Hey everyone! I'm diving into solar power for the first time and could use some guidance. I've picked up some gear on sale and want to set it all up in my spare time. My main goals are to exclusively charge my electric vehicle (EV) using solar energy and possibly add a sub panel to help run my air conditioning during the hot summer months. I've done the math and believe I can recover my investment in under three years based on my current costs for electricity, which is $0.50 per kilowatt. Given the expense of installing a level 2 charger at home, going solar seems like the smarter choice for me.
Here's what I've got so far:
- (4) 12v 280AH batteries for a 48v system
- A 48v hybrid solar inverter (split phase)
- (2) 12v 300AH batteries for mobile use
What else should I consider to make this setup successful? I managed to snag everything during Prime Day for under $2k. Appreciate any insights!
4 Answers
You might want to start by getting a good number of solar panels. The more panels you have, the better your chances are of charging your EV, especially if you're trying to do it during the day. If you’re only using day power on weekends, ensure you have enough panels to cover those needs!
If the main goal is to charge your EV right now, ramping up your battery storage is definitely a good idea. Having enough batteries means when you switch to using the air conditioning later, you’ll have an adequate power supply without any hassle. You might only need a couple more 12v 300AH batteries to store over 25 kWh of energy, which sounds promising!
You're in good shape with the batteries already. Considering your daily commute of 11-12 kWh, charging during the day while you’re at work can help make the most of those batteries. Just keep an eye on your timing; it sounds like you might get 2-3 hours of direct sun after work—just perfect for some charging before sunset!
Keep in mind how much solar energy you're realistically getting. If you get around 8 hours of full sun, that's a win! But make sure you have enough panels to ensure charging can happen on cloudy days too. It could really help balance out the demand during those 'sunless' times!
That sounds like a solid plan! Just make sure to check how much sunlight you actually get to make the most of your setup.