Okanogan 14x24 by a lurker :)

OlJarhead · February 03, 2023, 02:03:41 PM

I'd love lithium but the cost is so high! Plus the need to keep them warm enough to accept a charge.

I am, however, contemplating AGM's for the maintenance free aspect. I'm getting old LOL. I'm also looking at 370AH batteries but I think they will be too heavy so may just have to find the highest AH GCB's I can and continue using those.

With the 24v bank I've got to have 3 strings to get enough power for the cabin and have some reserve and it's worked well for me but I'm struggling to find a reasonable alternative for $3k or less....GCB's have run me around $1200 a bank and even with inflation it wouldn't be much over that today vs. AGM's or bigger batteries all seem to run in the $3k plus range...and then I have think about weight since the batteries are in the porch which isn't as sturdy as I'd like if I had to go up in weight....heck, I might have to consider a box like you have and keep them down on the ground but then it will be hard to keep them warm which I prefer to do in the winter with my pop can solar heater and the insulation in the porch.

Options? I'm open to anything at this point!

I'm also thinking of adding a 24vdc windmill if I can find a decent one that will trickly charge at 2 to 4mph 'breeze' as we don't get much wind but we do get a little.

Hope all is well?
Erik

OlJarhead · February 05, 2023, 11:16:49 PM

Meanwhile I finally got the jeep out for a little wheeling

February 22, 2023, 05:08:34 PM

So I'm definitely looking at LiPo4 batteries now. $3500 should get me into 360AH of LiPo battery bank and as these can be drawn down 80% without damaging them that means I can use as much as 288AH of power before worrying about it

That should mean I can set the generator to come on a LOT lower (about 22vdc under load I'm thinking) which means a LOT less genset runtime, less propane as well.

In fact, I'd say it's unlikely I'd need the genset 75% of the year.

The only think I have to consider now, I think, is how to make sure they don't get draw down 100% in the winter and held there for a week (which happened with my GCB's this winter)...however, they have a power shutoff to protect them so I may not have to worry.

I've also got a place to keep them WARM! Woot! The back room was originally intended to house batteries until I realized no amount of venting would make me happy. With the LiPo's they will be in the back room, kept warm and hidden

I'll have to put the Inverter back there too but should be able to leave the charge controllers where they are for now and run the inverter switch to the porch so I can turn it on upon arrival just like I do today.

This will also give me a LOT more useable space in the porch and solve another issue I had which was dealing with venting which is currently through the wall, when I build the addition. Now I can make some changes without concern.

OlJarhead · February 23, 2023, 12:33:40 PM

And hey! Here's my last cabin video! We've Got Too Much Snow On The Roof! Off-G

rid Cabin In Winter. - YouTube

OlJarhead · February 28, 2023, 01:23:03 PM

Woo! Just ordered 360AH of LiPo battery power!

Can't wait to install and gain space back on the porch, stop having to water and not worry about using too much power

March 06, 2023, 12:10:16 AM

The start of another cabin adventure!

OlJarhead · March 09, 2023, 10:48:15 AM

Woot! Gotta love a good fire!

OlJarhead · March 14, 2023, 01:05:40 PM

The new batteries arrived! Since I don't currently have a pic host (I am using Instagram now though so maybe I can share from there??) I can't share but they are impressive! Not too big or two heavy and come with wheels on the bottom and a rope handle on top! NICE!

I plan to do a review or three of them (I like to do a review of things early on and then later so you get a better idea of how well they perform over time) and think I can even help folks get a discount if they want some! (I'm working on an affiliate link so you can get a discount but don't have enough details yet).

More to come!

OlJarhead · March 15, 2023, 12:46:29 PM

For those thinking about having a sawyer come out, here's one I did on whether or not to dry logs first

I started my sawmilling adventure for the cabin build and I keep thinking I need to revisit this thread and try to find a way to put pictures back in...would be a monumental task I think LOL but maybe possible.