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--- electrical:solar:frugal [2017/10/15 18:12]
frater_secessus [batteries]
+++ electrical:solar:frugal [2018/06/16 22:17]
frater_secessus [Making do with tiny solar setups]
@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
+This page is more about making do with what you already have than about about what to buy if you are [[electrical:solar:gentle_intro|starting from scratch]].
 ===== system sizing =====
-Large solar installs are can be useful but are overkill (in size, output and expense) for many campers.  [[http://rvwiki.mousetrap.net/doku.php?id=electrical:solar:builds|100w and similar]] installs can work
+Large solar installs are can be useful but are overkill (in size, output and expense) for many campers.  Even [[http://rvwiki.mousetrap.net/doku.php?id=electrical:solar:builds|100w]] installs can work well, particularly [[electrical:12v:alt_and_solar|in combination]] with [[electrical:12v:alternator|alternator/"dual-battery" charging]].  [[electrical:solar:builds#w1|200w]] is the most common solar configuration on CRVL.
@@ Line 13: / Line 14: @@
-==== increasing supply ====
-  * Angle your panels to the sun if possible.  If hard mounted, face them to the south.
-  * Avoid shade
-  * keep the panel clean
-  * ensure there is room under the panel for cooling breezes to flow
-==== reducing load ====
-test
-  * Get used to turning loads off when they are not in active use. Add switches if necessary to prevent “parasitic” draws.
-  * turn down brightness on tablet, phone, TV, and laptop screens.
-  * cook and heat with propane instead of electricity
-  * Inverters
-    * minimize the use of inverters by using 12v appliances and adapters when possible
-    * turn inverters off when not in use
-    * size the inverter to meet the needs of your biggest loads.  Oversizing wastes power because bigger inverters have more parasitic draw.
-    * use MSW unless your intended uses need PSW;  MSW have lower parasitic draws.
@@ Line 49: / Line 27: @@
 ===== charge controllers =====
+You can eek out a bit [[electrical:solar:pwm_tweaking|more power from PWM]] or [[electrical:solar:shunt_tweaking|"shunt"]] charge controllers by tweaking their setpoints.
@@ Line 55: / Line 35: @@
 ===== batteries =====
+First off: box store marine, dual-purpose or "deep cycle" batteries are [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery#chain_store_batteries|not deep cycle]].  Can you use them if you already have them?  You bet.
+There is no magic way to increase the limited //performance// (capacity) of these batteries, but you can help them last longer.  Those with removable caps can be [[electrical:12v:charging#watering_batteries|watered]], which will extend their useful life.
+Drawing them down to only 80% State of Charge (also written as [[electrical:depth_of_discharge|20% Depth of Discharge]]) instead of deep cycle's 50% SoC may double their lifetime.  Secessus calls this [[electrical:solar:shallow_cycling|"shallow cycling"]].
-FIXME
+If you don't have a spare battery you can even [[electrical:solar:shallow_cycling|use your starter battery]] with various levels of success.
 ===== converter =====
+{{ https://www.circuitspecialists.com/content/image/110880/600/ps1-60w-sl12-0.jpg?200}}
+If you have an adjustable 12v power supply around you can make it into a dumb converter. In this pic the "pot" (potentiometer) is the orange plastic part near the connectors;  it's labeled Vadj for //voltage adjust//.  You can adjust output voltage((within reason, usually 10-15%)) by turning it with a small screwdriver.
+For deep cycling:  try setting it to a low Absorption voltage like 14v
+For shallow cycling:  try setting the output to a high Float voltage like 13.6v or so.

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