HUI ENResearching the components
The hardest part was making sure everything was compatible. Because I bought the components separately, I spent a lot of time researching how the panels, battery, charge controller, and inverter would work together.
03 / SOLAR
Solar panel
setup.
I assembled a solar charging system from separately purchased components and built a wooden support frame for the panels.
Assembly and panel supports
I terminated wires and connected the components. I also made a wooden frame so the panels could sit outside at a useful angle to the sun.
The system
The setup uses a 12 V battery system, a charge controller, a DC output, and an inverter. I recall a battery capacity of around 240 Ah and an inverter rating of about 1,000 W; those two ratings still need confirmation.
What could it power?
These are illustrative battery-only calculations, not measured runtimes. If the battery is 12 V and 240 Ah, its nominal stored energy is about 2.9 kWh.
Assuming 80% of that energy is usable and 90% conversion efficiency gives about 2.1 kWh delivered to devices. These are example assumptions, not confirmed specifications for my battery or inverter.
| Example load | Energy use | Estimated runtime |
|---|---|---|
| A 10 W Wi-Fi setup | 0.24 kWh/day | About 8.6 days |
| A 20 W networking setup | 0.48 kWh/day | About 4.3 days |
| A fridge using 1 kWh/day | 1 kWh/day | About 2 days |
| A fridge using 2 kWh/day | 2 kWh/day | About 1 day |
Actual device use and battery limits may differ. These estimates exclude inverter idle draw, which can substantially shorten runtime for small loads. Fridge starting power must also be within the inverter’s surge capability; an energy estimate alone does not establish compatibility.
With solar charging
Sunlight can extend runtime by putting energy back into the battery. How much longer depends on panel output, weather, shading, and daily consumption. I haven’t measured enough to claim a specific continuous runtime.