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opinion:frater_secessus:beginner_mistakes [2022/03/31 12:44] frater_secessus [Failure to add alternator charging] |
opinion:frater_secessus:beginner_mistakes [2022/08/23 17:23] frater_secessus [believing 100w of panel will make 100w all day long] |
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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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* [[http:// | * [[http:// | ||
- | ---- | + | ==== Wanting to charging from EV charging stations ==== |
+ | |||
+ | While most things are technically // | ||
+ | |||
+ | Further reading: | ||
+ | |||
+ | * [[https:// | ||
===== Solar ===== | ===== Solar ===== | ||
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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| | ||
+ | |||
+ | See the //not enough panel// section below. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== believing solar makes zero watts in rain, overcast, etc ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Solar rarely makes //zero// watts. I find that at local solar noon at lower latitudes my flat-mounted panels make: | ||
+ | |||
+ | * 5%-10% of rated power in **thunderstorms and dark overcast** | ||
+ | * 20%-30% of rated power in **normal full overcast** | ||
+ | * 33%-50% of rated power in **bright overcast** | ||
+ | * 75%-90% of rated power under **full sun** | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ==== 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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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 panel((or string)) | + | Having said all that, you can have too much [[electrical: |
==== Relying on tilt ==== | ==== Relying on tilt ==== | ||
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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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* [[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? |