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Installing a Littelfuse PumpSaver to Protect a Water Well Pump

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on May 26, 2021 by JimMarch 14, 2026
photo of The PumpSaver as part of the Solar Rainwater System

With summer on the way, and an end to our rainy season approaching, I am reminded of the dry summer last year and concerns about the water table here at the ranch. Fortunately, our water well performed during the last year’s drought, but a number of our neighbors had trouble with their wells. Some troubles were resolved by a visit from the well-service company and a replacement part of two, but at least one well’s water level was low — resulting in low or no water output.

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Posted in Ranch Life | Tagged DIY, equipment, how to, littelfuse, protection, pump, pumpsaver, rainwater, solar, well

Off Grid Solar System for Shop (2 kW System Design & Build)

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on December 4, 2019 by JimApril 23, 2026
photo of All six solar system panels installed

Off grid solar system for shop: real 2 kW system design to power a workshop, including air conditioning, lighting, battery storage, and backup power.

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Posted in Projects | Tagged air conditioner, consumption, DIY, energy, gas, generator, grid down, how to, insolation, Interstate, inverter, LED, lighting, power, rainwater, refrigerator, renogy, solar, system

Solar Water Pump for Well Completed | Solar Powered Rainwater Project

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on November 15, 2017 by JimApril 22, 2026
photo of Completed Solar Powered Rainwater System

Solar water pump for well—measured power consumption, battery capacity, inverter losses, and real-world off-grid system performance.

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Posted in Projects, Ranch Life | Tagged amateur, ampere-hours, battery bank capacity, build, charge, controller, deep cycle, DIY, equipment, Grid-assist, grid-tie, ham radio, how to, howto, Interstate, inverter, kill-a-watt, kilowatt, kilowatt-hours, kWh, marine, mppt, off-grid, panel, panel wattage, pwm, rainwater, renogy, solar, solar panel wattage, storage, teardrop, trailer, wb0mmc

Adding Solar Panels to an Off-Grid System | Solar Power Rainwater System

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on November 14, 2017 by JimApril 21, 2026
adding solar panels to the water shed

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.

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Posted in Projects | Tagged amateur, ampere-hours, battery bank capacity, build, charge, controller, deep cycle, DIY, equipment, Grid-assist, grid-tie, ham radio, how to, howto, Interstate, inverter, kill-a-watt, kilowatt, kilowatt-hours, kWh, marine, mppt, off-grid, panel, panel wattage, pwm, rainwater, renogy, solar, solar panel wattage, storage, teardrop, trailer, wb0mmc, woodworking

Off Grid Solar System Final Assembly and Testing | Solar Powered Rainwater Project

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on July 15, 2017 by JimApril 21, 2026
the entire off grid solar system

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.

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Posted in Projects, Ranch Life | Tagged amateur, ampere-hours, battery bank capacity, build, charge, controller, deep cycle, DIY, equipment, Grid-assist, grid-tie, ham radio, how to, howto, Interstate, inverter, kill-a-watt, kilowatt, kilowatt-hours, kWh, marine, mppt, off-grid, panel, panel wattage, pwm, rainwater, renogy, solar, solar panel wattage, storage, teardrop, trailer, wb0mmc

Solar Battery Bank Design and Wiring | Solar Powered Rainwater Project

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on July 11, 2017 by JimApril 20, 2026
photo of Battery cart with batteries

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.

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Posted in Projects, Ranch Life | Tagged amateur, ampere-hours, battery bank capacity, build, charge, controller, deep cycle, DIY, equipment, Grid-assist, grid-tie, ham radio, how to, howto, Interstate, inverter, kill-a-watt, kilowatt, kilowatt-hours, kWh, marine, mppt, off-grid, panel, panel wattage, pwm, rainwater, renogy, solar, solar panel wattage, storage, teardrop, trailer, wb0mmc

Buying A Great Solar Inverter Charge Controller | Solar Powered Rainwater Project

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on June 26, 2017 by JimApril 20, 2026
photo of The inverter box

Choosing the right solar inverter charge controller can make or break an off-grid system. This real-world project walks through sourcing a hybrid inverter, evaluating features, and navigating the challenges of overseas ordering and delivery.

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Posted in Projects, Ranch Life | Tagged battery, build, charge, China, Chinese, controller, deep cycle, DIY, hill country, homesteading, how to, howto, Interstate, inverter, panel, rainwater, renogy, solar, Sun Gold Power, Texas, texas hill country

How to Install Solar Panels on a Shed | Solar Powered Rainwater Project

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on April 11, 2017 by JimApril 20, 2026
how to install solar panels on a shed

Learn how to install solar panels on a shed for a small off-grid system, including mounting methods, wiring in series, and real-world voltage performance.

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Posted in Projects | Tagged build, charge, controller, deep cycle, DIY, hill country, homesteading, how to, howto, Interstate, inverter, panel, rainwater, renogy, solar, Texas, texas hill country

Solar Panel Tilt and Mounting | Solar Power Rainwater Project

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on March 23, 2017 by JimApril 20, 2026
Planning solar panel tilt and mounting on the Spring Garden Shed

Learn how to optimize solar panel tilt and mounting for real-world performance. This off-grid rainwater project explores panel angle, seasonal adjustments, and practical installation decisions to improve solar output efficiently.

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Posted in Projects, Ranch Life | Tagged amateur, build, charge, charge controller, compass, controller, deep cycle, DIY, equipment, framing square, Grid-assist, grid-tie, ham radio, how to, howto, inclinometer, Interstate, inverter, iphone, kill-a-watt, kilowatt, kilowatt-hours, kWh, marine, mppt, off-grid, panel, pwm, rainwater, renogy, solar, speed square, storage, teardrop, trailer, wb0mmc

Solar Powered Rainwater Project – Grid Tie vs Off Grid Solar

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on March 22, 2017 by JimApril 20, 2026
48V split-phase pure sine wave solar inverter charger with MPPT controller for off-grid solar system

Learn how solar power system sizing drives real-world decisions about charge controllers, inverters, and grid tie vs off grid solar design. A practical guide to building a reliable, resilient solar system.

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Posted in Projects, Ranch Life | Tagged amateur, build, charge, controller, deep cycle, DIY, equipment, Grid-assist, grid-tie, ham radio, how to, howto, Interstate, inverter, kill-a-watt, kilowatt, kilowatt-hours, kWh, marine, maximum power point transfer, mppt, off-grid, panel, pulse width modulation, pwm, rainwater, renogy, solar, storage, Sun Gold Power, teardrop, trailer, wb0mmc

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