Hey everyone! I'm interested in starting my own small solar system, primarily to power a fridge and a computer in my garage. I'm planning to keep the setup self-contained and my budget is around 500 GBP. Although I have some experience with small electrical projects, I'm new to solar systems and want to learn as much as possible. I'd appreciate any tips on where to start learning and what equipment you recommend. Thanks in advance!
2 Answers
You should know that running an AC setup, especially with an inverter, can really drive up costs. For instance, an inverter running overnight uses a fair bit of energy just in standby mode. Also, consider how much sun you get during winter—this affects your system significantly. Have you looked into the price of 450W solar panels in your area? It can vary widely and impact your budget a lot!
First off, get clear on the power needs for your devices, especially your computer. They can vary a lot in power consumption—some may use 45 watts while others go up to 450 watts! If your PC pulls around 800 watts, you might need to reassess unless you're okay with running a lower-powered model instead. Just something to keep in mind!
Good point! I'm considering a different PC that uses about 320 watts instead. Thanks for the heads up!