Did I chose decent battery. New to this

[thastinger]

Ok. Order on batteries cancelled. Looking at duracell 6 volt 208 ah 20. And 235ah @ 20 hr. Better choice. Or should look at diff brand

You really have to define your loads first. You can purchase a "Kill-A-Watt" meter for about 15 bucks and it'll tell you what the appliance consumes. Then you have to plan for the lowest solar output month and a few days of clouds while not taking your battery bank below 50%.

But defining the Kwh/day needed is the first step. The off-grid sticky section is a great place to begin learning.

[Mike90250]

Look at big box stores Golf Cart batteries 6V 200ah deep cycle, in the $90 range. (Costco, Sams, walmart.....)

Adding Solar to the sticker adds at least $80

[bagins52]

Ok. Order on batteries cancelled. Looking at duracell 6 volt 208 ah 20. And 235ah @ 20 hr. Better choice. Or should look at diff brand

[J.P.M.]

Ty everyone who answered. I will get different batteries. May get on the grid next year as money allows it. But other priorities now. I want to learn about solar. Want my grandbabies too also. I will try to limit showing my stupidity on it.

I'd call it ignorance, not stupidity. Stupidity is not wanting to learn. Ignorance is not knowing something but willing to learn. From what you write about wanting to learn, that sounds to me like where you are now.

You can know a lot and still be ignorant of a lot of other things. That's where most of us are most of the time.

Ignorance can be reduced. Stupidity is its own punishment.

FWIW, if I can answer a question or two, just holler up. Maybe we can both learn some things. You make the effort to learn and stay curious and I bet there's a lot of folks here who will jump at the chance to encourage your knowledge quest.

Good luck.

[bagins52]

Ty everyone who answered. I will get different batteries. May get on the grid next year as money allows it. But other priorities now. I want to learn about solar. Want my grandbabies too also. I will try to limit showing my stupidity on it.

[Mike90250]

I am not looking to sell anything back to light company. I was trying to hookup to them. They wanted 5k. After buying the land. Clearing part and building house. Well funds limited.
so I thought would use solar and generator backup. I know 200 watts isn't enough. But is a start. Just like will need more batteries.

If you can get grid for $5K, it's a bargain, and grab it while they offer it. You can look for vacation rates, or stop paying the bill after a year, if you want to go off grid (check their rules for grid abandonment, you may be locked in for 20 years) Having grid increases the resale value of the property. I was quoted upwards of $80K to have grid connection.

So to run a fridge - that's a game changer. Good energy star fridges in the 18cf range, consume about 1Kwh daily. Mini dorm fridges, consume a bit more, because they have thin insulation, so they won't save you any money.

Gear : you are looking at least a 24v system and 4 golf cart batteries GC-2 wired in series (6x @ 200ah x4 yields 24V @ 200ah)
500w of pv is a beginning point, because just like car gas mileage, you never get the reported 45mpg. 500w of panels ( a couple of 250w grid tie panels and a MPPT controller) should keep you going even with only 2 hours of good sun a day. More loads means more panels and batteries.

[Mike90250]

No, you threw your money away....any WTF would anyone hook 200 watts to the grid?

Because you read his post incorrectly. He has no grid, so 200W may be enough for a couple lights and laptop charger

[bagins52]

K. I'm in South East Texas. 21 acres mainly wooded. Was looking at small fridge. Maybe even propane. All that is up in the air. I'm still building cabin shell. Paying cash as I go. Hope to have it up by chChristm

[PNW_Steve]

Just lights and frig to start. Then over time expand. Buying small generac generator run on propane for back up.

With 200 watts of panels you are going to be out of luck trying to support much of a refrigerator.

My 10.7cf fridge needs a bit over 1kwh daily. Solar hours here in January are around 3. Less if I head to the West side. I


if you tell us where you are and what kind of fridge and lights you need to support then we can give better reccomendations.

[bagins52]

Next question with this same ideal. Should I buy 6 volt battery. Can get 200ah for just a little more than tractor batteries

[bagins52]

I ran my cabin in west Texas this way. Just want to rely on solar more

[PNW_Steve]

That said, panels are cheap these days. I am placing 1800 watts on my bus. Panels cost me $900 including shipping.

Unfortunately, charge controller and batteries are going to cost more than the panels.

[bagins52]

Just lights and frig to start. Then over time expand. Buying small generac generator run on propane for back up.

[PNW_Steve]

Boy..... I hate auto correct...... Bagins, you would be offended if I had not caught it

What I would STRONGLY recommend is that you detail the loads that you need to support. Consumption and duty cycle.

When you figure out what you need to support then you can design a system to support them.

On another tack... I got a $5k quote to install power at my place out West. No way! I ran generators for three years. (part time home)

Then I went out and bought and hauled the power pole. I hired a local guy with a backhoe to set the pole. I bought and installed the weatherhead, meter base and panel myself.

total cost $1700

[bagins52]

Will cancel my order on batteries. Get different ones