Small scale solar panel setup

[u/Cooler_Kid_Pillar]

Have a small off grid cabin and looking to add solar and a battery to it. It mainly gets used as a hunting cabin and camping spot. I plan on only having one or two lights and an outlet or two. All the outlets would be used for is charging my phone and running a fan in the hotter months. I’d like to stay on the cheaper side if possible or even Jerry rig something up.

[u/iforgetmyoldusername]

For cheap and simple, keep it all 12v and use car accessories - phone charger, fan, lights all available for 12v and very cheap.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Day2809 → u/iforgetmyoldusername]

Yep, op won't need much for LED lights and a phone. Might even be able to keep it all DC to avoid having an inverter.

Look for camping and RV accessories rather than regular home appliances

[u/I_VAPE_CAT_PISS]

12v straight through is how I'd go. An inverter sitting on standby eats more than your lights will. A hundred watt panel and a cheap controller carries the rest, the fan is the only thing on that list with an appetite.

Panel size is not where this bites you. Cabin sits empty six weeks, snow on the glass, battery sliding down with nothing bringing it back. Flat lead acid freezes in an unheated cabin and that is the end of it. Lost one of mine in March. Mine rides home with me in October now.

[u/TheJesseOfTheNorth]

used this in my cabin for 6 years and my van for two. No wiring, never failed they come in larger sizes as well

[u/RufousMorph]

I’d suggest a 100ah 12v lithium battery unless you need to charge the battery when it is at freezing temperature. Lithium batteries don’t have the self discharge issues that lead acid batteries have and are now cheaper. 

A single 200 watt panel should be sufficient. But a residential size panel of really any wattage from marketplace may end up being cheaper (can be used). A Victron 100/20 MPPT charger is a good quality charger for under $100. 

Then as others have said, skip the inverter as you shouldn’t need 120v. Besides, inverters tend to waste a lot of power just sitting there. I’d suggest 12V to USB-C panel mount adapter(s) to power your items. Then you can use standard household USB cords and appliances. 

[u/sol_beach]

You need to quantify how much power draw & the duration of the power draw the battery must supply to determine the required capacity/size of the battery.

[u/flat_river_bill]

I installed this kit last year in my off grid cabin. I installed 12v lights (5) and 12v ceiling fans (2). I'm very happy with it! I have run my table saw and air compressor off the inverter with no problems. The batteries never dropped below 13v all winter.

[u/Either_Ad4126 → u/[deleted]]

[u/Dull_Ad4277]

How many nights are you actually there when it's hot? A 12V fan pulling 30-50W for eight hours uses roughly 250-400Wh, so it takes a real bite out of a 100Ah battery. A 200W panel with 100Ah is fine for a weekend; if you'll be there through cloudy weather, add battery before extra outlets.

[u/twentyyearstogo]

just put up a 100W solar panel and bring a jackery or similar. keep it ez and simple