How To Run House On Small-Medium Sized Solar System! Solar Load Test

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[chasmarischen]

I hope you still have the old water heater. Because you can use it as a NON HEATING 'holding tank' feeding the New tank. It saves you from heating very cold water in the winter to room temp water from the old holding tank. It's also water storage that's already in the house.

[chasmarischen]

Do you have a wood stove? Clothes lines? Propane (Inverter) generator for emergency backup? Microwave cooking with three (3) microwaves. Large 1.5 cu ft Toaster Ovens pre-heat quicker, and use less elect. in the long run. Conventional Ovens have 4 to 5 cu ft interiors'. Really the only time a large oven is needed is when cooking a large turkey (my experience)...
Try living on a 4000 watts of solar panels (I just added a few more panels). Count your blessings. You have an AWESOME solar system.

[FireDude]

I think the key to your system is the expand-ability, so well done on your part. I really appreciate the detail you go into - that helps even idiots like me grasp the concepts and considerations needed when designing an off-grid system. Knowledge is power... lol. I follow several channels in different climates so as to get a broader understanding of how it can be all about location location location. A system I will build in Ohio will differ slightly from yours, but there is still a ton of info I'm getting from your vids. My differences will be more on system capacity but the core concepts are the same. Thanks for sharing! 🤠

[azpcox]

One of the options that is available on more expensive inverters (think SolArk) is the ability to have a diversion load. If the batteries are full, and the sun is still shining and there isn’t more load in the house, you can dump that excess power into heating water. Get a tempering valve and set the max temp to 160 and voila, enough hot water for a large family. I love the heat pump water heaters but haven’t needed it as my closed loop Solar water heater/collector is giving me literally free hot water in Arizona from March to about November, when my wife reminds me to turn the water heater circuit breaker back on! Love my eg4-6500’s so far!

[rg]

Use a pressure cooker or instant pot for cooking. Conserves a lot of energy. We use a toaster oven and air fryer a lot too instead of cranking up the big oven just to make a few slices of garlic bread.

[GlenS]

Keep in mind your electric water hreater no matter the age is 100% efficient. Your new heat pump version is much better, but under high demand 2nd stage is electric. Absolutely still the way to go.

[Wrenchen-with-Darren]

Nice system, close to the system we run. Only there is only 2 of us in the 950sqft home. So, a little easier for us. God bless!!!!

[michaelrich]

Question about the shaded panels. What kind of output (watts) do you typically get in the evening when the sun has set behind the trees so there is only indirect light on the panels? I'm currently using used panels and the drop off is pretty significant for me (to less than a few hundred watts), I'm curious if those newer 455 watt panels handle that shade better. Do they at least give you a reasonable amount of power until the sun has completely set for the day?

[stevemitchell]

He should have a A couple of things running off of propane..so he wont stress out his solar system...like maby...hot water heater.. Furnace.. Close dryer..stove.. He could run 1 or 2 items or all of those things..

[JeremySRRT]

I’m pretty much doing the same thing you’re doing. Question. With all that shade have you thought of using micro inverters on the panels to boost output?

[Interglacial_optimist]

When my electric dryer broke I didn't replace it.
Clothes lines.

[ciciedee]

When I went solar I got a home electricity monitor. My water heater used more electricity than my heat pump in the west Texas sun. I didn't think a monitor was necessary, but it is.

[GavinStoneDIY]

Your situation is pretty similar to mine as far as inverters and power needs. I have 3kw more of panels though and that makes a huge difference. That way you can charge and use appliances at the same time. I added that same water heater just before I installed my solar. And that’s a game changer also. The heat pump option only pulls around 700 watts. With another 4kw of solar and a couple more batteries you could easily run everything you want.

[coziii.]

I’m just want something that we can get and kinda forget it

2 barns 2 houses a few other things
We probably use 8, 000 kilowatts average . I’m slowly stocking up solar panels just trying to get the best of best

Also trying to do a rain catch system.

I want power and not worry and I don’t have to pay government / city bill
300 -500 a month is crazy

[ashleehouse]

Sounds like those split units are better than a central or is that because your central ac is older?

[wadebrewer]

You are a step a head of me. Nice work. Installing a Sol Ark 15k right now. EG4 in the Spring, more solar panels by end of summer.

You are doing everything I am doing. Heat pumps, heat pump water heater....etc.

The systems are extremely expensive, but folks need to do the math....return is faster than you think installing yourself and going the route we are with patience...kick fossil fuels out and use the power of the sun to heat and cool....and support everything.

Energy costs are only going up from here.

Nice work. Thank you for sharing!! Keep the videos coming!

[asus]

Thats the reason i went with gas appliances for jeating and cooking. Takes a big load off the power requirements.

[RidgeLife]

More great information for us newbies!

[AdamDeLay]

Thanks for sharing. I received my EG4 6500 EX’s and I’ve been documenting my own installation journey on YouTube. A question for you that I have for you is regarding your washing machine while running on your solar system. When I run mine, during the agitation cycle, I’m noticing the lights inside my refrigerator are pulsing in sync w/ the cycle on the washing machine. Have you noticed anything similar when you run a load of laundry? It seems like my washing machine is about the same age as yours and we’re using the same inverters so I thought I would ask. Thanks again!

[solarandwindinsouthtexasda]

Why did you got whit a heat pump water heater why not solar the solar water heater has a 120v 1800 watt element and it only comes on if needed