Single room in house all off solar?

[Pogi]

We're building a new home and I want to make my reloading/"man cave" that's in the basement totally solar. That way if there is ever an outage or sometype of catastrophe we have one room that has total power. I'm also thinking of doing the whole basement solar power. In the reloading room it would be 10ish light bulbs, small mini fridge, tv, computer and need for small electric tools every so often (once or twice a week, drill, router, nothing real bug just hand stuff). If I were to do the whole basement it would be about 20ish lights, items listed in the reloading room, big screen tv, possibly full size fridge, microwave, oven. I'm fairly new to solar and have done some online research but haven't found anyone with my similar idea. I don't care about grid tie in and pumping power back into the grid. I mainly just one one room ( possible whole basement) completely solar all the time. My questions are: can this be a DIY thing? Can I have the deep cycle batteries inside (basement). Is this something that I just wire into the existing breaker box but just have my room (or basement) coming from solar? I probably won't install this right off the bat as the basement won't be finished for a few years so I was thinking of having the builder install a pipe from the attic to the basement so I can run the necessary wires without the headache of going through the walls. Any thought or input is much appreciated. Are my thoughts plausible?

[sensij]

Plausible, sure, but extremely expensive. You could expect the cost of electricity for that room to be at least 5X higher than it would have been if you had stayed grid-tied.

[Pogi]

Plausible, sure, but extremely expensive. You could expect the cost of electricity for that room to be at least 5X higher than it would have been if you had stayed grid-tied.

What's causing the high expense? The mini fridge? Light bulbs? I'm Looking for things to cut out. Also I probably will only be in there a few hours a day.

Also what is expensive? For just the room I was budgeting $1,000. This is mainly for "prepping". Just want to be able to use my prep instead of having a few panels and batteries in the garage in case there is an emergency. This way I get some use out of it.

[inetdog]

What's causing the high expense? The mini fridge? Light bulbs? I'm Looking for things to cut out. Also I probably will only be in there a few hours a day.

Also what is expensive? For just the room I was budgeting $1,000. This is mainly for "prepping". Just want to be able to use my prep instead of having a few panels and batteries in the garage in case there is an emergency. This way I get some use out of it.

The expense is in replacing the batteries every three to five years if you work them every day to "save" POCO power.
That will be a large part of the initial cost of the system, on a recurring basis.
If you do not actually use the batteries but keep them on float charge waiting for SHTF, you will not have to replace them as often, but you are not getting any "free" power along the way.

[russ]

What's causing the high expense? The mini fridge? Light bulbs? I'm Looking for things to cut out. Also I probably will only be in there a few hours a day.

Also what is expensive? For just the room I was budgeting $1,000. This is mainly for "prepping". Just want to be able to use my prep instead of having a few panels and batteries in the garage in case there is an emergency. This way I get some use out of it.

Solar is really dificult to "prep" with. One thing - at storm time there usually isn't much good sun anyway.

For the end of the world - wtshtf type stuff - it doesn't make much difference - a lost cause anyway.

[Sunking]

The expense is simple to understand. You can pay the POCO 10-cents per Kwh monthly, or you can pay your battery suppliers $1 per Kwh all up front in cash every 5 years.

[Wy_White_Wolf]

What's causing the high expense? The mini fridge? Light bulbs? I'm Looking for things to cut out. Also I probably will only be in there a few hours a day.

Also what is expensive? For just the room I was budgeting $1,000. This is mainly for "prepping". Just want to be able to use my prep instead of having a few panels and batteries in the garage in case there is an emergency. This way I get some use out of it.

I would guess you're looking at least 10 to 15 times that amount. One big thing you are missing is that if the power does go out for extended amount of time is this will be your only place for power. You will be spending a lot more than a few hours a day.

Total up the power requirements for everything you listed with the number of hours they will run in a day. Off grid you need to figure worst case because any less you're left without power. Then you can see you usage down there is not going to be that low.

WWW

[SunEagle]

What's causing the high expense? The mini fridge? Light bulbs? I'm Looking for things to cut out. Also I probably will only be in there a few hours a day.

Also what is expensive? For just the room I was budgeting $1,000. This is mainly for "prepping". Just want to be able to use my prep instead of having a few panels and batteries in the garage in case there is an emergency. This way I get some use out of it.

In short the high expense is just that the equipment (solar panels, batteries, charger, inverter, fuses, wires, hardware, etc.) end up costing you a lot more to generate the same kWh then what the Utility will charge you. Also the batteries have a shelf life if they are used daily or monthly. Big expense with short life.

If you keep your watt hour load really small then a solar battery system may cost about $1000. What you have described for your man cave (lighting, mini-frig, tv, power tools) will cost many times that $1000. Increasing your load for the entire basement (full frig, microwave, big tv, lots of lites) will cost you as much as a new Mercedes.

If you want to "prep" for a short power outage then go with a quite inverter style generator. If you need power for a longer period then go with a whole house generator and a big propane tank. If you want power for a SHTF event then electrical power will be the least of your needs so why worry about it?

[Pogi]

In short the high expense is just that the equipment (solar panels, batteries, charger, inverter, fuses, wires, hardware, etc.) end up costing you a lot more to generate the same kWh then what the Utility will charge you. Also the batteries have a shelf life if they are used daily or monthly. Big expense with short life.

If you keep your watt hour load really small then a solar battery system may cost about $1000. What you have described for your man cave (lighting, mini-frig, tv, power tools) will cost many times that $1000. Increasing your load for the entire basement (full frig, microwave, big tv, lots of lites) will cost you as much as a new Mercedes.

If you want to "prep" for a short power outage then go with a quite inverter style generator. If you need power for a longer period then go with a whole house generator and a big propane tank. If you want power for a SHTF event then electrical power will be the least of your needs so why worry about it?

This all makes sense. Thank you all for your help and input. I guess I'll either start saving for a full house setup with a grid tie in or scrap the idea and figure something else out. Thanks again all for your help.

[SunEagle]

This all makes sense. Thank you all for your help and input. I guess I'll either start saving for a full house setup with a grid tie in or scrap the idea and figure something else out. Thanks again all for your help.

Until a cheaper battery is found the only Solar PV installation that makes sense is a grid tie one.

Depending on what the POCO charges you for kWh and how big a system you install will determine your payback time. But even in places like Texas with very low POCO charges a grid tie solar system will pay for itself eventually.

Anything off grid is usually very expensive and will never pay for itself. Going off grid is a personal decision and a life style change which works for some people but not for most.

[mschulz]

Until a cheaper battery is found the only Solar PV installation that makes sense is a grid tie one.

Depending on what the POCO charges you for kWh and how big a system you install will determine your payback time. But even in places like Texas with very low POCO charges a grid tie solar system will pay for itself eventually.

Anything off grid is usually very expensive and will never pay for itself. Going off grid is a personal decision and a life style change which works for some people but not for most.

If it were me, I would spend the $1000 on a generator noise dampening and security system. Cost you about 1/3 the cost of solar and you could run the whole house with it. Then when the SHTF no one will hear your generator, if they did, they wouldn't be able to steal it, and you don't have a bunch of panels on your roof attracting every looter in town. In SHTF you want to look like you have nothing to loose so you get passed by.

[jony101]

For a thousand dollars I could make a man cave fit for a king. A 240 watt panel, a mppt controller and at least a 100 ah agm battery. The bigger the battery the longer it'll let you operate during bad weather.

Have everything run off 12 volts, example 12 volt fridge, 12 volt led lights, 12 volt roadpro cooker, instead of corded power tools, use cordless rechargeable which will be easily charged by this system. It wont run a big screen tv or washer and dryer, but you will have the bare essentials. Having lights is the big thing, the supernight led lights are very bright and its what i have been using, 15 feet of lights for 12 dollars. You can power radios etc. You can also run a small netbook all day long. A small inverter to power small appliances that wont run on 12 volts. Too big of an inverter and it will drain your battery too fast. I have 3 inverters a 120 watt and 400 watt modified sine, and a 150 watt pure sine.

You cannot rely on the power company in worst case scenario like everyone else here or having gas to run a generator or cook. Instead of giving up or waiting for a good Samaritan to charge your cellphone or flashlight you can have unlimited power as long as the sun is shining.

And yes you can keep the battery in the basement as long as its AGM type, i sleep near my battery. And you'll probably upgrade your battery before you buy a new one. And if the battery lasts 3 years, that will at least get you through the power outage. I paid 125 for my 145 ah agm battery which I had for 2 years, it already paid for itself, even if I replaced it now its done what I bought it for and would not consider it a waste of money. I have a total of 4 agm batteries of different sizes and keep them topped off as necessary. Even though i only use one as my house battery, I dont want to be caught without a backup.

Its also fairly simple, just run the 2 wires from the solar panel into your basement, connect 2 wires into your mppt controller "pv" input, then connect the 2 wires from mppt controller "bat" to your battery. Make sure you use fuses on everything you connect to your battery. You can start small but at a minimum a 240 watt panel, that will provide you real power, more than once I had to charge a dead car battery with it, it never let me down.

People here think solar power is to run everything, which it wont but in an emergency it will give you real power, it cost money upfront but in an emergency its too late to buy the solar panel and put it together. A generator is fine but eventually it will run out of fuel. You have a good idea and should pursue it, and for your 1000 dollar budget, its more than enough to get a decent system. As you use your system, you learn what it can do and upgrade as necessary.

[russ]

For a thousand dollars I could make a man cave fit for a king. Some king - in a slum maybe?

you can have unlimited power as long as the sun is shining. Right - as long as the sun shines and most power failures come during good weather?

People here think solar power is to run everything, Pardon?

your 1000 dollar budget, its more than enough to get a decent system. As you use your system, you learn what it can do and upgrade as necessary.

A good way to waste 1000 dollars

[SunEagle]

For a thousand dollars I could make a man cave fit for a king. A 240 watt panel, a mppt controller and at least a 100 ah agm battery. The bigger the battery the longer it'll let you operate during bad weather.

Have everything run off 12 volts, example 12 volt fridge, 12 volt led lights, 12 volt roadpro cooker, instead of corded power tools, use cordless rechargeable which will be easily charged by this system. It wont run a big screen tv or washer and dryer, but you will have the bare essentials. Having lights is the big thing, the supernight led lights are very bright and its what i have been using, 15 feet of lights for 12 dollars. You can power radios etc. You can also run a small netbook all day long. A small inverter to power small appliances that wont run on 12 volts. Too big of an inverter and it will drain your battery too fast. I have 3 inverters a 120 watt and 400 watt modified sine, and a 150 watt pure sine.

You cannot rely on the power company in worst case scenario like everyone else here or having gas to run a generator or cook. Instead of giving up or waiting for a good Samaritan to charge your cellphone or flashlight you can have unlimited power as long as the sun is shining.

And yes you can keep the battery in the basement as long as its AGM type, i sleep near my battery. And you'll probably upgrade your battery before you buy a new one. And if the battery lasts 3 years, that will at least get you through the power outage. I paid 125 for my 145 ah agm battery which I had for 2 years, it already paid for itself, even if I replaced it now its done what I bought it for and would not consider it a waste of money. I have a total of 4 agm batteries of different sizes and keep them topped off as necessary. Even though i only use one as my house battery, I dont want to be caught without a backup.

Its also fairly simple, just run the 2 wires from the solar panel into your basement, connect 2 wires into your mppt controller "pv" input, then connect the 2 wires from mppt controller "bat" to your battery. Make sure you use fuses on everything you connect to your battery. You can start small but at a minimum a 240 watt panel, that will provide you real power, more than once I had to charge a dead car battery with it, it never let me down.

People here think solar power is to run everything, which it wont but in an emergency it will give you real power, it cost money upfront but in an emergency its too late to buy the solar panel and put it together. A generator is fine but eventually it will run out of fuel. You have a good idea and should pursue it, and for your 1000 dollar budget, its more than enough to get a decent system. As you use your system, you learn what it can do and upgrade as necessary.

Not sure if a system that generates about 300 watt hours daily would run a "man cave fit for a King" but then it comes down to what electrical appliances you need to meet your creature comforts.

The problem is that a lot of people want solar power to run everything that they use today. They have no concept to the amount of watt hours used by each item and therefore decide they can still run their tv, computer, lights and coffee maker for a few bucks because in their mind solar is "free" energy. Until they are confronted with the limitations of a battery system they will continue to dream the impossible and "feel" secure with their emergency backup system.

Like you I have a few emergency power systems that I can rely on if the grid goes down for a short time, but even my solar/battery system will eventually die without the chance of getting new batteries if a SHTF event happens.

[Amy@altE]

Google "solar load calculator" and enter the items you want to power. By creating a loads list, you can then use the off-grid calculator to determine the size of system you need. My co-worker set up his home office in CO as off-grid, it is certainly do-able, but will probably cost more than $1000. By playing with the loads list calculator, you can see what you could power within your budget.