Hey everyone! I've recently gotten into solar power after purchasing an Ecoflow River 2 Pro. Initially, I was just looking to buy a compatible 220W solar panel for around $40, but then I realized I want to dive deeper into solar technology. I'm planning a DIY project for my home server, which typically uses between 120-200W when idling and can go up to 250-300W during usage, with peak times hitting 500-600W. My goal is to run this server solely on solar power, 24/7. I already have a 200Ah 12V battery that I can get cheaply and found Canadian Solar 620W panels priced at $100 each. I've also been exploring options for MPPT chargers and inverters. Since this is my first venture into solar, I'd love any advice or tips from you all to set up this system effectively. Thanks a bunch!
3 Answers
It sounds like an exciting project! If possible, try getting your server to run off DC power. This will cut down on conversion losses between DC and AC, which could save you some panel needs. Going direct would be beneficial in the long run! Good luck!
From what I gather, you’ll need at least a 5000Wh battery and around 1400-1600W of solar panels to keep your 250W server running 24/7. A 2kW pure sine wave inverter should handle your setup just fine. With that much solar power, you should be able to fully charge your batteries in about 5 hours, which is a decent setup for what you're trying to achieve!
This is really helpful, especially since I was looking at 2000W inverters. Do you have any recommendations for an affordable yet reliable MPPT for beginners?
You're underestimating the power you'll need, especially with a high-performance server. To run it non-stop, more panels and batteries will be crucial—maybe up to 1400W as you mentioned. Plus, the sunny climate in the Caribbean is definitely a bonus to make it work better!
I get that! I come from a beginner's standpoint, but I've got a lot of sunshine from 7AM to 7PM which should help! Thanks for the heads-up!
I thought of that too, but due to my graphics card (RTX 4080/4090), the 12VHPWR connector doesn’t seem to work with the PSUs I found. That's why I'm sticking with AC for now.