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electrical:solar:frugal [2017/11/19 19:22] frater_secessus [reducing load] |
electrical:solar:frugal [2020/10/11 19:48] |
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- | ====== Making do with tiny solar setups ====== | ||
- | [this is a dump of a reddit post I made; will clean up later. fs] | ||
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- | ===== system sizing ===== | ||
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- | Large solar installs are can be useful but are overkill (in size, output and expense) for many campers. | ||
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- | Reduce the size of your solar install (panels, batteries) by running your loads [[electrical: | ||
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- | ==== increasing supply ==== | ||
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- | * Angle your panels to the sun if possible. | ||
- | * Avoid shade | ||
- | * keep the panel clean | ||
- | * ensure there is room under the panel for cooling breezes to flow | ||
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- | ===== solar panels ===== | ||
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- | used panels may be found on craiglist and similar. Since they are older they will usually be rated for somewhat less wattage (ie, state of the art a couple years ago) but will cost less and someone else has already paid the insane shipping fees. | ||
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- | {{ https:// | ||
- | Grade B panels are apparently fully functional, but cheaper because they are not pretty to look at. If they are on top of the van you won't be seeing them much anyhow. | ||
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- | if you have room for them, residential panels (like 60 cell, nominal 20v panels) typically are cheaper by the watt. 72 cell are even cheaper by the watt but don't fit on many builds due to their large size. | ||
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- | ===== charge controllers ===== | ||
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- | the Chinese " | ||
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- | ===== batteries ===== | ||
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- | FIXME | ||
- | ===== converter ===== | ||
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- | FIXME |