog /[3]/o Healthy Home o Organic Garden o Food & Health o Science & Transportationo Connect with Natureo Preparedness * Our Story /[4]/Search Entire Site Search* Customer Service * My Account * Shopping Cart *Blog* > *Preparedness* > Our Simple DIYHome Solar Power SystemRSS Our Simple DIY Home Solar Power SystemThe SunBell Solar Lamp Herstera PlantersThe Little Sun Solar Lamp LifeStraw Go Raised Garden Beds in the Eartheasy StoreHealthy Cookware Jora JK125 and JK270 Insulated Compost TumblersJoin the Eartheasy CommunityJoin us on Facebook Follow us onTwitter Watch our Videos on YoutubeSign up for our Newsletter:* indicates requiredEmail Address *This basic off-grid solar power system is simple to install andcan be easily expandedBy *Greg Seaman, Eartheasy.com* Posted *Jul 18, 2012*Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on email Share onprint More Sharing Services DIY Home Solar power systemBringing some of the benefits of electricalpower to our off-grid home has been a hit-or-miss affair. Over the yearsweve tried some very simple approaches to lighting and small batteryrecharging for our flashlights, such as hauling a 12 volt car battery toa small rural school about a half mile away every time it needed to betopped up. This was time consuming and inefficient. But we didnt wantto lose the feel of our simple home by bringing in a large generator andthe jugs of gas needed to run it, and the prospect of setting up a windturbine or solar array seemed expensive and a technological eyesore in anatural setting.developing Eartheasy.com using a dialup internet connection on aphone line strung through the woods was challengingFor many years we managed to get along without the conveniences whichelectricity can provide, but developing Eartheasy.com using a dialupinternet connection on a phone line strung through the woods waschallenging, and charging my laptop became a regular necessity. A fewyears ago, wireless broadband was introduced to our area, and thepromise of high-speed internet was the stimulus we needed to build ourown reliable, affordable and simple do-it-yourself alternative energysystem.Today, with the help of a local expert on off grid home solar power andalternative energy systems, we have the best of both worlds. Our basicsolar powered energy system provides more electricity than we expected,it has been very reliable and maintenance-free, and it is almostentirely hidden from view. A solar panel on the roof with a few wiresleading to a small battery bank powers my laptop, and a radio mounted ona tree for receiving the wireless broadband signal. The system alsoprovides enough energy to charge several small power tools, run our homesound system and, amazingly, power a full-size chest refrigerator yearround.solar battery bankOur simple home solar power system is comprised of four basiccomponents: a solar panel, a charge controller, two 6-volt golf cartbatteries and a small inverter. My son and I were able to install thesystem in a few hours, and there have been no maintenance issues otherthan checking the fluid level in the batteries every few months. Thecost of this complete solar system, in todays pricing for thecomponents, was less than $1000.The cost of this complete solar system, in todays pricing for thecomponents, was less than $1000.We have already enjoyed about three years of trouble-free use from thissystem. The refrigerator has not been off for over two years, which ispretty impressive considering we live in the Pacific Northwest where theshort winter daylight hours provide minimal solar exposure for the panel.*/The basic components of this off grid solar power system are as follows:/*1. Solar panelWe have a single solar panel mounted on the roof of our home: a 123 wattSharp Photovoltaic Module, model 123UJF. The panel is equipped with apermanently attached junction box for ease of installation of wires andconduit. Two boards are lag screwed into the roof and the solar panel isbolted to the boards using wing nuts, so its easy to lift ifmaintenance is required. The panel surface is about 5 above the roofsurface. The panel is hinged to the mounting board, which allows thepanel to be tilted towards the sun, and to increase ventilation. We planon adding a cog/string system to make it easier to tilt the solar paneltowards the sun from the ground. Two wires run from the solar panel, oneis the power line and the other is a ground line. The power line runsdown the roof to the charge controller, where there is a fuse. A box onthe porch which houses the charge controller, inverter and batteries.The ground wire runs beneath the house and is attached to a rod which isdriven about two feet into the earth.solar panelIt should be noted that the panel guidelines state that the installationof PV modules requires a great degree of skill and should only beperformed by qualified licensed professionals, including licensedcontractors and licensed electricians. We installed our systemourselves because our supplier, who is a licensed installer, gave usexplicit directions and came by to inspect the installation after it wasdone. We suggest that you follow the recommendation as stated in themodule instructions with regard to installation.You may notice there is a shadow on the panel being installed in thepicture above. This shadow crosses the panel in about 20 minutes, sothere is a small loss of efficiency over the course of a day. But welive in a beautiful forested area and I value the tress more than 100%efficiency in solar gain. If there were a major solar loss I might topthe tree, but our system provides for our needs and so we will live withthe shadow, for now at least.*/The cost of the solar panel in todays pricing is about $425./*2. Charge ControllerWe use a Trace C12 Charge Controller which automatically adjusts theamount of power running into the battery. The controller has a small LEDlight which indicates the state of charge so its easy to see when thebatteries are fully charged or if they are becoming depleted. The lightflashes either red or green, with multiple flashes indicating the statusof charge at any given time. We can see that if the light is red weshould reduce our power use, and if the light is green then we have thepower needed to charge or run additional devices.charge controller*/The cost of the Trace Charge Controller is about $90./*3. Battery BankTwo 6-volt golf cart batteries are wired in series for a 12 volt system.Each battery is rated at 232 amp hours. The batteries are enclosed in awooden chest with hinged lid, and the top panel of the chest is removedto provide plenty of ventilation. The battery posts and connections arekept clean, and periodically checked to ensure good connections.solar batteriesbattery box*/The cost for the two batteries was about $400./*4. InverterThe final piece of the system is a small inverter which converts the 12volt DC power into 120 volt AC power. This enables us to use standardelectric devices without the need for adaptors. Inverters are availablein a wide range of wattages for different size systems. Ours is a smallinverter made by Nexxtech, rated at 300 watts, with a 500 watt surgecapacity. It comes with two cables, red and black, with alligator clipends for gripping to the battery posts. In choosing which size inverterto buy, we calculated how much power was available to our system andwhat devices we wanted to run. In calculating power needs, it isimportant to add the power requirements when two or more devices arerunning simultaneously.solar inverter*/Our Nexxtech 300 watt inverter cost about $30./*What this system provides:An alternative energy system can be used to provide electric power toany number of electric devices, such as appliances, tools and computers.The bigger the system, obviously, the more power it will provide. Togive you an idea of the capacity of a small system like ours, here iswhat we use our solar energy system to power:solar powered refrigeratorThis is a DC powered refrigerator, the same size as a conventional chestfreezer (4 wide). The refrigerator draws 40 watts of power and can beconverted to a freezer by replacing the thermostat. Since therefrigerator is a DC model, it is wired directly to the battery,bypassing the inverter. So the refrigerator keeps running even if theinverter is turned off. Our refrigerator has been running continuouslyfor over 2 years without any problems. Even during the dark days ofwinter, the unit has adequate power to keep running.vers sound systemThis is our Vers sound systemwhich lets us use an iPod or direct cable from an iPhone or computer todeliver a rich sound while drawing relatively little power. We can runthis sound system about 3 hours a day in winter, and as much as we wantin summer.solar powered laptopOur solar system provides adequate power to run alaptop computer all day if necessary. We also run a router from ourinverter so that multiple computers can be operated at the same time. Inaddition to the router, a small radio is installed on a tree about 300from our house which receives the wireless broadband and transmits thesignal to the house.Besides the laptop, we have a battery-powered driver-drill, which is avery useful tool. Our system recharges the battery for this tool inabout 30 minutes.These are the principle applications we use which are provided by thesolar power system described above. However, you can use a wide varietyof electric devices as needed. Today, we enjoy the benefits of oursystem without feeling a technological intrusion into our off-gridhomestead and lifestyle. The refrigerator especially has made a bigimprovement in our day to day living, since storing food is so mucheasier. Over time we may expand our system by adding more batteries forstorage, and eventually a second solar panel or small wind turbine.Bringing electricity to rural locations is something of a balancing actsince we dont want our simple lifestyle changed by too many electricalgadgets. It does require some restraint to keep things simple, but thefew electric amenities we now have are most appreciated!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Greg*About Greg*/Originally from Long Island, NY, Greg Seaman founded Eartheasy in 2000out of concern for the environment and a desire to help others live moresustainably. As Editor, Greg combines his upbringing in the cities ofNew York, Boston and San Francisco with the contrast of 31 years ofliving off-grid to give us a balanced perspective on sustainableliving. Greg spends his free time gardening, working on his home andbuilding a wooden sailboat with hand tools./Posted in Preparedness Tags alternativeenergy , DIY, energy, Off-Grid, solar, solar panel, solar power Older Comments*Rajesh Ravindranvery informative. have always wanted to set something like this up.thanks*http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanWeve since strung up a few LEDs for light. In winter our power isreduced and we only run lights for reading..*RAPTOR555Im in the process of installing a solar system in our motor homeand the installation instructions here are exactly the same as forthe motor home. Im using two Renogy 100 solar watt panels (200wtotal), a 28 amp Nature Power controller, and a 2000 watt Cobrainverter (hard-wired from the batteries to inside the motor homew/6ga. solid copper wire). I believe Ill be able to run the motorhome box with very little use of the generator when parked somewherewhere there is no power hook-up. Everything is already installedexcept for the two solar panels which should be here this week. Itwas an easy job and a lot of fun doing it. Total cost for the systemand wiring will be less than $500. I found that amazon.com has thebest Renogy solar panel prices by far. Do it if you can; its worthit especially if you put it in a motor home that uses gasoline torun the generator at 1.3 gallons per hour. We all know how expensivegasoline is these days. We expect to hit the break-even point in 11/2 to 2 years; not a bad investment considering the solar panelsare guaranteed for 25 years. raptor3x5@live.com*KnightsixGreg, wonderful article. Ive taken the first step to disconnect myvery large home from the grid. Have to admit my motivation cameabout as a result of my power company, constantly shilling for CFLbulbs and solar power, lost a great deal of $ as a result ofoverwhelming customer conversion it failed to account for in annualbudget planning. As a result, it surreptitiously petitioned ourCorporation Commission for a rate hike which was granted! Customersstabbed in the back by saving (solar and efficient lighting) doingexactly what the utility showed them to dothen going behind thosesame backs to increase rates lost via customer savings!I live in Arizona, so have a timer on the hot water heater for onehour daily, then decided to turn it off completely(cold water isntvery cold anyway), reduced the pool cleaning cycle from 8 to 4 hoursnightly after 9pm, do not use the clothes dryer (I have strung upplastic chain across the patio and sun-dry my clothing outside orinside using two drying racks, replaced every incandescent bulb inthe house with CFLs (going to LED soon), and am anal about any lightbeing on in a room I do not occupy. I use the dishwasher twice amonth- maybe, preferring to hand wash the few dishes I use. I onlyrun the AC on the floor Im on, and both thermostats are set at 82*.I have 9 highly efficient ceiling fans that I run on low 24/7, andrecorded a 2* temp drop throughout the house as a result of thatalone. I open all doors for cool breezes after the summer heat. Myhighest 2012 Jul~Aug summer bill was $438for one man, living alonein a two-story house, 3679sf livable.That same bill has been reduced to $132. If my math is correct,thats a 70% reduction in electrical cost, accomplished via a simplechange in living stylea change that has not acted to inconvenienceme in any way whatsoever.But Im not done yet. I fully intend to go completely off-grid;double-axis solar power stands, power shed to contain all batteries,charge controllers, sine-wave controllers, system shelving, wiringto house, power switch box the works. I will leave grid poweravailable if needed, and will absorb the small monthly service feesfor that, but have a stand-alone generator available if it comes toemergency power needed. ROI? Forget that. 25~30 year returns oninvestment would doom any such project due to high cost/lowefficiency of presently available commercial systems. Ill absorbthe cost just to bid the grid system goodbye, and build as much ofthe systems as I can by myself, using excellent guidance from goodpeople like you who have plowed the road before me. Thanks forsharing your project. Johnohttp://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanThank you John for your inspiring comment. You are ahead of thecurve and a living example for your friends and neighbors.I have one thought to pass on, based on experiences I see withothers who are moving toward energy independence. Be aware ofthe constant change in technology so that you dontover-subscribe to any technology that becomes outdated quickly.For example, many in my community rushed to get the new 127 wattpanels. Now just a few years later, everyone wants the newer 253watt panels, so the 127s are on sale, or simply uninstalled andleft unused.My advice is to try to keep it simple. It is something of abalancing act adopting new technology.Thganks again for your comment, it is truly inspiring.*http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanMost people in my community use the 6v golf cart batteries. Ivechecked mine only twice this summer and they needed only a small topup/ The maintenance is minimal.I prefer the 12 v setup, but also keep power needs minimal. Mysystem has mo transmission issues since the panels are on the roofand wiring only through the house. The 24v systems have an advantageas transmission distances increase.*Joven lavachadoGreat idea, these will help my countrymen back in the Philippines,because of all year round full sun that mother nature gave us.Hopefully i have the chance to learn the idea,innovation with thissolar grid while im still here in the U.S. Residing right now inSherman Way, Winnetka. L.A. Thus, Eartheasy has office here in LosAngeles, California? Please let me know. Thank Youohttp://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanSorry, Eartheasy does not have an office in L.A.*KuyakulitHi Greg, thanks for the great blog. Can you share us the list ofmaterials and the circuit design of your project? Wishing to haveone in our place. The electricity in the Manila is one of thehighest in Asia. Monthly bills is not easy to manage now a days.Thanks again for sharing.ohttp://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanYou could show this article to your local solar supplier andthey would be able to set you up. The system is very basic just a panel, some cable to the charge controller (now a 30 ampmodel), two golf cart batteries (the specs are in the image onthis page) and a small 350 watt inverter.*http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanThe system described in this article is designed to provide andstore a certain amount of power. The type of structure does notreally matter. My system has been expanded to three panels and alarger charge controller (30 amps). In your situation, you need todecide how much power you will need, then you can scale the systemas needed.There are no other supplies you would need for a home built usingshipping containers, although you will probably need to drillthrough the metal to mount your panels and route the cable, so besure to get some silicone to caulk wherever the cable goes through awall.*SachIThanks so much? Would I be able to hire you to do this for me? Ilive on Long Island. Let me know if youd be willing, not sure ifyou still live in the area. Thanks. It would be a few months fromnow not right awayohttp://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanYou would want a certified installer for this. Or you could tryit yourself and have it checked by a professional.*pjxiiLove this site!!! I am looking to build a small retitement cabin inrural Virginia in a few years and this system would be perfect formy lifestyle. Thank you so much for providing it, I now have theconfidence to have an off-grid system that I always wanted for mysmall home.ohttp://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanThanks. Our system has been used for years now and we are verypleased with its performance. In a few years the panels will beeven more effective and at lower cost.+pjxiiGreg, this may be outside the scope of the article, but howdo you handle hot water for bath/shower in this home? Thatis probably the one thing Im still trying to figure out inplanning my small house. I will be using well water andreally am determined to not tie-in to the grid. Taking a(brief) shower is the only thing Id need hot water for.#http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanWe have a wood cookstove (Elmira Oval) that has a waterjacket in the firebox. The water jacket is connected toa water heater which is plumbed to the shower and twosinks. It takes about an hour of fire in the cookstoveto provide a generous shower. Faster for subsequent showers.In summer when it is too hot to fire up the cookstove wehave a small solar shower in the garden.*jonathanjames61Hi Greg,please I will be grateful if you send me further informationabout this your solar project, i will like to use the same in my home.ohttp://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanI thin most of the information you will need is already here inthe article. Only change would be to get a newer solar panelwith more capacity, in the range of 250 watts. A larger panelalso would reuire a larger charge controller. A 30 amp chargecontroller should suffice for a 250 watt panel.*http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanWe bought the system components from a dealer who sells alternativeenergy products. This system is designed to provide basic power forour limited needs. If you want to supply a bigger house with higherelectrical needs, a system like this can work but it has to bescaled up more panels, batteries and larger capacity chargecontroller and inverter. There are many variables so you shoulddefinately consult with a qualified alternate energy provider forthe best answers to your question..*Norma GriffithsThanks so much for simplifying a complete system. I live in FL. Youwould think everyone would have solar but few do. I am determined!!We shall see how I do with your wisdom!ohttp://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanThanks Norma. The batteries are key, so be sure to keep themtopped up. With my system, I usually need to add a bit ofdistilled water every couple months.*http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanWe use paired up 6v golf cart batteries, the specs are shown in thephoto in the article. The inverter is small at 350 watts butsufficient for our needs. We did not make our panel, it waspurchased from a qualified dealer.*AngelFascinatingly creative, could you tell us about your outside solarshower?ohttp://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanVery simple system. Just a black bag hung on the fence with aspigot and hose. The garden hose is brouight alongside so we canmix in cold to get the right temperature. Takes about an hour toheat in the summer sun.*carl hallAwesome Post, been interested in going Off Grid for a couple ofyears..Grow my own Veg/Fruit at the moment, and looking into Brewingmy own Pear Cidre..the whole Green and sustainable living is myGoal..live in Town in a flat, but grew up on a Farm and miss itso..with bit of Luck will be buying old farm house with a bit ofland in Ireland..by the time this happens..i dont want to be usingMains Elec..and would like to draw my own water,Grow my own crops etc..Again Great post..my first visit to this site.UK readerohttp://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanThanks, and good luck to you. I think youll find it exciting tobreak new ground. Go for it!*carl hallAwesome Post, just kinda stumbled across this Site..glad i did.*JohnDo your two batteries run 24/7 keeping the fridge going from thesolar panel?ohttp://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanYes. The fridge is DC and wired directly to the batteries. Thisruns 24/7. The frdige has been running nonstop for about 3 yearsnow.The rest of the system is run through the inverter so we can runAC for powering the laptop, some LED lights and a few other items.+JohnThanks you Greg! John W. Samarin*Billy DarrouxI live in the Caribbean, and thought that this is the most practicalpiece i have seen on DIY power. You must have been a teacher inanother life.ohttp://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanThanks Billy. What a fine compliment!Greg*Hana Horack-ElyafiThis is a brilliant, succinct post. Just what we need to saveourselves a good chunk on our electricity bill!*KnightsixGreg, its been awhile. Im focusing on isolating myrefrigerator/freezer from the grid now. Its the only device left inmy house running 24/7. The data plate shows 120vac @ 9.5amps. Imrounding up and want sufficient backup, so my plan is fourbatteries. I went back and re-read your article on solar panels,specifically the point about switching from 127v to 253v solarpanels. Would you be kind and provide the brand name of the 253vpanels. Any new info on those would also be greatly appreciated.Also, Ive been doing some reading on desulfation of batteries.Seems there are some positive aspects of such devices, in that theyare able to remove and/or prevent a buildup of sulfur on batteryplatesthereby extending battery life. Any thoughts on this issue?Thanks in advance. Johnohttp://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanHi John,The panels are 235 watts, not the 253 which I mistakenly wroteearlier. Sorry for my not so sharp memory. The panels are madeby Sharp and should cost about $250 $300 depending on thesupplier.I am not very knowledgable about desulfation, we dont have muchof a problem in this regard although there is likely some sulfurbuildup occurring. Our batteries cycle regularly which is key,and the refrigerator runs 24/7 which further increases cycling.I also equalize the batteries every few months which helpsprevent sulfur buildup.+fosterparrotsI am new to this technology and am hoping to set up a systemin Costa Rica, well off the grid. What does Equalizing thebatteries entail? Thanks. Marc#http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanHeres a video demonstration of equalizing a battery bank:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xuca4JFL7jI*fosterparrotsThank you.*Hazel Pj GreyI went to Interstate and bought a 35 Amp 12v deep cycle Gel batteryfor just under $100. It was designed for an electric wheel chair sois half the size of an automobile battery. It is safe enough to bekept inside your living space as most electric wheel chairs sitright next to the bed all night plugged in and charging.ohttp://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanGel batteries are safe for use in limited ventilation areas. Aslong as the cells are physically intact, not damaged, andcharged properly, there should be no problem.*http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanHi Pat. Yes, wind turbines are practical here in the NW, andbecoming more widespread as newer designs hit the market. One thingto think about is the noise of the whirring look for designs thatare quiet.*Sara SparksIm presently in the middle of an ice storm. I installed propane forsituations like this to keep me warmbut was wonderingeven if myhouse is wired on the gird, could this be utilised to lets say givelight, computer, maybe fridge for one room. Do I have to go throughthe power system already set up or can I wire a couple of outletsoff of this (Im not an electrician and would have to consult on ofcourse) Dont know the lingo .but you get the idea.ohttp://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanYes. You can install a simple, independent system for emergencylighting and computer and a small fridge, especially if thefridge is designed for energy efficiency, such as the SunDanzermodels. However, the solar gain is low in winter for northernlocales. If you dont have enough solar power you may need asmall generator for backup. We keep a 750 watt generator (verysmall) for times when solar power is unavailable.*swampdaddyLove the information. I always enjoy reading about other people thatare using solar and living off the grid. I will be moving to Alabamato my small cabin and am looking forward to living off the grid andgetting away from the hustle of the city.*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dBCfifPtAk Beth WintersIve been searching for Orlando Residential Electrical Contractorwhen I discover your page. I love the solar panel idea, also thanksfor the prices provided, really helped. Have a great day!*Donna PI would love to solarize our (gravity fed ) well pump.Im thinkingthis would have to be large enough to provide our whole houseselectric requirements. ( 220) Any ideas?*http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanWe know several people who use tankless water heaters. They workgreat. For us, the propane is heavy to carry in to our place, andvery expensive. One caution with the tankless water heaters besure the line is drained if theres going to be a freeze and yourunit is in an unheated space.oRichard PowersRoger that on the draining of the lines for freeze.. But as forthe propane transport inconvenience; Years ago I had and 1969Ford RV which my girlfriend and I actually lived in for about ayear or so, which had a gas tankless hot water heater which wewould only light for showers.. The water would instantly getscalding hot, so we had to be sure to adjust the cold waterstream to compensate before getting in. You could take as longof a shower as you wanted and the temperature would stayconstant. Anyway, what Im getting to is this; I just used oneof those small 20lb propane tanks like you connect to a BBQgrill and interchange the tanks at most any convience store..Each of us would take a 10 minute hot shower at least 3 times aweek (totaling at least a full hour of hot showers per week),and only one portable propane tank would usually last us about 6week or more.. My point is, a to carry a single 20lb tank once amonth or so to your place would be effortless and inexpensive!..You might want to look into such an option.By the way, I only mention the Eccotemp L5 above, but Ive neverused that model, but it looks to be about the same size as theone I had.I want to thank you again for your blog, its presented in sucha way that makes it simple to understand, and doable.+http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanI hear you about using the smaller 20lb tanks, this is whatI use for my backup lights and a 2-burner range so we canmake tea in the morning before the wood stove heats up.My neighbor uses a Paloma and it has worked well for themover 20 years.For our location, I have to row about a 3/4 mile, hike a fewhundred yards to get the 20 lb tank, them carry it back tothe boat. Then up a steep hill about 65 to the house. Thecosts for the propane is about $20 per tank. Too much workand cost. Insteasd, we have a water jacket in the cookstovefor showers, and in summer we have an outdoor solar shower.*http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanIm not qualified to give you a reliable answer. You could put thisquestion to a dealer of solar products, they would be able to answeryour questions.*http://www.electricsaver1200.com/ Patricia SalvalesVery informative, this is great.. most people dont know much aboutsolar though they want to have one, and this article nailed it itscomplete and easy to understand.. thank you..*AC AglipayHi Greg,Excellent blog I must say. I really learned a lot on how solar powerset-up works. However, im still hoping you can give me a suggestionon how to star up my own system.I just want to power up a normal household refrigerator about 6 cufeet, I am wondering what it takes to do this.Im not quite sure if this set-up also works for regularrefrigerator since what you posted is DC powered.I have already contacted a contractor but they seem to want me spendmore than what i need (only figured that out after reading this blog)THIS IS THE SETUP THAT THEY SUGGESTED: ( do I really need this kindof set up just to run a single refrigerator for a at least 12 hours?)Solar Panel, MonoCrystalline, 100W/18V/5.99AController, 30A/12/24V, Auto Voltage FunctionOff-Grid Inverter, Pure Sine Wave, 600 Watt 12V/60HzBattery, Deep Cycle, 220Ah/6VThey also told me that I cannot use a car battery as a battery bankas it will not be efficient I see now that isnt true.Any help and suggestion will greatly be appreciated! Im just tryingto figure out a way to make this as cheap as possible.ohttp://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanIm not qualified to give advice. ut the estimate you receivesseems reasonable. And the deep cell golf cart battery is muchmore effective than a car battery, although we used a carbattery for years before getting a better battery back.I suggest you do some more reserch via the internet beforemaking any decision.*http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanThe 400 watt inverter will run the fridge but, depending on the amphour rating of your batteries, will probably run the batteries downin a few hours. You want to make sure to use a deep cycle battery,as a regular starting battery will not hold up to the contantdischarging/charging cycles.You would be better off to buy a 12 volt RV refrigerator.ohttp://www.logospayroll.com/ Brent ShermanHello Greg, If I wanted to purchase the items in your system forbackup power for my A/C refrigerator and A/C horizontal freezer,would it help to just buy more batteries? Or, do you know ofanyone who has used an A/C to D/C converter for a refrigeratoror freezer in a backup power situation?+http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanTo expand capacity you might do better adding panels ratherthan batteries. However there are other factors to considersuch as your location and the type of panels. Best advice isto ask your local solar installer since they have experiencein your climate zone.#http://www.logospayroll.com/ Brent ShermanThanks so much Greg! Best Wishes to you and yours!*http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanThe batteries are still running and are in good shape. Have donelittle maintenance other than keeping them topped up. Once in awhile I equalize them..They cycle frequently and regularly. Thebrand is US Battery, US 2200 XC.*http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanHi Doug,The panels are grounded but the inverter is not. This was approvedby an installer who inspected my system.The refrigerator is DC, directly hard wired to the battery,bypassing the inverter (since we want it running full time). I didinstall a fuse in that line.The inverter has detachable connections to the batteries so itseasy to replace with my spare inverter. (Sometimes in heavy rains afew drips find their way to the inverter and short it out. I put itover the heater to dry, and use the replacement during the interim.)The best sources for design information have come from neighbors whoare doing the same thing. We share knowledge, and run things by aprofessional before making any purchases.*http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanIt is difficult toi estimate your voltage needs without thespecifics on the appliances you plan to use. For example, is therefrigerator AC or DC, and what size. You will need to write dwonthe specs for your refrigerator and the washer, and then estimatehow many lights you want, which should be LEDs. Take thisinformation to the panel supplier and they will tell you what panelsare required, as well as the ideal charge controller and inverter.*actofcourageGreat stuff thx*TedHi Greg, Im interested in the radio used for wireless broadband.Does that supply your internet or ?? The reason I ask is Implanning on moving aboard a sailboat and looking at options. Solarand wind are the main focus for power.Tedohttp://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanIts a small (about 8 square, 1 thick) lightweight unit I havemounted on a tree. It receives a signal from a distant tower andprovides my internet. There is a wire from the radio to myhouse, it runs 325, which is the max without signal loss. Mybattery bank (located at the house) powers the radio via thesame wire. The draw is tiny, so power is not an issue exceptduring stormy days of winter. On a sailboat you might get awaywith a smaller unit since reception is usually pretty good onthe water.*http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanGood comment Cliff, thanks!*http://nuttynnice.wordpress.com/ SMHI thought we will be making our OWN solar power system (fromscratch) LOL. Apparently we have to buy a solar panel.*http://www.howtoelectriccar.com/ Michael GreigAnd you guys live in the Pacific Northwest?? Just imagine what canbe done with a few more panels in California! Thanks for thearticle, great read.*iceNice way to make the most of solarenergy by DIY.*corqThanks for your post I feel a little better now about having to useconsumer grade inverters; I am powering a self-sustaining wateringsystem for a largish patio from a rainbarrel. I brokedown and used acigarrette style socket barrel connector with car inverter to powerthe fountain pump, and powering a raspberry pi via 5v usb to aspecial power plug to schedule the watering on/off switch. I foundmany of the off the grid -marketed solar inverters to be a bitheavy for my needs, but I can always scale up later. Im a ways offfrom retirement and not sure Ill ever be completely off the grid,but I look forward to some minimalism where I can find it. Yourwork here is very inspiring!ohttp://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanGreat comment, thanks!*http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanIn our location we have no electric power.*http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanThank you Onye for your kind comments. It is very gratifying to me.Saludos to you!*Onye OnyeHi Greg. Thanks for getting back. You know what, I am thinking ofcollaborating with Eartheasy once i get back to Nigeria next two yrsto start developing individual power unit completely independent ofthe National Grid. It is a shame that in Nigeria, there is frequentblackout inspite of the windfall from crude oil, large water bodieswhich can be damed, or even generate power from Gas that is beenflared to the atmosphere in the refineries. Your solar set-up is thesimplest available in the web. to testify to that , u can see thehuge interest and post on it, over 100. Its simplest is quiteencouraging. By the way, I am an agric engineer and u know thatsolar energy utilization in engineering or agric has the sky as itslimits.of water. I am getting back to u in future meanwhile i enjoyreading the posts. Hasta luego seor.*http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanYes, it is getting to where independent power systems are viable forsmall applications like homes and small communities. The prices havebeen steadily going down and the technology continues to improve.Thanks for your comments.*http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanCalculate all your anticipated electric needs and take the list to asolar power dealer or an alternate energy provider. They should giveyou a free estimate of what your system requirements will need to be.For the refrigerator, read our blog about solar refrigerators. Oursuggestion is to go with a chest style, DC powered, with easilyreplaceable thermostats. Thay way you can convert it to a freezerwhen needed. We use the Sundanzer model 225.*http://eartheasy.com/ Greg SeamanYour local solar installer should be able to give you a freeconsultation. 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