I recently bought a golf cart and replaced its batteries with a 48v 110AH lithium pack. I'm thinking about making better use of this investment by adding solar panels to my backyard shed. My plan is to install solar panels on the roof, along with a charge controller and inverter inside the shed. I'd like to connect an Anderson plug to charge the golf cart when it's stationary, aiming to power the cart for free and provide emergency power. As I live in South Florida, I have plenty of sunshine but also need to prepare for hurricanes. I measured the power consumption of my garage fridge and sprinkler pump, which peak at 1kw and 2kw, respectively. I'd like the solar system to run the pump continuously and power the fridge during emergencies. I also have a lawn mower, weed wacker, and some gasoline stored in the shed, so I'm concerned about fire safety with batteries. I'm looking to do this all on a budget of $1k, so any design or equipment recommendations would be appreciated!
3 Answers
Your plan sounds like a great start! Just remember that DIY setups might not handle heavy loads as well as you expect. With all your tools and gas in the shed, make sure there's plenty of ventilation and keep the battery separate to avoid any hazards. If you decide to expand later, modular systems like the Ocean pro are worth considering—they're designed for scalability without taking up much space. For now, you're on the right track, and this should work for your needs!
You might want to consider using some Renogy solar panels! If you go for two 450W panels wired in series, you'll get about 800 watts/hour, which should be pretty solid for your setup. They even have an app to monitor performance via a Bluetooth adapter. For the charge controller, the Victron 150/70 is a reliable choice, but a lower-cost option might work too, just ensure you have the right fusing and a solar disconnect switch to keep things safe. Best of luck with it!
I’d steer clear of small 100-watt panels if I were you. Larger panels are not only easier to mount but also generally cheaper and offer better efficiency. It’ll make your setup a lot smoother in the long run!
Good to know the battery will be outside the shed; that should help with ventilation concerns!