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u/BusyBanana4205

(Sorry for the trashy diagram) everything is sitting in boxes and double checking blind spots before I go all in.
▲ 5 r/SolarDIY

(Sorry for the trashy diagram) everything is sitting in boxes and double checking blind spots before I go all in.

I’m fairly certain I undersized the outside shut off switch. Based off the 16.05 x 1.25=20.0625 i went with 20a. I’ve read you should round to the next rating, but unsure if .0625 is worth sizing up to 25a, even though the indoor DC breaker was decided upon due to the inverter’s manual recommending a 2p-25a breaker.

- Inverter is the sungold All-In-One 48v 5000w inverter. 450VDC and 5500w max pv input.

- battery is the 51.2V 100ah LiFePo4 Vatrer. Connected to inverter by 2awg cables

- 4x 450w solar panels. VOC is 35.03 individually, 140.12 in series, and 14.97 amps

- power supply box is a 4 outlet power distribution box with 60a leakage overload protection and 15a branch overload protection.

I live in northern PA.

Thanks everyone, sorry if this is an annoying post.

u/BusyBanana4205 — 4 days ago
▲ 0 r/woodstoving

How ridiculous is this for long term affordability and DIY.

I have a spare chimney that sits behind drywall, and the cement at the top of the chimney has chipped a bit and is need of repair, and has been dormant way longer than I’ve owned this house (8 years).

Everything I do to my house is to create cost saving systems to live minimally in the future. Basically, my philosophy on my retirement is to both save for retirement and mitigate the cost to live month to month by investing now.

I have a steep roof, and even if I repair, clean, and re-line the chimney (or whatever else is needed), a chimney sweep will always be baked into the cost of ownership.

But, if I close off a window, turning it into a fire safe wall, essentially, I could run pipe, of which I could service myself indefinitely.

I live in northern PA so heat is necessary. I’ve already moved to a minisplit for heat and am scaling up a solar system, but a wood stove would be an amazing attribute to work in tandem with my eventually solar powered minisplit as supplemental heat (as it takes a lot of energy from the sun to heat).

Am I being dumb and overly-idealistic? Lol

(I still intend to repair the chimney eventually. I just am questioning if I want to run a wood stove off it, essentially)

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u/BusyBanana4205 — 13 days ago
▲ 2 r/SolarDIY

I’ve leaned against buying a manufactured power station, and instead am designing a hand truck power station based off a Will Prowse video. I’m looking to create a 4600w solar array system in the medium term, but in the short term am starting with 4 450w bifacial panels.

I live in northern PA, my yard is roughly 5,000 sq ft, and according to internet calculators my zip code receives 4.68 hours of peak sun a day. I’ve also played with the neat shading map website a bit as well in designing my solar array. Those green globs in the picture are dwarf apple trees that are a non-issue with shading, as I shape the trees for outward growth.

My idea right now is to start with the 4 in the middle of the picture, facing south at 30-40 degrees (I’m at 40 degree latitude). Then, my idea currently is to add 4 400w panels vertically against the northeast facing fence, and then 3 400w panels on the southwest facing fence. My logic is I’ll be able to catch a lot of morning sun, which hits the northeast fence from 8am(entirely based on my observations as of May), the fence doesn’t start to create a shadow until around 12:30. Then, the southwestern fence gets sun until past 7pm.

Is my logic flawed? I should add that I have a very active German shepherd, so I can’t cover my whole yard, as he needs his own designed track to run endlessly on and grass to do his business.

u/BusyBanana4205 — 16 days ago
▲ 4 r/SolarDIY

I’m considering the blueitt apex 300 (maybe B300k as well) with the solarX 4K.

I don’t want to utilize my roof but build off the ground and I’d like to familiarize myself with solar before investing even more money on a full grid tied system with all the permits pulled and such.

My plan is to essentially dabble with the apex and get familiar with the process, and going with the solarX 4K I’m able to utilize a better variety of panels. Then, expand off the existing panels and pay a licensed electrician to connect it to the grid and install a transfer switch. Then I’d refocus the blueitt as a battery back up, upscale it, and connect it to the grid from the transfer switch and sub panel.

Is that a very long winded and unnecessary means of creating a grid tied system with a battery back up?

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u/BusyBanana4205 — 20 days ago
▲ 9 r/SolarDIY

I’m looking at the anker solix c2000, charging it with 2 400w panels *not* permanently installed.

I don’t feel as if in my neck of the woods in northern PA, using it would be of much issue as long as it’s not a permanent structure. However, the portable power station has the ability to utilize both solar and the grid to charge the battery. Would using that feature be problematic as far as code? Charging my car’s battery using my grid electric wouldn’t need a permit and inspection, but would a anker solix need a permit to use both solar and the grid to charge it?

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u/BusyBanana4205 — 22 days ago