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Mostly OT but: Consumer-facing simplicity please. Don't make me think. Give me a solution I can buy at the hardware store, that has 1, 2, or 3 standard panels

Mostly OT but: Consumer-facing simplicity please. Don't make me think. Give me a solution I can buy at the hardware store, that has 1, 2, or 3 standard panels (300W-400W) and that I can connect to 1, 2, or more old gasoline-car batteries (or UPS batteries). With measurement outputs over wifi that I can capture with Home Assistant. And with an AC output that I can connect to a TV to watch football, or to a blender to mix daiquiris. After I get some experience with power storage, I can scale it up and integrate to the grid.

Iulioh 2y ago
Solutions like this do exist, the problem is the fact that aren't cheap. I mean, it's pretty common with basically any permanent modifications you can make to your house if you think about it, is not like you can build a porch without a lot of experience or detailed instructions. Solar pannels are like that, pretty doable but you need to do your homework
- ForOldHack 2y ago
  Some company named Tesla makes home storage systems, but it was found to be out performed by a set of golf cart batteries by one house, and a saline flow battery at another. Much homework and education are always empowering.
  - aitchnyu 2y ago
    Whats that saline flow battery? I thought it was still RnD or commercial tech.
hnbad 2y ago
At the EU level these exist. In Germany they're called balcony power plants: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkonkraftwerk https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkonkraftwerk They're capped at 800 W in Germany for fire safety reasons and because residential fuses are rated at 16 A. You can buy complete sets at hardware stores and even supermarkets like ALDI. They plug into a wall socket like any household appliance. You can use a WiFi connected smart socket to measure the output if the inverter doesn't come with an API. I've seen an 800 W "ready to use" one at a German discount supermarket for €300, although prices can reach €1500 and more for some of the fancier models. You do have to register them online but you don't have to inform your electrical company. If you're a tenant, your landlord has to approve of you installing one unless they have a legitimate reason to refuse you (generic "safety concerns" or complaints about them being ugly are not valid).
- snowpid 2y ago
  I love that one guy who made the Catalan article. Pure dedication.
michaelt 2y ago
You can buy products kinda like this already. Portable solar panels, portable all-in-one charger/battery/inverter, charging from the grid if you want, and basically available off-the-shelf. They're sold for camping, RVs, boats etc. No ability to feed power back into the grid though.
quickthrowman 2y ago
What you’re asking for exists already > https://theinverterstore.com/product/120-watt-solar-kit-1000-watt-power-inverter-charger/ https://theinverterstore.com/product/120-watt-solar-kit-1000... If you want to attach to the grid, you add another piece of equipment (you don’t need to sell power to the grid, it will take years and years to pay the equipment off by selling power)

Iulioh 2y ago

Solutions like this do exist, the problem is the fact that aren't cheap. I mean, it's pretty common with basically any permanent modifications you can make to your house if you think about it, is not like you can build a porch without a lot of experience or detailed instructions. Solar pannels are like that, pretty doable but you need to do your homework

ForOldHack 2y ago
Some company named Tesla makes home storage systems, but it was found to be out performed by a set of golf cart batteries by one house, and a saline flow battery at another. Much homework and education are always empowering.
- aitchnyu 2y ago
  Whats that saline flow battery? I thought it was still RnD or commercial tech.

hnbad 2y ago

At the EU level these exist. In Germany they're called balcony power plants: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkonkraftwerk https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkonkraftwerk They're capped at 800 W in Germany for fire safety reasons and because residential fuses are rated at 16 A. You can buy complete sets at hardware stores and even supermarkets like ALDI. They plug into a wall socket like any household appliance. You can use a WiFi connected smart socket to measure the output if the inverter doesn't come with an API. I've seen an 800 W "ready to use" one at a German discount supermarket for €300, although prices can reach €1500 and more for some of the fancier models. You do have to register them online but you don't have to inform your electrical company. If you're a tenant, your landlord has to approve of you installing one unless they have a legitimate reason to refuse you (generic "safety concerns" or complaints about them being ugly are not valid).

snowpid 2y ago
I love that one guy who made the Catalan article. Pure dedication.

michaelt 2y ago

You can buy products kinda like this already. Portable solar panels, portable all-in-one charger/battery/inverter, charging from the grid if you want, and basically available off-the-shelf. They're sold for camping, RVs, boats etc. No ability to feed power back into the grid though.

quickthrowman 2y ago

What you’re asking for exists already > https://theinverterstore.com/product/120-watt-solar-kit-1000-watt-power-inverter-charger/ https://theinverterstore.com/product/120-watt-solar-kit-1000... If you want to attach to the grid, you add another piece of equipment (you don’t need to sell power to the grid, it will take years and years to pay the equipment off by selling power)