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Just checking in to see what kind of solar powered garage setups people are using.
Solar power setups for the garage
- Thread starter RazorsEdge
- Start date
My close friend did a small solar panel, found a used AGM aircraft battery, a small 400W inverter and a handful of ultra cheap surplus compact fluorescent bulbs in old school porcelain light sockets and some lamp wire. Works like a million bucks. Cost about $150.
Granted, the battery was free and the solar panel is a 10 or 20W cheapie. But it's more than good enough.
Granted, the battery was free and the solar panel is a 10 or 20W cheapie. But it's more than good enough.
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If you only need some light, there are self-contained systems with a panel to be placed outside that has 15 feet or so of cable to go to the battery / light fixture unit typically mounted on the ceiling inside. These work like large garden lights.
How much power and use case is important. Is the garage also on utility power?
Sorry for the tire image, posted by accident and can't get rid of it
Sorry for the tire image, posted by accident and can't get rid of it
I'm not sure why you would want to put solar panels in your garage - they typically work better when the sun can shine on them.
Propflux01
$100 Site Donor 2026
Free tire with solar panel purchase!
I have a single 90 watt panel, 100 volt / 20 amp MPPT charge controller, 1 kWh LiFePO4 heated battery and a 2000 watt pure sine wave inverter. This was more cost effective than running a line out there. The shed lighting is 12 volt DC LED strips and the inverter is used to power battery chargers on an as needed basis.
Feel free to ask any follow on questions.
Solar? Youz guys are scarin' me...
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Awesome
I'll come back to this thread this summer when I'm ready to tackle this project!
I have an off grid solar cabin.
LifePO4+ is what you want so long as temps are usually above freezing. They'll discharge down to zero F but won't charge below 32.
It's better to buy your stuff piecemeal than to get an all in one thing like a Xantrex. It'll be more scalable, fixable, and you'll understand how it works better.
LifePO4+ is what you want so long as temps are usually above freezing. They'll discharge down to zero F but won't charge below 32.
It's better to buy your stuff piecemeal than to get an all in one thing like a Xantrex. It'll be more scalable, fixable, and you'll understand how it works better.
The ROI of solar for my garage would be several lifetimes. I would need to change the way I use my garage for it to be worth it.
If I charged an EV or climate controlled it, maybe I'd consider it.
If I charged an EV or climate controlled it, maybe I'd consider it.
This is why I have a heated battery. If the battery temperature is at or below 0 C / 32 F then the incoming power is diverted to the heater until the battery reaches 5 C / 41 F. This was essential for my application because the system sits in an unheated and uninsulated shed. We had an overnight low of 20 F and the battery is currently at 30 F and heating.
Many of us understand that clearly. And we understand that batteries have limited lifespans and capabilities. However there is another side to such a setup. Works when the power is out. Here at my place, power is a real and constant issue.
On a second note, I'm at the very end of the powerlines, very last house. Despite adequate grounding and 2 top shelf whole house surge protectors, the power problems burn out my stuff all the time. Voltage peaks hit 700V from time to time and "pop" goes another electronic component.
Yep. I tell people, "Do the math." I had a spreadsheet going for about 3 years on the solar bids I got. Of course the cost of electricity is easy because you get billed. When the solar projects bids became a no-brainer, I pulled the trigger. The solar ROI and value have changed dramatically since our March 2018 installation; sometimes you get lucky.
My Dad repurposed his old satellite dish to carry 3 of Harbor Freight's 100 watt solar panel setups (it tracks the sun and was re-angled for such at our latitude) to charge deep cycle batteries in an array and provide some output directly. The batteries power a 5000 watt inverter from an old sailboat to provide AC for his shop. It works well, but keeping up on batteries is it's own joy.
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700 volt spike on a 240 volt line? I assume you mean after the transformer coming in to the house. The power company needs to get involved if that is the case. The equipment shouldn't let a surge like that get past the substation.
I have a remote garage that has been on off-grid solar for 15 years. I don't have it set up for 220V, just 110. I built the system for 4 consecutive cloudy/not great sun days during the month of Jan (the least solar hours). I have eight 230W panels facing SSE, 8 6V Trojan T-105 batteries wired in series for 48V, a Cotek 48V 3000W PSW inverter and a Midnite 200 charge controller.
It usually only runs 2 deep freezers and a chest freezer that has been converted to a fridge.
System is designed for a 2.5KWh load per day and never drain the batteries below 50%. All equipment, except the battery bank is original (15 years). Has never lost power in 15 years. Batteries don't last forever and your new part-time job will be equalizing and baby sitting their SG per cell.
The utility would not run power to my building or I would have done that, off-grid solar is not cheap per KW.
Gotta figure out the loads in the meantime, as the entire system will be designed based off the load demand.Awesome
I'll come back to this thread this summer when I'm ready to tackle this project!
But once more for clarity, if there is a way to supply grid power that will be best 99% of the time. Batteries will require replacement eventually, I get about 6 years out of a set and I take care of them.
Used take-off panels are fine for this project and they almost give them away.
