RV and vandwellers wiki

User Tools

Site Tools

Trace:
lifestyle:faq_solar_generator

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revision Previous revision
Next revision 		Previous revision
Next revision Both sides next revision
lifestyle:faq_solar_generator [2020/05/20 11:39]
frater_secessus [Charging from solar panels] 		lifestyle:faq_solar_generator [2020/10/26 11:49]
frater_secessus [solar generators] added wells video
Line 14: Line 14:
    
 These devices are packaged for convenience and are usually much more expensive than the components bought separately.  Sometimes manufacturers use non-standard panel connectors to keep customers in an expensive "walled garden", referring to normal, non-proprietary panels as [[https://inergytek.com/pages/support|"off_brand"]].((COUGH [[https://amzn.to/2SpgjbR|inergy]] COUGH))  These devices are packaged for convenience and are usually much more expensive than the components bought separately.  Sometimes manufacturers use non-standard panel connectors to keep customers in an expensive "walled garden", referring to normal, non-proprietary panels as [[https://inergytek.com/pages/support|"off_brand"]].((COUGH [[https://amzn.to/2SpgjbR|inergy]] COUGH)) 
 +
 +The overall proposition can be summed up by the title of a Bob Wells video, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFOZ6aetIPc|Should you Buy a Jackery Power Station? Super Easy but Super Expensive]].
  
 The terms //solar generator// and //generator alternative// are marketing terms with no real meaning:  the units do not //generate// power. The terms //solar generator// and //generator alternative// are marketing terms with no real meaning:  the units do not //generate// power.
Line 25: Line 27:
   * a person who camps on relatively short outings   * a person who camps on relatively short outings
   * who can charge from shore power when away from the camper   * who can charge from shore power when away from the camper
-  * and who does not need to run devices in the camper when the owner is charging the unit+  * and who does not need to run devices in the camper when the owner is charging the unit elsewhere
 ===== specifications ===== ===== specifications =====
  
Line 54: Line 56:
 ====Charging from solar panels==== ====Charging from solar panels====
  
-Charging these devices from solar panels will probably be [[electrical:solar:output|slower than you might expect]].   +Charging these devices from solar panels will probably be [[electrical:solar:output|slower than you might expect]]:
- +
  
-  * in the absence of an [[electrical:solar:charge_controller#mppt|mppt controller]]((sometimes present on higher-end devices)) [[electrical:solar:output#charge_controller_type|panel output is hamstrung by battery voltage]].  You may see a device listing 60w max input but specifying a 100w panel for use with it, and now you know why. +  * in the absence of an [[electrical:solar:charge_controller#mppt|mppt controller]]((sometimes present on higher-end devices)) [[electrical:solar:output#charge_controller_type|panel output will be hamstrung by battery voltage]].  You may see a device listing 60w max input but specifying a 100w panel for use with it, and now you know why. 
   * devices with 3S lithium cells will hamstring the panels even worse((3S Li voltage can be as low as 9v, and maxxes around 12.5v.))   * devices with 3S lithium cells will hamstring the panels even worse((3S Li voltage can be as low as 9v, and maxxes around 12.5v.))
   * long wire runs (as seen with portable panels set outside) result in voltage drops   * long wire runs (as seen with portable panels set outside) result in voltage drops
lifestyle/faq_solar_generator.txt · Last modified: 2024/02/05 18:50 by princess_fluffypants

Page Tools

Except where otherwise noted, content on this wiki is licensed under the following license: CC Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International

affilliate disclosure

CC Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International Donate Powered by PHP Valid HTML5 Valid CSS Driven by DokuWiki