FoldArray

08/31/2026

Getting the Most From Solar & Batteries
I have been on a trek to see if I could outsmart the power company and I think I have found the key. I installed solar on the roof at the end of 2024. Then I added battery backup right before the end of 2005, catching Federal rebates before the window closed. My original goal was to insulate myself from power outages/shortages in pursuit of my prepping goals. Ultimately, create a system that could potentially go for weeks at a time and support modest usage if a true, widespread and ongoing grid failure were to happen.

I can talk about why I feel this is a necessary precaution, the politics of why I think this way and other preps I have an interest in at another time.

The real reason for this post is to share what I have found with the (at least) 6 other homeowners in Tanglewood that have solar and battery backup that I can see from the street. I presume there are more.

It's all in the math.
I have been keeping an exotic Excel chart ever since I went solar and it has guided me to these conclusions. I have known for some time that solar alone is not enough and that is why I started a side company called FoldArray (solar) during the time my principal business was shut down thanks to Covid. Just yesterday, I ran across an excellent article (see EnergySage link below and watch the video) that outlines much of what I have come to discover.

Now for a tease.
I am on my 3rd electric plan with Reliant and it is not what I would have expected in the beginning. It started 3 months ago as I tweaked my usage and how I handle my system. I use 2024 as my reference year before I started the upgrades and my June power bill was $ 660.81. This year June was $57.45 and it gets better.....

Home battery backup systems offer a quieter, cleaner, lower-maintenance alternative to a generator, and you don’t need solar panels to install one. But does it make sense for your home?

12/27/2022

A LARGER SYSTEM FINDS A HOME

I don't always think to take photos but this one deserves some recognition. This client wants to be able to power up two disconnected structures and have substantial redundancy. This is the equivalent to our Elite System plus additional inverter package. He can swap out components for a variety of robust configurations but most of all, have the support of two inverters.

When shopping around, he checked out the many 'solar generator' packages out there and made the comment, "They are all just too shiny." He rejected the 'shiny' features like slick packaging and bluetooth monitoring for our system that just gets the job done and done well. He also checked out component shops like Beene Brothers but wanted a system that was tested and ready to go instead of the DIY approach. He came to us for the substantial ruggedness of our welded carts and thoughtful layouts.

One last note. He did the math. He used three Kill-A-Watt energy usage monitors over several days and had really accurate numbers to plug into my Energy Chart. This, along with a 2Kw sine wave gas inverter/generator for cloudy days assured him that he was truly prepared for an extended power outage. This guy even has a whole-house propane generator but realizes the limitations of feeding it and that is why he was shopping solar in the first place.

12/27/2022

Meet Niki. She wants to be our official mascot. There are several systems around the house and she has spent time on all of them. The other cats could care less.

10/31/2022

FoldArray Systems Power Bounce House

This bounce house had a 1400-watt blower. The FoldArray solar panels in the background were providing 850 of those watts and the batteries made up the rest. We hooked it in about an hour into the 3-hour event and it easily made it to the end. You can just see the black cord connecting the two. The inflatable ghost was on it as well.

10/31/2022

FoldArray Systems Power Bigfoot Halloween Fair Event

This system was used without solar panels to power up inflatables and more on a trail for a Bigfoot Treasure Hunt. We left it in the open to show how we use the system. The second battery pack was backup and if you look closely, it is not powered on. The first set of batteries finished the day with no problem.

04/19/2022

How much solar can you expect to get in a day? The rule of thumb is 6 hours. Sure, the sun is up for 10 hours or more but compared to peak output of a solar panel system, that averages to just 6 hours. I also monitor other people's systems using Outback's OpticsRE online interface and the chart below is from one of them in Louisiana. This is a 3Kw system which can sell back to the grid. Notice how the total amount of solar is 18.1Kwh (6 hours x 3Kw) but only one of those hours is anywhere near the full 3Kw level. And this was a regular sunny day. This is the curve I built into my chart on my previous post to give an honest accounting of energy transfer.

04/19/2022

When I invite comparisons to others products, I say "Do the math." Now I can help with that. There are two pages on the website that you can visit to see or make real world comparisons. Go to foldarray.com/comparisons to see a heads up chart of the differences between my approach and theirs. I list eight of the most popular systems that are in the top of their categories. If you truly want to do the math, I have just posted an excellent Excel chart that you can use for free. I have not seen anything like it anywhere else and you can truly measure the performance of an inverter solar and even gas generator system or combinations of these on an hour-by-hour basis. Look for it here: http://foldarray.com/Energy-Chart

04/19/2022

It has been a minute but things are still moving forward. I was notified today that I have been granted a third patent on the FoldArray portable solar panel system. The first was on the entire system as a whole and the two latter ones cover specific aspects of the system. Now I know what they mean by "Covered by one or more of the following patents." 😎

03/03/2022

EVERYTHING IS GOING UP.
I purchased enough inverters, charge controllers, wiring, steel and the rest for 10 rigs late last year. I just went to order more steel and it has gone up 42%. If you are on the fence about purchasing one of my units, now will be better than later. I will hold the line on remaining units from that batch but the next ones might be higher. Consider my current 20% off list pricing and possible 26% more off your taxes. (I am not an accountant. Please see your tax professional to find out if your particular situation allows the refund.)