Tara Sun

TaraSun · June 2018

I want to go off grid with wind & solar as I'm building in far northern California currently. Only power currently is generator powered by gasoline in the RV. I want to put in a radio pet fence but they all seem to require a connection to standard DC outlet and that means my generator must run 24/7 (ain't gonna happen!)

Is there anyway to connect some sort of work around with a solar panel? I'm awaiting delivery of a dedicated solar refrigerator package with everything except the batteries. I know I need to use Deep Cell batteries.

Can I connect them together somehow to also power the radio fence?

Thank you!
~ Cindy

westbranch · June 2018

this is one I am familiar with ... pretty effective on bears...

https://parmakusa.com/product-category/fence-chargers-accessories/electric-fence-chargers/solar-powered-models/

BB. · June 2018

Need to understand and measure your loads (amount of AH @ xx Voits or Watt*Hours). This will size the battery bank.

Both of the above will sizing the charging system (genset/solar/etc).

Without this basic information, we can only guess.

Just to give you an idea:

500-1,000 Watt*hours per day will give you LED lighting, run a small computer/tablet, cell phone charger, RV type water pump.
~3,300 Watt*Hours per day will be a "near normal" off grid electrical lifestyle (with lots of conservation). Energy Star refrigerator, clothes washer, (solar friendly) well pump, TV/Sat system. This is the size of system to aim for (3.3 kWH per day or 100 kWH per month). A good size system that can be self installed by a dedicated DIY person. Will not break the bank for initial installation and ongoing maintenance.
10,000 WH per day is ~300 WH per month. A fairly efficient North American house that has done a fair amount of conservation. About the largest Off Grid solar system that will be economically viable for the "average" home owner.

Note that a Watt*Hour is a load (measured in Watts) times the number of hours per day it is running. A 100 Watt light bulb running 8 hours per day is 800 Watt*Hours per day.

For AC power systems, a Kill-a-Watt type meter is very handy to measure/quantify your 120 VAC loads:

https://www.solar-electric.com/kiacpomome.html

For smaller DC loads, a DC Amp*Hour / Watt*Hour meter can be useful:

https://www.rc-electronics-usa.com/electrical-test-equipment.html

-Bill

TaraSun · June 2018

Thank you both. Bill, here are 2 links: the radio fence link and a link for a 330 watt system that I thought I could use with it if the refrigerator package is too difficult to connect . I can't find the load info for the fence on the link.
https://www.chewy.com/petsafe-free-to-roam-wireless-fence/dp/140692?utm_source=google-remarketing&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=819794590&utm_content=aud-403597071046&utm_term=273610956893&utm_source=google-prospecting&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=819794590&utm_content=www.foxnews.com&utm_term=273610956893&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsMj5hYzS2wIVQtZkCh2gHg_REAEYASAFEgKKtfD_BwE
https://www.samsclub.com/sams/330w-solar-panel-kit-off-grid-use/prod18080113.ip?CAWELAID=730010300001004745&pid=_CSE_Bing_PLA_317009585&wl0=e&wl1=o&wl2=c&wl3=76553534916703&wl4=pla-4580153125618166&wl12=754060&wl14=solar powered refrigerator freezers&wl15=1224856032748112&wl16=4580153125618166&veh=sem&kclid=d61d7be3-2e91-4284-a8b8-66229ecf8378&msclkid=2667c0dc221916708ee59bd379a923ce

I'm a total newbie to all of this however I am committed to being totally off grid and I learn fast.

Estragon · June 2018

Do you have a link to the "dedicated solar refrigerator package"?

mcgivor · June 2018

The invisible fence devices are probably very light loads which when piggy backed on an existing system such as a refrigerator system, probably would be insignificant. Once the dogs learn their boundaries they will keep within them, even if turned off, I've used electric fence to contain both goats and dogs, once they get that jolt, they can't understand, they keep away, for a while at least, based on observations.

Tara Sun

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