I bought and installed my off grid solar powered setup for next to nothing from Gumtree!
I chose an ad offering six 155W thin film solar panels because that slightly older technology is extremely efficient at gleaning power in typical UK cloudy conditions. They are also slightly bigger and longer which suited me because I used the panels as a roof for my ebike stable, anchoring them to my bespoken designed scaffold pole framework created especially for the ebike / solar panel build.
Though those 6 panels only supplying a modest 930W, Sol, our neighbouring local star powers my daily life, my main tower PC and two big monitors all day and, occasionally, a 400W heater. Swapping to the single 900W panel, I get similar usage so, between them I have enough power to run my little business and home entirely for free from the sun. (Excluding washing machine and cooker.)
I use brand new but cheap leisure batteries designed for the job and the only limitation to usage is based on the size of my battery bank which I could extend if I felt I wanted to add more devices to my system.
The seller, a really well off fella with a big property right on the coast in Devon), also had an extra huge solar panel, (made up of 3 x 350W solar panels), which “cost him a grand at the time” he said but he just wanted it shifted so I got that one for free. (It’s a poly solar panel different from my thin film ones).
Together, though on two separate solar setups, I use one (or the other) to supply power to my conservatory, office, lobby and kitchen and the other to power my recon PC sales outhouses with power.
I’ve added a 12v lighting system serving most of my dwelling(s) via adhesively stuck plastic trunking taking 12v power to all areas. (Acting as an alternate or emergency lighting system.)
I’ve also snaked a solar powered socket up into my main bedroom for an alternate power supply.
The whole 1KW solar setup including scaffold, panels, cables , controllers, batteries, etc, (making an ebike shelter into the bargain) PLUS the huge second 1KW panel, cables, controller, etc, making up the second system together came in at under £400 all in.
Most importantly, I used recycled material and have a system that is truly ‘off grid’ which means that I can survive for as long as my battery reserve allows should power be denied me for whatever reason.
When the sun is shining, the system pipes the energy straight to my home saving the batteries so in summer, I can go from dawn to dusk without using mains energy.
In winter, (or in an emergency), I’ve got the option of switching to a less energy draining laptop and 40” eco monitor if I had to rely on my solar during those less sunny times.
I am so proud of it and proud of myself for being able to transform exactly the rendered 3D images of my original PC created design into a fully working solar setup in real life … all for under £400. 🙂
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