Harbor Freight 45 watt solar panel kits : My First Solar Setup


This is My Harbor Freight Setup, I have upgraded since this video. I have a new video and a book I wrote on solar. The book was all the questions I had; I fi…

23 thoughts on “Harbor Freight 45 watt solar panel kits : My First Solar Setup”

  1. For those of you who received the book, let me know if it aided you in your
    project. Simple in design is what I was hoping for, though its been scene
    the 9th month of 2013 : I will be updating it when time allows for it,
    hopefully within the next few months. I will post when this is done. But
    Please; : let me know what you guys think of the book or what you find I
    need to add. It was completely based on my FIRST setup (Hands ON :
    Experiences) which I had many questions and took forever to find the
    answers! So please post comments and watch the new video! For my VIEWERS :
    Please POST on the NEW VIDEO what you think about the new setup! Thanks for
    POSTING IN THE NEW VIDEO COMMENT SECTION.?

  2. Previous Questions: Answered Here and Other Information: (First : Thank you
    all for the Comments! Please share the ADVANCED VIDEO / I wish to have
    people let me know what they think ) Rule of thumb is 3 items to protect
    your system, if it is affordable! Not always the case so sometimes I have
    to add as I can afford it. I have a Book I wrote explaining everything : I
    am going to update it know that I updated my system. New Video is here : Major
    Update : To Advanced Solar As for as the book, send me a email, I will send
    it to you if you want it (Free) as I had no help doing my FIRST Solar Setup
    : I wrote a book with all the questions I HAD.. About my Previous Setup
    (this video) with HF Panels. I had 12 Panels. Daily producing about 14/15
    amps per hour @ 12 volts. Depending on what I ran / determined how long it
    took to recharge but (2-1/2 hours full charge usually) : at the time I had
    14 Lights (all house lights) and 2 mini ceiling fans. This set up ran the
    14 lights and kept the batteries charged for over a year. I was using the 4
    AGM batteries and 12 panels at the end. Batteries always were charged,
    sometimes used radio / HF lights in the shed as well. Mostly used them for
    the lights which are AWESOME 12 volt LED lights, I got them online which
    were made for RVs. they draw a little less than 1/2 each. I had that wrong
    : the inverter should be connected to the batteries directly because of the
    draw the inverter puts on them (My CC could output 18 amps; this is why I
    was able to do it, most can not do that high of amp output on load side). I
    do not have to remove or save the system for storms (equipment safe in shed
    and roof secured) Those were 30 amp fuses (I used Circuit Breakers now
    because of the ON/OFF ability) Also I am using 2 DC ceiling Fans / Another
    DC fan I just got that is portable. The cart is great for small setup; The
    larger cart panels and batteries was to heavy to move without the
    lawnmower! Everything was a 12 volt bank on the cart. The reason you don’t
    draw the batteries down (You can by the way) but it shortens a batteries
    life. If you do it right a battery if never below 70 percent can last up to
    8 -12 years. This is why folks who have large setups have ALOT of
    batteries to prevent it giving them life. So if you have 1000 amp hours
    (use 300 amps a day) you went down to 70%. Good (Life is extended; when you
    draw deep, your basically taking away from its lives) Most batteries can be
    drawn down around 1000 times (3 years?) Well by not going all the way down,
    your adding a day of life. Try to keep the batteries maintained correctly
    : I have some that are over a year old; They look like I just purchased
    them. I do have a new video with ALOT more power : 1,400 watts a hour max.
    Only missing one item I have added since then which is a new device to get
    SOC exact. Which it measure how many amps used and how many I added back. A
    true SOC not percent, actually the true number of amp hours. Even uses
    temps to help calculate these numbers (Add on “ONLY” for Midnite Charge
    Controllers (which cost about $ 600.00 +) I hope this answered all the
    questions : But the new system is much more powerful and space conservative
    with the panels hidden (Flat on the roof : which you cannot see them from
    the road)?

  4. Ok so how long does it take to charge s batteries with thus set up.
    And why cant you go below 50% of the battery power? Thats like getting half
    the use of a battery. ?

  5. You guys Know I made a Advanced Video : I decided I needed one with a
    little more (Education Stance) to aid those who want to go high power or is
    just curious. Solar Power System Basics Explained?

  8. I think connecting the inverter to the charge controller is not the correct
    way? A inverter will need to draw crazy amount of amps and if you seen the
    size of the wires and traces on the circuit board you’d see how tiny they
    are! Also 8ga wire is plenty for 30a at 12v. How many amps is your panels
    putting out? At what voltage? ?

  9. Great step ups thanks for the info. Can you tell me what can you run off
    that set up??

  11. Good job man. Thats a pimp azz setup you created. And great job on making a
    video to share with us. Kind of embarrassing but I have a full solar panel
    kit from HF. So half of your load. Thats cool but the thing is Ive had it
    for like 2 years just chillin in the box, only opened to make sure it was
    in good shape. Thats pretty sad. No excuses before watching this and no
    excuses not to get it up and base it off your very cool design. Like a
    Boss! ?

  13. This is what I planned, using a rubbermaid utility cart and considering
    sourcing some hybrid car batteries , lithium polymer, for a cleaner
    energy signal.

    Great Job, Great Explanation, and very well done and thought out. I
    especially like the use of jumper cables and inline fuses. ?

  15. Great Video & Thank you ! I just want to double check & ask are you using 3
    – 30AMP fuses on that block??

  16. This is good set up fused and isolated inverter, as safe as it gets. If you
    use a DC fan you can save a lot of electric, you want the sort they use in
    lorry. you won’t
    get inverter waste you can plug into battery bank, they only draw a small
    amount.?

  18. Very comprehensive explanation of a solar energy system. Thanks for taking
    the time and sharing your expertise.

  21. Very nice setup and thanks for the detailed explanation. Although I was
    told to not get the HB panels as they’re not very good. True, they’re
    cheap, but I’m limited in space as I need to hook the panel to the top of
    my van.

  22. Excellent video and setup! Just set my kit up and waiting to see what else
    I should buy. 3 panels might not be enough for running a oil heater but
    maybe enough for garden n security lights.

  23. Thanks Ryan… Bought 3 of these kits and had no idea how the charge
    controller interfaced with everything.

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