<![CDATA[I Wish I Knew This - Solar, Wind, or Hydro Power Related]]>

<![CDATA[I Wish I Knew This - Solar, Wind, or Hydro Power Related]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:19:58 +0000 MyBB <![CDATA[Is this 20 watt solar kit worth $35?]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=15 Sat, 16 Mar 2024 18:03:18 -0600 cstockwell]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=15

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]]> <![CDATA[Is the new Harbor Freight Thunderbolt 1.5w solar panel better than the old one?]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=14 Fri, 15 Mar 2024 18:34:37 -0600 cstockwell]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=14
[Image: hfthumbold.jpg]

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]]> <![CDATA[Comparing the Dokio vs Eco-Worthy portable 100w solar panel kits for off-grid, cabin]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=12 Sat, 09 Mar 2024 15:15:06 -0700 cstockwell]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=12 I had purchased two different portable solar panel kits for use with charging portable power banks when I couldn't have access to grid power. The first one I purchased was the Dokio kit and it is a decent kit. It comes with a solar charge controller as well as a bunch of cables and adapters. I also have a lot of power adapter ends from universal kits I purchased from Amazon in the past so I can charge various things with different size and style inputs. I ended up making each of the panel kits to be able to charge both the power banks you see in the picture below. The eco-worthy kit I had purchased not too long ago and it doesn't come with a solar charge controller but it does come with a lot of cables and adapters.

The Dokio kit uses SAE to XT60 cables and the Eco-Worthy kit uses MC4/universal cables so that may help in your decision of what is right for you. I prefer the Eco-Worthy for that reason and it is also much more rugged and a little smaller than the Dokio kit. Also the Eco-Worthy kit has pins on that back of each side you can use for stand legs. The Dokio kit does not and requires you to buy their stands for them separately.

If you watch the video below you will see the kits in better detail.

No affiliated links for products below. I purchased them for my own use.
Dokio:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Eco-Worthy:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...

]]> I had purchased two different portable solar panel kits for use with charging portable power banks when I couldn't have access to grid power. The first one I purchased was the Dokio kit and it is a decent kit. It comes with a solar charge controller as well as a bunch of cables and adapters. I also have a lot of power adapter ends from universal kits I purchased from Amazon in the past so I can charge various things with different size and style inputs. I ended up making each of the panel kits to be able to charge both the power banks you see in the picture below. The eco-worthy kit I had purchased not too long ago and it doesn't come with a solar charge controller but it does come with a lot of cables and adapters.

The Dokio kit uses SAE to XT60 cables and the Eco-Worthy kit uses MC4/universal cables so that may help in your decision of what is right for you. I prefer the Eco-Worthy for that reason and it is also much more rugged and a little smaller than the Dokio kit. Also the Eco-Worthy kit has pins on that back of each side you can use for stand legs. The Dokio kit does not and requires you to buy their stands for them separately.

If you watch the video below you will see the kits in better detail.

No affiliated links for products below. I purchased them for my own use.
Dokio:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Eco-Worthy:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...

]]> <![CDATA[Experimenting and testing various small solar setups, 12v shop lights and inverters]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=9 Sat, 24 Feb 2024 10:57:48 -0700 cstockwell]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=9
I am by no means a solar expert but have been testing smaller setups seeing what works well and what doesn't. I have been increasing solar setup sizes and will be doing a hybrid solar/wind turbine setup at the lake this summer. So keep in mind you need to do your own due diligence and research when setting up your own systems. There are so many variables at play such as solar panels, 12, 24 or 48v systems, different controllers, wire gauge sizes, etc that will affect how well your system works and what your needs are.

I will actually be pulling the current 200 watt panel and two 100ah batteries from this setup and going back to the HF old panels and three 18ah battery bank for the shop since it is a testing setup and that setup works well for just the lighting I need.

In the video below it is a little long because I start going over the setup in the shop but then give information about the lights used, amount of watts they draw, different inverters etc and give information of what you could expect for light run times based on the battery bank size and battery type at the end of the video.

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I am by no means a solar expert but have been testing smaller setups seeing what works well and what doesn't. I have been increasing solar setup sizes and will be doing a hybrid solar/wind turbine setup at the lake this summer. So keep in mind you need to do your own due diligence and research when setting up your own systems. There are so many variables at play such as solar panels, 12, 24 or 48v systems, different controllers, wire gauge sizes, etc that will affect how well your system works and what your needs are.

I will actually be pulling the current 200 watt panel and two 100ah batteries from this setup and going back to the HF old panels and three 18ah battery bank for the shop since it is a testing setup and that setup works well for just the lighting I need.

In the video below it is a little long because I start going over the setup in the shop but then give information about the lights used, amount of watts they draw, different inverters etc and give information of what you could expect for light run times based on the battery bank size and battery type at the end of the video.

]]> <![CDATA[EG4 Hybrid Solar Mini-Split Air Conditioner Heat Pump AC/DC 12000 BTU]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=8 Fri, 23 Feb 2024 13:46:46 -0700 cstockwell]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=8
The mini-split itself was pretty easy to install and mount. Lots of good video tutorials out there for anyone who wants to tackle it. Just be sure you angle your drain line down and be very careful with moving or bending your copper lines. Once it was mounted and I built a stand for the main outside unit all I had to do was run the solar power to it. I purchased and installed a breaker box for the solar as you can see in the pictures. I started with 6 24v 240w solar panels but ended up doing 8. They are in a horrible spot and only temporary so they don't get the right amount of sun to run this unit fully on solar. It also happens to be winter so sun is not as strong.

Once I got the unit connected and left the vacuum pump and gauges for 24 hours with no movement I was comfortable the setup was all good. I connected the solar to the unit and had a temporary AC power connected to the unit. If I keep the setup permanently there I will have a permanent AC setup done. I was able to fire up the unit with the remote given and test out all features for heat and cooling. I then downloaded the app to my phone for the units and was now able to watch how much is being drawn from solar and compensated by AC power when not enough watts coming from solar. If you see the photos below the first one is on cooling (which takes less watts to run than heat) and I had only 6 panels at that time hooked up and leaves still on trees. Was getting almost no solar power to unit and barely hitting 100 watts. The second one is from a cloudy day a few days ago with 8 panels and no leaves on tree but winter sun. This is cold NE winters so solar isn't ideal. As you can see it was ranging from 250 to 300 watts drawing from solar and the rest from AC power. I would expect with proper placement of panels getting direct sunlight I should be able to run that unit during normal sun days from just 6 panels but would likely use 8 to be sure.

I am actually pleased with the unit and may end up keeping it in its current location and ordering the 9k DIY unit for NH. It is nice to be able to offset the normal power usage it would take from grid power and run solar panels. If you have an off grid setup you would just tie your AC side into your battery bank inverter setup. The unit has a built in inverter system for the solar DC side so it would run directly from panels for whatever draw you can get and then draw the rest from your battery bank setup. It is actually a very nice setup.

The links below are for the new DIY 12k and 9k units that don't require you to do a vacuum of the lines:

EG4 Hybrid Solar Mini-Split Air Conditioner Heat Pump AC/DC | 12000 BTU

EG4 9K Mini-Split Air Conditioner Heat Pump | 9000 BTU |

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The mini-split itself was pretty easy to install and mount. Lots of good video tutorials out there for anyone who wants to tackle it. Just be sure you angle your drain line down and be very careful with moving or bending your copper lines. Once it was mounted and I built a stand for the main outside unit all I had to do was run the solar power to it. I purchased and installed a breaker box for the solar as you can see in the pictures. I started with 6 24v 240w solar panels but ended up doing 8. They are in a horrible spot and only temporary so they don't get the right amount of sun to run this unit fully on solar. It also happens to be winter so sun is not as strong.

Once I got the unit connected and left the vacuum pump and gauges for 24 hours with no movement I was comfortable the setup was all good. I connected the solar to the unit and had a temporary AC power connected to the unit. If I keep the setup permanently there I will have a permanent AC setup done. I was able to fire up the unit with the remote given and test out all features for heat and cooling. I then downloaded the app to my phone for the units and was now able to watch how much is being drawn from solar and compensated by AC power when not enough watts coming from solar. If you see the photos below the first one is on cooling (which takes less watts to run than heat) and I had only 6 panels at that time hooked up and leaves still on trees. Was getting almost no solar power to unit and barely hitting 100 watts. The second one is from a cloudy day a few days ago with 8 panels and no leaves on tree but winter sun. This is cold NE winters so solar isn't ideal. As you can see it was ranging from 250 to 300 watts drawing from solar and the rest from AC power. I would expect with proper placement of panels getting direct sunlight I should be able to run that unit during normal sun days from just 6 panels but would likely use 8 to be sure.

I am actually pleased with the unit and may end up keeping it in its current location and ordering the 9k DIY unit for NH. It is nice to be able to offset the normal power usage it would take from grid power and run solar panels. If you have an off grid setup you would just tie your AC side into your battery bank inverter setup. The unit has a built in inverter system for the solar DC side so it would run directly from panels for whatever draw you can get and then draw the rest from your battery bank setup. It is actually a very nice setup.

The links below are for the new DIY 12k and 9k units that don't require you to do a vacuum of the lines:

EG4 Hybrid Solar Mini-Split Air Conditioner Heat Pump AC/DC | 12000 BTU

EG4 9K Mini-Split Air Conditioner Heat Pump | 9000 BTU |

]]> <![CDATA[EG4 BrightMount Solar Panel Ground Mount Rack Kit]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=7 Fri, 23 Feb 2024 12:39:23 -0700 cstockwell]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=7
EG4 BrightMount Solar Panel Ground Mount Rack Kit

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EG4 BrightMount Solar Panel Ground Mount Rack Kit

]]> <![CDATA[Lake solar charging station for trolling batteries and power tool batteries for $200]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=4 Thu, 22 Feb 2024 11:18:31 -0700 cstockwell]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=4

The below links are clickable to take you to the products.

HarborFreight Thunderbolt 100w 12v Solar Panel $120
Thunderbolt Solar Power Connection Cable Kit $14.00
500w Power Inverter $30.00
12v Battery Monitor $10.00
Renogy Wanderer 10A Solar Charge Controller $18.00

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The below links are clickable to take you to the products.

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