Passive solar in cold off grid environs.

softdown
softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,925 ✭✭✭✭
in Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems #1

Real winters without passive solar heat would be a drag. Every time the sun stays "hidden" the days just seem so cold and dreary. Plus the propane just keeps burning and burning.

If you build off grid in cold environs you owe it to yourself to check into passive solar. This place would be grim and expensive without it.

While one can spend a lot of money and perhaps should in more cloudy environs, passive solar can be relatively cheap and simple for something that creates so much light and heat the vast majority of cold days.

First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • 706jim
    706jim Solar Expert Posts: 523 ✭✭✭✭
    #2

    We just spent a four day "weekend" on our island cottage in Lake Superior. We heat with wood and have west facing windows. It was amazing how much passive heat we got on the one sunny day we experienced out there. And some natural body warming shoveling 2'-3' of snow.


    And for those reading this that might be interested, our flushing compost toilet worked great for the four nights we were there.

    Island cottage solar system with appriximately 2500 watts of panels, 1kw facing southeast 1.3kw facing southwest 170watt ancient Arco's facing due south. All panels in parallel for a 24 volt system. Trace DR1524 MSW inverter which has performed flawlessly since 1994. Outback Flexmax 80 MPPT charge controller four 467A-h AGM batteries. Insignia 11.5 cubic foot electric fridge 1/4hp GSW piston pump. My 31st year.
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,925 ✭✭✭✭
    #3

    The issue with west facing windows is heat during the summer. Have you seen that? Island cottage on Lake Superior sounds awesome. Tons of wildlife?

    On a normal sunny day the amount of heat generated by the southern expanse is pretty amazing.

    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #4

    Getting better now, but in most of Canada west facing windows don't get much winter sun.

    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
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