Solar Stuff...

[Irving]

Well, I just built a chicken coop that has a South-ish facing roof slope that is 6'x10'. I'd like to load it with as many panels as possible. I could probably get away with like a 30w panel for all my chicken coop needs (auto opening doors and some winter LED lighting, maybe some cameras). I figure that if done well, I can have it double as a solar generator that I can plug my fridges or stuff into if I ever needed. I like the idea because it allows me to have something that is dual purpose and doesn't poke holes in my roof.

EDIT: I assume that it could get pretty complicated as far as running super caps and batteries since you'd still need a solar controller for the batteries, but maybe then you're reducing efficiency with the super caps. In my minds eye, I'd end up with a 500-600 watt solar generator that runs my coop all the time, but then I can run some speakers, charge tools, an electric scooter, or if the super caps work out, maybe even a saw or something when I'm building something outside. I just don't know how feasible it all is. I'm sure it can be done, but would it be worth it if it costs me $5,000? Maybe not. As with most of my projects, it seems like something I'd like to experiment with just to do so. Plus I'll have plenty of capacity if I wanted to add on with yard lights, or a pond/fountain with the pump and heater run off of solar or whatever stuff I imagine up in the future.

[Grant H.]

Well, I just built a chicken coop that has a South-ish facing roof slope that is 6'x10'. I'd like to load it with as many panels as possible. I could probably get away with like a 30w panel for all my chicken coop needs (auto opening doors and some winter LED lighting, maybe some cameras). I figure that if done well, I can have it double as a solar generator that I can plug my fridges or stuff into if I ever needed. I like the idea because it allows me to have something that is dual purpose and doesn't poke holes in my roof.

EDIT: I assume that it could get pretty complicated as far as running super caps and batteries since you'd still need a solar controller for the batteries, but maybe then you're reducing efficiency with the super caps. In my minds eye, I'd end up with a 500-600 watt solar generator that runs my coop all the time, but then I can run some speakers, charge tools, an electric scooter, or if the super caps work out, maybe even a saw or something when I'm building something outside. I just don't know how feasible it all is. I'm sure it can be done, but would it be worth it if it costs me $5,000? Maybe not. As with most of my projects, it seems like something I'd like to experiment with just to do so. Plus I'll have plenty of capacity if I wanted to add on with yard lights, or a pond/fountain with the pump and heater run off of solar or whatever stuff I imagine up in the future.

Your idea seems perfectly reasonable, but you are right, that it does add complexity since the batteries require a controller, and the super caps don't.

http://www.ecodirect.com/Canadian-So...k-300ms-t4.htm

Gets you 900W on your roof space.

I'll try and draw some stuff up tonight as a starting point for you.