I’m not a licensed electrician. I’m not a solar installer. I’m a guy who bought a camper, looked at the single lead-acid battery that came with it, and thought — there has to be a better way.

So I built a dual LiFePO4 battery bank. I upgraded the solar charge controller. I learned what MPPT means, why wire gauge matters, and why a properly sized fuse can save your rig from a very bad day. I made mistakes along the way and I learned from every single one of them.

That’s what this site is about.

Project Solar DIY exists because when I was starting out, most of the information I found was either too technical, too expensive, or aimed at people installing whole-house systems with a $50,000 budget. I just wanted to run my lights and charge my phone without plugging into a campground hookup.

If you’re in that same place — curious about solar, maybe a little intimidated, not sure where to start — you’re in the right place. Everything on this site is written the way I wish someone had explained it to me. Plain English, real numbers, honest opinions.

I’m learning alongside you. When I figure something out, I write about it. When I make a mistake, I write about that too. No pretending to be an expert I’m not.

My wife Lorrie and I spend as much time as we can in our camper — we have five camping trips booked for this season alone and counting. Every trip teaches me something new about what works, what doesn’t, and what I’d do differently next time.

That real-world experience is what drives the content here. Not theory. Not spec sheets. Just honest, practical guidance from someone who’s actually out there doing it.

Welcome to Project Solar DIY. Let’s grow our power together. ☀️