*Does off-grid solar confuse you?* Check out my DIY friendly website for solar system packages and product recommendations, and so much more! www.mobile-solarpower.com *Join our DIY solar community* #1 largest solar forum on the internet for beginners and professionals alike: www.diysolarforum.com *Check out my Book* Best-selling and beginner-friendly guide to 12V off-grid solar! amzn.to/2Aj4dX4 If DIY is not for you, but you love solar and need an offgrid system, check out Tesla Energy! They will price out a system and get your house offgrid: ts.la/william57509 *My DIY Solar Equipment Recommendations (Constantly updated! Check here first):* 12V/48V Lithium Solar Batteries: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solar-batteries.html Complete Solar System Component Directory: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solarcomponents.html Complete 48V System Blueprint: www.mobile-solarpower.com/48v-complete-system-blueprint.html Plug-N-Play System Recommendations: www.mobile-solarpower.com/full-size-systems.html Complete "Add to Cart" 48V System Kits: www.mobile-solarpower.com/complete-48v-solar-kits.html DIY Friendly Air Conditioner/ Heat Pumps: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solar-friendly-air-conditioners.html *My Favorite Online Stores for DIY Solar Products:* *Signature Solar* Offgrid One-Stop-Shop. Best Value 48V LiFePO4, Victron and Offgrid Specific Heat Pumps: www.signaturesolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek *Current Connected* SOK, Victron, Mr.Cool Heatpumps and High Quality Components. Fantastic customer support: currentconnected.com/?ref=wp *Litime* My favorite 12V budget battery!: www.litime.com/?ref=XBIA62RFcalHns *Epoch Batteries* My favorite high-quality 12V battery: www.epochbatteries.com/products/12v-460ah-lifepo4-battery-ip67-heated-bluetooth-victron-comms?rfsn=7352625.50494d *Renogy* A classic 12V solar store that has been around for ages! DC to DC Chargers and more! renogy.sjv.io/n1VjXx *Rich Solar* Renogy's biggest competitor! Similar products, but at a better price: richsolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek *Battery Hookup* Cheap cell deals bit.ly/2mIxSqt 5% off code: diysolar *Contact Information:* I am NOT available for personal solar system consult! If you wish to contact me, this is my direct email: williamprowsediysolar@gmail.com Join the forum at diysolarforum.com/ if you wish to hang out with myself and others and talk about solar *FTC Disclosure Statement and Disclaimers:* Every video includes some form of paid promotion or sponsorship. Some links on this youtube channel may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these. My videos are for educational purposes only. Information is subject to change/update at any time. Electricity is DANGEROUS and can kill. Be smart and use common sense :) DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, An affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

This is why this guy makes the best vids: no crappy half hour intro, no extra BS, just facts, delivered logically.

Man, I wanted to drop you a comment. I'm an electrician by trade, but that in know means I'm a DC, battery, solar expert. (I love how my employers thinks that I should know how to work on Fire Alarm systems because I'm an electrician, but I digress). Due to my RV, I started mucking around with Lifepo4 batteries. I started researching this that and the other thing and before you know it, I'm down the proverbial rabbit hole. Understanding this stuff is like a whole other branch of the Electrical field. It's like going to an oncologist to deliver a baby. I've watched hours and hours and hours of videos and read loads of stuff. And I can honestly say that your content is by far the single best resource on the internet for learning about this particular topic. Sure, there are other really good recourses. But your content is the most accessible to the widest range of folks. There's virtually no bullshit. After watching at least 100 of your videos, I seek you out when ever I have questions. I even started creating curated play lists of your videos discussing different things so I can get to them quickly. I think I probably speak for the community when I say I really appreciate what you're doing and what you're providing.

I have watched several of your videos and every time I learn an amazing amount of information. Most things I usually walk away with more questions than answers but when I watch your videos I am filled with all kinds of info and although it is overwhelming later on when I start to learn more I realize how much information has eventually sunk in so thank you for all of your content because it has helped me boost my confidence in ways where other videos and things usually bring me down

Wow, you are a very impressive young man, intelligent, articulate and no BS. To the point. Must pause to take in some of your points but I would rather pause than have to listen to a bunch of unimportant stuff. Thank you.

Here's what I like... no fluff... you edit out the ums and uhs... your videos are VERY info packed and to the point. I put together a controller/inverter system in my trailer based almost exactly on one of your recent videos. In fact, I took a screen shot of the setup on the video and worked off of that visual. Step by step. Easy to understand. Works like a charm. You talk fast, but I can always rewind. Thanks for what you do. Great resource for learning. And yeah, I bought your book, too.

Hands down the best 12vs24 volt comparison I've ever heard, and that's saying a lot given my near 30 years experience of using solar and talking with many experts in the field. Perhaps in your freetime you could get your MD so I could get this kind of intelligent response, which is sorely lacking from my doctors! You are impressive young man! So glad to see you sharpening the content on your channel. Aloha

Will, Once again you have answered all my questions before I got to ask them. Every time I think I might need to do something I look to your video's on how to and BAM it's right before me. Thank you for all of your simple explanations. You are one of a kind!

I knew nothing about solar panels and relations between amps and volts before I found your channel. I think I will watch all of your videos. Thank you from Estonia!

By the way 24v is a common voltage for buses, semis, and tractors etc. You could easily source an alternator from there for a dual alternator setup

So I have been off-grid now for 6 years. I spent a lot of money doing trial and error setups. I had the basics down in 6 years, but all was self learned. No mentors, no neighbors to learn from, and no KZfaq videos. I have since started watching all of your videos and have tripled my knowledge of off-grid solar setups in 2 days. For example, I have 8 12v agm batteries wired in parallel. I have wondered why I go through battery banks in a year or 2. I always thought that if you ran the batteries down to the inverter’s low voltage alarm it would be ok. That being said, last winter was one of the rainiest winter seasons in N. GA, so obviously I ran my batteries down to 10.5v and had no idea it was damaging them beyond repair. KZfaq is amazing and thanks so much for your videos.

You convinced me to go 24v in my skoolie a while back, just happened to be rewatching this video. Great info. I recommend your videos to anyone I come across that asks about solar setups and batteries. Keep it up!

March 2024 i just came across your channel. I'm building a "johnny cash" portable power station (one piece at a time). I have two marine deep cycle SLA batteries so this video is very helpful to my project. I'm weighing the pros and cons of 12 vs 24 volts. Thank you for good straightforward content, well explained without a bunch of non essential intros or other junk.

Wow, great content and so proud of you overcoming difficult situations and now helping viewers like me. You are a smart kid!

I just bought a 99 Dodge Coach House. I am going to get solar (already has two extra batteries) and a composting/cassette toilet. I. Have. No. Clue. I'm going to binge watch your videos. Then I can have an intelligent conversation with someone. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

After watching this video a handful of times, I finally committed and pulled the trigger on doing the 24v system. I was really having trouble making that decision. Two components left (but coming in the mail shortly) and I'll be up and running.... Thanks mainly to Will. Jehu Garcia's channel helped me build the batteries. These two channels are critical to what I'm doing. Y'all are great! Thanks Will!

Of all of your videos I've watched, this is the one I keep coming back to watch again

Thank you for being so clear and upfront with your information. Same with your website. Everyone else holds onto their knowledge like they’re playing poker and give vague and confusion information that follows no linear thought process. Keep it up!

You make learning about this stuff enjoyable. My dad loves chatting about his electrical work but I am not into it. But now I can watch at my own pace and be able to chat with him haha Thanks!

Thanks, Will, for this no nonsense explanation. We have our foundation and pole in for our off-grid array. We are shut down until spring because of access only by snow machine. If I keep watching your awesome videos I will at least know what my solar contractor is talking about and maybe do most of the install myself ! Happy Holidays!

Im a newbie idk why u watched this and god dang thats a whole lot of info you got there! I apreciate you a lot brother.

You inspired me to go live full-time in an RV. It's gonna happen within the next few years and I can't be more excited. You're awesome!

Dude. I have a perfectly fine running 1993 Bounder 28T. All my systems work, The interior is in great shape. Runs like a champ. Watching your videos makes me want to rip it all out and make it so much more efficient. Todays efficiency/power/usage/systems are so different than '93. Back then they didn't have all this knowledge and they just built it to "spec". That's ok though, when my systems *do* fail, I'll be ready. Thanks Will!!

This is the most no-nonsense explanation I have ever heard. Thank you!

Thanks for the DIY Solar website Will !

Thanks to you I'm learning all about solar, volts, amps, etc:. Thanks for helping us.

It's great to find someone who obviously knows exactly what he's talking about. Thanks for the expert advice, clarified everything for me.

I'm setting up my first 12v system and I pretty much have everything and ready to install. I like your channel out of them all because you go into detail with everything and I have learnt a lot from you. Will be building a small 24v house in the next 2 years so I will watch anything you have in 24v. Thanks for all the good knowledge.

Great video, as usual! I just joined your forum so that I can study further the best system and components for my needs! I'm researching a semi-portable minimal system to run a couple of refrigerators and maybe a couple of lights and fans for post hurricane survival when the grid goes down! I appreciate all your excellently communicated recommendations!

Man I’m impressed with the amount of information in your videos. Very good job.

I love Learning About this stuff even when I know I probably don't need it, you give so much info dude

Thank you for the video. I live in Las Vegas on Trop. It's nice to know you are speaking from experience

You have alot of good information here. I appreciate it. I'm an electrical experimenter and build custom circuits. One could use a buck boost with a rectifier to keep it one way boosting 12v to 24v. But the bucks available for an affordable price are a bit sketchy or need lots of upgrades to be able to handle a big system. But you could trickle charge one over a long period of time with the cheapies.

I have learned so much watching the last 7 videos and I am going to keep on going! Great job explaining! I want to do my own house system.... after I do a beginner system.

Awesome explanation. Really great break down of practical applications for the different voltages. Learned a great deal.

I am converting a truck (8.5 tonne) into a tiny home. so this was super interesting. I was hell bent on everything to be 12v - but now I am definitely going to the 24v. Thank you so much.

Thanks Will, I bought your book x2, one for me, the other as a gift. Thank you SOOOOOO MUCH.

You just do not put out bad videos. Period. I’ve got a 48V setup for my off-grid property and I’ll wait patiently until you put out a video talking specifically about 48V things 😉👍🏼

I went 48. No complaints. I use a 12.5 volt step down and yep it works great. 👍

Been banging my head against the wall looking for digestible solar info surrounding my RV. This video was very easy to understand and helped guide me in the right direction! Thank you!!

Thanks so much for all your support. You have made it easier to build my own custom solar 🙏🏻

Really great video, extremely informative, very intelligent, honest, and well communicated. Will, you're a good man! best wishes from Alan, UK.

You Rock!!! I have never felt so infantile regarding this subject. Just when thought I understood it and I normally watch videos primarily for additional thoughts and perspectives but then I have now watched several of your videos and it is as if you are speaking a foreign language (one that I do not speak). Your videos are well put together and for those folks with serious experience or degrees, I am sure they LOVE it. I pray that in 2 or 3 more lifetimes I will be able to understand your videos...seriously, great videos but I have never felt so ignorant...lol

Back when my friend was installing solar panels on the roof, of a bus, it was a sunny day, and he forgot to cover the solar panel, when he grabbed the wires to connect them he got a slight shock, but it was enough to make him loose his balance, and he fell off the roof and broke his wrist😆. GREAT VIDEO Thanks William Orange county, ca.

One video answered so many questions you my friend are a genius!

Thank you so much, for this great video, I had NO idea, that there were so many differences between 12v & 24v systems. After watching this, I will definitely be going 24v.

Another excellent presentation by Will. Worked in the electronics/electrical industry as a professional engineer here in the UK for 40 years and had no idea where to start with solar and Lithium batteries for my minibus to camper conversion. As others have said no waffle or fluff and to the point with detailed technical content. Going with 24V system and wished I could have brought the SOK batteries through Wills link but only ship on that to USA so had to go direct to get shipping to UK. Mentioned got their details from Will's presentations so he might get something from them?

LOVING these videos. And his website. I’m sure I will be buying his book very soon!

I just changed my 12 volt system to 24 volt system watching your video. Wow! What a difference! Thank you!

Once again Will provides info that I can learn from!

so many questions i had got answered in that video, THANKS !!

I just started installing solar systems this year This information is very vital; every installer needs to know this

You are more informative then the 3 top page search results who were written by someone who didn’t know what he was talking. Great video

Smart young man, if I knew 1/4 of what you know i'd be happy, love your vids, they are easy to follow and I always learn something, so much so that I bought your book. Thanks for sharing your knowledge

Good stuff. I'd like to see more house/48 V wisdom please.

As a newbie learning so much from your videos. Thanks

I love that i switched my rv over to 24 volt. The 24v to 12v step down transformer is awesome. No more peaks or valleys in power. No more flickering lights, varying light output, water pump never bogs if the batteries are getting low, its just great.

Thank you Will. As PGE shuts off power at their will my interest is more than mere hobby. Please do a video on building a 48 volt system for a home. Many thanks.

Very nice. You have covered a lot of topics in a short video. Higher voltage is the way to go. One topic nobody covers is the losses across each connection and the copper-loss along each DC cable. A really excellent connection resistance is 0.1 Ohms; a tenth of an Ohm. If you have 10 amps flowing across that connection you lose 1 Volt. Multiply that by the number of connections. Ouch.

That's excellent information and dead on. 25 years ago I started my off grid home with 12 volt but switched to 24 because my loads increased to the point of killing batteries. Now I have 2000 watts of solar with 24 volt pannels and two 40 amp chargers and 1100 amp hr battery and a 2500 watt pure sine wave outback inverter. I run a forced air heater and full size fridge,dishwasher,full size washing machine and dryer and three flat screens krueg coffee maker in a 1400 sq ft three bedroom home. Never have to worry about a power outage. Havent seen a electric bill in over 25 years.

I've been running a 60 litre beer camping fridge/freezer off a four x six volt Trojan 110ah bank for 11 years now, without a hitch. The battery's are fed off two 123 watt Sony (Japan) panels through a 30amp Morningstar regulator. Every component is at least 11 years old. The battery's like a drink of filtered water often (especially in summer), and a wet clean with baking soda and water twice a year. I'm always amazed at the longevity of those bloody heavy Trojan Fork Truck battery's. Surprised me years ago. For a simple dedicated fixed system like this, 24 volts is the way to go. Long 6mm copper feed down from the roof is acceptable, because of the voltage, the little compressor fridge motor works much better off the higher voltage than it did when I ran it on a boat at 12 volts. I've also got a Latronics (Aussie quality) 24V inverter that can back up my meat freezer, and the fridge upstairs, in the rare event of a mains outage here. I set this up, with battery's on a bench, everything else up on the wall, in 2010, and it's been faultless. Beers are always cold, and I don't have to pay for another refrigerator. 🍻

The alternator overheating is solved by a External Regulator monitoring the temp of the alternator and adjusting amp output accordingly. Hit the major points perfectly!

Great video, but to carry twice the DC current, you need twice the copper area which means that the copper only needs to be square root of two (~1.41) times as thick. But your point is correct in that you do need twice the copper, so it is roughly twice as expensive...

There isn't a video of yours that I don't learn from. Amazing info as I will get your book now to learn more from. Cheers mate.

I want to commend you on your videos...I have watched a few of them and I have found that I really enjoy them...Good job!

Keep up the good work. Great info/detail as always.

Boy, am I ever learning a lot. I have your book now and am watching all your vids that I can find. This video showed me I need 24 volt set up, not 12. I was going to go with Lithium but after watching video after video I may just go with lead acid at 24. (Class C motor home). Now I have to figure exactly what solar wattage to put on top. This project starts in 5 weeks so you are helping me move along nicely. (I hope)

I'm gonna need to watch this a couple times. Oh Crap! All the information that I have been searching for - from video to video and YOU covered it all in a clear and concise focused video. Thank you!

Hey Will we need an updated video of this, showing 12,24,36,48v battery systems and all benifits of cables sizes needed and charge controllers, people look up to you on KZfaq to provided detailed videos for solar setup and how safe you keep people from making dangerous setups, you are leading the way for off grid solar which makes up of 86% of all residential solar users, also you need more videos showing more information on solar panels :) keep up the good work happy 4th of July

I love all your videos. I'm glad this one came up in the suggestions though because I was wondering why my battery wasn't getting a charge. I neglected to realize that I had 12v panels in parallel with a 24v battery. I have now put the panels in series/parallel, hopefully this fixes my problem.

We've used a 24v system in our off grid house and other buildings for almost 10 years, and it's worked great. We're in the mountains in Colorado, so don't need air conditioning, but we use a regular 120v fridge, chest freezer, washing machine, household vacuum cleaner, etc.. We cook and heat water with propane, and heat with wood. I take care of my flooded lead batteries, and the initial set of golf carts lasted 6+ years. The set of L16s should last 15 years or so. Lithium was still out of our price range, or we would have gone that route. Nice video.

Man i love watching ur vids im 50 yrs old and im learning from u so great job.

Your videos are awesome! From a sunny Cape Town South Africa and the countries current energy crises this is helping me so much!

If you have over 2500 -3000 watts. It's better to go 24v or 48v, it doesn't hurt to get a backup inverter either, I have a 5kw inverter, 24v with 42v oc panels, I'm planning on adding about 2500watt plus, in panels, due to distance, I will be running about 90v oc. I have a smaller 12v battery bank, for my 12v lighting, over 100ah, LiFePo4, I also have backup equipment, I'm building a DC generator to to charge my backup lead acid Bank. And have a charger to charge my lithium bank from it , in an emergency, it can do 150 amps @ 30 volts! I hope to eventually go a week without sun, but panels the shipping is costly!!

This video was deeply informative with regard to the decision that I’ve made that it was definitely going to be a 24 V system as opposed to a terrible system. But now I’m questioning whether I want to bump up to 48 V when it comes to my PV array. My system is being designed around an off grid tiny home on wheels that is essentially a whisper booth. All of the purposes and functions of a modern home hot water sewage treatment etc. The PV array is the primary energy input. I will also be putting in some additional wind generating power. Once the system is under way.

The last sentence (or 2nd to last) just clarified what I should do. Thanks :)

The facts and the truth behind every single step of the process. Very cool will. Your videos helped me to design my solar system. I appreciate the wealth of knowledge you deliver to KZfaq free of charge. Keep it up. Your good at it.

Hey Will. I think your great. Enjoy your clips. Would love to see more on bms and hooking them up etc. Have you heard of elite power solutions???

Man I Forgot How much I love your vids.

Super information!!!! Your videos are very informative and well edited to hit the valuable points! Thanks Will!

Thanks for the straight-forward, rubber meets the road information. I'll be buying your book. Thumbs up!

Exactly what I needed to know. Excellent discussion, thank you!

Amazing, I get so much out of these videos, thanks Will, It's interesting that I always leave it to just before bed before watching, its like Slow TV, but straight to the point, no fluff :)

very good video and I understood so much more than I usually do with these solar videos! Still feel a bit overwhelmed, there is so much to learn! Thanks for the help.

You're wickedly smart when it comes to solar knowledge, I wish you were my neighbor!!! Just bought my first REC 310w panel and trying to fit it with a charge controller.

I guess I see some other comments as well. So I'll say it. Give us more information on 48v system

Wow ! what power ! yea, ur smooth, consistent burst of knowledge, { really long one :) } without the umms and aaans did make me pause, rewind, and scramble for my pen and paper hehehe.... Truly amazing is the way you pour out your knowledge with such ease. Yes, as another viewer commented tht ur video works like a charm, i can not agree any less ! Thankyou Tonns junior ! :) love your unassuming manner of sharing. Keep it up, u r Blessed ! i will be getting your Book, Thankyou for sharing ... take care ...

You are literally my hero. Infinite gratitude. If I had any extra money I would give it to you

Great Stuff Mate...Your videos are Awesome...No beating around the bush, straight to the point and full of info... I've learned a lot from your vids. I'm almost ready to have a go at my own system now I understand better. 24v is the way to go ...Cheers mate, Much appreciated!

Good info. Everything you said was important information. I was contemplating what size system to get and I was leaning towards a 24 volt but still not sure. After watching this video I have decided for sure to get a 24 volt system. What sold me is the part where a 48 volt system can be deadly and 24 volts is not. Its nice to have the luxury of power, and the safety of a low voltage system. Plus I plan to do a medium size system.

Wish I can like this video twice.

Thank you Will. Your channel has helped me and many other people. You are awesome!

Thank you for the useful information, already going with 24v just waiting for it to arrive. You covered more than I thought I wanted to know, all this is new to me and trying to learn as much as I can. Thank you again 🐵👍

Thanks again, Will! I am gearing up to install a solar power system in my van to power some lighting and my laptop. This video answeres the question whether to go with a 12v or 24v system. BTW my OCD compels me to ask that you fix that twisted slat in the window. Hahaha Just kidding

This video made me subscribe keep it up

New to this channel. Hands down the best content and fantastically explained. I currently have a 6kw grid tied system. I’d like to hook up a battery bank to run my 220 water pump

Your videos rock! You have obviously found a way to do what you enjoy in life.

I switched from 12 to 24 due to many recommendations about the efficiency increase, but the step down transformer needed to run 12v appliances used more energy than what I was gaining by going to 24v. So there's that...

I’d love to hear you explain the pros/cons of using a 24v battery (50ah) vs two 12v batteries in series (50ah). Is there a preference? BB sells both so just curious. Thanks Will!

Samlex SDC-23 24v to 12v regulator here. I run my network and servers on a 24v system here. Battery bank is floated off shore power but solar backed. Just to help with power cost but mainly power outages. 24V bus alternators were generally oil cooled to keep from them from burning out under full constant load. There are air cooled versions available as well.