Hi from Norcal!

igasp4air · 04-25-17, 07:08 PM

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

Daox · 04-27-17, 11:15 AM

Welcome to the site.

oil pan 4 · 04-27-17, 01:33 PM

Welcome.

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

igasp4air · 05-05-17, 04:16 PM

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.

jeff5may · 05-05-17, 11:44 PM

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.

04-25-17, 07:08 PM	#1
igasp4air Solarnewbie Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: NorCal Posts: 4 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	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

04-27-17, 11:15 AM	#2
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Welcome to the site. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-27-17, 01:33 PM	#3
oil pan 4 Land owner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NM Posts: 1,026 Thanks: 12 Thanked 127 Times in 107 Posts	Welcome. I agree you really don't want to be running something tiny like a sewing machine off a generator.

05-05-17, 04:16 PM	#4
igasp4air Solarnewbie Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: NorCal Posts: 4 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	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.

05-05-17, 11:44 PM	#5
jeff5may Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: elizabethtown, ky, USA Posts: 2,431 Thanks: 431 Thanked 619 Times in 517 Posts	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.