Solar Panel System for Hunting Cabin

[down2hunt]

Can anyone school me a setting up my small hunting cabin using solar panels? I have a 12'x20" lofted barn that I'm using as a hunting cabin. I can run electricity to it, but I have to have a utility meter pole installed. The pole is a little over $600 after tax and then I have to pay someone to install it. It's probably going to cost $800-1,000 to get it all setup. Then I'm going to have an electricity bill.

I'm not thinking I'd rather invest that money into a solar system so I don't have the monthly bill and will save money in the long run. The problem is I am very ignorant when it comes to this stuff. I've been doing some research online and it's a little overwhelming. I'm hoping someone has done this and can provide me with some simple steps to follow.

Here is what I would like to run: window a/c & heat unit, run a 32" tv, small refrigerator, charge cell phones and computer batteries, and maybe some small household appliances.

The cabin is already wired and has a couple 120v outlets and one light bulb.

Okay go....

[txags06]

Watching this one!

[down2hunt]

Watching this one!

Me too

[Todd-ty729]

Get the meter. Cost is fairly significant up front for solar. You will not recoupe the savings in a hunting cabin like you would in your home.

[bowhntrmatt]

Get the meter. Cost is fairly significant up front for solar. You will not recoupe the savings in a hunting cabin like you would in your home.

Yup

[bowhntrmatt]

If it were a light bulb or two and charging a phone, this would be fine. One panel, a battery bank and an inverter. But an a/c, freezer, ect... That's pushing it. You are getting in the 5 figure range. That's a lot of years of electric bills.

[dharris]

Get the electric then get two or three good panels and a grid tie inverter and that will pay your bill when you are not there.

[down2hunt]

Good info thanks for the help guys. I've been doing a little more research and it looks like I may have to drop between $5,000-10,000 for a solar system that can do what I want/need. That's more than I paid for the cabin, haha. I guess thats why I don't see a lot of people doing it. I didn't realize solar was so expensive.

Meter here I come.

[Kevin]

$6k min, get the pole!

[gumbl3]

And the cost of solar is recurring because the 10+ deep cycle batteries you need for all that only last a few years

[chicken fried]

you need a huge solar system for what you want.

[DesertDug]

Forget about the ac unit, run fans and get propane freezer and then the cost will go down a whole lot. You could do the other stuff for about $500. Maybe even get away with a harbor freight $200 set up. The ac draws too many amps and that's we're your proble lies. Propane freezers are great but you would have to run it all the time not just when you are ou there because they take at least aa day to get to the right temp. Good luck to you.

[lwelch70]

Hey buddy, sounds like you've already found your answer but just to firm it up for you through some of the research I've done in one of my classes, solar energy is outrageous expensive and for how much amperage you'd need to adequately run those devices (shoot even just the mini fridge) you'd be looking at a very large initial investment. If you don't want to do the pole, why not a gas generator? Is the fridge a necessity or can you get by with a cooler completely filled with ice to get you by for a hunting weekend? Don't know how big of a place you're hunting on now so the generator may be out of the question if you're very close to any of your stands. Just an idea.

Just saw the propane freezer idea, that's a good way to go as well.

[Smart]

If you want AC, and its a must for us, I'd pony up the money for the electrical hookup. You will be much happier in the long run.

I don't like generators because I have seen AC wall units drag them down (not all of course) but enough where I'd not count on them. I also don't want any noise that the deer can relate to somebody being there or danger. Messing with gas before deer hunting is not a favorite pasttime of mine either.