Electrical System
The Backbone - Bluetti AC500 Electrical Generator
My guiding principles behind the electrical system were:
KISS - There's a lot to learn, so wherever possible, use integrated solutions
Design around powering the AC for short durations in the summer, enabling us to leave Woodford on occasion
Enable 2 weeks off-grid
The first principle drove the selection of an all-in-one electrical "generator," with integrated inverter, AC charger, battery, MPPT, and AC/DC outputs. This resulted in a clean build with only one component, saving the time and complexity of building a piecemeal setup.
The second principle sized the system as necessitating at least 15 amp, 120V AC continuous power output, and early in my research I thought I would need considerably more instantaneous power output to accommodate. The desire to run the AC also contributed to sizing the solar panels to effectively be the largest capacity we could fit on the roof (1,280 W) and to the decision to install 6,000 Wh of batteries.
The third principle largely sized the solar and battery capacity. While we learned it wasn't quite sized appropriately for short, cloudy winter days, it's proving to be adequately sized for complete off-grid use now in early March.
When I looked at solutions that met these three criteria: 1) integrated electrical "generators", 2) 15A, 120V AC output, 3) 1,200+ W solar, and 4) 6,000+ Wh batteries, the Bluetti AC500 was a strong frontrunner.
While I love the setup overall, it isn't perfect. The Bluetti AC500 is serious overkill on the AC invertor side. That means we see considerable parasitic drain, even if there isn't any load. The full system has a parasitic load of ~1000 Wh per day...which quickly kills the batteries if we go a few days without sun. We can optimize this by turning on and off the AC invertor only when we use it. With the AC invertor off, the system uses less than 500 Wh per day, which is much better but still less than ideal. Unfortunately, I did not take this into consideration when I selected the system, and even if I had, it was one of the few products on the market that met my requirements.
If I were to start over, I would reconsider my first principle. I've learned so much, and I now think that I could confidently piece together the relevant components to perfectly size each aspect and maximize efficiency. Alternatively, i would consider the Bluetti AC300, which has a smaller inverter and therefore should have lower parasitic drain while still meeting the other requirements.
Connections - 8, 14, and 18 gauge wire,
I downselected to 3 gauges of wire to keep things simple, opting for the larger wire based on wire gage charts.
DC Distribution - Bluetti AC500 Electrical Generator
Stove - The stove piezoelectric ignition hasn't worked from day one, even though the oven light works so I know it's appropriately powered. I typically always asume piezoelectric ignitions will fail, so se la vie.
Water Control Panel - I would definitely