Both sides previous revision
Previous revision
Next revision
|
Previous revision
Next revision
Both sides next revision
|
electrical:solar:sizing [2019/02/08 12:21] frater_secessus [Sizing a solar installation] |
electrical:solar:sizing [2019/02/08 13:01] frater_secessus [simple system] |
====== Sizing a solar installation ====== | ====== Sizing a solar installation ====== |
| |
In **normal, non-vehicle off-grid solar configurations** the sizing is done for your power needs in the worst case scenario (December in your geographical area):((https://web.archive.org/web/20110906013732/http://www.solarpowerforum.net/forumVB/solar-energy/1793-basic-off-grid-solar-design.html)) | Sizing **residential off-grid solar configurations** is relatively easy: calculate power needs in the worst case scenario (December in a particular geographical area)((https://web.archive.org/web/20110906013732/http://www.solarpowerforum.net/forumVB/solar-energy/1793-basic-off-grid-solar-design.html)) and pay for it. |
| |
| - worst case scenario [[electrical:12v:loads|loads]] (the max loads you will apply in any 24hr period((or at any given time, if you plan to run heavy loads))) |
| - worst case scenario sunlight, usually December in your geographical area due to shortest daylight hours |
| - days of reserve (ie with no solar charging) you want |
| - whether or not you have access to other forms of charging: [[electrical:shore_power|shore power]], [[electrical:12v:alternator|alternator]], [[electrical:generator|generator]] |
| - These factors will tell you size of the system needed. If the system you need will not physically fit on/in your vehicle, you will have to take a different approach. |
| |
- worst case scenario loads (the max loads you will apply in any 24hr period) | |
- worst case scenario sunlight, usually December in your geographical area | |
- these factors will tell you the **cost of the install** | |
| |
| |
This also works for 'dwellers building relatively minimal solar power systems where one is not using all the available roofspace for panels. | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
The first step in (and difficult part of) designing a solar setup for your camper is to **understand your real power needs**. For most people running on solar power only (as when [[camping:dispersed|boondocking]]) will require a **resetting of expectations**. | The first step in (and difficult part of) designing a solar setup for your camper is to **understand your real power needs**. Most people running on solar power //only// (as when [[camping:dispersed|boondocking]]) will need to **reset expectations** to be more in line with reality. |
**Necessities** like charging phones, LED lighting, fans, etc. are easy to power. \\ | **Necessities** like charging phones, LED lighting, fans, etc. are easy to power. \\ |
**"Niceties"** like coffee makers, toasters, hot plates, and microwaves require big/costly setups. \\ | **"Niceties"** like electric coffee makers, toasters, hot plates, induction cooktops, and microwaves require big/costly setups. \\ |
Some **luxuries** like A/C are impractical on typical solar installs and are therefore relegated to [[electrical:shore_power|shore power]] or [[electrical:generator|generator]] scenarios. | Some **luxuries** like [[hvac:solar_ac|A/C]] are impractical on typical solar installs and are therefore relegated to [[electrical:shore_power|shore power]] or [[electrical:generator|generator]] scenarios. |
| |
See also some [[electrical:solar:builds|descriptions of working solar setups]]. | As a sanity check of what's actually being done out there, here is a list of some [[electrical:solar:builds|descriptions of working (rather than theoretical) solar setups]]. |
===== your daily power needs ===== | ===== your daily power needs ===== |
| |
| |
If Joe is willing to [[#augmenting_solar|augment his solar with another charging source]] he can significantly reduce panel and charge controller requirements. The battery bank would stay the same; it just gets filled by more than one source. | If Joe is willing to [[#augmenting_solar|augment his solar with another charging source]] he can significantly reduce panel and charge controller requirements. The battery bank would stay the same; it just gets filled by more than one source. |
| |
| ===== maxxed system ===== |
| |
| If you FIXME |
| |
| |
===== real solar installations ===== | ===== real solar installations ===== |
| |
See the [[electrical:solar:builds|self-reported capabilities of real life configurations]]. | See the [[electrical:solar:builds|self-reported capabilities of real life configurations]]. |