Huh. Will it manage the refridgerator/freezer?
Yes.
I ordered a "Kill-a-Watt"; 1 of those "plug your device into this to show power consumption" widgets.
I'll be able to accurately measure all the "vampire" loads; the standby power consumed by TVs & whatnot.
No doubt, solar is substantially more expensive initially than a standby natgas generator.
I also have to calculate the running cost of the genny.
Once I buy the solar, my "ongoing" expense is battery replacement; not insignificant, but a fairly long window.
Another advantage to solar is I don't have to lay it all out at once.
The transfer switch and some of the infrastructure that doesn't change based on generation & storage capacity will be first, then I can add panels & batteries over time.
Yes, I'm aware that a perfect battery bank will have batteries all the same age.
The fridges are marked "6.5A max".
So that's starting current. Actual running current after the initial surge is unknown.
Well, until tonight; the Kill-a-Watt arrives today.
I was considering flooded-cell batteries.
I don't mind having to check electrolyte level, but the outgassing is a significant downside.
SLA batteries cost more & have a shorter life cycle, but lower maintenance & substantially reduced outgassing are tipping the scales toward SLA.
The battery rack will be in the basement instead of out in the garage for better temperature regulation.
If they were in the garage, I would be less concerned about gas production.
I'm considering inverter/charger units instead of just inverters. (all pure sine wave)
So if I have a couple-three days of overcast, grid power keeps me topped up.
If I go that route, I'll initially connect to grid, then eventually install a smallish genny which can be triggered to top up the batteries if the panels are covered with snow for a few days.
I'm in Colorado, so I get nearly as many sunny days per year as the desert Southwest.
I have a nice chunk of south-facing, 45-degree sloped roof; nearly perfect for my latitude.
My biggest concern is all the holes I need to put in the roof to mount the panels.
Yes, I'm aware of a product called "silicone sealant"; putting holes in the roof really triggers my OCD.
Anyone have any experience with that?
Did you have any leaks?
How, specifically, did you seal up the mounting holes?