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electrical:solar:gentle_intro [2022/04/12 21:10]
frater_secessus [How solar power works] |
electrical:solar:gentle_intro [2022/04/12 21:18]
frater_secessus [Why daily?] |
| * **best-effort** power - you take what you can get from the sun and [[electrical:solar:rationing|minimize power consumption]] to make do. No household appliances, at least not often. | * **best-effort** power - you take what you can get from the sun and [[electrical:solar:rationing|minimize power consumption]] to make do. No household appliances, at least not often. |
| * **reliable power** - you //need// power to keep insulin refrigerated, keep your external heart bypass machine running, etc. Prepare yourself for added complexity and/or cost. | * **reliable power** - you //need// power to keep insulin refrigerated, keep your external heart bypass machine running, etc. Prepare yourself for added complexity and/or cost. |
| * **massive solar** - You can still collect usable solar power under very poor conditions if you have [[electrical:solar:overpaneling|a huge amount of panel]]. This may require "maxxing out" your roofspace, tilting the panels, or deploying additional portable panels. Such configurations may be [[electrical:solar:builds#w6|1000w or more]]. | * **massive solar** - You can still collect usable solar power under very poor conditions if you have [[electrical:solar:overpaneling|a huge amount of panel]]. This may require "maxxing out" your roofspace, tilting the panels, or deploying additional portable panels. Such configurations may be [[electrical:solar:builds#w6|1000w or more]]. One of the pleasant side effects of massive solar is that having //enough panel to meet needs in poor solar conditions// means //lots of bonus power in normal and good conditions//. You may be able to run [[electrical:solar:nonessential|non-essential loads]] without affecting your battery bank's [[electrical:depth_of_discharge|state of charge]]. |
| * **solar + other forms of charging** - Solar can work much better when augmented by [[electrical:12v:alt_and_solar|additional sources of charging]]. It can work so well that less solar might be required and overall cost reduced. | * **solar + other forms of charging** - Solar can work much better when augmented by [[electrical:12v:alt_and_solar|additional sources of charging]]. It can work so well that less solar might be required and overall cost reduced. |
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| This question usually means "how much //power// do I need?" and involves **making power**((solar, [[electrical:generator|generator]], [[electrical:12v:alternator|isolator]], [[electrical:shore_power|shore power]], etc)), **storing power**(([[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery|deep cycle battery]] bank)), and **using power**(([[electrical:12v:loads|12v loads]], [[electrical:inverter|inverter]] loads)). Unfortunately, you are the only person who knows how much power you will need, and even //you// may not know yet. :-) Strangers on the internet cannot tell you how much power you need anymore than they can tell you who to date or how many kids to have. | This question usually means "how much //power// do I need?" and involves **making power**((solar, [[electrical:generator|generator]], [[electrical:12v:alternator|isolator]], [[electrical:shore_power|shore power]], etc)), **storing power**(([[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery|deep cycle battery]] bank)), and **using power**(([[electrical:12v:loads|12v loads]], [[electrical:inverter|inverter]] loads)). Unfortunately, you are the only person who knows how much power you will need, and even //you// may not know yet. :-) Strangers on the internet cannot tell you how much power you need anymore than they can tell you who to date or how many kids to have. |
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| It's not fun but the first step in getting solar is to [[electrical:12v:intro#how_much_power_do_i_need|assess your daily power requirements]]. Until they sit down to do the math first-timers often have [[opinion:frater_secessus:beginner_mistakes#electrical_power|radically unrealistic ideas about power]] in the campervan. No, you probably won't be able to run a hair dryer, electric space heater, air conditioner, or instant pot off-grid. | It's not fun but the first step in getting solar is to [[electrical:12v:intro#how_much_power_do_i_need|assess your daily power requirements]]. Until they sit down to do the math first-timers often have [[opinion:frater_secessus:beginner_mistakes#electrical_power|radically unrealistic ideas about power]] in the campervan. You probably won't be able to run a hair dryer, electric space heater, [[hvac:solar_ac|air conditioner]], or instant pot from solar. |
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| **Note:** you can get a ballpark idea before crunching your own numbers by [[electrical:solar:builds|reviewing some existing solar installs]]. | **Note:** you can get a ballpark idea before crunching your own numbers by [[electrical:solar:builds|reviewing some existing solar installs]]. |
| ==== Why daily? ==== | ==== Why daily? ==== |
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| Power requirements are assessed as **daily** because solar power feeds the batteries((and [[electrical:12v:loads|loads]])) only in daylight. Then at night the 'dweller pulls power back out of the batteries. So a **minimal solar configuration** will | Power requirements are calculated **daily** because solar power feeds the batteries((and [[electrical:12v:loads|loads]])) only in daylight. Then at night the 'dweller pulls power back out of the batteries. This is natural rhythm of a solar-powered system. |
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| | So a **minimal solar configuration** will |
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| * meet your daytime needs | * meet your daytime needs |
| * then get you through the night without running out of power | * then get you through the night without running out of power or overdischarging the battery |
| * meet your needs again the next day **while also recharging the battery** | * meet your needs again the next day **while also recharging the battery** |
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| People who are off-grid for longer stretches will also have to think about [[electrical:solar:sizing#your_reserve_needs|reserve power]]. It's not so much an issue for recreational campers who will likely camp only in good weather, and can return home to charge in any case. | People who are off-grid for longer stretches will also have to think about [[electrical:solar:sizing#your_reserve_needs|reserve power]]. It's not so much an issue for recreational campers who will likely camp only in good weather, and can return home to charge in any case. |
