I'm considering a DIY solar project for my garage, which has a roof area of around 567 square feet. I'm hoping to set up a system that can provide enough energy to charge my electric vehicle (which needs about 230W) and power some tools, along with having a bit of backup energy. There's a separate meter in the garage where I'd like to connect the solar units. I haven't kept up with the latest on solar tech, but I know I'll need panels, an inverter, and a battery system. I'm located in Coastal California under Southern California Edison. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
I installed solar panels on my garage and it's been fantastic! I decided to go completely off-grid for low costs and less hassle. I used 8 panels sized 68x45” each, but I wish I could have fit more since my garage is small. If you need a 240V setup, I'd recommend a 6000XP inverter along with server rack batteries and about 8-10 panels. Just a heads up, make sure you check the permitting requirements because that can be a bit of a hurdle!
Sounds like a fun project! I did something similar, and I'm planning to add a generator port to my setup to better manage critical loads. If you're going for something simple, 120V might be the way to go to help keep costs down. Wishing you the best with your installation!