I'm building a 16x32 ft single-story cabin in East Texas and need some advice on my solar power setup. Here's what I estimate for my electrical demands:
**Seasonal Use**:
- 12k BTU minisplit (~8 kWh per day)
- Propane wall heater
**Continuous Use**:
- 18 CU refrigerator (~1 kWh)
- LED lights (8 fixtures at 15w each)
- 2 ceiling fans (38w each)
- WiFi router (20w)
**Intermittent Use**:
- Water pump (500w)
**Occasional Use**:
- Bath vent fan (30w)
- Washing machine (500w)
- Microwave (800w)
- Toaster oven (1200w)
**Minimal Draw**:
- Propane stove
- Propane instant water heater (7gpm)
- Charging phones/laptops
I'm proposing a system with 3 LifePo 48 volt 100 Ah batteries, 10 panels at 400 watts each, and a 6000-watt all-in-one inverter/controller with a 6500-watt generator input. Does this seem feasible? Thanks for any input!
3 Answers
Your setup sounds workable! I’ve got a similar setup with a 12k minisplit and it runs fine on 3-100Ah batteries. I usually start fully charged and end up around 50% by morning. With 2100 watts of solar, I can generally recharge to full by 5 PM if the sun is out, which isn't too far off from your plan. Your fridge is bigger, but with that much solar, you should keep things topped up well during sunny days!
That sounds about right! I also have 4-100Ah batteries and run my fridge, AC, and other small appliances without issues.
I’m curious if you have a cook stove included in your plan? If it’s electric, it might use around 7-8 kWh for two meals a day. Your 6 kW inverter might be a bit tight for multiple loads, especially with high startup currents for your mini split and washing machine. Consider bumping it up to an 8 kW inverter for extra flexibility. Also, think about going for a heat pump instead of relying solely on propane for heating and hot water.
Cool, thanks for sharing your experience!