Born_to_build

Thank you. It is connected to the metal frame of the solar panel.

yes it is

Thank you! You are right about those tree roots. You probably cannot tell by the pictures, but the 330 tote is only a few feet from a nice size tree.

You are welcome! When you do, share the experience.

Thank you! Burying those totes is just too much work. After a while, the totes fit right into the backyard decor.

Batvette, as a reflector, I could not tell to what degree, the dish help. However, as a means for me to adjust the antenna so that I could get the maximum signal, the dish was invaluable. The dish allowed me to adjust the antenna horizontally and vertically. Also, I could tweak the angle of the antenna. The dish has these adjustment points which made that possible. The extended arm allowed me to adjust the antenna horizontally. The proper positioning was the key factor in me receiving all those channels.

Thank you! Go for it and share the experience.

Great point! I used my zip code.

That makes sense. I do have excess wire on the inside so I can still make that loop. Thank you, I appreciate it.

Thanks!

Great, how is it working out?

You are welcome! Go for it.

You are welcome! Go for it.

Thank you!

You are welcome! Please share your experience.

Awesome! I was very surprised at the result I received. However, because of this, I'm seriously considering divorcing Uverse at the house.

My apologies Gene, I was referring to Monocrystalline panels. I know they are better and more efficient. But are they worth the extra cost?

You are welcome. I hope you will post it. We can all learn from each other's experience.

I know, it is a topic worth exploring. What's your input? Are they worth the extra cost?

Go for it. The journey form shed-solar has been a memorable one.

You are welcome!

You are welcome! I do hope you will share your experience. There is still so much I need to learn about this free-energy operation.

John, as Gene stated, the charge controller regulates the current going to the battery. It prevents the battery from overcharging by cutting off the juice from the solar panel. The charge controller and watt meter gets its power from the battery so a small amount of power is being used by the system. I can hear my controller clicking off as it maxes the battery capacity and then on as it drops below. This happens while the inverter is off.According to the research, it should not affect the components. As Gene said, it was made for such operation.

I appreciate this information. The power-hungry tools (table saw, miter saw, and drill press) will not be on a continuous daily basis (30min of actual usage when using) and those I definitely will use at high noon. On the days when I'm working late evenings and nights l primarily will be using the cordless tools. The system then will be running the Tv, and lights (5w /20w) and at times the PS3. I was using a line from the house but I wanted the off-grid experience for the Shed-cave. I try to focus on my budget ($1k or less) more than the math. If I follow the math, I probably would not have taken it off the grid.

I'm with John, I believe your experience will be a tremendous benefit to this community.

Whenever you have more info, please share. The cost of MPPT's is what move to the PWN.

The actual cost including all the wiring, the led lights, the materials for the panel and the watt meters $578.24

Whenever you have more info, please share. The cost of MPPT's is why I chose the PWN.

I Agreed. The actual panel spec: V=17.2v and A=5.81. According to the calculations, the distance from panel to the batteries should factor in the determining the size of the wires. This is important for efficiency (smaller wires generate more heat over the distance). Mine was a distance of 24ft. Also, I will be adding another panel in parallel in the future.

Now I can put a sun tracker on my to-try list.

I appreciate the information and will consider for a future build.

Thanks for your keen observation. The picture was intended to be used as an example of a parallel connection and not a 12v battery array. I guess it does make sense to use a 12v example since I'm talking about a 12v system.

Thank you for your encouraging words.

Thanks for your keen observation. The picture was intended to be used as an example of a parallel connection and not a 12v battery array. I guess it does make sense to 12v example since I'm talking about a 12v system.

Thank you! I'm thinking about adding some kind of wind turbine to this post. If not, I will definitely consider making the adjustment for a center pivot.

Got it!

Thank you. I did an instructable called "Off the Grid Shed-cave" which provided information on what I used, where I got them, and the cost.

I appreciate your encouraging words.

Thank you. I realized that afterward and cork it.