Day 1. Sharing my first day using the 100W Harbor Freight Solar Panel Kit. This is the new July, 2017 version of the Harbor Freight Solar Panel Kit. The kit now offers 4- 25W panels and a modernized solar controller. Harbor Freight Part no. 63585
Day 2 link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNQXp3X5n2w
Video Rating: / 5
Support us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/2tdla40
Buy kit best price: http://amzn.to/2fu0oII
Shop portable solar panels: http://amzn.to/29v7ffy
Enjoy our videos? See how you can support our blog here: http://purelivingforlife.com/support/
It finally happened! We started out solar journey. This isn't how we saw it happening, but we're very glad it did. Already we're feeling the benefits of offsetting out generator use. Not just the fuel and cost savings, but the convenience too.
Solar has been on our radar for some time and we recently ran into Go Power at an RV convention. We discussed with them our situation, concerns and frustrations with solar. During the conversation portable solar came up as an option for getting started today on a budget and with the intent to only offset our generator use. This approach had escaped us because we were looking so far forward. We were trying to size the "now-and-later" solar setup, but it's just hard to do, especially on a budget.
In the end we made the leap, picked up a portable array and are very happy that our generator use had declined to nill. Sure it's summer so there's lots of sun available. Perhaps by winter we'll have a better feel for solar, our power needs and be more capable of sizing a system to fit our future needs.
We wanted to share this story with you because we were overcomplicating solar and it was a huge relief to discover that it doesn't have to be. Starting small can make sense especially if you're boondocking, looking for an array to power your campsite or are heading off grid. Had we known this was an option, or at least not overlooked it, when we arrived it would have been in our toolbox for certain.
If you need portable solar or just plain simple solar, give these portable arrays a look or even a try and see if they'll meet your power needs for today. It's a great way to get started!
For a full overview of what we've been up to, please visit our blog post above. Lots of great stuff and background that we couldn't possibly share in a roundup YouTube video!
BLOG POSTS YOU MAY ENJOY
Complete DIY Cedar Hot Tub: http://purelivingforlife.com/diy-cedar-hot-tub/
Learn to homestead, wherever, wherever: http://purelivingforlife.com/how-i-strengthen-homesteading-skills-anywhere/
Essential Tools We Use On Our Homestead: http://purelivingforlife.com/homestead-tools/
Our Real-Time Costs to Start Our Homestead from Scratch: http://purelivingforlife.com/expense-reports/
Month One Roundup: http://purelivingforlife.com/month-one-roundup/
Month Two Roundup: http://purelivingforlife.com/month-two-roundup
Month Three Roundup: http://purelivingforlife.com/month-three-roundup
Month Four to Seven Roundup: http://purelivingforlife.com/month-four-to-seven-roundup
Month Eight to Ten Roundup: http://purelivingforlife.com/month-eight-to-ten-roundup/
ENJOY THIS VIDEO? SUPPORT US WITHOUT PAYING A DIME!
It takes us 40+ hours a week to document our journey on both our blog and our YouTube channel. If you enjoy watching our videos and want to help us to produce more of them, learn how you can help us without spending a dime! http://purelivingforlife.com/support/
GET SOCIAL!
Blog: http://purelivingforlife.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/purelivingforlife
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purelivingforlife
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/purlivforlif
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pureliving4life
EQUIPMENT USED TO PRODUCE OUR VIDEOS
Camera #1: http://amzn.to/2aykTf8
Camera #2: http://amzn.to/2aCddvP
Tripod: http://amzn.to/2aShOL4
Macbook Pro: http://amzn.to/2aCdGhy
Editing software: http://bit.ly/1oTH5av
Searches you might use to find this video:
portable solar panels for rv
portable solar panels for camping
solar panel kits
portable solar kits
portable off grid solar
12v solar panel kits
best portable solar panels
Video Rating: / 5
I believe but not sure that as your battery fills the charge controllers job is to limit the power going to the battery so it does not over charge and damage the battery which explains the different readings
回复删除Just couldn't wait to be an expert? Had to use up life-time resources to blather inanities?
回复删除GREAT.. I've had a science lesson.. Does it WORK?!!!
回复删除I bought the 3 panel setup once. It was cracked right out of the box. I took pictures and went right back and got my money back ! Cheap chinees junk ! So why don't you show what you can run of these. Fridge, lights, laptop, fans, etc. I don't think they will last outdoors in the cold weather with snow and sleet and rain ! Now, You need to get a box that changes the 12 volts dc to 110 v ac . Then see what it can run and for how long before the battery goes dead. FYI
回复删除garbage.
回复删除I have an old one of these Solar systems like 45 Watts. I hooked it up to six 110 amp hour deep cycle batteries. I go to the shed about once a week for an hour. During that hour I can power any tool. . I get a real kick out of showing people the array after we cut lumber for a while.
回复删除They always freak out🤓
Are this panels weather resistant they look like plastic frames
回复删除If you do some looking around you can easily buy a much smaller 100watt panel that uses a standard solar inline connector, pwm controller and cabling for the same price. My 260watt 24v panel is about half the size of these units and cost me $200, mppt controller was another $50 plus $50 in outdoor rated cabling. With this I can easily add three more panels without adding more wire via the inlines.
回复删除Great job on the video right to the point..I don't think people who've never done realize how intimidating it can be to put a video up showing somebody how you did something that's maybe different to how they would do it I've done one as well and I'll always be those people that have something bad to say and they've always lie never done it video
回复删除Those $100, 100 watt panels people are speaking of on Amazon do not come with a charge controller, wiring, tilt back stand or light bulbs. Charge controllers like this alone can run $50 - $100. And I too would prefer to use just 1 or 2, 25 watt panels at a time for different projects. All in all this is not a bad Solar set for the money!
回复删除If that battery were REALLY good. It would NOT be maintenance free. If you can check the acid level and add distilled water as needed the battery will last a very long time.
回复删除if you still have the 40 watt panel you can hook it up with the new panels
回复删除Nice video sir! Thanks for sharing!! Question. How many Harbor Freight batteries can I connect to each kit? Just bought 2 kits and did not buy batteries yet. I appreciate your help! Thanks
回复删除Be
回复删除Something to consider:: How long will it take for my Florida heat/wind/rain/salt to render the plastics that hold this $200 purchase together, no longer effective? I have found that the smaller outdoor solar lighting panels rarely last one season here! If this Harbor Freight 100w system held up for as long as FOUR years, is the payoff reasonable? I wonder if building a glass encasement for the panels, putting all cables in conduit, and mounting the controller in the shed would be a way to extend the life expectancy. I hope my psychiatrist and my proctologist don't kahoot and use this post against me in my next eval!
回复删除Excellent overview my friend, thanks for sharing and have a blessed week my friend
回复删除AT 15v you could use 2 Inverters from microwave backwards to step it up to 120v
回复删除It's massive why didn't you get a flexible one
回复删除ThAnks compa. I like video well explained.
回复删除You said " Sharing my first day using the 100W Harbor Freight Solar Panel Kit. "
回复删除Sorry but I disagree. This video is for those familiar or purchased the old or 45 watt Harbor Freight Solar and want to compare the setup & new parts to the kit. I didn't see u use the panels to turn anything on. I'm interested in purchasing & setup to practical use. What can i operate off this set from my clock radio to my freezer??? Is it worth the $200 for my bkyard or is it just good for non electric camping?? Some one that doesn't understand that volt mumbo jumbo only cares what they can plug into the gadget after putting the panels together. Thanks for explaining the setup process though. That was informative & helpful.
I have been researching solar for our RV, reading books, reading on line info. So nervous to go forward. What you have is exactly what I've been looking for, but was afraid it would be to difficult. Who makes your portable, what's it called.... must have. Thanks for the video.
回复删除FYI you guys get tired of dealing with solar power in an area that does not get consistent sun so you go to grid power a year later. Great videos!
回复删除solar is not that complex...
回复删除They make Solar panels that can mount on RVs that can supply all of your electrical needs!! The Solar panels can keep the Rv's Battery charged and supply electricity for all of your devices!!
回复删除Some small Solar portable panels you can mount to racks, poles, etc to mark them semi-permanent and to get them in a better position to get a better sun angle when the sun is shining and thus be more efficient. Also by mounting them temporarily to a rack, pole etc, it makes them harder to knock over in windy conditions, and also make it less likely someone will trip over them by raising them up higher off the ground.
may be a little late on here, but my wife and I use the internet pretty much all day to run our business so we need a constant internet source... after looking at my internet router i realized that the router takes 12v. 0.5a? i think? anyways so i just cut the plug off of the adapter and wired the router directly to the battery. It's been working great for a few months now! haven't noticed any voltage loss in the battery, since it doesn't have to scale up the power to 110v and then back down to 12volts. and it doesn't seem to hurt the router when I'm charging the battery at w/13.8volts :)
回复删除$544.00 for 2 18 cells 12v panel is really overpriced
回复删除What good are solar panels when the sun goes into grand solar minimum and when volcanic ash fills the sky as well? Just thinking how anyone can survive what's coming when going off grid will be next to impossible.
回复删除wow i like how far you two have come on in life
回复删除New to solar energy. Researching powering mini house. Would I need battery to hold charge of purchasing panels shown/listed on amazon?
回复删除How much did it cost?
回复删除WOW, You discover America,
回复删除I also like the idea of portable DIY solar generators.
回复删除I subbed. I'm a minimalist. I live in a city now in an owned house but we plan to buy land and go off grid. I want to set up a nice small house for us but I want land to hunt and fish and build my own personal house like a survivalist would. I want to use all low tech for everything including heating and cooling, refrigeration, hot running water, waste disposal system, all can be done with no electricity.
回复删除Wow! Best solar starter video ever! Thanks for sharing! #newsubscriber
回复删除This system can be daisy chained to breat more power?
回复删除It use to be "off-grid" meant in the middle of Montana but this guy with flip flops and the farm in the back ground is the new 25 year old son in moms basement...
回复删除Priorities are important....hot tub before house....l like it!!!
回复删除I just unsubscribed
回复删除What do you do with a inverter?
回复删除Did you know that you can use your car as a power generator if needed? I hooked up my portable jump starter with a built in power inverter to my cars battery then hooked up an extension cord to my 48" TV. There was a power outage and I was missing a football game so I came up with this solution and I was able to watch the entire game while the car was idling. Of course your inverter will have to be rated for the appliance your trying to operate.
回复删除