BEGINNER FRIENDLY Step-by-Step: DIY SOLAR GENERATOR for Emergency Power, RV, Shed... Ampere Time
Let's build a simple starter Solar System together. We'll learn all the essential components and how to assemble them.
Here are links to all the components and tools I used in this video:
• Ampere Time 12V 100Ah LiFePo4 Battery:amzn.to/3BR1CW3
• BougeRV 40A Charge Controller (new!): amzn.to/3yebgz5
• BougeRV 200W Solar Panel: amzn.to/3uft77x
• Novopal 2000W AC Inverter: amzn.to/3bLsoEK
• Charge Controller Battery Cables 8 AWG: amzn.to/3ODbzuj
• 50A Breaker: amzn.to/3OD0x88
• 200A Breaker: amzn.to/3I9Cxad
• 12V DC Socket w USB ports: amzn.to/3R2RjDV
• Large Gauge Cable Crimper & Cutter: amzn.to/3yCTpTR
• Large Gauge Cable Stripper: amzn.to/3yCXYgR
• 20ft 8AWG MC4 Solar extension cables: amzn.to/3bL2CR5
• Cable Mgmt Clips: amzn.to/3nFHduZ
• Multimeter/Clamp: amzn.to/3bRDUhO
As an Amazon Associate I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases when you use the link(s) above. This helps the channel without any impact to the price you pay through Amazon. We appreciate your support! :)
Out of all the videos I've been watching, this was the most clear and easy to understand, so thank you!
Good info! Awesome build! NOW things to consider and for Safety, Do the research and figure out what your wires and fusing must handle. A fuse or breaker from the solar panels which can double as a disconnect switch. Fusing for your Source (Battery) is recommended to be no more than 7 inches from the POS Post. As in your AC system EVERYTHING must be Fused and switched so it can be separated safely. DC power can and will cause a fire (even a little 9V battery). As in your AC system ALL the POS wire ends and connections are recommended to be covered to prevent accidental shorting and a possible fire (SHIT Happens)! Just a recommendation! keep all your fusing (except your source fuse) on the front of your little panel so you can quickly see and replace them if you need to. In a Grid down situation, you want it to work. MOST of these DIY projects on here are lacking the necessary fusing and short prevention. DO IT RIGHT don't just make it work!
Not everyone gets gifted two of the most important parts of the system. Expensive parts!!!!
photovoltaic/solar thermal technician here: i have a beef with your video 😤 it was too good 😁👍
Thanks! 😃
5 years offgrid. This solar technology is going BOOM 💥 ! I am on a good system now . Moderate . Its mine . I will add as i can. Solar works y'all
Nice build. Only one suggestion. After spending 23 years in the inverter repair industry, I would suggest losing the cheap, high frequency, transformerless inverter and spend a little more money and invest in a low frequency, transformer-based inverter instead. Unfortunately, Chinese made, high frequency inverters on the market simply don't last. Especially when powering inductive loads like refrigerators, microwave ovens, portable air conditioners or power tools. You may be able to start some of these loads when your high frequency inverter is new, but over time, typically after less than a year, after repeated use, the MOSFETs in this high frequency inverter will fail. They simply are not designed for powering inductive loads. That's why the big name brand inverter manufacturers like Schneider Electric, Outback Power, Magnum Energy and others, all use a low frequency topology in their design.
Do you have any brand/model suggestions?
Have you priced any lately? Far above a retirees payscale!
You're exaggerating. @@dannypeels2806
All of the components used in this build are very much budget / entry level, as is the wiring approach so I guess it all sort of fits. Obviously neither the wiring or battery support a 2000 watt inverter but it is OK since it is really a 1000 watt design.
Pppppp❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤00 5 00 5❤ 000❤❤❤❤p😊I 😅
Install an automatic transfer switch! I found this video and another one from Will Prowse showing the transfer switch and i'm totally doing this! Great video
A trick for drilling your hole bigger without a drill press: drill the bigger hole in a piece of scrap. Clamp the scrap to your panel centered over the smaller hole. Use the scrap to guide your hole saw so it does not walk.
Genius! Where were you 8 months ago?! haha I'll tuck that trick away for next time.
An even easier way is to take the small hole saw and mount it inside the bigger hole saw on the mandrel. The small hole saw sticks out of the bigger one allowing you to easily insert it into the hole, acting as a guide.
An even easier way is to take the small hole saw and mount it inside the bigger hole saw on the mandrel. The small hole saw sticks out of the bigger one allowing you to easily insert it into the hole in the wood.
First time after so many videos that this makes sense. Thank you.
Instant like when he said, "as an excuse to buy more tools". LOL Love it
True story!
Great video for explanation. For a Van or RV I would have put in a fuse panel for each circuit so everything does not go down if one item pulling current burns out I still have everything else working. The fact you can double that for the cost of an extra battery is the real bonus. Its the scalability that is powerful here.
Well said, sir!
I have been living off-grid for ten years and can certify that your information is fantastic for anyone wishing to get started. I have a number of systems including one identical to yours. I even charge my Tesla model 3 as the closest =Tesla charger is 135 miles from me.
Hi Steve. I have an M3 too. I would like to design an emergency solar system if the grid goes down to charge it. Any suggestions?
Been looking at a few DYI builds and this one is pretty much the best in explaining it simply enough that a novice who has very little experience can make one. Going to be trying to make my first one and the only thing I can think of in doing differently is using a old ice cooler with wheels and extending handle as a frame to place the battery and other components mounted to it to make easier to transport.
That simple set up could fit into a nook in my minivan. Thanks
The best solar explanation I’ve seen, ever! Thank you.
Awesome build. Looks simple and doable. Thanks.
Thank you for clearly and concisely explaining all the components needed AND additional videos on each components details. Your videos are an excellent resource for my son who is just learning about electronics and myself who is just an avid pop up camper who needs a fan sometimes!
This is one of the best Solar DIY videos. Thank you!
Thank you I've been wondering where I went wrong with mine, and this has cleared up some of my questions. Cheers
"I would much rather use something like this that's very well built and in the $150 range" lol No shit! If they'd send me one, I'd use it too!
Simple and yet extremely well explained. Hello from South Africa. I want to consider building one in the next few weeks so the guidance helps.
Great video great battery box power 👍 great show
"I look at these types of projects as an opportunity to buy tools" Thats what I do too!!
The empathy is real.
Brother, you are my new favorite channel. Found your channel yesterday, and im loving all your content. Keep up the good work!
id love to try one of these ive used traditional ones for years when the power is out due to snow storms
Thanks, I appreciate this video. Exactly what I needed.
We have used the kzhead.infoUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y for probably 30 hours with our camper and it’s been great! The noise level is really only noticeable when running the AC and other appliances like the microwave, hair dryer, or coffee pot. It’s not huge like other ones and it has wheels so even at 90lbs, I can move it!
Wow, you made it simple and understandable. Thanks !
This video is simply one of the best I have watched so far, great job.
Nice project and thank you for sharing!
Thank you for this!
Great presentation! I learned a lot. Thank you.
Great tutorial. Thank you for your time and effort to make this video and share it with us. Greetings from Croatia.
This video was extremely helpful, thank you. I am currently in correspondence with Renogy UK about supplying the components I need for a 400w array, 200amp Lithium battery, MPPT controller and 2000w PSW inverter and associated fuses and cabling. I want to put in a simple system to allow me to run a household fridge freezer should we experience any power outages this winter, but also to run my radio shack off grid. I am looking forward to this little project and your video clearly explains the layout, thank you.
Good work!
Good stuff! Thanks for sharing.
Great video! Thank you!
I run a very similar system at my ranch, much larger battery bank and inverter but the basic principal is the same. Nicely done.
nicely done! appreciate your detailed explanations & rationale behind the build choices. subscribed and checking out your previous vids -- looking forward to more content along these lines, thanks! -chris
Awesome, thank you!
Very good explanation. Thank you.
Nice job. Great video.
Brilliant!! Thank You So Much!!
Excellent!! Thank you
Nice build. Simple and it works. I used that battery with Renogy 3000W for my portable power station. Chainsaw works great running off it. Thanks for sharing.
Interesting one battery is enough to use 3000 watts?
Thank you very much. From SriLanka.
This is one of the best explanations for building a small solar system that I’ve come across. Thanks! I’ve got all the components ready to put my system together. One bit of confusion I’m having is, what is the gauge size of the wires between the battery and inverter? I have some standard battery cables that appear to be almost twice the thickness of your wires.
Thanks for explaining the 100ah battery equates to 1200 watt hours. I had not know that until now. I'm currently building a small (4) Renogy 100watt pannels and a renogy 30ah charge controller setup. I also purchased one of those cheapie charge controllers just to put away for the just in case situation, but honestly, I may just pick up a spare quality controller. I'm learning as much as I can for my small off grid setup with intentions on building a larger setup. Thank you
thanks buddy, you made it look so easy
Great video. Thank you!
Very nice job, greeting from Cape Town, South Africa.
Best video on this content. Thanks
lol.... "what a coincidence, so am I...." that was funny! Greg (garden grove, CA)
Awesome video. Very informative & really helpful 👍👍👍
Great video!! I was considering getting the bouge charge controller, but seeing that it’s inaccurate makes me feel I should look to another source. I’m like you that I don’t want to use a cheap one because of the harm it could do. But I do feel it should be very accurate Thanks for the very thorough video
You answered so many questions I have about my off grid system. I have watched many many videos trying to figure this very type of solar system and was always left with questions. You hit the nail on the head. Thank you. Thank you!!
Good build and information to build.
Thanks brother for the info, I'm just starting and I was afraid to build a system, u gave me confidence Thanks again
I have finally found a good how to video. I think. Ima try this.
great video!!!
You should use the plywood you cut to form a right angle to the mount, scoot the charge controller closer to the inverter, and use the opposite side of the plywood that forms the angle for the faces of your plugs and breakers. Even as a one-third box enclosure, you can slide it into any corner if you don't have another two boards to enclose it so you don't have to see the parts and still have access to your plugs and breakers. Paint the boards a neutral color and it'd be portable, convenient and aesthetically compatible almost anywhere.
Thank you very much it is fantastic demonstrating how do you use solar panel battery inverter I’ve been watching lots of KZhead but never as simplifies as you are on program thank you🙏
I appreciate the kind words! 🖖
VERY WELL DONE: I see you are using cut off breakers between your battery and the inverter and the panel array and solar charge controller. I also see you referenced an ampacity chart the only thing I would recommend keep your wire runs short and use wire rated for the max constant current through the devices. Otherwise this is a very good example of how to do it
Thanks for this. Just what I need at just the right time
Ha! Git 'er done!
@@ReeWrayOutdoors why not. The garden's taking care of itself at the moment and my tools are just sitting there getting old 😉
well explained at a not crazy to follow pace 👍
Nice DIY video
NIce job, Thanks
Also if you use a nylon cutting board you can use your 2-inch strip where you put the black controls on the bottom of your plywood there you could also build that up for the nylon put screws through it to where when you mount it in there it's away from the backboard just a bit to where your wires can come underneath there you can wire it all through the outside of your surface and nothing going underneath
Nice set up and walk thru video.
Thanks 👍
Thank you !
"bought with my own money." - thahk you.
Gave you a bit of a hard time on your shoes/lack there of, but that comes from 42 years of PPE training as a professional tradesman in a large corporation. You lived through the video so it wasn't important after all. Beyond that, this was actually a very simple straightforward and easily understood instructional video that I will earmark for my own future reference when I build one of these systems for myself. Really well done and I think you accomplished what you were trying to do.
This was really helpful. I have 2 400w panels that generate 90v and 11a in series and I was looking for an inexpensive system and this fits the bill I think. Not sure about the 90v but I’ll do some research on that. Many similar videos demo much more expensive equipment for higher capacity systems so this is a great alternative
That charge controller should be able to handle 90v easily. Most charge controllers can handle a input voltage range of 150-400v then it will step-down that voltage to 12v or whatever voltage your batteries are.
So the problem is and I can't find a place to generate a normal comment to this video without replying to another comment I don't know if he turned comments off but he does NOT have his outlets wired in series!! Those outlets are wired in parallel!! I thought maybe he did a series/parallel combo but no that is entirely wired in parallel! Series is positive to negative positive to negative and so on the poles are connected opposite that's what creates the series circuit! A circuit wired with the poles connected positive to positive negative to negative as he has his outlets wired here is wired in PARALLEL! I'm a 12 volt m.e.c.p. certified tech and I learned at R.I.T.O.P. school for mobile electronics before they moved away from Watertown MA
@@spiraleye7822 Are you talking about the connections at 14:10? I don't see a problem, the way he has it wired, each outlet has power. All of those outlets are fused by that in-line fuse. At 13:20 the battery is run thru a breaker (bottom) to the inverter, the controller output is run thru a breaker (top) to the inverter. Are you saying the controller should go directly to the battery first (thru the top breaker)? Then the battery positive to the inverter (thru the bottom breaker)? Why do you feel they should be in series? I see his wiring allows the solar controller to directly power the inverter. So is that the problem? Should he move the solar controller connection directly to the battery? Electrically speaking, wouldn't that be the same connection? I guess he could flip the bottom breaker so it would cut the inverter out, then solar would only go to the battery. Is this your thinking? Maybe I'm missing something... LOL, so many questions!
This is amazing! I was searching a way to charge my laptop and keep producing music even in remote situations, but this covers pretty much everything in case of emergency! I'm very glad to have found your channel, just subbed!!
Thanks man! Portable Power Stations are great for that sort of thing. They pretty much all use an integrated 'pure sinewave inverter' to ensure that you're getting clean AC power for your sensitive electronics. And it's surprising how long you can run a sound system (or music production DAW) off a 1000Wh power station! I've done both and they work great!
@@ReeWrayOutdoors This is great to hear!! Thank you very much for your response, it's always good to hear somebody who got experience on the field!! Cheers from Italy!
@@weeddiz5732 we just have an extension lead running direct to the panels. No charge controller or batteries. Works all our laptops, phones and chargeable lights
@@terriegym can you post a photo?
Can you explain further, please? @@terriegym
Thank you. Great. This is better than buying a solar generator
Thank you very much.
Thank you it looks really nice and I think this would make a really good high school science fair project if they still have that sort of thing
really like the video 📹 👌! You should do another video with extra battery and two solar panels!
What a great video! Everything, every part, explained clearly and in depth, making quite a complicated and involved subject perfectly understandable. you have a talent for teaching, thankyou! Best wishes from England.
Very nice build. Really appreciate the way you explained the finer details, as in the reasoning for the fuse ratings etc. great job 👍
Glad it was helpful!
nice job great
Great video appreciate the time you took to make it. Just subscribed to your channel keep up the good work.
Thank you sir! I appreciate the kind words and the sub! :)
Great video thanks for sharing I have subscribed cheers
Thanks, very useful information and great details. I think the only thing I would change would be who you wired the charge controller. I apologize if that's already explained but I would connect the charge controller directly to the battery with it's circuit breaker. That way you can isolate the inverter and still charge the battery. Also, would the 100amp BMS on that battery cut out at 1280 watts (100 amps)? Thanks again for all the great videos!
Thank You Sir !
Blue sea breakers are the go. Quality
I like your videos . I just subscribed. One of the main reasons I did was to prove once and for all to my good friend that impulse buys is not practical. This way I will demonstrate the power of research before you decide to buy a solar power generator.
FIRST OF ALL, GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY, KEEP IT UP MAN
Thinking about setting up one to run my pool pump and equipment… this might be the way to go…
I have been looking at what pv generator to by but now after watching your video I’m thinking I can just make my own!
Great! You may not save a ton of $$$ up front, but: a) it's fun b) it's modular and easy to troubleshoot and c) it's much easier to expand as your needs change.
I got the 12v 300 ah version, 60 amp MPPT controller, and 2000 w inverter. I`m really nervous about messing something up. It was so expensive and I spent the last of my meager savings on it but felt like it would be a wise investment with the crazy insanity happening everywhere. Plus I`m in a hurricane zone. We had long power outages and damage from two direct hits in 2020...Laura & Delta...several near misses too. I have a lot of small and medium sized solar power stations, my two largest Bluetti EB70s for my freezer, power banks, and all sorts of solar rechargeable batteries for radios, etc. I ran my 6 tabletop hydroponic salad greens gardens from them after one power outage. The day I got my first small Rockpals` power station I wondered if I`d wasted my money. That night we had a 9 hour power outage which is common here due to damage to the grid. I ran my WIFI and charged my laptop. That convinced me to get more. I want my own guaranteed electricity. Can`t afford to run a gas generator for weeks after a storm.
Thanks! Will look what you did once I get the basic stuff as I am doing exactly this right now (went on a spending spree last night on Amazon), just to learn how it all works (money wise if nothing goes wrong, it will take me 7 years to get even haha). I did buy a smaller inverter as they also consume power. Didn't think of the breaker box, but was thinking about shutting it down with a relay linked to my domotica so it doesn't consume energy when it doesn't need to. For now I want to run my 120watt hue setup on it to see if the Dutch weather can sustain it with solar energy (I have my doubts), but when it does, I might upgrade and place a fridge just like you did, good idea. I subbed!
I have been learning and Googling/chatGpt'ing the whole evening but the AWG wiring confuses me. For a 12V 100ah battery and wanting to serve 600watt max I keep getting that I need a AWG2... but you have more and you use a 5/6 AWG cable. So I guess the 5 is for the battery (the 200a circuit breaker seems overkill btw). Any insight? It is going to be 1 meter max.
Nice to know what you have bought....
Great info i wished i could see more clearly where the wires were hooked up
Awesome episode. You helped me out alot with my desert offgrid living. I loved the #Startrek references so I'm a #NewSubHere #Keepupthegreatwork
👍👌❤️🇨🇦, very well laid out
Thanks
Pls do a full load test & recharge test of this exact setup. Just like you do for portable power stations. By doing so, you will have done what No one else has done in this space on KZhead. I was hoping for that with this video. Pls do the next step & follow up this video. Thx
From 8:15 for about 20 sec. your info. is SO important . You are correct about protecting your LiFePO4 battery however think about what your battery is inside of ... your home . Very good video , thank you .🙂
And most people find this out rhe hard way. Cutting corners for a couple dollars usually costs more
G'day from down under. I am not a "sparky" but I have dabbled in "off grid" mobile systems for many years now. Technology is such a good thing. Your system is very nice BUT from experience I have to say that using that cigarette lighter socket to power a fridge is a bad idea. They run fine for a couple of hours but they get extremely hot. I almost lost my 4wd to a fire 3 years ago. Best way to test one is to run it for a couple hours then unplug it and feel how hot the tip is. Just a tip for those who are looking to try setting up a mobile off grid kit for the 1st time.
Thanks for sharing the experience. I will definitely check that out and see how things work the units I have. Definitely not had any issues like that so far, but I've also not checked the temp on the connector tip either so...worth a look.
The Newpowa 2000 Watt Pure Sine Wave inverter in this video is Excellent and a very good investment.