voltage to specific charging voltage [[electrical:solar:charge_controller_setpoints|setpoints]] and limit... ion as it might seem since lead-acid [[electrical:solar:status#in_absorption|current acceptance drops sub... ach day.)) This is where [[electrical:12v:alt_and_solar|a bit of solar helps with the long-duration duties]].
DC-DC chargers are often triggered by the IGN cir
Resource: [[electrical:solar:gentle_intro|gentle intro to solar]]
====== Solar for car and SUV dwellers ======
Solar power can be extremely helpful for car dwellers, especially those
estyle:words_of_wisdom|Words of wisdom]]: //"Any Solar is better than no solar, but having too much solar is difficult. The best solar systems are those which can keep the batteries the happiest. Happy batteri
t can affect that." -- Cariboocoot((https://forum.solar-electric.com/discussion/comment/152013#Comment_152013))
====== Factors affecting solar panel output ======
For various reasons **it wil... under great conditions, and much less under poor solar conditions. And about half of that in winter.
=... location and season both have profound effects on solar harvest. [[opinion:frater_secessus:panelsizesfori
====== Solar panels ======
Solar panels, also called photovoltaic (PV) panels, produce DC power from sunlight to cha... The panels can be used single or in [[electrical:solar:series vs parallel|series or parallel]] arrays.
... n oversimplification, admittedly)) a [[electrical:solar:charge controller|charge controller]] is placed b
fair amount of the bulk charging done and let the solar finish it off the rest of the day. -- jimindenver... ]] batteries healthy, so [[electrical:12v:alt_and_solar|combining with solar]] is common
[[opinion:frater_secessus:pareto|about these summaries]]
===== overvi... eply discharged
* when [[electrical:12v:alt and solar|combined with solar]] or some other higher-voltag
w.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Troubleshooting-solar-issues?pid=343191#pid343191))
====== Is my solar working? ======
Note: for simplicity's sake this art... s [[electrical:nominal|nominal]] 12v [[electrical:solar:panels|panels]] and 12v [[electrical:12v:intro|house power]].
It is common for those with new solar configurations to worry about whether or not the
|DIY LiFePO4 Battery Banks subforum]] over on DIY Solar. You can also see the [[electrical:12v:lifepo4_b... al heaters.
The [[https://diysolarforum.com/|DIY Solar Forums]] are a good place to check for updated in... hought)) Upsides include:
* greater [[opinion:solar:sizing.walkthrough#days_of_autonomy|autonomy]] when charging is absent or limited due to poor solar conditions
* supporting larger discharge curren
nsive (and maybe impossible) get Big Current with solar alone and difficult (or even impossible) to compl... on alternator alone. But [[electrical:12v:alt_and_solar|small amounts of both combine]] to make a workabl... expensive charging system.
For this reason the solar + alternator combination is the most common and e... rnator-only charging** [[electrical:12v:mandatory_solar|can work with lithium banks]] but for technical r
return to the [[electrical:solar:output|solar harvest]] article or [[electrical:solar:output#insolation|insolation subsection]]
====== PVWatts ======... ps://pvwatts.nrel.gov/index.php|PVWatts]] to find solar harvest estimates for a particular place, month,
concurrent charging source]] for an alternator is solar.
**Example**: Let's assume the same 14.0v alternator output and solar contribution that pushes up Vbatt by 0.3V
* I=... v-**13.0v**)/0.020mR = 1.0v/0.020mR = 50A without solar
* I=V/R = (14v-**13.3v**)/0.020mR = 0.7v/0.020mR = 35A with solar
Note: this occurs because alternators are volta