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opinion:frater_secessus:beginner_mistakes [2022/02/24 14:34] frater_secessus [Heating and Cooling] |
opinion:frater_secessus:beginner_mistakes [2022/08/21 20:10] frater_secessus [Mismatched panels] |
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For whatever reason, vandwelling attracts an outsized percentage of daydreamers, | For whatever reason, vandwelling attracts an outsized percentage of daydreamers, | ||
- | People | + | Those who have a good chance at successful ' |
- | * people who have camped or backpacked and liked it | + | |
- | * people who are self-motivated | + | |
- | * people who are disciplined | + | |
- | * people who can figure things out for themselves | + | |
- | * people who know basic cooking | + | |
- | * people who have good DIY skills and fix-it/ | + | |
+ | * Have camped or backpacked and liked it | ||
+ | * Have good DIY skills and fix-it/ | ||
+ | * Know basic cooking and are okay with simpler foods | ||
+ | * Are instinctive " | ||
+ | * Are very organized and good at planning | ||
+ | * Are flexible when things don't go according to their plan | ||
+ | * Are okay with being alone for long periods of time (introverts) | ||
People who are less likely to adapt to the life: | People who are less likely to adapt to the life: | ||
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* the "high maintenance" | * the "high maintenance" | ||
* social media addicts | * social media addicts | ||
- | * People | + | * Those who don't like having to understand |
- | * people who make little effort and want to be spoon-fed | + | |
* stoners, daydreamers, | * stoners, daydreamers, | ||
* those that need internet access 24/7 | * those that need internet access 24/7 | ||
- | * people who can't or won't take care of themselves | ||
* the easily bored | * the easily bored | ||
* people who need constant excitement, crowds, " | * people who need constant excitement, crowds, " | ||
* picky eaters | * picky eaters | ||
+ | Further reading: | ||
===== Planning ===== | ===== Planning ===== | ||
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Having no solar at all is generally an unforced error for vandwellers. | Having no solar at all is generally an unforced error for vandwellers. | ||
+ | ==== believing 100w of panel will make 100w all day long ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | The 100w panel will make 100w in a lab in test conditions. | ||
+ | |||
+ | - the panel will rarely make anywhere close to 100w((under normal conditions)) | ||
+ | - the max power it //does// make will be around local solar noon. Before and after that power will be less. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Example: | ||
+ | |||
+ | ^ Time ^ Watts ^ | ||
+ | |6:02a |0w| | ||
+ | |7:02a |15.9w| | ||
+ | |8:02A |32.8w| | ||
+ | |9:02A |48.7w| | ||
+ | |10:02A |62.3w| | ||
+ | |11:02A |72.8w| | ||
+ | |12:02A |79.39w| | ||
+ | |**1:02p** - local solar noon |81.7w| | ||
+ | |2:02 |79.5w| | ||
+ | |3:02p |72.9w| | ||
+ | |4:02p |62.5w| | ||
+ | |5:02p |48.9w| | ||
+ | |6:02p |33.1w| | ||
+ | |7:02p |16.2w| | ||
+ | |8:02p |0w| | ||
+ | |||
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+ | See the //not enough panel// section below. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== shade ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[electrical: | ||
==== Worrying ==== | ==== Worrying ==== | ||
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Don't get me started on people **flat-mounting poly/mono flex panels to the roof of their van**. | Don't get me started on people **flat-mounting poly/mono flex panels to the roof of their van**. | ||
+ | |||
+ | === mixing different panels === | ||
+ | |||
+ | Mixing differently-rated panels will always be sub-optimal. | ||
=== Panel types and controllers === | === Panel types and controllers === | ||
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Understand that **efficiency is a relationship between rated output and physical panel size**: | Understand that **efficiency is a relationship between rated output and physical panel size**: | ||
This means **if you have limited space you will get more power out of of the same space using higher-efficiency panels**. | This means **if you have limited space you will get more power out of of the same space using higher-efficiency panels**. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Mismatched panels ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Mismatched panels (different voltage or current [[electrical: | ||
+ | |||
+ | * running // | ||
+ | * run different-spec panels on their own controller | ||
+ | |||
+ | If you are committed to running mismatched panels on the same controller see [[https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | === on MPPT controllers === | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | The math for mismatched series max power on MPPT((https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | (Vmp panel 1 + Vmp panel 2) x lowest Imp of either panel | ||
+ | |||
+ | In parallel, | ||
+ | (Imp panel 1 + Imp panel 2) x lowest Vmp of either panel | ||
+ | |||
+ | === on PWM controllers === | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Because PWM runs panels at ~Vbatt, the math mismatched series max power on PWM is | ||
+ | |||
+ | battery voltage x lowest Isc of either panel | ||
+ | |||
+ | In parallel, mismatched voltages won't make much difference unless one is lower than bank voltage. | ||
+ | |||
+ | (Isc panel 1 + Isc panel 2) x battery voltage | ||
+ | |||
==== Not enough panel ==== | ==== Not enough panel ==== | ||
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Let's address two issues: | Let's address two issues: | ||
- | Yes, there are situations where zero solar is part of a workable power plan but they are rare.(([[electrical: | + | Yes, there are [[electrical: |
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | For [[electrical: | ||
The majority of ' | The majority of ' | ||
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Buying "more panel than you need" usually costs extra money directly (panel cost * quantity) and indirectly (may need a bigger controller). | Buying "more panel than you need" usually costs extra money directly (panel cost * quantity) and indirectly (may need a bigger controller). | ||
+ | |||
+ | Having said all that, you can have too much [[electrical: | ||
==== Relying on tilt ==== | ==== Relying on tilt ==== | ||
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* tilt advantage is reduced or nonexistent in poor weather conditions. | * tilt advantage is reduced or nonexistent in poor weather conditions. | ||
- | * tilt only makes a difference when the sun is relatively low in the sky (in winter, and/ | + | * tilt only makes a difference when the sun is relatively low in the sky (in winter, and/ |
* tilt advantage is greatest when the amount of power available is least, as at sundown | * tilt advantage is greatest when the amount of power available is least, as at sundown | ||
* if you feel bad, lazy, hungover or otherwise unwilling to get out and tilt your panels every time you will not meet your basic needs | * if you feel bad, lazy, hungover or otherwise unwilling to get out and tilt your panels every time you will not meet your basic needs | ||
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==== Failure to add alternator charging ==== | ==== Failure to add alternator charging ==== | ||
- | [[electrical: | + | [[electrical: |
- run more loads; and/or | - run more loads; and/or | ||
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Yes, you can have too much battery. | Yes, you can have too much battery. | ||
- | Most people use lead-chemistry batteries and carrying around unneeded lead is both heavy and expensive. | + | Most people use lead-chemistry batteries and carrying around unneeded lead is both heavy and expensive. |
Exotics like [[electrical: | Exotics like [[electrical: | ||
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* believing one can be 100% stealth and not be noticed; and | * believing one can be 100% stealth and not be noticed; and | ||
* believing the opposite, that one cannot tilt the balance in one's favor of not being kicked out of a spot | * believing the opposite, that one cannot tilt the balance in one's favor of not being kicked out of a spot | ||
+ | * staying in one spot for days/ | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
- | ---- | ||
===== Money ===== | ===== Money ===== | ||
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Good advice can save time, money, and heartbreak. But getting good advice is not simple or even natural. We have to slow down and force ourselves to think about the issues, our questions, the existing body of knowledge, the answers we receive. | Good advice can save time, money, and heartbreak. But getting good advice is not simple or even natural. We have to slow down and force ourselves to think about the issues, our questions, the existing body of knowledge, the answers we receive. | ||
The most important thing is no matter what advice you get or take, **it's your life and you have final responsibility for it**. Your decisions are your own. Make them wisely. | The most important thing is no matter what advice you get or take, **it's your life and you have final responsibility for it**. Your decisions are your own. Make them wisely. | ||
- | ===== Wanting | + | ==== wanting personal attention from an internet-famous person |
+ | |||
+ | No, Bob Wells and or Will Prowse will not answer your plea in person. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ==== wanting | ||
{note: | {note: | ||
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==== Wanting easy answers ==== | ==== Wanting easy answers ==== | ||
- | Easy answers are rarely //correct// or //useful// answers. | + | Easy answers are rarely //correct// or //useful// answers. In real life "one weird trick!" |
Q. What is the best [fill in the blank? | Q. What is the best [fill in the blank? | ||
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* [[opinion: | * [[opinion: | ||
* when you hit a wall //then// ask for help. No one likes leeches, princesses, helpless snowflakes, or the lazy who expect others to do the work for them. | * when you hit a wall //then// ask for help. No one likes leeches, princesses, helpless snowflakes, or the lazy who expect others to do the work for them. | ||
- | * express your request as clearly and simply as possible | + | * express your request as clearly and simply as possible, including what you intend to accomplish |
- | * indicate what you do know, [[opinion: | + | * shouldn' |
- | * use human-readable style. | + | * indicate what you do know, [[opinion: |
- | * write a concise and specific title. | + | * write a concise and specific title. |
+ | * write the post in normal, human-readable style. | ||
+ | |||
> I am always surprised to see some people demanding the time of others and meeting a most obliging response. Both sides have in view the reason for which the time is asked and neither regards the time itself — as if nothing there is being asked for and nothing given. | > I am always surprised to see some people demanding the time of others and meeting a most obliging response. Both sides have in view the reason for which the time is asked and neither regards the time itself — as if nothing there is being asked for and nothing given. | ||
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* is the responder an idiot, a druggie, a zero-experience dreamer, a poorly-informed blowhard, a black/white thinker? | * is the responder an idiot, a druggie, a zero-experience dreamer, a poorly-informed blowhard, a black/white thinker? | ||
* is the advice upvoted/ | * is the advice upvoted/ | ||
+ | * is the advice commented on favorably by onlookers whose opinion you value? | ||
* does the responder have experience and/or training in the area? | * does the responder have experience and/or training in the area? | ||
* does the responder expect you to believe him/her as gospel? | * does the responder expect you to believe him/her as gospel? |