How to Build a DIY Solar Generator Setup - Complete Review - Beginner Friendly - 12V

DIY Solar Generator - 12V - 2000W - Complete Review of this Backup Solar Power System - Beginner Friendly - In this follow up video I wanted to share with you a 2000 Watt 12 volt DIY beginner solar electric generator setup I built and have been using for about 2 months. It is not only an emergency power supply for home, but I also use it every day to save a little money on my electric bill. A DIY solar generator and solar panel system like this one is good for starting out. I plan to move to a 24 volt system and maybe onto a 48 volt solar generator setup in the future. Please subscribe to see that 24 volt system I will build.

Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:27 - Battery Bank
03:53 - ANL Fuse
05:26 - Battery Switch
05:53 - Bus Bar
06:58 - Inverter
08:17 - Smart Shunt
09:37 - MPPT Solar Charge Controller
10:03 - PV Breaker & PV wire
11:37 - Charge Controller Breaker
12:14 - Solar Panels
13:03 - Outro

Other Videos:

Components: (Affiliate Links)

Off the shelf solar generator:

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission without you paying a penny more. This helps support my channel and allows me to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

#diy #solar #solargenerator #diysolargenerator #emergencypower #selfsufficientliving

[proficientprepper]

I'm planning on building a 24V system soon. I don't see too many of those around. I'm curious if anyone has an thoughts on 24V systems versus this 12V one.

[JamesSmith-bjvk]

I've been studying for a bit now and I must say that this Sir, is one of the best explanations of a 12v system and very clean. Bravo 👏

[kennethwilson]

Don’t shut the MPPT controller battery breaker off with the PV breaker on you got lucky when you did in this video. Have fun stay safe.

[stevenseigneurie]

Excellent Video! very slow step X Step -us newbies really appreciate these types of videos!

[b.b.stanfield]

Nice video for a basic system. Suggest less arms flailing around in front of the camera blocking the items you’re talking about. I like the layout on the wall. Wondering why the batteries on external shelves vs wall mounted? Temporary setup, convenience of some Be nice to know that for others to emulate/avoid depending on their needs. Better to copy than reinvent such details. Watching previous videos about the solar panels, racking, mobility, etc. were very nice. Together you’ve built quite the library of information. 😊

[davef.]

Good to go. Simple, safe, and serviceable.

[SwedenLover]

Thank you for sharing! Thanks for explaining it and allsow for telling the size of wiring and fuses.
I will do a solar generator and allsow a 12v solar shed at my cabin.. so this helped me much! 👍⭐️🎉

[davidpaine]

Very nice presentation and explanation!

[edwardutter]

Great video. For people just starting in the solar projects, it is good to have good videos. There is a man Name John Daniels on youtube that has been doing solar and wind turbines for a while that has some awesome ideals. Worth while checking out. Keep up the great job.

[kimmer]

Nice build. I love do it yourself builds. I built a few myself.

We have an old GMC camper van that has been in the family since new. We use it on 2-3 night trips to the coast and redwood campgrounds. I recently installed 400 watts of solar panels on the roof which are barely noticeable. It got a 300 amp hour 3840 watt hour Chins lithium battery, 2000 watt Renogy inverter, 40 amp Renogy charge controller and Renogy battery SOC meter. The whole setup fits between the front seats. I put an exterior weatherproof outlet on the right rear quarter panel outside fed by a 12 gage cord. When we camp, the fridge/freezer, and extension cords get plugged in there. We run a small microwave oven, small instapot, coffee maker, and toaster with it as well as Ma's CPAP machine. I have a 6 light chandelier hung over the picnic table with a slide dimmer on it. There's a 1950's floor lamp that we use by the outlet as well. They always gets laughs at the campgrounds. The van has a stained glass 120 volt tiffany lamp on the ceiling with a dimmer switch so Ma can find her pills at night.

The best part of having a battery/inverter solar powered sunshine compressor is that it serves nicely as a mobile 20 amp electrical outlet. I recently built a gate for a friend and the solar power ran the worm drive saw, a pancake air compressor with brad nailer, belt and disk sander, paint sprayer, right angle it ran my Harbor Freight wire feed welder to make the hinge plates. This was a very useful project. There is a 50 amp Anderson plug on it to add another battery, run an external 1200 watt inverter, or to input charge from a generator and battery charger.

[barntt]

GOT to argue what you said about the fuse in the red wire being at the battery!. NO! At the Battery means AT the Battery! Pull your wires from the battery to the disconnect switch and flip it end for end and put the fuse as close as possible to the POS post. Open any Commercial built unit or one that has to pass inspection and you will find the fuse on the POS post. Take that fuse out of the fuse holder and bolt it to the POS post if you want. Or get another fuse. it's a SAFETY ISSUE! Love your Design!

[jasonhinds]

Great video and nice build. Question at 200 ah how much run time would you get with your network utilizing this set up?

[veteranveteran]

Hey friend a very nice video I may only suggest that you zoom the camera out just a hair or sometimes it's good to see the particular components you were talking about but at the same time it's difficult to just stare at one little section for a while just a thought. Love the fact that you don't yell or scream or dance or have weird crazy music playing in the background or over this very nice job just subscribed. I have been doing solar installs with friends and family for years and years and I'm still learning things everyday❤❤❤

[wowsly]

nice set up.
mine is like that but a lot smaller. i have 2x 110ah flooded batteries, victron 800w inverter and a tracer controller.
breakers on everything like yours but i added an extractor fan as my solar in in my garden shed.
when the temp hits 25 degrees a 12v fan kicks in sucking the hot air out and it turns off when the air temp is 23 degrees.
i only have 2x 100w solar panels but in series and will be adding a 3rd soon.
the power runs from the garden shed to a socket in the house in the living room and i use the power to run laptops, charge usb devices, a fan and a lamp.
i have added a kwh meeter in the shed after the inverter and before the socket/outlet in the house so i can see what power i use from the house.
i do save a small amount running a few items from solar but the main thing is if we have a power cut we have a socket in the house that will last a good few hours :D

[Golfreak]

I love the way you explain your system. My only question is why you only have a 20a breaker between the solar and the mppt ? but a 40a breaker between the mppt and battery ? Gave you a thumbs up.

[jerrybandy]

I thought your video was very helpful. I'm just starting to build my 700w system and waiting for a few of the components to come in. I still had some questions about wire gages, fuses, and disconnects and you seem to have gone over it fairly well. Mine will be 12v also.

[Reset-hesitant]

Need anl fuse from pos bus bar to post on inverter

[BobBob-ilku]

How did you calculate the breaker size for PV wire? I see people using all different sizes I’m using 10awg wich is rated for 30amps but read that mc4 connectors are rated for 20amps so maybe I should be using a 20amp breaker?
My panels are in series so it’s only like 7amps

[PWoods-cdtk]

How hot is your charge controller getting? Mine was running around 112 degrees inside and went out on me after two days of use. There was yellow oil and just the PV light was flashing. It would not power backup after disconnecting and reconnecting to the batteries. I've got a new one coming.

[stevenseigneurie]

How did you come up with using a 20a DC breaker for your incoming PV -