This winter past we (meaning mostly the farmer) put together our solar off-grid power system.
Amazing and Awesome in scope... We are running on the sun, powering up everything from the well pump to this very computer I am typing on.
It is like magic!
And, of course, there are pictures... you expected that, yes?!
So, in a somewhat orderly fashion, here is the step by step process we went through to power up the lake place...
After much research and lots of mulling the options over, we decided to go with Iron Edison for our complete off-grid kit. The batteries and solar panels were delivered by freight truck and that's when our work began.
Each box contained the cells for our 48 volt battery bank, with each cell weighing close to 80lbs... these batteries are seriously heavy duty!
We set the battery bank up inside our shop container and then turned our attention to the meat of this project... the solar panel array...
First came the nuts and bolts, setting up the ground mount system for the panels, which meant bringing out the post hole digger... love that little Kubota tractor, it made quick work out of the digging...
The bigger job was making sure we set the rack up facing true south, so that the solar panels will catch the most sun. We wrangled with that compass more than was reasonable, that's for sure!
Pipe cutting and setting was the next step...
Finally... Finally!
Time to set the solar panels...
The grid was complete with 18 panels, room on the top for another row if we decide to expand.
We might have given a whoop or two when that last panel was finally attached... Exhausted but so excited... couldn't wait to harness the power of that Texas sun! And to be honest, just a little scared it wouldn't work and then what??? !!! (Can't even go there...)
It took roughly a week of steady work to get from the freight truck delivery to this point.
But we were far from finished...
Next step was connecting the solar panel grid to the battery bank.
We chose to run the electric cables underground as much as possible...
Once the cable was run up to the container, we fed it through pvc pipe up to the battery bank and set up the rather complex inverter and solar charge controllers. The Farmer could give lectures on amps and charge and carrying loads...(this is where you tell your children that math and science are actually very important, so pay attention and do your homework!)
With fingers and toes crossed we flipped the switch and...
We Had Lights!!!
And Heat and Air-Condtioning!
As well as a myriad of assorted and sundry electric appliances!
And, maybe best of all, We had our first brewed cup of Coffee!!
All from the power of that gorgeous Texas sun...
It's like magic I tell you!!
Of course, this project had it's share of goofs and bloopers... nothing goes as smoothly as you imagine it!
One of the solar panels had a rough trip on the freight truck...
Ouch! Not what we wanted to see...
Thankfully, Iron Edison quickly replaced it at no charge to us!
Another major snafu was a little bit bigger hiccup.
The first time we ran the A/C, the load drained the batteries down in just several hours,
to the point that it shut the whole system down!
We were like, Yikes!
It gets hot here in Texas...
A/C is not just a luxury,
it's a mandatory utility!
With hearts sinking, we feared that our 48 volt Battery Bank
was not going to be sufficient to power us thru the rising temps of summer,
let alone the brutal dog days of a Texas August!
A call to our favorite technician at Iron Edison, helped alleviate our concerns.
With the patience of a saint, Rhodes talked Leroy through troubleshooting the parameters on the system and found that it had been pre-set at the factory for wind-power rather than solar-power.
Obviously, that wasn't going to work!
Parameters were re-set and we were off and running!
From sunrise to sunset,
the sun brings renewed power and life to our little country homestead.
It is a simple joy and blessing indeed!
God is good,
and we are graced with His sunny smile today...
With bended knee and a happy heart,
thanksgiving pours,
My Love, Always,
Jane
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