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Small Cabin Forum / Off-Grid Living / Mobile solar unit possible?
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Kate
Member
# Posted: 1 Aug 2010 00:31
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Need some help please- husband and I are (finally) building a 16 X 24 shed/cabin in hopes of setting up an off-grid weekend place. Haven't been this excited in a long time. But are in desperate need of knowledgeable advice from the more experienced-- and so glad to have found this forum!

We hope to use solar power but have a couple problems we need to get around. Because heat and humidity are real problems in the area, it seems self defeating to build our cabin where the sun will blaze down on the roof all day. Also, theft is a problem locally.

- would it make sense to build at the edge of the woods and set up a mobile unit on a cart and roll it out to the field when we were there? If so, how long would it take to charge a battery?

- and assuming that we were able to charge batteries one weekend, would they maintain their charge? How long? A week? A month?

Thanks so much for any advice! (We really need to figure this out quickly as the builders are coming in about a week...)

MikeOnBike
Member
# Posted: 1 Aug 2010 02:40
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There is quite a bit of information here:

http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=9175.0

and here:

http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=6059.0

Its more efficient to run the 110v from the inverter a long ways than the 12v/24v from the solar panels. You could put your panels/batteries/inverter on a trailer or cart and set it at the edge of the woods and run a 100ft. extension cord back to your cabin.

Anonymous
# Posted: 1 Aug 2010 10:14
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Many thanks Mike! Totally thrilled with the links. So glad to meet all you knowledgeable like-minded people.

We actually had the place staked out in the field-- but then the sun came out... I can't seem to find much info about off grid living in the muggy southeast where fans and occasional (gen powered?) AC is necessary. Links/tips on that way of life also welcome!

Sigh...so glad to be here.

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