====== 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
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
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
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
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,
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
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
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
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
voltage is rarely useful in the field since:
- solar charging alone is rarely able to hit charge curre... ade by US Battery have "U" prefixes.((https://www.solarpaneltalk.com/forum/off-grid-solar/batteries-energy-storage/14996-trojan-t-105-vs-crown-235-and-what-s-wr... stilled water occasionally.
Common [[electrical:solar:charge_controller_setpoints|setpoints]] (check yo
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
t on current drawn by the house bank:((https://diysolarforum.com/threads/experiences-charging-lfp-from-al... 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/0.020m
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
l:generator|generator]] to get bulk stage going. Solar alone //might// be sufficient but it might require meaningful [[electrical:solar:overpaneling|overpaneling]].
* fully charge l