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
> A good solar system is one that meets //your// needs. -- jimindenver((paraphrased))
> "...trying to t... rvliving.com/forums/Thread-Too-much-or-too-little-Solar?pid=116253#pid116253)) (Bob from Cheap RV Living)
> Setting up solar that //works// is easy. Setting up solar that //works well// and //under challenging conditions// is mu
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
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
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
p://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-One-large-solar-panel-or-several-small-ones?pid=101801#pid101801))
====== Sizing a solar installation ======
Sizing **residential off-grid solar configurations** is relatively easy: calculate po... 0906013732/http://www.solarpowerforum.net/forumVB/solar-energy/1793-basic-off-grid-solar-design.html)) an
h?v=eTvXx9tBkuU|the AltE Intro to Electronics for solar]] video.
Before you spend money on making/storin... r]].((or doing something exotic like [[electrical:solar:shallow_cycling|shallow cycling]]))
===== H...
* **Easy to run** off a small [[lifestyle:faq_solar_generator|portable power station]]((which you wil... small ($) house power system: Example: 200w of solar and 100Ah of battery.
* Small [[food:refri
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
====== 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
stiff source with unlimited energy and time. Your solar is a very soft source of unknown power and only a... ng((https://www.solarpaneltalk.com/forum/off-grid-solar/batteries-energy-storage/299490-bulk-absorb-float... ))
====== Charging Deep Cycle Batteries ======
Solar charging setups cannot charge at night so the mos... /Full charge// means charging to the [[electrical:solar:charge_controller_setpoints|battery manufacturer'
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
w.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Troubleshooting-solar-issues?pid=343191#pid343191))
====== Is my solar working? ======
Note: for simplicity's sake this art... s [[electrical:nominal|nominal]] 12v [[electrical:solar:panels|panels]] and 12v [[electrical:12v:intro|house power]].
It is common for those with new solar configurations to worry about whether or not they
|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... hought)) Upsides include:
* greater [[opinion:solar:sizing.walkthrough#days_of_autonomy|autonomy]] when charging is absent or limited due to poor solar conditions
* supporting larger discharge curren
==
A common rule of thumb for sizing batteries to solar power relates nominal panel output in Watts to ba... tem is biased.
===== 1:1 =====
//1:1// == 200W solar + 200Ah battery bank.
This is generally considere... the minimum, as it can work fine in [[electrical:solar:output|sunny areas]] with light [[electrical:12v:... the sun is low and daylight short. [[electrical:solar:rationing|Power rationing]] may be necessary.
[[
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