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lifestyle:faq_solar_generator [2019/02/11 20:56]
frater_secessus [specifications] |
lifestyle:faq_solar_generator [2019/10/21 22:55]
frater_secessus [best case scenario] |
| ====== So-called solar generators ====== | ====== solar generators ====== |
| |
| [[https://amzn.to/2MZhjzi|{{ https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51ug3IIF-zL._AC_US218_.jpg}}]] | [[https://amzn.to/2MZhjzi|{{ https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51ug3IIF-zL._AC_US218_.jpg}}]] |
| |
| Sometimes the term [[https://amzn.to/2WZ9mP5|jump pack]] is used for portable battery packs in general, but it often means packs intended to jump start a vehicle. [[https://amzn.to/2SvCHT3|Battery pack]] usually means small, pocketable "bricks" for charging phones and other small devices. | Sometimes the term [[https://amzn.to/2WZ9mP5|jump pack]] is used for portable battery packs in general, but it often means packs intended to jump start a vehicle. [[https://amzn.to/2SvCHT3|Battery pack]] usually means small, pocketable "bricks" for charging phones and other small devices. |
| | |
| | ===== best case scenario ===== |
| | |
| | The best use of these "generators" is |
| | |
| | * a person who camps on relatively short outings |
| | * who can charge from shore power when away from the camper |
| | * and who does not need to run devices in the camper when the owner is charging the unit |
| ===== specifications ===== | ===== specifications ===== |
| |
| Specs for these devices are often given in nonstandard or even misleading ways. The following discussion will use the Yeti shown above, although their product description is better than most. | Specs for these devices are often given in nonstandard or even misleading ways. The following discussion will use the Yeti shown above, although their product description is better than most. |
| |
| The 33Ah **capacity** lead-acid battery in the example above is stated as 400Wh. This is technically correct but mixes units in a way that consumers may not understand. Consumers may also not realize that lead-acid chemistries are usually only drawn down to 50% [[electrical:depth_of_discharge|depth of discharge]], giving an actual usable capacity of 16.5Ah. In addition, lead-acid battery [[electrical:12v:battery_capacity|capacities]] are measured over 20hrs, or a **20w** continuous load in this case. Loads greater than 20w will decrease apparent capacity. | The 33Ah **capacity** lead-acid battery in the example above is stated as 400Wh. This is technically correct but mixes units in a way that consumers may not understand. Consumers may also not realize that lead-acid chemistries are usually only drawn down to 50% [[electrical:depth_of_discharge|depth of discharge]], giving an actual usable capacity of 16.5Ah. In addition, lead-acid battery [[electrical:12v:battery_capacity|capacities]] are measured over 20hrs. With our example this means a **10w** continuous DC load in this case, or 9w from the built-in inverter. Loads greater than those will decrease usable capacity due to the [[https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjNo6ayjbXgAhXJwVQKHZ7xAmAQFjAAegQIChAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FPeukert%2527s_law&usg=AOvVaw0guPoMgsy0smO6ISiV1t32|peukert effect]]. |
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| In units with lithium batteries, the DC output of the device will be somewhere between 9v-12.6v due to the [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery#non-lifepo4_lithium-ion|voltage of li-ion chemistries]]. | In units with lithium batteries, the DC output of the device will be somewhere between 9v-12.6v due to the [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery#non-lifepo4_lithium-ion|voltage of li-ion chemistries]].((if LiFePO4 is eventually used in the devices then the voltage will be quite close to lead acid's voltage)) On the upside, they have almost no peukert effect and therefore can support heavier loads (at the expense of running time). |
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| You could run run [[electrical:12v:loads|a load]] at the **inverter's 300W normal rating** for ~36 minutes.((including 10% efficiency loss on inversion, but not including peukert effect)) Some manufacturers will list the inverter's peak output (600w in this case) in the title as if it were the amount of power the unit could deliver over time. New folk sometimes read this as "I can run 600w of appliances off the unit forever!", forgetting this is a //peak// load and that the unit has a finite capacity. | You could run run [[electrical:12v:loads|a load]] at the **inverter's 300W normal rating** for ~36 minutes.((including 10% efficiency loss on inversion, but not including peukert effect)) Some manufacturers will list the inverter's peak output (600w in this case) in the title as if it were the amount of power the unit could deliver over time. New folk sometimes read this as "I can run 600w of appliances off the unit forever!", forgetting this is a //peak// load and that the unit has a finite capacity. |
