|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... ently than Pb, so less charging power is wasted. Solar charging in particular will act larger than it is... mentation|here]] - secessus]
Note: [[electrical:solar:pwm_tweaking|due to the relatively low voltages]]
ase
===== must I use the PS brand's proprietary solar panels? =====
No, you can use any panel that mee... pec. Consult the power station's [[lifestyle:faq_solar_generator#solar_charging_limits|solar ("PV") input specs]] and buy panel[s] whose [[electrical:solar:panels#specificatio
onsumes **29,000**Wh of power per day.
- A 100w solar panel on an MPPT [[electrical:solar:charge_controller|controller]] will harvest an average of:
* Chi... ter kettles
* electric space heaters
* [[hvac:solar_ac|air conditioners]]
* electric coffee makers
... nvested thousands of dollars in battery banks and solar, or run a [[electrical:generator|generator]]
Ele
among other names. ]
A configurable [[electrical:solar:charge_controller#shunt|shunt]] (single stage) co... tter performance.
There are three [[electrical:solar:charge_controller_setpoints|setpoints]] that inte... se. There are a couple reasons to [[electrical:solar:pwm_tweaking#the_controller_s_achilles_heel|use a... ithout affecting the battery much or [[electrical:solar:offthepanel|even at all]].
So if you are deep cy
shunt cannot be counted.**
Note: [[electrical:solar:status|Watching amps trail off]] at the end of le... to the app or directly to other Victron gear like solar charge controllers.((the Orion-TR is a notable an... d operate their [[https://amzn.to/2SuOYmr|SX-2030 solar charge controller]]. The monitor will still prov
nection).
TL;DR: **heating an RV from batteries/solar is impractical**.((with the exception of [[hvac:h... https://www.reddit.com/r/VanLife/comments/19emcl2/solar_for_800/kjhbdck/))
=== Gasoline Ventilated Heat... er 675 - 850btu/hr. 'Dwellers with [[electrical:solar:nonessential|excess solar power]] or access to shore power could use these without affecting the bank.
low //float voltages//((≤13.4v)), or [[electrical:solar:status#setups_with_no_float|no float at all]]
... cal:12v:b2b|DC-DC]] is present
* [[electrical:solar:charge_controller|solar charging]] (profiles, configurability, output rating, protections if any)
*... ical change from lead-battery charging.
===== solar charging =====
Here we need to be careful about
s written from the standpoint of the [[electrical:solar:charge_controller|solar charge controller]]. It affects all circuits to some degree and is not limited to solar. -- secessus]
In typical installs the charge con... And it may //not// be a problem since since
- solar-only charging is often low-current charging, mini
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
e Big Picture ======
There are many [[electrical:solar:sizing#calculators|calculators where you can plug... hoices affect what you will need.
See [[opinion:solar:sizing.walkthrough|this article]] for a sample wa... e numbers.
===== overall economics =====
Since solar is dependent on local conditions one has to size ... winter, high latitudes, bad weather. This means solar is relatively expensive when used alone where sol
ms of protection: BMS low temp charging shutoff, solar or DC-DC low temp charging cutoff, etc.(("belt an... a wash =====
With "soft" charging like a small solar setup it's a wash. a matter of preference and co...
With robust charging (alternator and/or bigger solar) there can be charging opportunities lost with se... y to measure bank temperature.
Some [[electrical:solar:charge_controller|solar charge controllers]] have
m is **missing opportunities to charge**. Having solar doesn't help if the panels aren't deployed, and t... of)) charge then the problem is likely too little solar harvest (see below) rather than too little batter... you can run the load in the daytime [[electrical:solar:offthepanel|off solar]] but not at night then the problem has more to do with **timing** than capacity.
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