The inverter I installed in 2020 was limited to 6000 watts output, not enough to reach the minimum specification for Level II charging, 7500 watts. Also, it had some problems starting with the charging loads. I often had to start the charge at lower rate and adjust the rate upwards to something like 5000 watts. Workable, but something better would be nice.
Continue reading →Previously, I wrote about Upgrading a Solar Power System and mentioned a cache of new Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePo4) cells. The “ThunderSky Winston” cells had come from a Segway repair operation and were new. A little looking around the ‘net revealed they were still available from GWL Group. With a capacity of 60 Amp Hours (AH) and nominal voltage of 3.3 volts, they looked useful for building a 12-volt Solar Generator.
Continue reading →Upgrading a Solar Power System It was time to upgrade the solar power system installed for the shop almost two years ago. I’ve been happy with original system, but it needed expansion as soon as funding permitted. I also wanted … Continue reading →
In the last post, I described the DC charge controller and battery wiring for the Shop Solar System. With solar panels and batteries connected, the inverter was functional. A quick test showed the expected 240 VAC at the inverter output, and it was time to connect it to the breaker panel in the shop.
Continue reading →In the last post, we mounted the solar panel array. Now it was time for the solar power system low-voltage wiring. The array is about 50 feet from my shop, where the batteries and inverter are located. I planned to use two strands of #6 UF direct-bury cable to conduct the predicted maximum of 36 amperes to the shop.
Continue reading →Off grid solar system for shop: real 2 kW system design to power a workshop, including air conditioning, lighting, battery storage, and backup power.
Continue reading →Solar water pump for well—measured power consumption, battery capacity, inverter losses, and real-world off-grid system performance.
Continue reading →After testing our off-grid solar system, it became clear we needed more capacity. By adding solar panels, we improved charging performance, and expanded the system for real-world use.
Continue reading →Bringing all the pieces together, we assemble and test a complete off grid solar system—wiring panels, configuring the inverter, and proving it can run a real-world load.
Continue reading →Designing a solar battery bank isn’t just about capacity—it’s about balancing cost, weight, and real-world constraints. Here’s how we built a practical 48 volt battery system for our off-grid rainwater project.
Continue reading →
