Top 10 Beginner Mistakes When Building a DIY Solar System

Comments · 1.7K

• WI

  @WillProwse · 3 years ago (edited) · pinned

  Tools mentioned in the video (affiliate links):<br>Best Value Torque Screwdriver: <a href="https://amzn.to/3DEMqwb">https://amzn.to/3DEMqwb</a><br>Torque Wrench: <a href="https://amzn.to/3sEpuH8">https://amzn.to/3sEpuH8</a><br>(there is an insulated torque wrench out there, but it costs 20X as much (not joking). The options above are great for the price)<br>Basic Electrical Tools that I recommend: <a href="https://www.willapproved.com/tools.html">https://www.willapproved.com/tools.html</a><br><br>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br>Don&apos;t want to burn down your house? Need equipment you can actually depend on? Check out my latest &quot;Will Prowse Approved&quot; solar product recommendations here: <br><a href="https://www.willapproved.com/">https://www.willapproved.com/</a><br><br>Join our DIY Solar Community <br>Need more help? Join the largest solar forum on the internet for beginners and professionals alike:<br><a href="https://www.diysolarforum.com/">https://www.diysolarforum.com</a><br><br>Check Out My Free 12V DIY Solar Book<br>Best-selling and beginner-friendly guidebook to off-grid 12V solar!<br><a href="https://www.willapproved.com/the-book">https://www.willapproved.com/the-book</a><br><br>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br>Need to build a large DIY system? Need a trustworthy solar distributor? These are my favorites:<br><br>Signature Solar<br>Hybrid Inverters, Solar Panel Deals, Mini Splits and More!<br>If you want $50 off, please use my affiliate link below and coupon code &quot;DIYSOLAR50&quot;:<br><a href="https://signaturesolar.com/?ref=cPwLcVc0SW-BjN">https://signaturesolar.com/?ref=cPwLcVc0SW-BjN</a><br><br>Best Solar Bundles<br>These systems are cream of the crop. High voltage/ High performance/ Commercial and at incredibly low prices:<br><a href="https://bestsolarbundle.com/?ref=WILLIAMPROWSEIV&amp;variant=43645878468650">https://bestsolarbundle.com/?ref=WILLIAMPROWSEIV&amp;variant=43645878468650</a><br><br>Current Connected<br>Best Prices for EG4, Victron, Midnite and so much more! Fast Shipping and Highest Rated Customer Service:<br><a href="https://currentconnected.com/?ref=wp">https://currentconnected.com/?ref=wp</a><br><br><br>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br>Contact Information:<br>I am NOT available for personal solar system consult! If you wish to contact me, this is my direct email: williamprowsediysolar@<a href="http://gmail.com/">gmail.com</a><br>FTC Disclosure Statement and Disclaimers:<br>Every video includes paid promotion or sponsorship (such as free products for review). 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 <a href="http://amazon.com/">Amazon.com</a><br><br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3dNJAe8XEc">0:00</a> Intro<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3dNJAe8XEc&amp;t=14">0:14</a> #10<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3dNJAe8XEc&amp;t=81">1:21</a> #9<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3dNJAe8XEc&amp;t=173">2:53</a> #8<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3dNJAe8XEc&amp;t=236">3:56</a> #7<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3dNJAe8XEc&amp;t=336">5:36</a> #6<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3dNJAe8XEc&amp;t=414">6:54</a> #5<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3dNJAe8XEc&amp;t=531">8:51</a> #4<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3dNJAe8XEc&amp;t=589">9:49</a> #3<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3dNJAe8XEc&amp;t=735">12:15</a> #2<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3dNJAe8XEc&amp;t=869">14:29</a> #1

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• KE

  @kennethsantos6134 · 1 year ago

  Best advice I&apos;ve ever heard. &quot;Buy the more expensive STRIPPERS, if you buy the cheap ones you&apos;re gonna have a bad time&quot;.

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• SF

  @SFFrog · 2 years ago (edited)

  I&apos;m a retired electrician and can say that this was an excellent video. &nbsp;You don&apos;t just say what to DO or NOT DO, but, most importantly, you explain WHY. &nbsp;You are also teaching &quot;good practices&quot;. &nbsp;I am subscribing just because this video was so good that it will help me explain things to others properly, including being more concise. &nbsp;Thank you for exceptional work. 🙂👍

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• MY

  @MyWasteOfTime · 3 years ago

  From what I&apos;ve seen in my 15 years in solar, #1 should be &quot;Under Sized Cables&quot;

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• SU

  @sumbody2848 · 2 years ago

  One thing I would add as a beginner miskate, is wearing rings, watches or jewery when working on DC systems. It only takes a small mistake to put your hand across a Positive and Negative and you will get a serious burn and a hospital visit. Take of all metal when working. Cheers

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• BA

  @baloolamo1725 · 3 years ago

  As a controls engineer - Almost EVERY time I go in the field for construction inspections, the #1 problem is improperly seated and torqued cables. Will hit the nail on the head there. We formally call the pulling a &quot;tug test&quot;. Do one after terminating anything - making sure everything is de-energized.

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• WI

  @witness1449 · 3 years ago

  My &nbsp;first DIY &nbsp;system is working great. &nbsp;I over built everything especially the &nbsp;wire size. &nbsp;I built my system at about 50% of the capacity &nbsp;of my inverters. &nbsp;As a beginner I am one of the old school guys &nbsp;that soldered my battery cables. Used to do &nbsp;that as a heavy equipment mechanic 30 years ago. &nbsp;I never had one &nbsp;failure, &nbsp;but will probably invest in a crimping tool. &nbsp;It took me 18 months to save money and then install my ground mounted system. It was a &nbsp;big investment, but &nbsp;has been working flawlessly for 4 months now. It saves us &nbsp;about 40 % on our &nbsp;electric bill. &nbsp;I am only using about &nbsp;50% of my battery each day, and in an emergency could probably get about 30 hours out of my &nbsp;small system. Definitely adding more battery backup as soon as funds are available. &nbsp;Since we&apos;re retired and with limited income, &nbsp;it&apos;s &nbsp;difficult to have enough funds for large projects. Adding 10kw battery &nbsp;backup would be extremely beneficial to our system. At least we have &nbsp;a &nbsp;small &nbsp;emergency backup that we use everyday. &nbsp;I &nbsp;know that &nbsp;if I &nbsp;had the funds I would &nbsp;go completely off grid. <br>This solar power energy is addictive!<br>YOU JUST WANT MORE POWER. <br>Everyone I watch on YouTube has increased their systems at least twice. &nbsp;<br>Will, &nbsp;I appreciate your videos and &nbsp;applicable information on solar system and products. &nbsp;I used several &nbsp;valuable resources and information that you provided in the past 3 years. <br>Even at 71 I&apos;m still learning and exploring new opportunities to be more self reliant and independent <br>Thanks

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• CJ

  @cjsmith1760 · 3 years ago

  Advice from an old electrician. Making a connection. Jiggle the wire and retorque, especially stranded wire. Never twist the wire beyond the normal twist of the wire. A tight twist will relax and it&apos;s a matter of time you Will have a loose connection.

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• TR

  @TravisH1888 · 3 years ago

  To anyone questioning a crimp connection, I’m a substation electrician and the transmission line feeding your town right now has countless crimps on it.

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• M7

  @m7f7m7 · 3 years ago

  I am educating myself in solar and off grid living and I&apos;m sure you&apos;ve heard but just in case I will reiterate the fact that your presentations to me are the pinnacle of educational videos that I have viewed! Very in depth, easy to follow and comprehend as well as confidence building. Thanks for the education!

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• 4P

  @4philipp · 3 years ago (edited)

  You forgot the two most important ones<br>A) get reacquainted with the basics of (solar) electricity before a project<br>B) find or make a cheat sheet with checklist to keep handy when doing a project.<br>C) start with smaller project that don’t hurt as much financially in case of mistakes.<br><br>People, including myself need these refresher videos frequently

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• KL

  @klm404 · 3 years ago

  You have given me the information and the confidence to build my own system. &nbsp; Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

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