Tag Archives: storage

Build a Really Big Lithium Ion Solar Battery

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The next upgrade for our Solar Power System was a Really Big Lithium Ion Battery (RBB). When we first installed the system in 2020, I didn’t have a cost-effective solution for Lithium Ion (LiFePo4 chemistry). That came later with the acquisition of a lot of LiFePo4 cells. Since then, I’ve built two small batteries to get used to the technology; one as a portable solar generator, and a slightly larger one to power the ham shack. With those under my belt, it’s time to tackle a 48-volt battery to replace the existing lead acid batteries.

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Build a Handy 12-Volt Solar Generator with LiFePo4 Batteries

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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.

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Solar Power Eases A Bad Ice Storm

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The Solar Power Resilience Project at Roy Creek Ranch Over several years, we’ve built and expanded a multi-system solar installation at Roy Creek Ranch. In particular, a recent upgrade to the battery and inverter system significantly improved our resilience during … Continue reading →

How to Build an Inexpensive Storage Shed

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I’ve been threatening to build a storage shed at the ranch for some time now. After going through everything in the shop and selling, discarding, or giving everything away I could, it was still too crowded to work effectively. I needed more space. A friend had recently mentioned a sale on small buildings at Costco — it was worth a look.

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How to Wire a Solar System – Finished

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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.

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How to Wire a Solar Power System – DC

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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.

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Solar Water Pump for Well Completed | Solar Powered Rainwater Project

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

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

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

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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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Solar Battery Bank Design and Wiring | Solar Powered Rainwater Project

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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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