Off-Gridder Upgrades Solar Power System

Off-Gridder Upgrades Solar Power System Gary Mull began his solar journey more than 13 years ago. Starting with a small solar panel, lead-acid batteries and a controller, he taught himself to build solar-powered systems. About 10 years ago, he went off-grid (Vol. 45, No. 3). Since then, he’s continued to refine and expand his system, converting from lead-acid to lithium battery packs from the online provider Big Battery. “I’ve added more solar panels on the array for the house and boosted my battery storage to 20 kWh,” says Mull. “As lithium batteries have fallen in price, they’re actually cheaper than lead-acid.” One of Mull’s first projects was installing 1,500-watt solar panels on a golf cart’s roof, something he now does for others as a side business. He recently upgraded the golf cart’s storage to 10 kWh with lithium batteries. “If necessary, I could use my golf cart to power my house for 24 hr,” says Mull. “I also have the option of recharging the golf cart batteries with the house system or from a separate ground-based solar array.” He can also use the golf cart to pull the mower he converted to electric power. While he had earlier converted a tiller to run on its own battery pack, the mower simply plugs into the golf cart. He installed Husqvarna e-motors and an e-bike controller he bought on eBay. “I can mow for 3 1/2 hr straight, recharge with the solar panel on top of the cart, and I’m ready to go by late afternoon,” says Mull. Recently, he added yet another backup system by converting a 2-WD Yamaha ATV to battery power. He used the electric drive from an old Raven MPV7100 hybrid lawn tractor, which he received in exchange for a front-end alignment. The MPV7100 had a gas engine with a generator to power the electric driveline; however, the electric motor was shot. “I pulled the Yamaha engine and rear end out,” says Mull. “I put two Big Battery Eagle 2 battery kits in place of the engine. They provide 32 amp-hours of power. The kits fit the frame perfectly, with heavy-duty straps and super-clean wiring. At $2,000, they were the most expensive part of the repower.” Mull built brackets under the ATV to install a 1,000-watt Husqvarna electric motor and the Raven’s two-speed rear end. Mull also made adapter plates for the Raven hubs to mount ATV wheels. “The ATV has the same charging port I have on all my lithium battery packs,” says Mull. “I can charge it off my home system or the golf cart, and it’ll easily do 25 mph.” Mull considers the backup available from the golf cart and the ATV a fail-safe should a hurricane with cloudy weather reduce power to the house from its solar array. “I installed a solar-powered battery system for another fellow locally,” says Mull. “When we had a recent power outage, he and I were the only ones in the parish with lights on.” Mull does custom solar installations and is building solar roofs for golf carts. He has about 20,000 followers across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. He’s a strong believer in Big Battery systems and includes links on his sites to discounts on the company’s products. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gary Mull, 1465 Hwy. 471, Colfax, La. 71417 (ph 318-290-1661; garychevymull1972@gmail.com; www.facebook.com/gary.mull.75).

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