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electrical:solar:gentle_intro [2022/04/12 20:58]
frater_secessus [How solar power works] bucket |
electrical:solar:gentle_intro [2022/04/12 21:10]
frater_secessus [How solar power works] |
| ===== How solar power works ===== | ===== How solar power works ===== |
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| Solar power uses [[electrical:solar:panels|solar panels]] to convert sunlight into electricity. This electricity goes into [[electrical:solar:charge_controller|solar charge controller]], which keeps the battery [[electrical:12v:charging|optimally charged]]((or attempts to!)) and powers any [[electrical:12v:loads|loads]] (things that consume power). It goes like this: | Solar power uses [[electrical:solar:panels|solar panels]] to convert sunlight into electricity. This electricity goes into [[electrical:solar:charge_controller|solar charge controller]], which keeps the battery [[electrical:12v:charging|optimally charged]]((or attempts to!)) and powers any [[electrical:12v:loads|loads]] (things that consume power). The controller extracts the exact amount of power your batteries+loads demand and no more: in effect the controller is //pulling// rather than the panels //pushing//. |
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| | Overall it is arranged like this: |
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| panels -> controller -> battery bank -> loads | panels -> controller -> battery bank -> loads |
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| Excess power is usually stored in a [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery|deep-cycle "house" battery]], which is separate from the vehicle's starter battery.((unless combined using [[electrical:12v:alternator#isolators|an isolator]], or running a [[electrical:solar:shallow_cycling|single-battery setup]])) [[electrical:12v:charging|Battery charging]] is a topic unto itself, and improper charging can [[electrical:batterycide|kill batteries prematurely]]. In broad terms... | Power is stored up in a [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery|deep-cycle "house" battery]] during daylight and the power is pulled back out at night. The house battery is electrically separate from the vehicle's starter battery.((unless combined using [[electrical:12v:alternator#isolators|an isolator]], or running a [[electrical:solar:shallow_cycling|single-battery setup]])) In broad terms... |
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| > "Think of the batteries as a bucket of electricity. It's possible to pour water from multiple sources into a bucket at the same time, and also to do that while water is leaking out of the bucket." -- MarkSF((https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f14/multiple-sources-of-dc-voltage-being-fed-to-battery-bank-246008.html#post3335865)) | > "Think of the batteries as a bucket of electricity. It's possible to pour water from multiple sources into a bucket at the same time, and also to do that while water is leaking out of the bucket." -- MarkSF((https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f14/multiple-sources-of-dc-voltage-being-fed-to-battery-bank-246008.html#post3335865)) |
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| | [[electrical:12v:charging|Battery charging]] is a topic unto itself, and improper charging can [[electrical:batterycide|kill batteries prematurely]]. |
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| Since it looks like magic, beginners tend to worry about [[electrical:solar:status#is_my_solar_working|whether or not their system is working]]. The solar setup is usually working as intended, and over time you will begin to learn how your system behaves. In the beginning you may watch it constantly(("solar tv")) then eventually need to check "the gauges" less and less often. At some point you will be able to predict what the system is doing before looking. | Since it looks like magic, beginners tend to worry about [[electrical:solar:status#is_my_solar_working|whether or not their system is working]]. The solar setup is usually working as intended, and over time you will begin to learn how your system behaves. In the beginning you may watch it constantly(("solar tv")) then eventually need to check "the gauges" less and less often. At some point you will be able to predict what the system is doing before looking. |
