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--- electrical:12v:power_mix [2023/10/21 19:59]
frater_secessus [Power mix]
+++ electrical:12v:power_mix [2024/04/13 18:15]
frater_secessus [portable solar]
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 [[electrical:12v:alternator|Alternator charging]] is usually the biggest bang-for-buck charging offgrid.((bulk stage charging, at least))  It is automatic((unless you are using a manual switch, not recommended)) and will charge whenever you are driving.  **Consider the alternator as the backbone of your charging if you drive daily or near-daily**.
-For many people [[electrical:12v:alternator#combiners|a plain combiner]] (relay, solenoid, VSR, "isolator") will be cheap and highly effective for [[electrical:12v:charging#bulk_stage|Bulk charging]].
+For many people [[electrical:12v:alternator#combiners|a plain combiner]] (relay, solenoid, VSR, "isolator") will be cheap and highly effective for [[electrical:12v:charging#bulk_stage|Bulk charging]]. Direct charging like this will often be most efficient in early morning [[electrical:12v:alternator#charging_current_patterns|when bank voltage is the lowest]].
 However, some cases suggest a more expensive [[electrical:12v:b2b|DC-DC charger]] setup:
@@ Line 21: / Line 22: @@
   * suggested if you want more of a hands-off approach
+DC-DC charging tends to have the same current output all through Bulk stage, no matter what the bank voltage is.
+**Alternator-only charging** [[electrical:12v:mandatory_solar|can work with lithium banks]] but for technical reasons solar or shore-power charging is usually required with lead batteries.
@@ Line 33: / Line 36: @@
 Having panel permanently mounted on the vehicle can be a quality of life upgrade;  it is charging anytime the sun is falling on them.
-**Consider mounted solar as a backbone of your charging if you spend a lot of time in open areas** with good insolation.  Camping in non-forested areas, for example.
+**Consider mounted solar as a backbone of your charging if you spend a lot of time emplaced in open areas** with good insolation.  Camping in non-forested areas, for example.
@@ Line 45: / Line 48: @@
 ==== portable solar ====
-Portable solar can work alone, augment the mounted panel((seperate controllers)), can be placed in sun, and can usually be angled for maximal harvest.
+[[opinion:frater_secessus:portable_panels|Portable solar]] can work alone, can augment the mounted panel((separate controllers)), can be placed in sun, and can usually be angled for maximal harvest.
-**Consider mounted solar as a backbone of your charging if you spend a lot of time in areas of shade adjacent to areas with clear sun**.  In a forest with canopy openings, for example.
+**Consider portable solar as a backbone of your charging if you spend a lot of time emplaced in areas of shade adjacent to areas with clear sun**.  In a forest with canopy openings, for example.
   * must be set out to work
   * works well - when set out in the sun, especially when tilted toward the sun.
-  * works poorly - when not deployed
+  * works poorly - when not deployed, like for people who move a lot or who do not diligently set up / take down the portables.
+One way to **predict if you will reliably set up the portables**:  how full is your vehicle's gas tank and your phone battery right now?  If you are a "never let it get low" type you will likely set out portables consistently.  If you are a "always running on [E]mpty" type you are less likely to set out the portables. This is a not a moral judgement, but rather a way to help assess whether or not portables would be a good source of power for your use case.

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