Built A tiny home, but it has solar issues

[The_realTW]

Too late lol A4A1DB23-37DA-48AE-9891-9E205809F46D.jpeg

[The_realTW]

FYI: I just want to make clear that the wiring used on the INSIDE of this build was all to code (Well as good as it could be considering there is no codes for this sort of thing) and all the outlets and lights and fuses were placed properly. I am hoping the offending problems lie in the batteries/inverter/panel setup and that the controller and everything backwards can be saved. Otherwise a complete gutting of the interior would be very costly indeed. I am going to dig back into the book right now!

Thanks everyone

[The_realTW]

The better you can define your usage and loads, the better the planning and results. expect to run 3 scenarios before you nail it down and start buying things

I’ll do it a thousand times if it will work like I was promised from the beginning. I mean the first “shakedown” trip when I was out on that peninsula, miles from nowhere watching tv and listening to the ocean. I was completely self sufficient, and then everything went from bad to worse until the lights wouldn’t stay on for five minutes.

Yeah I’ll put the work in , you guys are nice enough to guide me, I’ll put the work in and get it done right.

[SunEagle]

Strangely enough I’ve never trusted YouTube for this sort of thing. The majority of people out there are “experts in their own mind” , same with Reddit which honestly couldn’t wire a gumball machine correctly.

that is why i trust the stuff on this forum, real people willing to talk real world issues, not out for clicks or subscribers. The authenticity itself is refreshing.

I have to agree with you that YouTube videos can be misleading and provide totally wrong information to those people that believe everything they see on the internet. While some videos (very few) can be helpful most others are just a way for people to get their 15 minutes of fame or just want to trick people into believing something that is not true.

[Mike90250]

The better you can define your usage and loads, the better the planning and results. expect to run 3 scenarios before you nail it down and start buying things

[The_realTW]

With that approach you may have good luck searching the Internet for some advice from someone with a similar use case. There are RV and tiny home user groups that may offer more specific advice. I prefer videos because of my learning style. It takes a great deal of discipline however to separate the good advice from the bad advice on Youtube.

Strangely enough I’ve never trusted YouTube for this sort of thing. The majority of people out there are “experts in their own mind” , same with Reddit which honestly couldn’t wire a gumball machine correctly.

that is why i trust the stuff on this forum, real people willing to talk real world issues, not out for clicks or subscribers. The authenticity itself is refreshing.

[Ampster]

Hey there, isn’t at the end of the day everyone’s advice just a suggestion,......

With that approach you may have good luck searching the Internet for some advice from someone with a similar use case. There are RV and tiny home user groups that may offer more specific advice. I prefer videos because of my learning style. It takes a great deal of discipline however to separate the good advice from the bad advice on Youtube.

[The_realTW]

Further apologies for the "breading" typo.

As for what you read and its worth to you, and as I often write at the end of my posts, take what you want of it. Scrap the rest. All my stuff is no more than opinion and a serving suggestion anyway.

Maybe some parts of the remainder of the book will give you some new knowledge and information about the solar energy resource and solar design that you will find useful for the future and perhaps help you avoid getting screwed in the same fashion that seems to have brought you here in the first place.

I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Hey there, isn’t at the end of the day everyone’s advice just a suggestion, I mean even experts are wrong sometimes. I’ll read another 70 pages today. My thought I’d eventually I’ll reach a part in the book where my specific area starts to be explained. At least worse comes to worse I’ll have a good idea of the general solar industry (well at least how it was in 2014 lol)

also I’m sure there are more detailed books to cover that cover “tiny home” mobile setups, but I’ll give this one it’s full read before pursuing others.

[J.P.M.]

does that mean I dont have to read it all

EDIT: I am 70+ pages into the book, and so far I have learned how to fix my HVAC (Which I dont have) heat my swimming pool (which I dont have) and how to read an energystar label, which I learned years ago, also I cannot forget the numerous mentions of looking in the phone book for professionals for audits (What a phone book LOL)

Further apologies for the "breading" typo.

As for what you read and its worth to you, and as I often write at the end of my posts, take what you want of it. Scrap the rest. All my stuff is no more than opinion and a serving suggestion anyway.

Maybe some parts of the remainder of the book will give you some new knowledge and information about the solar energy resource and solar design that you will find useful for the future and perhaps help you avoid getting screwed in the same fashion that seems to have brought you here in the first place.

I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

[The_realTW]

My apologies for my laziness for not breading the entire thread.

does that mean I dont have to read it all

EDIT: I am 70+ pages into the book, and so far I have learned how to fix my HVAC (Which I dont have) heat my swimming pool (which I dont have) and how to read an energystar label, which I learned years ago, also I cannot forget the numerous mentions of looking in the phone book for professionals for audits (What a phone book LOL)

[J.P.M.]

Hey there, the reason I asked is because while its a great source of information, none of it is relevant to myself. My "setup" is a cargo trailer converted into a tiny home, i dont have a fireplace, or washer/dryer lol. I am reading the whole thing regardless.

My apologies for my laziness for not breading the entire thread.

[The_realTW]

I believe while the book does not apply to your application it should provide some basic information about solar and power generation regardless of the installation.

Also remember that conservation will still have a better payback then adding panels and batteries.

Agreed, I’m just griping, I don’t have an attic or bathtub lol, I’ll muddle on through!

[SunEagle]

Hey there, the reason I asked is because while its a great source of information, none of it is relevant to myself. My "setup" is a cargo trailer converted into a tiny home, i dont have a fireplace, or washer/dryer lol. I am reading the whole thing regardless.

I believe while the book does not apply to your application it should provide some basic information about solar and power generation regardless of the installation.

Also remember that conservation will still have a better payback then adding panels and batteries.

[The_realTW]

I'd do the whole thing, but only you can say what needs to be read first. If it was me, I'd start at the beginning and spend a lot of time on the first 3 chapters dealing with use reduction and energy conservation. If lowering your electric bill is one of the goals of the exercise, you're combined project cost will be lower and you'll save more energy and $$'s by reducing the load the PV has to replace before getting what will be a smaller and less costly PV system.

Just don't size the PV on the old (higher), preconservation electrical usage and billing. Doing so - if you're like most homeowners - will most likely result in what's probably already going to be an oversized PV system.

Hey there, the reason I asked is because while its a great source of information, none of it is relevant to myself. My "setup" is a cargo trailer converted into a tiny home, i dont have a fireplace, or washer/dryer lol. I am reading the whole thing regardless.

[J.P.M.]

Love you guys and all your help, but I'm on page 40 and its talking about my energy bills (which I do not have) and where my trees should be in my yard. Is there a certain section I should be reading. Its interesting information to be sure, but so far I saw one graph of household usage VS solar availability that looked remotely interesting. Im certain there is a specific area I can drill down, or do I read the entire book?

Thanks, and happy Saturday

I'd do the whole thing, but only you can say what needs to be read first. If it was me, I'd start at the beginning and spend a lot of time on the first 3 chapters dealing with use reduction and energy conservation. If lowering your electric bill is one of the goals of the exercise, you're combined project cost will be lower and you'll save more energy and $$'s by reducing the load the PV has to replace before getting what will be a smaller and less costly PV system.

Just don't size the PV on the old (higher), preconservation electrical usage and billing. Doing so - if you're like most homeowners - will most likely result in what's probably already going to be an oversized PV system.