Off Grid

[PVMatt]

Looking to install a small off grid system on a stable I am going to build. Looking to know where to start. The load will be a few lights and a small AC outlet for a kettle. Any advise who to ask or which products to use?

 

[sean_ork]

do you really need to use a kettle ? - the system will be a lot cheaper if you don't

are you looking at PV/Wind for the primary energy source ?

what's your budget ?

 

[PVMatt]

do you really need to use a kettle ? - the system will be a lot cheaper if you don't

are you looking at PV/Wind for the primary energy source ?

what's your budget ?

Ideally yes, but If there is a huge price difference of course I will not. What are the best products to use? From what I know there are DC system with inverters or AC coupled systems what is the right way, or the advantages or disadvantages?

 

[sean_ork]

work out the consumption of the lights, and how long you need them to be on/day

and how much do you have to spend ?

 

[amlu]

you can light it up with leds, one 110ah deep cycle battery will do, something like 120watts in solar panels and the cost will be couple hundred quid.
if you want to use keetle on it you will need one more battery and a powerful inverter.
get a refillable gas bottle and a camping cooker for that

 

[solarfred]

I have put together a kit but £200 is a bit ambitious unless you use the lowest quality parts. Using a proper deep cycle AGM battery and pure sine wave inverter off 100wp panel and controller plus cabling and all fittings for roof install comes to £555 including VAT. This will run all your lights easily straight off the controller using LED's. If you do away with the AC power option then you can use a cheapo leisure battery and the panel kit only which would cost about £140 + a battery. Buy a cheapo battery and expect to be replacing it often. Use a decent deep cycle version with a good controller and forget about it for some years. A kettle, as said, is a massive load for such little reward. Even a microwave will do a better job of heating a cup of tea. A decent 1000w inverter will give you power for tools or computer etc. Just add up your total watts loads x hours of use and base the system on that.