Starting out a nd need herlp

**Mike90250** · 10-15-2018, 11:31 PM

Large power tools are a problem. Their motors generally have a huge starting surge, and many inverters cannot handle that much power, so you are going to be looking at some of the higher end 48V inverters. And you need pure sine wave, otherwise motors tend to overheat with mod sine power.

Do you intent to work daytimes, night or both? If you can tie your work hours to sunlight hours, you can save a bundle. If you need nighttime power, you have to
deal with the inefficiencies of charging batteries, and having a larger pile of batteries.

Have you run the cost of a trench and power conduit to the sheds ? Solar, panels, inverters, batteries are going to cost quite a pile of $ and have associated labor and expenses with it.

**Seminutjob** · 10-16-2018, 04:57 AM

Originally posted by Mike90250

Large power tools are a problem. Their motors generally have a huge starting surge, and many inverters cannot handle that much power, so you are going to be looking at some of the higher end 48V inverters. And you need pure sine wave, otherwise motors tend to overheat with mod sine power.

Do you intent to work daytimes, night or both? If you can tie your work hours to sunlight hours, you can save a bundle. If you need nighttime power, you have to
deal with the inefficiencies of charging batteries, and having a larger pile of batteries.

Have you run the cost of a trench and power conduit to the sheds ? Solar, panels, inverters, batteries are going to cost quite a pile of $ and have associated labor and expenses with it.

Do you intent to work daytimes, night or both? Both day and night.

Have you run the cost of a trench and power conduit to the sheds ? Yes but the wife want to check out solar power first and all power tools are 110 volts.

Thanks
Seminutjob

**peakbagger** · 10-16-2018, 08:06 AM

If you want to get an education feel free to try but realize it rarely if ever makes sense to put in solar when there is grid power nearby. Even if you design a perfect system, it likely you will kill your first set of batteries prematurely and after writing a check for replacements you will realize you should have run a wire from the grid. Lot to be said for some heavy gauge extension cords.

**SunEagle** · 10-16-2018, 09:27 AM

Running some lighting and maybe a cooling fan from solar can be done relatively cheaply but once you add in power tools the cost starts to sky rocket.

I understand your wife's desire to first try solar to power your stuff but I am pretty sure she would balk at the cost of $1000's needed to build a solar/battery system that requires constant maintenance to keep the batteries happy.

**Sunking** · 10-16-2018, 03:21 PM

Do yourself a favor, save a ton of money and install something that actually works, and will not likely catch fire from doing something foolish. Use your labor skills and dig a trench from your home to shed and install a 60-Amp AC Feeder to power your work shop. Solar is foolish for your applications and will not work unless you have $10,000 to throw away. For $1000 you can have as much power as you and all your neighbors can use and still have plenty left over with an endless supply of dirt cheap power.

**jflorey2** · 10-16-2018, 06:45 PM

Originally posted by Seminutjob

Hi guys and girls, I'm Rob and goes by Seminutjob cause I drive a semi. I'm am good with working with my hands, I build rifles, work on three of my pickups, and woodworking. I also work on my house electrical systems and plumbing. With that being said, he is my challenge.

Is there a reason you don't want to run power to it?

If you want to run solar, then run power to your sheds and install solar grid tie on top of them.

If you really, really don't want to run a big circuit to your barn, then run an extension cord and power an inverter/charger with grid support. Limit the input to 8 amps or so and use a small battery. The battery handles the surges and (short) run times for your tools. The extension cord provides the energy over time. And since the battery stays at 100% charge most of the time, it lasts a long time. Needless to say, this is not the best way to do it - but it's still better/cheaper than an independent off-grid solar power system.

**Seminutjob** · 10-16-2018, 10:07 PM

Would like to thank you for your input. Digging a trench would be cheap and the wife was wondering as to what is involved with solar power.

thanks
Seminutjob

**J.P.M.** · 10-17-2018, 12:07 PM

Originally posted by Seminutjob

Would like to thank you for your input. Digging a trench would be cheap and the wife was wondering as to what is involved with solar power.

thanks
Seminutjob

Those who believe solar energy applications can solve all their needs effortlessly and cheaply tend to temper their optimism quite a bit with education. Suggest to your wife that she do that while handing her a shovel for the trenching and see what happens.

**Seminutjob** · 10-17-2018, 12:36 PM

Originally posted by J.P.M.

Those who believe solar energy applications can solve all their needs effortlessly and cheaply tend to temper their optimism quite a bit with education. Suggest to your wife that she do that while handing her a shovel for the trenching and see what happens.

LMAO, that's a great way for that shovel to meet my face. No thank you, I'll do it. Lol

Seminutjob

**J.P.M.** · 10-17-2018, 12:57 PM

Originally posted by Seminutjob

LMAO, that's a great way for that shovel to meet my face. No thank you, I'll do it. Lol

Seminutjob

On corporal persuasion: When I was being used as a poster child for the Peter Principle, I had a sign (among several axioms) hanging on the back of the door of my office: "The beatings will continue until morale improves".

Perhaps your wife is of a similar mind/inclination.

**Sunking** · 10-17-2018, 02:11 PM

Originally posted by Seminutjob

Would like to thank you for your input. Digging a trench would be cheap and the wife was wondering as to what is involved with solar power.

Say goodby to $10,000 or get on a shovel. Take your pick. Even a heavy duty $50 extension cord will run circles around $10,000 of solar equipment and $6000 of that is in batteries you replace every few years.

What more do you need to know?

Starting out a nd need herlp

Starting out a nd need herlp

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