Living Off The Grid With NO POWER BILL EVER

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Here is my off the grid solar power storage consisting of tracking solar panels, charge controllers, batteries and much more!
The batteries are size 8D Deep cycle batteries, linked together with 3/0 wire and then 3/8" thick by 3" wide aluminum buss bars, where they feed into a 12,000 watt inverter made by Sigineer. The batteries are charged by the solar panels through 80 amp charge controllers manufactured by Outback Power.
The whole setup is located in a shipping container on our ranch.
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✅ My Top Pick LiFePO4 Batteries by Voltage & Capacity: 🔋
1️⃣2️⃣V Batteries: 🔋
▪️ Epoch Essentials 105Ah Battery - www.currentcon...
▪️ Epoch Essentials 300Ah Battery - www.currentcon...
▪️ Epoch Essentials 460Ah Battery - www.currentcon...
▪️ Epoch Pro 460 Ah Battery - www.currentcon...
▪️ EG4-LL 400Ah Server Rack Battery - www.currentcon...
2️⃣4️⃣V Batteries: 🔋
▪️ EG4-LL 200Ah Server Rack Battery - www.currentcon...
▪️ EG4 LifePower4 200Ah Server Rack Battery - www.currentcon...
4️⃣8️⃣V Batteries: 🔋
▪️ EG4 LL-S 100Ah Server Rack Battery - www.currentcon...
▪️ EG4 LifePower4 100Ah Server Rack Battery - www.currentcon...
▪️ EG4 Indoor WallMount 280Ah Battery - www.currentcon...
▪️ EG4 PowerPro Outdoor WallMount 280Ah Battery - www.currentcon...
✅ My Top Pick Inverter/Chargers by Voltage: ⚡
1️⃣2️⃣V Inverters: ⚡
▪️ Victron 12V Quattro-II 3kVA 2x120V - www.currentcon...
▪️ Victron 12V MultiPlus-II 3kVA 120V - www.currentcon...
▪️ Victron 12V MultiPlus-II 3kVA 2x120V (UL Model) - www.currentcon...
2️⃣4️⃣V Inverters: ⚡
▪️ Victron 24V MultiPlus-II 3kVA 2x120V - www.currentcon...
▪️ Victron 24V MultiPlus-II 3kVA 120V - www.currentcon...
▪️ Victron 24V Quattro-II 3kVA 2x120V - www.currentcon...
4️⃣8️⃣V Inverters: ⚡
▪️ Eg4 3000 EHV-48v Inverter/Charger - www.currentcon...
▪️ EG4 6000XP Off-Grid All-in-One Inverter/Charger - www.currentcon...
▪️ MidNite Solar Rosie 7048RE 7000W Inverter 120Amp Charger - www.currentcon...
▪️ MidNite TheOne - 11.4kW Hybrid All-in-one Inverter - www.currentcon...
▪️ EG4 12kPV 48V 8kW Hybrid All-In-One Inverter - www.currentcon...
▪️ Sol-Ark 15kW All-In-One Hybrid Inverter - www.currentcon...
▪️ EG4 18kPV | 48V 12kW All-in-One Hybrid Inverter - www.currentcon...
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Опубликовано:

2 окт 2024

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Комментарии : 2,8 тыс.

@PeterC408 4 года назад

Great job. Don't listen to these haters! There are two types of people: those that do and those that complain. You could make several videos on this. Keep going! I've been at it for 5 years now.

@baaka6355 4 года назад

very true

@HighTechLab 3 года назад

Thank you, I will

@josephlewis7166 3 года назад

Why dont every house in america have a self sufficient power supply like this

@aldenjamal5637 3 года назад

you probably dont care but does any of you know a method to log back into an Instagram account? I was dumb forgot my password. I would appreciate any tricks you can offer me

@ameerbrennan235 3 года назад

@Alden Jamal instablaster ;)

@alexeastabrook3579 5 лет назад

50 Seconds In. See Bus Bars. Immediately think about a spanner being dropped down there..

@joesides18 5 лет назад

i understood about 5% of what u said but that setup looks pretty damn amazing

@Napert 5 лет назад

youtube - let's recommend this video 2017 - nah 2018 - nah 2019 - whatever, jut put it on everyones feed

@MrFunkhauser 5 лет назад

Those exposed buss bars trigger the shit out of me otherwise pretty awesome setup.

@Edgardocelectric007 6 лет назад

I'm an electrician by trade, and I see many, many f up solar set ups in my life, many here on Utube and I speak from 35 years experience you have one of best set ups I have ever seen. With that said, it's not perfect and needs a bit more work such as safety covers over your exposed bus bars, they be clear lexon about 1/4 inch thick. You never know when you're liable to drop a wrench and something grounds out. Also I didn't see any ground bars or grounding anywhere. Also outside lightning spark arresting system. Other than that very nice setup, next part of your build would be some sort of monitoring system so you can track everything I give a solid👍👍👍

@HighTechLab 6 лет назад

+Edgar Acosta I need to work on grounding. Cobblestones 3ft down. I plan to dig a 50 foot trench and burry 3/0 copper wire. When I fill second Rack in a few months I plan to take the system down and coat all of the bus bars and polyethylene varnish. That's what I was going to do in the beginning but needed to get the system online before I could get to that point

@JF-fx2qv 6 лет назад

For not being an Electrician as I posted (Good Job). I too have worked as an electrician for a short time. Like Edgar Acosta I too was focused on bare Bus Bars.... I been there seen what happens on accidental contact. I was lucky at 15 feet behind the person dropping a tool .... I saw large white balls (sparks), loud crack and the next thing I knew was I was on my back.

@teekay1785 4 года назад

For everyones information especially the haters. This is a smart and economical move to construct this system. Congratulations are in order. Plus he has taken his time and experience to offer free help to others in the form of education and general exposure to these systems. There are other options that would be fairly quick and simple but much more expensive in the long run like just run a generator all the time or put in LP tank and run everything possible directly from LP gas including an LP generator for the electricity needed. But all these options though less complicated and more like what most people are used to will cost as much and likely more than an electric bill where its available though cheaper to start up than his system will continue to cost a lot forever. He is very knowledgeable but if you don't agree you also have the freedom to go elsewhere. I am sure constructive criticism and reasonable questions are welcome but I have not seen as many rude close minded comments on very few other channels than this one, Treat others as you would want to be treated would come to mind. Thats my 2 cents.

@MH-rh3ni 4 года назад

Well said they're just jealous that guy did an awesome job

@teekay1785 4 года назад

@Bbjones Jones If you dont get it you are not worth my time.

@jamesmason4041 5 лет назад

Sure it could be safer, but consider this: He built this entirely by himself, and now is able to live independently from the power company, if that’s not impressive then I don’t know what is.

@budc.8172 6 лет назад

As an Electrician myself ,that deals with battery backup systems for industrial settings, I have to say this is beautiful. A few points though. 1) With that exposed buss work I would suggest you keep that room locked up. An un-informed person could kill themselves very easily in that room. 2) Batteries fail eventually even with the best maintenance. With that said you need more fire suppression techniques available to you in that room. A few medium ABC extinguishers should do the trick. 3) Remember to wear chemical rated gloves and a face shield when checking specific gravity or refilling the batteries. PPE saves lives and when dealing with sulfuric acid you should never skimp on safety. Overall I am seriously jealous of your setup and wish I had that in my backyard. Great system and great video.

@octavioescott1022 4 года назад

Don’t drop your screwdriver. The exposed bus bar is asking for trouble.

@massvocals1 4 года назад

I agree the bus bars should be housed , all wires as well

@submarineradioman5535 6 лет назад

Beautifully designed and properly engineered. Simple elegance.

@eggx-9463 6 лет назад

Knowledge is power, well done and thank you

@jakeyyyyyyyy 5 лет назад

nobody: youtube algorithm 2 years later: **this**

@frankfromupstateny3796 6 лет назад

Well....I know a bit about solar....but this guys knowledge is that of a high-end electrical engineer. He lives it....good work.

@leepinnguin9682 5 лет назад

If I understood what he was talking about, it would be cool.

@jslugbug37 6 лет назад

Beautiful craftsmanship

@jedecast2604 5 лет назад

Very deadly busbars.

@GlennLittleford 5 лет назад

Nice set up, but, I would be concerned about the exposed 48v bus bars. Consider what would happen if you dropped a screwdriver or a spanner and it fell across the bus bars. Lots of stored energy, big flash and burns. I'm off grid, I keep the batteries in a separate room to the inverters and solar charger. I have wood partitions between my bus bars, so if I dropped a spanner, it could never make contact with both bus bars. Speaking of spanners, I keep one in the room for checking the battery terminals, and I've put heat shrink tubing over its handle, making is a safe tool for the battery room.

@davidbrewer7937 5 лет назад

Couple of observations....1: no insulating layer between the open bus bars? 2: Copper wire transitioning to Aluminum?....3: Don't coil that wire over the top of the fan grill...

@KingHalbatorix 5 лет назад

the metal transition is copper to steel to aluminum, those bolted on wire connection blocks are stainless steel.

@loganzcai 5 лет назад

The unprotected bus bar seems really dangerous. And the DC bus bars are in a metal shipping container with metal shelves which makes it even more scary. Maybe look into insulating and protecting the bus bars and battery terminals and also add a chemical fire suppression system.

@epiphonesg007 5 лет назад

It's scary if you don't know what you are doing. Only authorized personell is allowed in the container.

@IHateYoutubeHandles615 5 лет назад

He also mentioned this is in California. I'd hate to depend on those Costco metal shelves with the weight of those batteries on them in an earthquake.

@SloopLow 5 лет назад

If you disappear without a trace, we know why.

@dcfuksurmom 5 лет назад

unless there is a democrat in office that wont be an issue. this setup is perfectly legal.

@MountainMetal 5 лет назад

To be fair, an 18 KW Diesel generator is still a 'Power Bill'.

@tomrinehart4452 3 года назад

He won't use it often only to charge the batteries if there isn't enough sun. I would recommend LP instead as it never goes bad. I use a 8.5 kW Champion backup generator instead of the grid. Auto starts and to keep batteries topped off. I have 21kW of Lithium and set the gen to kick on if they go below 20%. Gen runs about 3hrs to top them from there unless there is no sun and we're using alot.

@MountainMetal 3 года назад

@@tomrinehart4452 Irrelevant. It's still a power bill. I've lived off-grid, more than once. People should be more honest about these things.

@The_Situation 3 года назад

@@MountainMetal The 'power bill' is the up front costs of all that equipment. It will take YEARS to pay for itself.

@MountainMetal 3 года назад

@@The_Situation Yep. Expect about $22,000, new, just for a generator like that, never mind everything else it takes, so altogether, it may very well never pay for itself. Just adult reality.

@aaronshed 5 лет назад

Just as a note, you don't convert volts into amps. You step down the voltage which subsequently results in a higher current(amps), meaning there is the same amount of power just at a different voltage. Power(Watts) = current(Amps) * Volts. So the correct thing is to say it steps down the voltage, the change in current is implied. Hopefully I haven't come across as a dick :P

@dominatorut 5 лет назад

I really thought he had said that way on purpose in like a cool kinda slang for those of us who could follow. Think about it, in a loose sense what he's saying is correct just not in a literal sense. But maybe I'm offering him too much credit? For the quality of the work he's done here I will lean towards the former and give him the benefit of the doubt.

@aurelf3158 5 лет назад

you really are an inspiration for all of us //thank you for sharing this//cheers from spain

@jamesmason4041 5 лет назад

Hurrah for off grid living

@mwils51 5 лет назад

Wow, nice system. You must be an electrician. Tim Allen would be proud!

@willkndy 6 лет назад

Very impressive, might be a good idea to put a flash barrier in front of the bus bar to make it safer though.

@stevelamperta865 5 лет назад

Nice system. Only thing I would worry about is the bus bars not having insulation on them.

@mohsins.3851 5 лет назад

I do hope you get an electrician and ask him for things to do to make it safe.

@Katie16682 5 лет назад

I plan on going off grid some day and it's great to see and hear ur success story. Everyone I talk to about it makes it seem impossible but ur story is a testament to how it can be achieved. Thanks for sharing 😉

@rongray4118 5 лет назад

Those generators aren't so loud...they are just rebounding off the sides of the connexs! Great job! Love the video! It is where my wife and I are headed...thanks for all of the information!

@eb89134 5 лет назад

You should do a followup video since its 1 1/2 year later. I'm curious to see how the system has been and if anything has failed.

@HighTechLab 5 лет назад

I just uploaded one, I have another inverter since a company wanted it to be reviewed, as well as upgraded to a 14kw diesel generator and added a ton of automation. If you check out some of the newer videos you will see just how much this system has evolved.

@georgemgm5 5 лет назад

Very very very clean neat job great work man

@YamiPoyo 5 лет назад

I dont know why you have exposed copper wire running into that metal framing thats a death trap room you have there.

@LordOrwell 5 лет назад

i originally thought that was his ground wire but he seems to be using it to carry voltage form the solar cells. I wouldn't want to see what happens if someone crosses the wires.

@davidcisco4036 5 лет назад

My dream is to live off the grid, the government grid. If you don't pay your property tax, the police with guns will put you on the street, you will be homeless for not paying the government rent known as property tax. There is no private property.

@mexcanfun4498 5 лет назад

No property taxes in my little village in Gro Mexico.

@jtorrescano 4 года назад

@@mexcanfun4498 there are property taxes in Mexico. It is called predial. es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impuesto_predial

@mexcanfun4498 4 года назад

@@jtorrescano Si. But not at all in small villages were I live.

@MountainMan7.62x39 5 лет назад

About 4 minutes in I realized i know absolutely nothing about electricity :-(

@itsmeforsure5475 5 лет назад

not me, it was more like 30 seconds. I figured if I watch it 10 more times, somethings will stick.

@decarli4280 4 года назад

MASTER PIECE. IM TALKING ABOUT FLAWLESS!!!

@emericaCircamcchicke 5 лет назад

Love the way you speak and how clear you are about all the things that are covered in the scenery portrayed by your camera. I’m not at all interested in any of this, but the way you spoke instantly grabbed my attention and I found myself to have a learned yet another thing that I will always have with me. You made everything in this video such an easy concept to grasp. Thanks man, super cool to see what a great mind is capable of. Good job on all your work!

@Squarehead45 5 лет назад

Refreshing to see someone living off-Grid that actually KNOWS how to WIRE THESE UNITS. I have walked into Nightmares in these Equipment room and one I actually had the local Fire Dept shut it down as a fire/Safety/Explosion hazard. This is NICE. Two things I would do is use Explosion Proof ridged pipe and connectors because of the Hydrogen gas that may accumulate in the room and I would elevate the panels at least a FOOT off the Hot Roof to give MORE air circulation UNDER the panel to prevent overheating and partial Shutdown.

@HighTechLab 5 лет назад

While it likely is class 1 division 2 zone, that would all be a waste without explosion-proof electrical panels, inverters, lighting fixtures, ETC. with the amount of ventilation I have and the fact that it turns on when the batteries get to gassing voltage, it's not a concern for me. The system has been up for well over a year and I have never had a situation where the gas levels in the room were enough to cause problem or reason for concern

@HighTechLab 5 лет назад

As far as the panels being close to the roof, that is only temporary till I can build a tracking rack

@crazypjk 6 лет назад

as a electrician of almost 30 years I have to say beautiful work.

@85agyoung 5 лет назад

I am a licensed Electrician and work for a power company. This setup is pretty cool, but looks very expensive. I am sure you have over 20k in everything and a lot of maintenance for the batteries and generators. I dont know where your ranch is but I am assuming you did this because of the cost for electrical service was more than this setup.

@teekay1785 4 года назад

remember 30 percent tax credit too.

@glenjamindle 6 лет назад

Man that electrical is meticulous. I don't know how I feel about those exposed bus bars, especially when you have to reach through them to get to the inverter.

@kalemercer7053 6 лет назад

Those bus bars are not a dangerous as you'd think, wouldn't recommend it but he could grab them and would get a nasty shock and knocked to his ass, but I'm pretty sure he'd walk away.

@christopherlawler3033 5 лет назад

Very impressive electrical work & conduit installation. I would personally utilize NEMA Locking plugs & sockets for all 30-ampere connections, along with cam-lok style single-pole locking cam connections for higher amperage power feeders, this way those connections would be more reliable and would also eliminate any possibilities of accidental disconnections, as well as making all NEMA 30 ampere connections standardized with L-14-30 for single phase 3 wire + ground for 120/240 single-phase power or NEMA L-21-30 for 3-phase, 4-wire + ground for 120/208 3-phase power... there's some industrial 50kw grid-tie power inverters that are commercially available that can be configurable for various types of voltage outputs, either single or three phase...

@blcklstd6156 6 лет назад

This Fallout 4 settlement build is sick,

@bluewaffle1957 5 лет назад

I'm surprised the local and federal government haven't arrested you for being environmental friendly and also stopping the local power company from making an obscene profit from you

@001looker 5 лет назад

Hopefully that will happen soon.

@jonathanguzman8255 5 лет назад

Michael Lawn hahaha

@jimmac1953 6 лет назад

Cover those bus bars!

@FocusReborn44 6 лет назад

Living freely, eh? Looks like we got a trouble maker....

@grantwhebell7730 5 лет назад

what about protection, HRC fuses, I don't see any protection on your DC side of this. Also with paralleling batteries your short circuit current has to be very high. Thus the need for fuses.

@MrFunkhauser 5 лет назад

The DC side is pretty wild compared to AC. I wonder what would happen if the buss was shorted out, that shit looks pretty capable for power. Would a battery explode?

@jokes1428 4 года назад

Nice set up bro:). Next year i will be getting off the grid, but not straight away. I am getting my borehole, pressure pump and pool pump off the grid 1st. That is 19.90 KHW, with a 10 KHW storage (Storage is made for showering, bathing and washing dishes). After that it ours grow room. That is 14.00 KWH with a 15 KHW storage. Then followed by our main house. which is 34 KHW, (Big house and family). I consume on the grid, 60 to 70 KWH. And that is basically 100 USA dollars per day. And every time i buy electricity for the same amount per day, i get less units. I am from South Africa.

@teekay1785 4 года назад

Thats a lot of power and storage !! Good Luck.

@theprophet333 5 лет назад

Two words: LIFE GOALS! Thank you for the inspiration and sharing!

@macmaniacal 5 лет назад

For everyone else, The power bill is the payments on the equipment lol.

@tseawell90 5 лет назад

Derek Kuraitis Haha true. You can't win

@MoLassessss 5 лет назад

Watch them make a law now and it be illegal to do this tomorrow.

@The_Situation 3 года назад

@@mayshack "iF iT cAn HuRt YoU iT sHoulD bE iLlEgal"

@thesurvivalist. 4 года назад

Nice, but look forward to the upgrade to a newer battery technology! Those batteries do work, but once I went LiFePo4, I as hooked!

@Rainbownites 4 года назад

What kind of bank did u get?

@TheOneJacinto 4 года назад

Lead acid batteries are easier to recycle and that means less impact on the environment. I am currently using a battery bank of this type.

@frankatstarisland4732 6 лет назад

Great video! Lots of work lots of obtained knowledge.

@ericsebastian3478 4 года назад

I will be getting this for my dream home with a in the ground gas tank plus a thermostat and a electric light feeder thank you for you inventing this

@jimjones7821 6 лет назад

48v DC at those ****AMPS***** is super DANGEROUS if there is a short. You can be seriously injured/burnt.....batteries can explode. BUS bars should be in a housing (usually with a clear plastic front panel these days but not always) OR insulated. Honestly, not trying to rag you here......but if these comments save someone a life of agony as a burns unit patient then the effort to write these words was well worth it.

@HighTechLab 6 лет назад

Jim Jones I work in live switchgears on a regular basis with 480 V (277 to gnd) busbars at about 2000 A. That is far more dangerous than when I deal with on a regular basis in this room. Not only is 480 a major shock hazard, either it throws you or kills you if you touch it, but once an arc starts it's really hard to stop. 48 V you can touch. Use insulated tools when you work on it and you'll be perfectly fine. This is why anyone doing a set up like this should be qualified for the task. You don't go sticking random metal in live switchgears nor would I do the same around my busbars. And in case I wasn't clear, switchgears have pretty much exactly the same set up in terms of busbars. Exposed with no insulation . Live. With a lot more energy going through.

@jimjones7821 6 лет назад

Sure - just giving the heads up - if you know what your doing and work on systems like that then I have to say I am somewhat surprised you as a professional would do it this way but its your choice. Just reaching out because I care, not because i want to diss you in anyway.

@HighTechLab 6 лет назад

Jim Jones in the year it has been set up now I haven't had any problems

@jimjones7821 6 лет назад

Keep the container locked and you most likely wont have any issues - but the day someone who doesn't know what they are doing gets in there......well glad its you and not me who would have to deal with it. But hey, good luck, you are trying.

@eurotrash4629 6 лет назад

The door to the electrical room should be locked at a minimum.

@Netm8kr 6 лет назад

Awesome setup, I’ve seen many telco/electrical closets and this is indeed a PROFESSIONAL design. Even if DIY, this is great. 👍🏾✌🏾

@zekeball7102 5 лет назад

i like how all these comments are people attacking your setup, meanwhile theyve never built anything like it haha, mine is 13kwhr batt at 1.1kw solar, cant wait to buy property so i can expand!

@kevinroberts781 6 лет назад

As much time and money that you have put in to this system please cover those bus bars and add disconnects. Nice work by the way!

@Rainbownites 4 года назад

Super nice setup dude! Wow looks like at least $8-10K in batteries but hey that's the most expensive part of solar often times

@partylee007 5 лет назад

Dude, you def have some skills. I have 35 yrs exp.. as a construction electrician, half of it in industrial applications and i am impressed by the engineering, conduit runs, and installation of it. Some things could be a little better insulated maybe as the haters say, but as long as it’s just you that has access to it I wouldn’t worry about that. All of the haters and trolls would LOVE to own this setup in a grid down situation. Kudos on it Bro! P.S. in the future when the lithium batteries become more reasonably priced and perfected you should think about switching your batts to an NMC lithium type then you can get much more run time and ah, and much longer life from them than the lead acid. As much as 30 to 35% more usable ah and 10/12 years life and zero batt maintainence .But that’s later when they are more feasible.

@partylee007 5 лет назад

Aimless Studios charge cycles

@clarenceedwards2866 5 лет назад

you're correct, I am using Trojan batteries but if I could afford it I would switch to lithium too; everything in its time.

@Dienoth2000 6 лет назад

I applaud your system, great job. I will admit though, I cringed when you reached under your inverter to adjust it with all the exposed bus. Be safe man, that could end you in a heartbeat if you touch it or drop something on it and cause and arc flash.

@HighTechLab 6 лет назад

Keith Edwards there is no issue touching the bussing, is only 48 V DC Not high enough voltage to penetrate your skin.

@LeandroFontanarrosa 6 лет назад

and is DC

@douglascarlson9006 3 года назад

This is NOT a DIY project! ... how much did all the equipment cost? I'm also betting this man is a licensed electrician.

@nubiandavis2610 6 лет назад

Great set up you have. I just ordered the Sigineer 16kw inverter to pair with my Outback Radian 8048a to total 20kw. Love the container idea also

@J-CBertrand-tp6bg 6 лет назад

Cool 😎Until greedy, self-serving power corps lobby the government to make it illegal to harness free energy ☹️ It’s already happening.

@MohammedElrufaie 5 лет назад

you are in the watch list. be careful you are the first to be eliminated when shit hits the fan. amazing set up. you should write a book or a how to.

@Drithe 6 лет назад

Mmmmm. After seeing this I think I will just pay my electric bill. Thanks.

@orsivan5731 6 лет назад

If by self reliance you mean still being dependent on everything except the electric bill. This equipment need constant maintenance, and you'd still need sources for food and water.

@ETWL897 6 лет назад

First I can't understand anyone voting no for this video unless the work for or own stock on the power companies or big oil. Secondly is it 98 Kw or 98 Kw hours.. just curious because there is a big difference. Third where are you located and how much are you powering with all this? If you get a few days of dark or rainy or snowy conditions you are running the 3 generators. How much fuel do they take and how long will they run under the load?

@obiecanobie919 6 лет назад

You can help it by adding a lot more second hand solar panels and limit the current to charge controllers ,coiled resistors could do the trick as the resistance increases with temperature or a DC current transducer adjusted to 70 amp trip point coupled with relays that will disconnect some panels to relieve load , that will extend your usage of cheap solar power in cloudier days and minimize generator use ,nice setup.

@opera5714 6 лет назад

Charge controllers rely on the fact that solar panels are current sources. Current can never exceed the total of the panels rating and the charge controller is protected. There are ways to do this, but not the way you indicated. It takes some complicated logic. Personally, I run 2,000W of panels into a 500W. I can do that because the panels see a lot of shading and my system is designed unlike any system you have ever seen. I never allow my batteries to have anything other than a very minimal discharge. Hence, battery limits the current. I will be increasing he panels even more and then will have to implement current limiting.

@obiecanobie919 6 лет назад

``Never thought of limiting current by keeping batteries charged ,but it does make sense ,the problem i see on solar systems that one overloading event can be expensive , especially to charge controllers and batteries ,making them last long is a great plus

@opera5714 6 лет назад

Just the other day, I inadvertently turned something on with a manual override. That drained the battery quite a bit before I detected it at the end of the day. Next day I popped a breaker and blew a fuse from high charging conditions. Keeping batteries fully charged is not foolproof. There is something called a dim bulb tester. I have always had one since the 60's. Electronic gear can be safely tested by putting a lamp in series with the line power. This works because lamp resistance can change 10 to 1. In normal use as a current limiter that is about 4 to 1. That can not be achieved with most other resistances. If you only need power at low light when the panel can only produce a small current that would probably work.

@rogerpedrosa1854 4 года назад

you make doc browns 1.21 jiggawatts flux capacitor like the energizer bunny...hahahaha man thats mad scientist electric you got going on. pretty crazy....

@HighTechLab 4 года назад

Haha, thanks man!

@caseyjones3684 5 лет назад

You can get those batteries literally for free. Just make good friends with someone who own a generator sales service company. No but seriously every year large stationary GenSet units at Hospitals, Government Facilities or even a large commercial buildings get serviced. During this service not only does the oil and filters get replaced but so do those batteries "liability purposes" I was told. The old batteries typically get tossed and there is nothing wrong with them.. I currently have 15 of them, and every one holds a charge. I make them in portable jump starting packs. Yes they are a bit cumbersome so I Mount the batteries onto homemade miniature hand trucks/cart with cushion tires, I attached a battery tender every carts frame structure. This makes it easy to keep charged as any 110 outlet could be used. I give these contraptions away, to either my Customers, friends, family or anyone who could benefit owning one. They are extremely powerful last a long time have high cca ratings, and will start a Semi Truck in the dead of winter without issue.

@caseyjones3684 5 лет назад

@Jerome Eberharter Caterpillar 101-4000 Those seem to be the most common around my area

@HighTechLab 5 лет назад

Group 8D 9s the size

@caseyjones3684 5 лет назад

@@HighTechLab You did A beautiful job by the way. I learned a few things watching your video. Thanks.

@gfl1957 5 лет назад

As a licensed electrical/solar contractor looking at all this wiring made my skin crawl. Scary and unsafe.

@ppipowerclass 5 лет назад

How many commercial electrical offices have you been in? Say, like a phone office. Where they have tons and tons of batteries connected with exposed busbar? Please elaborate on everything you found fault with here. Details, please.

@Pieh0 5 лет назад

@@ppipowerclass Well for a start, how about black cable for everything that isn't an un-insulated bus bar? Just with the bus bar, all you need to do is drop a screwdriver and suddenly you've got a few thousand amp vaporising it. Even as a home build, where I wouldn't give a fuck about the regulations, i'd still insulate stuff like that and have fuses on everything.

@HighTechLab 5 лет назад

I would check some of my more recent videos, many of your concerns are better addressed

@firmfire2385 5 лет назад

What i noticed is no venting for the gases exiting the batteries, a spark and that room goes boom.

@HighTechLab 5 лет назад

Did you miss the part of the 1200 cfm vent fan?

@jonascarlsson9826 5 лет назад

Convert voltage to amperage? The bus bars looked a bit scary...

@Ag89q43G0HyA 5 лет назад

I know this is not ment for urban areas, this is more for woods and mountains. Awesome.

@godfreyiga730 6 лет назад

renewable energy is quite exciting and these installations makes want to go and do the same straight away bar the financials

@rayva1 3 года назад

This guy graduated in Engineering. Who out there has the skills to pull off something like this?

@Don-wl1un 3 года назад

True, but you can start slow. I built my first solar generator. There are lots of videos for smaller setups. I doubt I will ever get to this level.

@yahtadi5152 5 лет назад

I wish i could understand a thing. If i really really wanted to learn, where do i start? Any suggestion would be much appreciated

@brianharmeson3144 6 лет назад

Nice setup. Its cool that you did this but there is a problem. You must have at least $60,000+ wrapped up in that thing? At $200 per month (my average monthly electric bill), you could pay for utility power for over 25 years. Most of the components in that storage container will need to be replaced before then. So, by the time it starts to pay for itself you need to spend more money to replace components. Not to mention the continuous maintenance and having room for a shipping container in the back yard. This is not saving you any money in the long run. Not to mention, at only 12,000 watts, you will be VERY limited in your electrical use. This is less than half of what is available to the normal home with a 200 amp service.

@HighTechLab 6 лет назад

$16,000 for what is seen in the video. Utility company quoted us $70,000 to bring us power. This means that the setup paid itself off the moment I powered it up. We have 40 acres so the space consumed is no concern, as we have 12 shipping containers anyway. I could build this four times before we are at the cost of utilities, and still be paid off with no monthly energy bill

@shirazenema3228 6 лет назад

Brian, are you still there?

@masonw6205 6 лет назад

Master Blaster Brain Deceased*

@shirazenema3228 6 лет назад

You should check out redflow batteries, possibly a bit pricey at this point!

@veritasvincit4178 4 года назад

Very well done. Impressive for sure

@josemontalvo4532 6 лет назад

Very interesting. I subscribed and put notifications on! Enjoyed watching. Thank you for sharing!

@jimjones7821 6 лет назад

The setup is nicely done - no doubt about it.Neat, tidy, well laid out......BUT.....those Bus Bars are a death waiting to happen. And face it.....if it does happen, the evidence is up here on RU-vid......

@memorydrain7806 5 лет назад

You need a lot of money to live for free. Lesson learned.

@thefirmament1616 5 лет назад

couple Gs to never pay for power again.. Youre an idiot, lesson learned

@Biden_is_demented 5 лет назад

A couple of G´s, eh? Where is this fantasy land you live in? Does it ever rain there, or is the weather always peachy and rosy, to fit the pinkish hue of the land? All the clouds are cotton candy, and the ground is made of flower petals? Hmmm... yeah i remember that way way back, i think they call it "dreamland", and you had to be a kid to see it! It´s funny to watch people throw numbers pulled out of their arse. Those batteries alone are 500 dollars a piece! What you see here is the pinnacle of conspiracy theory madness. He spent (and will continue to spend) more than what it would have cost him if he got the electricity from the power company in a lifetime. No doubt he has a bunker and a stockpile of guns, preparing for some apocalypse. He´s a nut job! You think, if were this easy to live off the grid, why aren´t we all doing it?? You think he´s some messianic modern day Nostradamus, or what?? lol

@kitsunekaze93 5 лет назад

so far in my entire life, i have paid maybe $10 000 in total for power, and thats counting double the highest i have ever paid as the base price, electricity and water is ridiculusly cheap where i live

@Biden_is_demented 5 лет назад

Seems like YOU didn´t, either his comment or mine. His setup was not working because his lead batteries would wear out. Hence he spent a ton more money. How is that false?

@cordawg17 5 лет назад

Holy fuck, i hope you have that door under lock and key and only one key that you hold because that is dangerous shit if an uneducated person walked in there and touched the wrong things.

@GuitarGangsta 6 лет назад

I will donate, and hopefully others will too, for a schematic and major materials list. Name your price ! a video run through of the system with schematic ill gladly pay for ! I see the value in this and it's worth paying for rather than trying to get you for more free info than youve already graciously provided. ive been watching your rebuild vids, and it's making alot more sense to me - thanks again !

@DylanBegazo 6 лет назад

Guitar Gangsta You can say that again. Hopefully he responds here. Perhaps in his other videos he provides an e-mail? Idk

@DoctorBlankenstein 5 лет назад

so educational. thanks

@maker000 5 лет назад

Man when did Rust get so real

@cusman 5 лет назад

Very interesting and informative video, but you can't say no power bill ever if you are having to use fuel for those generators. Hopefully you can look into either adding Wind Turbine or Hydro or Geothermal Energy or even just more solar and batteries to get by the cloudy days (and nights) without needing to use any gas / diesel generators. Another thing I noticed is the solar panels were installed very close to surface of the container. Solar panels become less efficient the more hot they get. If you give even a 3-6" gap underneath them for air flow, this is sufficient to keep them cooler and keep their efficiency more optimal.

@HighTechLab 5 лет назад

The plan is to build a tracking rack for the ones that were sitting flat. I actually have 10 that are on tracking racks, but the clip where I went into detail on them never made it into this video...You can check out some of the newer videos to see that though.

@cusman 5 лет назад

@@HighTechLab Tracking racks is a great way to maximize efficiency because it takes very little energy (if automated) to move the solar panels in more optimal direction, and then you get much higher efficiency out of them. I ran into your channel through random RU-vid recommendations. I'll look at your newer videos as I have more time to indulge more in my interest of how people can take the energy independence revolution into their own hands.

@clarenceedwards2866 5 лет назад

Absolutely: I have built a ramp for my panels and I have them mounted on a section of my roof that is concrete, the garage section; so there is adequate air-flow underneath them.

@frankhoffman3566 6 лет назад

Nice, but add up the cost for three generators, solar panels, 18 batteries, the inverter, the conduit, switches, wire and the shipping container and you have about 30 years worth of power from the local electric company. I like to see off grid stuff, but I like it better when you can amortize the costs out to something less than a decade.

@HighTechLab 6 лет назад

Frank Hoffman what you're missing is this shipping container cost $16,000 to build however it would have cost $70,000 to get the utility companies just brought to the property then we would have to pay a power bill and then we would also have to pay for solar if we wanted it. Container paid itself off the moment it powered up.

@HighTechLab 6 лет назад

john smith it is a quarter mile in a hilly area and would require setting three telephone poles. If you can convince our utility company to set that up for $50 you're hired. It is a rural area. We are building the home on the property. When a home is first built it does not have a electric hook up there for your comment that every home has one is invalid.

@ctb2814 6 лет назад

HighTechLab come on just a quarter mile? I had no issue of them running twice that distance. Where do you live, Mexico?

@HighTechLab 6 лет назад

Carl Brown it is indeed just 1/4 Mile. The poles actually run through our property. Since they were so outrageous on their price we pretty much told them to take their quote and GTFO. Our utility companies are outrageous around here

@waynealan2226 6 лет назад

I have a property in NE Arizona. From the Property to the NEAREST power is just over 3 miles. The power company wanted $475,000 to bring in power to a distribution node and then $4000 more to get to my property. The three miles would be on poles from the distribution node it would be underground. PERMITS NOT INCLUDED, those would be on me and the other property owners in the area. This was to be over relatively flat terrain. NONE of this included acquisitions of right of ways easements which are even more. All toll the property owners in the area would have had to come up with over $2.5 million to get power for the 40 properties. We all told the power company to stuff it. I went solar and wind with about a $22000 installation. Works great powers everything we need.

@TDG2654 5 лет назад

"And this inverter is very good, because it's transformer based. Which means it doesn't rely on diodes or transistors for it's main transfer of power." Oh boy, you got a good chuckle out of me. What do you it's using to *drive* that transformer? Besides, almost all inverters are transformer based, it's the easiest and cheapest way too step up the voltage.

@georgeknowles8762 5 лет назад

Looks like a good home-made system. Very neat and clean. I personally would put the lead-acid cells on wooden racking in a separate room because of the danger of hydrogen gas when charging. Just one spark with the right combination of hydrogen and air (LEL, or Lower Explosive Level, of hydrogen in air is 4% concentration. UEL, or Upper Explosive Level, is 75%. Any concentration between 4% and 75% will be an explosive mixture.) will cause an explosion. I know you have ventilation, but that could fail or be insufficient. It should be 12 changes per hour. 110V dc lead acid batteries in Electrical Power substations and power stations (control batteries) are always in a separate vented room on wooden (maybe plastic nowadays) racking. Screwdrivers, wrenches and the like are insulated except for the business end. You don't want to drop a metal tool across battery terminals. There is so much short circuit capacity even in a single battery that injury or worse could be the result from the ensuing arc. On that same subject, the apparantly exposed busbars on the battery outlet look very dangerous. I would insulate them. Sorry to sound like an old woman here, but I've seen too many ruined lives as a result of avoidable electrical accidents. I love the system that you've got and can see how much hard work and thought you've put into it. Incidentally, how do you share the load between the three generators running in parallel? EDIT: and how do you synchronise the outputs? Don't know why I forgot that much more important problem. Edit. Another thought. Have you considered pre-heating the water to your water heater with a water solar heating system?

@georgeknowles8762 5 лет назад

@@PersonalStash420 Thanks for the compliment (if thats what it was, but I'll accept sarcasm) but I was just trying to be helpful. I worked in the electrical power industry before I retired and over the years came across workers who had been scarred for life by electrical arc flash and other occurrences but were still working, and they were the lucky ones. The unlucky ones were the ones who were injured so badly that their lives were ruined and forever painful. The ones who died did at least get relief from the pain and suffering. Sorry to sound so dramatic. Look for electrical arc flash accidents on RU-vid.

@benjaminbills1998 5 лет назад

@@georgeknowles8762 would running little vacuum lines going to the batteries work? to atmosphere. i know They do that sometimes in rear mounted car batteries.

@georgeknowles8762 5 лет назад

@@benjaminbills1998 I've not come equipped across that solution in a power utility situation, so I'm not sure.

@rtonce 6 лет назад

That is a great example of how a lot of effort can result in a convoluted, ridiculous, though impressive to look at set up. With ongoing maintenance, time and materials, and the lifespan of components, generators, batteries, etc, not to mention breaking down the initial cost of your green powered laundry facility you might even break even in fifty years or so. Here's a tip to apply things much more beneficially...Solar electric is for lighting and perhaps water pumping. Wind or small hydro if a stream runs on property is for further electrical needs. Passive solar is easiest heating. Geothermal is also easiest cooling as AC, and methane, biodiesel or even ethanol is best for fuel for internal combustion engines and equipment.

@HighTechLab 6 лет назад

+Robin T it actually has already paid for itself in the first week. Utility company quoted us $70,000 to bring power. It cost me $16,000 to build this container. Utility company would have a monthly bill. I have no bill. You tell me, how long did it take?

@rtonce 6 лет назад

How much maintenance for batteries? How long before they do not hold charge and need to be replaced? I didn't realize this was a remote installation, but true that the power companies charge way too much to bring in lines to sell THEIR power. I don't know what your full power needs are, but for a regular household, if solar electric is only regularly used for lighting and things that are low power draw, other options are still much more cost-efficient for things such as heating and cooling. Back in 1996, My first home was small and remote enough that the whole thing cost only $15,000.00, and main heat source was a woodstove. Building solar heating and storage from scratch cost about $600.00 and the only things left needing electrical from the grid then were laundry and satellite. The result was that all billing cost was reduced to less than a dinner out in town each month. I guess what I am trying to say is, nice setup you've done, but not a practical howto vid for most people wanting to start somewhere.

@jakenbaked87 5 лет назад

Not to be that guy, but the inverter still uses transistors/diodes even with a transformer. You need to make the DC from the battery into AC for the transformer to step it up to 120VAC. Although, based on the power and small size, its probably a switch mode supply, which uses lots of integrated chips.

@raymondj8768 6 лет назад

I want to find a property by a river so i can use that power to turn genoraters to charge batteries ive seen some nice setups !

@mattltech 5 лет назад

That's a mighty fine looking inverter you have there.

@claws61821 5 лет назад

You say that and I can't help but think of the old Minecraft Creeper meme...

@anonanon3503 6 лет назад

Man! This is amazing! I want to do something like this!

@teufelshunde730 4 года назад

WTF, I cannot believe the haters here, just click to another video. Awesome work here, love your attention to detail, I am anal like that as well. hoping to do something like this in the near future, gathering knowledge at this point but hope to start buying components in the spring. it's funny, My mindset was the same, use a container with a similar set up (after I learn. LOL) and also a container for water treatment / supply (plumber here). Hopefully, you share more here and fvck the haters, they are the sheep that will be begging you to plug in their microwave!!

@driveparty 5 лет назад

What's wrong with FETs & diodes? Switching stages are MUCH more efficient than transformers, but what's more important - those are VERSATILE for a wide range of voltages / currents! Nothing to say of dimensions & weight. Should you go with switching devices, not only you could be using each battery individually, but also achieving stability, you'r currently just dreaming of (12 KW diesel gen).

@XiaZ 5 лет назад

This!

@jimthvac100 5 лет назад

Those inverters he is using do use diodes and FET's It just does it differently using lower frequencies. Low frequency inverters cost more because of the huge Inductors inside But the advantage they can handle much larger loads and can easily start up Compressors and Chop saws that would burn up a cheaper high frequency Inverters. Also These are about 91% efficient at full load and around 80% efficient at 15% load. I believe they are also true sine wave output. I have a similar low frequency inverter (AIMS 2500 watt) that is also true sine wave output

@driveparty 5 лет назад

jimthvac100, you're wrong for high & low freq inverters reliability. There are two approaches for DC to AC conversion. The one is like you are doing it at the battery voltage level, say, 12V DC to "12V" AC and then feed it to huge and heavy step-up transformer which is also to filter most of the higher freq garmonics to output "pure" sine wave. And the other is that you're feeding the DC to high-freq compact & lightweight step-up transformer & feed its output to as compact LC output filter. Both require some dc boosting, LC filtering and etc. Neither is "burn-proof" or whatever for cheap implementations. You can't do it without switching for low voltage, e.g. with linear tech like bipolars + sine generator or something. Both introduce some losses for hysteresis & etc.

@j1d22 5 лет назад

are those metal bars live ? that seems pretty friggin dangerous

@jd52wtf 5 лет назад

Well it is DC at 48V so I think that you could touch it with your bare hands without an issue. A conductive short, however, may get a little interesting.

@dominatorut 5 лет назад

I'm reminded of sub stations and power boxes... Looks dangerous but if rules are followed it's as safe as anything. Just wouldn't be able to let kids in that room...and maybe not some adults 😅

@Ag89q43G0HyA 5 лет назад

@@jd52wtf o really? tellme about ,,, how many ampers is that thing having.

@jd52wtf 5 лет назад

@@Ag89q43G0HyA Not enough to overcome your skin barrier. It's the reason you can grab car battery terminals and not get shocked. Even 4 in series, which this appears to be, will not zap you.

@weldonc9986 5 лет назад

@@jd52wtf 12v will definantly be felt on moist skin, 24v will tingle and make muscles twitch. 48v hot and sweaty would be pretty exciting. I think the setup is fine in usual conditions but maybe plasti dipping the bars or running them inside PVC/ABS drain pipe might be a more fool proof idea.

@richarddalton5191 5 лет назад

This is an awesome system Looks like a big investment

@ppipowerclass 6 лет назад

If you're looking for a good diesel generator, look at some of the military surplus generators. A MEP-803 is rated at 10kva. You can get them pretty reasonable and they have a true sin-wave output. Regular generators put out very dirty power.