Hey everyone! I'm in the planning phase for a new 12x16 shed/office for my wife since she's going to lose her home office with the arrival of our second kid. I want to explore solar options that are budget-friendly and fairly DIY. After hours of checking options, I'm feeling really overwhelmed by the costs and choices.
I plan to have a mini split installed for heating and cooling (considering the Mr Cool 9000 BTU, which is easy to install). The setup will need to power lights, 2-3 monitors, 2 computers, a WiFi router, speakers, and more. We may even have overnight guests occasionally.
Currently, I'm looking at this solar setup:
- Eco-Worthy Hybrid Inverter 3000W
- 60A MPPT Controller
- 2 LiTime 24V 200Ah Lithium Batteries
- Renogy 320W Solar Panels
My cost estimate is around $5k, but I'm worried I might not have accurately assessed what I really need.
So, should I stick with solar or just trench a line from the house? The office is about 150 feet away, gets decent sunlight every day, and has some snow too. If solar is still an option, what kit would you recommend? Thanks a lot!
6 Answers
Honestly, I'd steer clear of solar unless you're aiming for a larger system that would offset some costs in the long run. The initial setup can get pricey, especially with shipping fees, and if you don’t size it right, it won’t cover your needs especially on cloudy days. If you're digging a trench, connecting to the house might make more sense.
You’re gonna need a backup generator for realistic reliability. With a grid connection, you won’t face problems when the weather turns bad. Plus, consider how effective your heating system will be in colder temps—it might need support on super chilly days!
Your power demand seems quite high; it’s better to stick with grid power here. You can't risk her workspace being shut down due to lack of energy.
Running a wire seems like the best approach here. If the sun’s not shining for a week and she needs power, solar may not cut it. Plus, if the only reason is to experiment with solar, it might be more hassle than it's worth in this situation. With a solid plan, running a wire can give you peace of mind.
Digging that trench will definitely help you get fit! You might as well rent a trencher to make things easier and faster.
The roof space might not even support 3000 watts of panels, and running a heat pump with all your devices would be pushing it. Bumping up the panel count could help, but snow covering the panels is a real issue—consider ground-mounted bifacial panels that can catch reflected light from the snow too.