How to…
Practical knowledge, step-by-step guidance, and lessons learned.
Understanding how your energy systems work is just as important as owning the equipment itself. These articles focus on practical “how-to” information, system design, installation concepts, maintenance, troubleshooting, and everyday operation of solar and backup power systems. The goal is to help readers develop the knowledge, skills, abilities, and confidence needed to make informed decisions and become more energy independent.
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Wireless Float Switch Review
Introduction – Okay, I’ve written a whole lot about our solar well and lightening problems; some here, some on a DIY solar website/forum. Bottom line…twice in 4 years we were hit with lightening transient voltage…
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Well Control Box Schematic
I am including the well box schematic below. Anyone’s input would be greatly appreciated…ANY! Yup, that means questions, concerns, issues, warnings, safety problems…and even compliment 😉 I am actually in the process of building the…
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SOLAR: Does it ever end? Is it ever enough?
If you remember I upgraded my entire battery bank in the spring (2025) and increased battery storage from 32kWh to 41kWh (630ah – 800ah) < click here >. I also went with a “closed loop”…
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MidNite Solar Battery Review & Install – Part #1
If you watch it on youtube please do me a favor and “like” it. And you can even subscribe to my channel there as well 🙂 Related Articles – Trouble in Solar Paradise Update on…
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SOLAR: More burned-up wiring…
Last November I wrote a ‘Tip’ article regarding a fuse of mine that heated up and I had to replace it. Along the way I noticed that the problem was the connections on the fuse…
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Great Solar Upgrade – Day #9
Day #9 come and gone! Oh Boy! What a day #9 was…bitter/sweet. I started in Saturday morning wanting to jump on first the circuit breaker upgrade that I talked about in my Day #8 post.…
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Great Solar Upgrade – Day #8
Day #8 come and gone! Man, I’ve been busy trying to finish this upgrade…but the little details and finish work are killing me. First thing I did was “load balance” the main breaker panel. Yeah,…
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Great Solar Upgrade – Day #7 – IT WORKS ! !
Day #7 come and gone! Started working this morning about 7am trying to figure out why I couldn’t get the Victron Quattro inverters programed correctly. On Saturday I did get the system up and running…but…
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Great Solar Upgrade – Day #6
Day #6 come and gone! Whew!!!!! 2:45pm and there is quiet at the Glamstead! Yup, the generator turned off. Oh, the generator is not running because I turned it off 🙂 The system is back…
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Great Solar Upgrade – Day #5
Day #5 come and gone! One of those days! So I slept in a little and got a late start…6am building cables. About 2 hours later I realized that I no longer had the right…
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Great Solar Upgrade – Day #4
Day #4 come and gone! OK, yesterday I was whining about it getting old, me being ready to move on…and especially getting rid of the generator sound. Well, it is the morning of Day #5…
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Great Solar Upgrade – Day #3
Day #3 come and gone! Okay, it’s getting old. Yup, working 12 hour days is getting to me and I am ready for quiet. Yes, the generator has been a blessing, without we would have…
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Great Solar Upgrade – Day #2
Day #2 come and gone! Day #1 was without incident, problem, or even a hiccup…for which I am grateful. Day #2…not so much…but not bad at all. First off let me explain that I had…
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Great Solar Upgrade – Day #1
So late last week I actually began the “Great Solar Upgrade” here at the glamstead. I began labeling electrical boxes, installing wire tension lugs, and some other pre-work tasks. Yesterday was Day #1 of actually…
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Keeping Lithium Batteries Warm
As you probably know, it is harmful to a lithium battery to charge it when it is at freezing temperature or below. That means 32F for us normal people…and 0 centigrade for those folks who…
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DC Wire – Types, Size Chart, and Fusing
One of the things that can get confusing, but is extremely important, is knowing what size of wire to use when working with DC circuits. And once you get the wire size figured out…then trying…
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TIP : Solar – Check/Tighten All Connections…regularly
A dangerous, potentially catastrophic, situation developed with my solar system and I was almost unaware of it. Thankfully I caught it in time and learned a couple lessons along the way. And that is what…
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Our Solar Well Pump System
OK, let’s talk water, solar power, splicing, planning, plan changes, and gasoline prices… Back when we bought our place in 2016 we were lucky enough to buy a piece of property that already had a…
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2021 Solar System Configuration
I received a couple requests for more information on the solar system design I mentioned in two earlier posts regarding some of the equipment. So I have attached a PDF file that shows the design…