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
> A good solar system is one that meets //your// needs. -- jimindenver((paraphrased))
> "...trying to t... rvliving.com/forums/Thread-Too-much-or-too-little-Solar?pid=116253#pid116253)) (Bob from Cheap RV Living)
> Setting up solar that //works// is easy. Setting up solar that //works well// and //under challenging conditions// is mu
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
p://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-One-large-solar-panel-or-several-small-ones?pid=101801#pid101801))
====== Sizing a solar installation ======
Sizing **residential off-grid solar configurations** is relatively easy: calculate po... s://web.archive.org/web/20110906013732/http://www.solarpowerforum.net/forumVB/solar-energy/1793-basic-off
ected components) or pre-made ("power stations", "solar generators"). Regardless of your choice, ensure ... r]].((or doing something exotic like [[electrical:solar:shallow_cycling|shallow cycling]]))
===== H...
* **Easy to run** off a small [[lifestyle:faq_solar_generator|portable power station]]((which you wil... small ($) house power system: Example: 200w of solar and 100Ah of battery.
* Small [[food:refri
h this page was written with alternator-augmented solar charging in mind, the general principles also apply to solar+[[electrical:shore_power|shore power charging]] and solar+[[electrical:generator|generator]] charging. Also... ical:12v:power_mix|Deciding on a Power Mix]].
> Solar and DC-DC alternator charging are going to be the
====== 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
rested in DIY might want to read the [[https://diysolarforum.com/forums/diy-lifepo4-battery-banks.22/|DIY LiFePO4 Battery Banks subforum]] over on DIY Solar. You can also see the [[electrical:12v:lifepo4_b... cut-off, and internal heaters.
The [[https://diysolarforum.com/|DIY Solar Forums]] are a good place to check for updated info, as well as links to teardown re
w.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Troubleshooting-solar-issues?pid=343191#pid343191))
====== Is my solar working? ======
===== TL:DR =====
* if the **panel... troller is restricting panel power on purpose
* solar only makes power on demand; if the battery is ch... s [[electrical:nominal|nominal]] 12v [[electrical:solar:panels|panels]] and 12v [[electrical:12v:intro|ho
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
thinking in fractional days =====
[[electrical:solar:gentle_intro|Solar]] and [[electrical:12v:alternator|alternator]] charging are different.
==== alter... ther than 2.0 to get through the weekend.
==== solar ====
In any given 24hr period [[opinion:frater_secessus:beginner_mistakes#believing_solar_makes_zero_watts_in_rain_overcast_etc|solar will
will be difficult to tell. -- BB((https://forum.solar-electric.com/discussion/comment/191612#Comment_19... it probably would work fine -- BB((https://forum.solar-electric.com/discussion/comment/191612#Comment_19... 433MHz remote radio controlled plugs((https://diysolarforum.com/threads/what-really-requires-a-pure-sine... the 90° phase do not run well on MSW((https://diysolarforum.com/threads/what-really-requires-a-pure-sine
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... -daily**, or live in an area of poor [[electrical:solar:output|insolation]].
For many people [[electri
