Hi from Norcal!
 

Hi everone.
I'm a solar newbie..I did grow up off grid with solar but my dad took care of it all and apparently I wasn't interested in it all that much!

I'll be off grid this summer...for 4-6 months in Trinity CA. Lots of summer sun and I want to run my 100ishwatt sewing machine a couple hours a day! so I'm forced to look above and beyond my portable gear which charges my phone and dog collars.

Michelle in Humboldt

Welcome to the site.

Welcome.

I agree you really don't want to be running something tiny like a sewing machine off a generator.

yes oil pan! And though my dad ran the genny thru my highschool years even to this day...I HATE THE NOISE even though he has put it in a deep dark padded hole. lol. Plus I will be far away from the main house with it's solar and genny power. Though the more I think about this the more I'm apt to say the heck with sewing this summer. It is how I make my living but I'm thinking this might be a summer of backcountry over sitting in a glamped out work tent. heh.
Eventually however I will need solar for a whole house I am building. ugh.

There are a few places selling standard panels for 49 cents a watt in your area. 200 to 300 watts per panel. Grab a charge controller for like $20 and build a battery bank. Presto! If you need 120VAC, add a power inverter for 10 cents a watt. Grand total: under $1.00 per watt.