100 Watt Solar Set-Up for Coop

[3bird]

Hi, All.

We're thinking of installing solar on the coop, and we're looking at starting with the Renogy 100 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Solar Starter Kit ($190 from Amazon). We'd likely add another panel (you can run up to 4 panels/400 watts off the included controller) and use it to charge two batteries. At present the coop's electrical load includes two outdoor lights, one coop light and 4 security cameras in the coop 24/7. We have an infrared heat lamp we may use in the winter (although we're thinking of switching to a 200 watt wall mounted heater). We will also likely add a heated waterer and perhaps a heat solution for our rainwater storage drum/duck waterer system (but that will likely stay on AC and be for emergency use). We also run a small pump to pump, but we're going to switch the whole system over to gravity before winter.

Has anyone used this system or one like it? If so, do you have thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

 

[PD-Riverman]

If you plan to run any kind of incandescent light bulb for any length of time, for sure a heat lamp---forget it. It would be good to run a light while you are in the coop for a little while plus probably the camera's(can they be set-up to run direct off the battery?) The small lights that usually come with a Harbor freight kit would run a good while on it. You have to take into consideration cloudy days etc. A 100 watt----even expanded to 400 watts probably want give you any where near what you seem to be expecting. You said part of the things will stay on AC, why not all----it would be a lot cheaper?

 

[Dayrel]

It is extremely important that you learn how to do energy calculations with this setup. Solar has serious limitations that can be overcome, but only with proper planning up front.

1. LED lights and fans are generally low-drain items. Heating (water or air) is a high-drain activity. You need to make sure you have enough power to drive those uses.
2. Solar is a very uneven way to generate power: night, clouds, angle vs the sun, snow-cover, shade will all reduce power generated versus rated amounts.
3. For times when you are not generating sufficient electricity, you need to have sufficient battery capacity to power your items- and heating items are most important at night. The starter kit includes *no* batteries.
   
4. Largish batteries for this setup would likely be 6v or 12v DC. Most heaters run AC (though DC is available). You need converters to pull power from batteries to run AC devices.

I don't want to discourage you from using solar and taking this off-grid. But you really need to spend some time self-educating before you start spending money on an incomplete solution.

 

[3bird]

It is extremely important that you learn how to do energy calculations with this setup. Solar has serious limitations that can be overcome, but only with proper planning up front.

1. LED lights and fans are generally low-drain items. Heating (water or air) is a high-drain activity. You need to make sure you have enough power to drive those uses.
2. Solar is a very uneven way to generate power: night, clouds, angle vs the sun, snow-cover, shade will all reduce power generated versus rated amounts.
3. For times when you are not generating sufficient electricity, you need to have sufficient battery capacity to power your items- and heating items are most important at night. The starter kit includes *no* batteries.
   
4. Largish batteries for this setup would likely be 6v or 12v DC. Most heaters run AC (though DC is available). You need converters to pull power from batteries to run AC devices.

I don't want to discourage you from using solar and taking this off-grid. But you really need to spend some time self-educating before you start spending money on an incomplete solution.

Thanks for the feedback! I should of clarified a few things:

1) We will be running at least a two-battery battery bank (12v marine most likely because I have them).

2) We will be installing an inverter.

3) We will have AC running from the barn for high draw items (e.g., heating the water tank). The purpose of the solar is to serve as a back-up and run a limited number of low-draw items.

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

I just spoke to someone yesterday from a solar company (I'm off grid solar here). As I live in a cold climate I thought heat would be necessary.

Here's what he told me:
In order to run an infrared bulb on its own it would most likely require a system that would cost around $18000. The panel and battery requirement would be huge.

Because I'm in central Alberta we don't get enough light in the winter to properly charge the batteries and would have to run a generator to keep the batteries charged enough to operate.

He recommended several things for me.

1. Find old books by chicken farmers written before electricity was an option. He said there's a really good one written in 1918 on how to keep chickens in my area.

2. Put a window in fairly high up with a large overhang. This will help keep the sun out in the summer, when it's higher on the horizon, but will allow sun/heat in during the winter months when the sun doesn't get as high. Line the wall opposite with brick. The brick will absorb the heat from the sun and can give off warmth for several days.

I'm brand new to raising chickens but I think he provided some very good suggestions that I'm going to incorporate.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do ☺

 

[3bird]

If you plan to run any kind of incandescent light bulb for any length of time, for sure a heat lamp---forget it. It would be good to run a light while you are in the coop for a little while plus probably the camera's(can they be set-up to run direct off the battery?) The small lights that usually come with a Harbor freight kit would run a good while on it. You have to take into consideration cloudy days etc. A 100 watt----even expanded to 400 watts probably want give you any where near what you seem to be expecting. You said part of the things will stay on AC, why not all----it would be a lot cheaper?

The coop lights are LED, and we'll be moving away from the 240watt infrared. It seems reasonable that a double battery bank could run what we need it to run in the event of a power outage, as well as basic daily tasks (e.g., lighting, fan, etc.). Heating is obviously the place where solar struggles at this scale, and we are looking for a solid water storage heating system that will work for us. The water in the barn is run off a well, but we pull it in the winter because it would freeze. Carrying gallons of water every day through the snow from the house to the duckhouse is not our idea of a great time.

 

[PD-Riverman]

The coop lights are LED, and we'll be moving away from the 240watt infrared. It seems reasonable that a double battery bank could run what we need it to run in the event of a power outage, as well as basic daily tasks (e.g., lighting, fan, etc.). Heating is obviously the place where solar struggles at this scale, and we are looking for a solid water storage heating system that will work for us. The water in the barn is run off a well, but we pull it in the winter because it would freeze. Carrying gallons of water every day through the snow from the house to the duckhouse is not our idea of a great time.

You seem to understand solar, but you asked a question---if anyone has a set-up like this and their thoughts. I do have a set-up on the back of the farm---where my animals are, but I Do Not live there and a this time I run 8 6volt golf cart batteries and I am Limited to what I can do. My solar panels are 18, 120 watt panels. So I gave you my thoughts.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Why are you heating the coop? Where do you live? I think you drop the heat and use LED bulbs and those 2 batteries with the panel will be plenty.

Gary

 

[tigger19687]

They are in Maine, it's a little cold there, lol.

If you are thinking of heating, I would heat only when it is 0 outside or close to it.
But i am not sure you are talking about Chickens or Ducks as you mentioned Duckhouse.
What ever you do, go BIG, more batteries then you think you need.

Also, not sure how much they draw on power but what about a Oil filled stand alone heater like this ? https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/st...MI5JP-sZ671QIVG1YNCh1XrQ5vEAQYAiABEgI1zvD_BwE

 

[3bird]

You seem to understand solar, but you asked a question---if anyone has a set-up like this and their thoughts. I do have a set-up on the back of the farm---where my animals are, but I Do Not live there and a this time I run 8 6volt golf cart batteries and I am Limited to what I can do. My solar panels are 18, 120 watt panels. So I gave you my thoughts.

Fantastic set-up! We'll get there eventually (on the barn roof!).