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electrical:solar:gentle_intro [2020/06/24 20:13]
frater_secessus [battery] |
electrical:solar:gentle_intro [2021/02/06 12:41]
frater_secessus [limitations of solar] added other sources |
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| Solar is not a magic bullet; it is a compromise like anything else. **Solar has very high startup costs for the amount of power you get out of it.** It could cost several thousand dollars to get the same amount of reliable power one might might get from a residential (or campsite) outlet with a $20 extension cord. Over time, though, the power is "free". | Solar is not a magic bullet; it is a compromise like anything else. **Solar has very high startup costs for the amount of power you get out of it.** It could cost several thousand dollars to get the same amount of reliable power one might might get from a residential (or campsite) outlet with a $20 extension cord. Over time, though, the power is "free". |
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| | More specifically, **solar-only charging** can be unnecessarily difficult and expensive because of the [[electrical:solar:output|many factors]] that can reduce solar harvest. [[electrical:12v:alt_and_solar|Additional sources of charging]] can be added to increase resilience and decrease cost. |
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| **[[electrical:solar:rationing|Minimizing power consumption]] is key** to happiness with a simple, affordable solar setup. It requires a change in mindset for most folks. Electrical power becomes a precious resource to be carefully consumed. The **path to frustration** (or at least considerable expense) involves [[hvac:solar|heating or cooling with electricity]] or trying to run household appliances in a van. | **[[electrical:solar:rationing|Minimizing power consumption]] is key** to happiness with a simple, affordable solar setup. It requires a change in mindset for most folks. Electrical power becomes a precious resource to be carefully consumed. The **path to frustration** (or at least considerable expense) involves [[hvac:solar|heating or cooling with electricity]] or trying to run household appliances in a van. |
| > "...trying to take the comfort level you had in a house into your mobile life [is] tough to do for a boondocker." -- akrvbob((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Too-much-or-too-little-Solar?pid=116253#pid116253)) | > "...trying to take the comfort level you had in a house into your mobile life [is] tough to do for a boondocker." -- akrvbob((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Too-much-or-too-little-Solar?pid=116253#pid116253)) |
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| The amount of power a solar configuration outputs is [[electrical:solar:output|greatly affected by things like latitude, season, shade, temperature, and even battery voltage]]. | The amount of power a solar configuration outputs is [[electrical:solar:output|greatly affected by things like latitude, season, shade, temperature, and even battery voltage]]. A crude rule of thumb might be meaningful solar harvest is possible only when the sun is throwing well-defined shadows on the ground. |
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| Since it looks like magic, beginners tend to worry about [[electrical:solar:status#is_my_solar_working|whether or not their system is working]]. It usually is. | Since it looks like magic, beginners tend to worry about [[electrical:solar:status#is_my_solar_working|whether or not their system is working]]. It usually is. |
