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This article walks through my off grid solar system that I’ll be installing over the next few months – how I’ll build it and why I chose the components that I did.

Although most off-the-shelf 12v chargers today are designed to respect deep cycle battery charging rules, it always helps to know what to look for when buying a deep cycle battery charger. This post will point out the important features to look for in a battery charger to ensure you get the longest life from your 12v deep cycle battery. I will also recommend a charger that I have personally used for years. Weather your a solar enthusiast or not, a good, quality battery charger is an essential tool to have around the house.

One of my readers left a note in the comments asking me for advice on how to build a solar lighting system to run as barn lights in the evening. This article shows how I would go about building one, and includes the math on how to adjust this idea for your own setup.

One of the first steps in justifying the cost of a new solar system is to perform an electricity audit to determine your average household electricity consumption. This article shows you a couple easy ways to go about performing your own home energy survey.

Once you’ve completed an electricity audit, you’ll be able to put the numbers into an electricity consumption calculator and see just how much money each appliance costs you per month. This can be a real eye opener.

Gel cell batteries are suburb batteries for solar, marine, and automotive applications. The gel car battery as well as marine gel batteries are excellent choices for use in a solar system. This article covers maintenance and installation of the gel cell battery in order to get the longest lifetime out of them.

Wind turbines only pay for themselves if they last long enough to recoup the investment. It’s important to buy wind turbines proven to withstand the test of time. This post reviews personal windmills, provides windmill information and prices, and tries to answer the question of how much energy does a wind turbine produce.

“The fuse is your friend.” That’s just as true for solar systems as it is for electric bicycles, automobiles, or any electric circuit for that matter. A fuse is essentially a precisely sized wire that ‘blows’ or melts when the current running through it exceeds the fuses rating. It’s an intentionally designed weak link in your circuit, so that if any problems occur, the fuse will sacrifice itself to protect the rest of your circuit elements.

Enphase Energy makes a range of micro inverters and energy management products for consumer solar products. This article introduces their products lines, how they work together, and how they help people adopt the advantages of solar energy.

A common component that DIY solar builders often forget to include is a battery disconnect switch. These electrical switches are specially designed for switching large currents and are frequently used in 12 volt power systems such as boats, heavy duty trucks, and solar systems.

Properly sizing the wire for your solar panels will play large role in the efficiency of your overall system. This article will help you select the right wire gauge for your solar project.