I have always been fascinated by renewable energy, but when I moved into my grandma’s old cabin in Mendocino, CA, it wasn’t my top priority. The cabin came with a small off-grid solar setup, but I was more focused on abstract concepts like “peace” and “beauty.” Initially, I was satisfied with the single 12-volt battery that I had. It forced me to live a simple life without many electronics, which was actually a good thing. I was able to use my laptop, a few lights, a small speaker, and a phone charger with the limited power available. Since there was no cell service, my phone never died, and I used kerosene lamps to read at night. It turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. Eventually, I decided to upgrade my battery bank, mostly for the learning experience. However, I had no idea where to start. I soon realized it was more complicated than I initially thought. One of the first things I learned was the importance of understanding how lead-acid batteries work before messing around with a battery bank’s wiring. I asked around for information, found some outdated solar books from the local library, and used my phone to research batteries when I had cell service. I ended up buying cheap marine or “deep cycle” batteries from the local hardware store based on a new employee’s recommendation. Looking back, he probably didn’t know the difference between car batteries and marine batteries just like I did. Fortunately, my research helped me choose the right batteries, which were designed to have a longer reserve capacity. However, it took me a while to realize my mistake. I didn’t know the difference between a series connection and a parallel connection, which caused the failure. In a series circuit, the current through each component is the same, and the voltage across the circuit is the sum of the voltages across each component. On the other hand, in a parallel circuit, the voltage across each component is the same, and the total current is the sum of the currents through each component. Since I wired my batteries in series, with one 12 volt battery and one 12 volt inverter, I ended up with a 24 volt battery bank. However, my inverter operated on a 12 volt battery bank, so I made a mistake. I should have wired the batteries in parallel at 12 volts to match my inverter. Alternatively, I could have purchased a 24 volt inverter to match my 24 volt battery bank, but that would have been more expensive. I’m still not sure if I caused any damage to my solar equipment. Thankfully, my grandma seems understanding and believes in learning through experience. After this mishap, I decided to seek proper education in solar installation. I wanted to make things right at the cabin and prove to myself that I could figure it out. That’s when I came across Unbound Solar. I’ve always been interested in pursuing a career related to sustainable living, with solar being my top choice. I’ve had experience in biodynamic farms and sustainable plumbing companies, where I noticed solar arrays at every beautiful job site. By chance, I joined the Unbound Solar team in July 2016 and eventually found myself in the technical support department. It’s ironic because I often help people who are going through the same failed experiments I did. Solar installation and maintenance require a lot of time, patience, and effort. I learned this the hard way and hope to share my knowledge with our customers. I have great respect for our customers who face challenging installations, and I’m grateful to be in a position to help not only my grandma but also other off-the-grid enthusiasts trying to live independently.
