Cheap Solar Kit Panel, Running Node with free electrical Cost

[Sarah Azhari]

I just know that running full-node bitcoin is only cost 0.48kWh electrical each day.

So when I calculate how many watts we need for 24 hours: ... watt x 24/1000 = 0.48, then I got 20 watts.

So, we look back on online shops In my country, I can buy Cheap Solar Kit Panel 20 Watt with only cost $50 - $60,
and when I look in amazon store, I only spend about about $37.

That is quite big difference in price, but It is not my focus, we can search for more cheapest.
So, with lots of sun on Asia, especially on my country where the sun shines every day, we have to take advantage of this, right?

When you read the article I shared above, I need electrical costs $45.55 each year. This means when I bought 1 time that Cheap Solar Kit Panel, I can save for a lifetime, I don't spend $45.55 each year again, and maybe I have maintained the battery with a warranty for several years.

What is your thought?

(Correct Me If I am wrong about calculation and cost.)
but, my point is we can save more money with solar kit panels.

[1714228651]

1714228651

[SeriouslyGiveaway]

You can combine your solar approach to have cheap electricity cost with [Guide] How to run a Bitcoin Core full node for under 50 bucks!

[20kevin20]

I think most of the price difference comes from the fact that your country sells the kit with battery included and the Amazon link you posted is a product that doesn’t include one. It may be worth the electricity savings if you get a good quality solar panel and a long-lasting battery. From my experience, all cheap solar panel kits stopped working after months or the battery didn’t last at all anymore so take that into consideration as well.

[Dunamisx]

I just know that running full-node bitcoin is only cost 0.48kWh electrical each day.

Running a full node is not having power as it's challenging factors for now than other requirements that are needed to run a full node, aside from having a steady power supply which i believe this solar panels generating source could produce an output satisfactory enough in that regards, then the computer system required and its specifications, the storage space, the technical aspects also is there to consider in knowing how to run a bitcoin full node, i will say that this is just an introductory aspect of begining to learn how to run a full node since running it cannot be power demanding as such needed with bitcoin mining.

[stompix]

(Correct Me If I am wrong about calculation and cost.)
but, my point is we can save more money with solar kit panels.

Let's assume you pay 10 cents per kWh, at 0.48kwh a day you're going to pay $17.5 a year, so nowhere near that.
Second, that's a 20w maximum panel, it doesn't mean it can really produce 20wats but in perfect conditions, second thing is that just because the sun is shining again it's not optimal production from 7 am till 9 pm, best cases are around 8 hours of peak production per day. So you'e going to need 3 of those 20watts panels and a battery to store the extra energy generated during the day and needed during the night.

So from a one-time payment of $37 versus a yearly payment of $45 you're going to have one upfront payment of $111 versus a yearly payment of $17.5 before battery costs. It kind of changes things, right?

[LeGaulois]

I wanted to invest in solar panels a few months ago for my house.

I did some searchs, visited shops, listened sellers. ect... Well like any potential customer...
There are a lot promises but little truth. Especially in the figures they give. Some even calculate profitability on the basis that it's sunny in the middle of the night. LOL

@stompix says the truth, a 20w panel won't give you 20w. Also they sell a lot of bad quality products but even if you pay the high price you won't get 20w, that's for sure.

[Bitcoin_Arena]

Beware that there are a lot of counterfeit solar products in the market. So when you are looking at buying something that looks cheap, look out for its quality or else you will end up looking to replace or repair it after a year, which kind of makes it more expensive than the electricity you have been trying to dodge. Just like you have already been advised, you are going to need bigger or more panels and bigger storage if you are to run that node constantly throughout. This also ensures the storage batteries don't completely drain out, as it takes time to recharge back to full potential.

[Sarah Azhari]

From my experience, all cheap solar panel kits stopped working after months or the battery didn’t last at all anymore so take that into consideration as well.

probably because none of the leading and well-known manufacturers are producing solar panels, like Samsung, Mitsubishi, Apple, or any kind of good company, I just hear my local company aka a little company called, MSMEs are producing solar panel. so we don't know yet the quality of a product.

Your calculation are inaccurate due to 2 reasons,
1. The article use $0.26/kWh as price electricity, while yours is $0.095/kWh[1].
2. We don't know how much electricity used by your device. If you use single board computer (such as Raspberry Pi[2]) or laptop which designed to use very low energy, your potential saving per year become lower.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_pricing
[2] https://raspi.tv/2019/how-much-power-does-the-pi4b-use-power-measurements

That is still a rough estimate, maybe next if I have the funds I will make an accurate in how much cost and watts I need. while I know once charging laptop is need 60 – 180 watts.

@stompix says the truth, a 20w panel won't give you 20w. Also they sell a lot of bad quality products but even if you pay the high price you won't get 20w, that's for sure.

how difficult to get green energy to save the earth besides saving money too. This means this is not recommended if we buy a set directly?, or should be purchased separately?.

This also ensures the storage batteries don't completely drain out, as it takes time to recharge back to full potential.

if not possible, I might running node at noon where the sun shines brightly without using the battery. But it's risk when rain coming, so that it can cut off the power supply

[Jet Cash]

My problem with running a node as a digital nomad is not the electricity, but the internet connection. Using intermittent public WiFi is one solution, but that has its own problems. A WiFi hotdspot introduces anothe cost into the equasion.

[nc50lc]

So, we look back on online shops In my country, I can buy Cheap Solar Kit Panel 20 Watt with only cost $50 - $60,
and when I look in amazon store, I only spend about about $37.

It's not enough and probably dangerous due to the subpar quality specially that PWM generic charger controller which doesn't have proper protections.

Here's what I can say about each parts:

Set: The kit doesn't even come with a power inverter so you'll have to make use of the battery and/or charger controller's 12v output.

Solar panel: As others have mentioned, the power output is just too low.
In comparison, my 320W (160W+160W parallel) panels can only produce about 180W~200W at noon and 60W~120W of power in early morning and afternoon until 3 or 4PM. (sunny weather)
Not to mention, it usually drops extremely low if it's too cloudy, you'll likely get 1W on cloudy weather.
BTW, I installed them two years ago for a "test" and still working today (BOSCA Brand).

Battery: You can only safely drain that kind of "SLA battery" down to 50% or it'll end up broken within months.
It's based from self-experience since I've once busted a 100Ah SLA battery in just 4months by directly connecting 2pc 12v LED lights that are running about 18hrs/day
(even until the voltage drops below 11.6v)

Your very small battery can only provide you 3.5Ah x 12v which is about 42Wh of stored power (more if you'll push it to 30%).
So after "daylight", you'll only have 42Wh before your battery drain down to critical levels.

Overall, If you want to solar power your RPi node, buy at least 120W solar panel, MPPT solar charger controller and bigger LiFePO4 battery enough to run the load when there's no sunlight.
Because it's not just the output of the panels but also the capacity of the battery and the panel's capability to top it up while being used/bad weather.

[ABCbits]

--snip--

That is still a rough estimate, maybe next if I have the funds I will make an accurate in how much cost and watts I need. while I know once charging laptop is need 60 – 180 watts.

60 - 180 watts seems high for laptop, unless you actually refer to watt stated on your laptop power adapters. Your average laptop should use 60W or less when running CPU intensive task.

[CODE200]

Beware that there are a lot of counterfeit solar products in the market. So when you are looking at buying something that looks cheap, look out for its quality or else you will end up looking to replace or repair it after a year, which kind of makes it more expensive than the electricity you have been trying to dodge. Just like you have already been advised, you are going to need bigger or more panels and bigger storage if you are to run that node constantly throughout. This also ensures the storage batteries don't completely drain out, as it takes time to recharge back to full potential.

Was looking for someone if they've mentioned about product quality and you did mentioned it because if there's no mention of that I would've said something about that because from my experience cheap products tend to be on the low quality side of things and in this case it's a solar panel with the batteries, my neighbor bought a small-window size (forgot the size of the panels) and about 2 or 3 weeks of use, battery leaked and they have to call poison control because of the noxious smell so yeah, if OP plans to buy that panels, make sure that you follow what @Bitcoin_Arena is talking about, make sure that quality is in decent levels.

[stompix]

That is still a rough estimate, maybe next if I have the funds I will make an accurate in how much cost and watts I need. while I know once charging laptop is need 60 – 180 watts.

60 - 180 watts seems high for laptop, unless you actually refer to watt stated on your laptop power adapters. Your average laptop should use 60W or less when running CPU intensive task.

He probably meant it for charging, a 30-150W range would be normal nowadays for charging a laptop despite probably the large chunk of it being in the 30-45W. But for running a node, you won't be needed a gaming laptop so the actual power draw on law tasks is well below 20W, I have still my old Thinkpad and the last time I tested it it was at 10-15W with a node and a VPN server running.

Overall, If you want to solar power your RPi node, buy at least 120W solar panel, MPPT solar charger controller and bigger LiFePO4 battery enough to run the load when there's no sunlight.

And when the cost start adding up and he needs that upfront he will realize that not only it's far better to run it on the grid but also, it's better to let others do it. Despite all these barriers when it comes to a simple piece of equipment that still needs 24/7 there are still some who think mining with 3kw gear is still economically feasible with huge government grants. Some need a slap down to eath and reality more often.

My problem with running a node as a digital nomad is not the electricity, but the internet connection. Using intermittent public WiFi is one solution, but that has its own problems. A WiFi hotdspot introduces anothe cost into the equasion.

Still munching on free wi-fi, are we? 
I was thinking of that a few weeks ago when I realized the restaurant one block away is changing the passwords daily and they add new QR codes to the menu every day for customers.

[Ojima-ojo]

Are you for real because everything I read from this thread is made up of unrealistic facts m,  is either you don't know what you are saying about the electricity needed to run a full node or you simply are manipulating stories.


But the battery and the matter can't generate your electricity,  without an inverter and with the list posted there is no inverter included,  so what exactly are you trying to say right now?