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lifestyle:faq_solar_generator [2023/09/24 20:54]
frater_secessus [capacity] |
lifestyle:faq_solar_generator [2024/08/04 22:08] (current)
frater_secessus [solar input] |
| | ====== Solar generators ====== |
| Words of wisdom: "These aren't aimed at people that know what they are doing." -- [[https://www.reddit.com/r/vandwellers/comments/dr387z/500w_aimtom_rockpals_500_solar_generator_review/f6jc7lz/|LastTreeStar]] | Words of wisdom: "These aren't aimed at people that know what they are doing." -- [[https://www.reddit.com/r/vandwellers/comments/dr387z/500w_aimtom_rockpals_500_solar_generator_review/f6jc7lz/|LastTreeStar]] |
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| **TL;DR - These things are //EXTREMELY// expensive for the capacity, however they do offer a lot of convenience.** For those with plenty of money who value ease and speed over capacity and run-time, an argument can be made for these if your power needs are small-to-medium and you are only taking short trips in your vehicle. | ===== TL;DR ===== |
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| | **These things are //EXTREMELY// expensive for the capacity, however they do offer a lot of convenience.** For those with plenty of money who value ease and speed over capacity and run-time, an argument can be made for these if your power needs are small-to-medium and you are only taking short trips in your vehicle. |
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| ====== Solar generators ====== | |
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| [[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}}]] |
| These devices are packaged for convenience and are usually much more expensive than the components bought separately. Sometimes manufacturers use non-standard panel connectors to keep customers in an expensive "walled garden", referring to normal, non-proprietary panels as [[https://inergytek.com/pages/support|"off_brand"]].((COUGH [[https://amzn.to/2SpgjbR|inergy]] COUGH)) | These devices are packaged for convenience and are usually much more expensive than the components bought separately. Sometimes manufacturers use non-standard panel connectors to keep customers in an expensive "walled garden", referring to normal, non-proprietary panels as [[https://inergytek.com/pages/support|"off_brand"]].((COUGH [[https://amzn.to/2SpgjbR|inergy]] COUGH)) |
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| Less expensive "solar generators" may cut corners by using more basic batteries (AGM vs Lithium), cheaper inverters (Modified sine wave instead of pure sine wave), or less efficient solar charge controllers (PWM instead of MPPT). | Less expensive "solar generators" may cut corners by using more basic batteries (AGM vs Lithium), cheaper inverters (Modified sine wave instead of pure sine wave), or less efficient solar charge controllers (PWM instead of MPPT). These lower-end models tend to have very restricting charging limits not found on DIY systems. |
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| The overall proposition can be summed up by the title of a Bob Wells video, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFOZ6aetIPc|Should you Buy a Jackery Power Station? Super Easy but Super Expensive]]. | The overall proposition can be summed up by the title of a Bob Wells video, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFOZ6aetIPc|Should you Buy a Jackery Power Station? Super Easy but Super Expensive]]. |
| ---- | ---- |
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| | ===== troubleshooting ===== |
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| | see [[12v:sg_troubleshooting|this article]] |
| ===== Specifications ===== | ===== Specifications ===== |
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| === solar charging limits === | === solar charging limits === |
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| | also see [[12v:sg_troubleshooting#must_i_use_the_ps_brand_s_proprietary_solar_panels|this article]] on choosing panels for a SG |
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| Many smaller units have quite restrictive solar input limits. | Many smaller units have quite restrictive solar input limits. |
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| * **voltage** - 22Voc is a common voltage limit, effectively limiting one to [[electrical:solar:panels#panel_voltage|12v nominal]] panels. | * **voltage** - 24Voc is a common voltage limit, effectively limiting one to [[electrical:solar:panels#panel_voltage|12v nominal]] panels. **Input voltage limits must not be exceeded**. Note: some very large units have high input //minimums//, like 50v. |
| * **current** limit - 3A is a common input current limit on smaller, less-expensive units. With PWM controllers the max power harvestable will be 3A x [internal battery voltage], which can be as low as 9v. 9v x 3A 27w. MPPT controllers with the same limit might run the panels at 18v: 18v x 3A = 54w.((minus DC-DC conversion losses of ~5%)) | * **current** limit - 3A is a common input current limit on smaller, less-expensive units. 8A is a common limit on larger units. |
| | * With PWM controllers the max power harvestable will be 3A x [internal battery voltage], which can be as low as 9v. 9v x 3A 27w. **PWM input current limits must not be exceeded** |
| | * MPPT controllers with the same limit might run the panels at 18v, the Vmp: 18v x 3A = 54w((minus DC-DC conversion losses of ~5%)) MPPT incoming current limits can usually be exceeded; the controller will throttle back incoming current to hold the limit. The allowable amount of overpanel is [[electrical:solar:overpaneling#vs_charge_controller|well-documented with most standalone MPPT controllers]] but "power stations" are usually black boxes with no published overpanel spec. Proceed at your own peril. |
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| | == the Amp bottleneck == |
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| | Because the Amp limit is usually the limiting factor for MPPT power production. Selecting a panel with a Voc((//not// Vmp)) closer to the unit's input limit((with some headroom)) can make maximal power given the limitations. This is because for a given rated output like 100w a higher Vmp (volts) means a lower Imp (amps). |
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| | * 22.5Voc panel - Vmp ~18v.((Vmp is typically 0.8 of Voc)) 18v x 8A limit = **144w**. |
| | * 21Voc panel - Vmp ~16.8v. 16.8v x 8A limit = **134w**. |
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| ===== manufacturers ===== | ===== manufacturers ===== |
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| | [note: see [[https://www.reddit.com/r/vandwellers/comments/1cjab0x/popular_portable_power_stations_sorted_by_per/|this reddit post]] comparing larger units by Wh/$, etc. ] |
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| The most common "premium" brands are [[https://amzn.to/318LNad|Jackery]] and [[https://amzn.to/3tx8hh4|Goal Zero (Yeti)]]. [[https://amzn.to/3bVt6g9|Bluetti]] is also gaining traction with a loyal following, and there are less-famous brands like [[https://amzn.to/3cDSGW0|Rockpals]], [[https://amzn.to/3sd001L|ExpertPower]], [[https://amzn.to/3s4j7L9|Aimtom]], [[https://amzn.to/3qZtYET|Nexpow]], etc.((Cheaper units may be high-value rebadged units, or they may be lacking features. Read and understand [[lifestyle:faq_solar_generator#specifications|the specs]] so you know what you are buying.)) They tend to be named after the watt-hours((Wh)) of battery capacity((at 100% [[electrical:depth_of_discharge|DoD]], unrealistic)), or sometimes by the inverter output rating. | The most common "premium" brands are [[https://amzn.to/318LNad|Jackery]] and [[https://amzn.to/3tx8hh4|Goal Zero (Yeti)]]. [[https://amzn.to/3bVt6g9|Bluetti]] is also gaining traction with a loyal following, and there are less-famous brands like [[https://amzn.to/3cDSGW0|Rockpals]], [[https://amzn.to/3sd001L|ExpertPower]], [[https://amzn.to/3s4j7L9|Aimtom]], [[https://amzn.to/3qZtYET|Nexpow]], etc.((Cheaper units may be high-value rebadged units, or they may be lacking features. Read and understand [[lifestyle:faq_solar_generator#specifications|the specs]] so you know what you are buying.)) They tend to be named after the watt-hours((Wh)) of battery capacity((at 100% [[electrical:depth_of_discharge|DoD]], unrealistic)), or sometimes by the inverter output rating. |
