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--- electrical:solar:gentle_intro [2022/04/12 21:13]
frater_secessus [How much solar do I need?]
+++ electrical:solar:gentle_intro [2022/05/13 10:56]
frater_secessus [solar ready]
@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 Solar is not a magic bullet;  it is a compromise like anything else.  **Solar has very high startup costs for the amount of power you get out of it.** It could cost several thousand dollars to get the same amount of reliable power one might might get from [[electrical:shore_power|a residential (or campsite) outlet]] with a $20 extension cord. Over time, though, the power is "free".
-Getting //some// power from solar is easy.  Getting //reliable// power from solar alone is challenging (and expensive) because solar harvest is greatly affected by [[electrical:solar:output|real-world conditions]]:  latitude, season, shade, temperature, battery voltage, etc.  A crude rule of thumb might be meaningful solar harvest is possible only when the sun is throwing well-defined shadows on the ground.
+Getting //some// power from solar is easy.  Getting //reliable// power from solar alone is challenging (and expensive) because solar harvest is greatly affected by [[electrical:solar:output|real-world conditions]]:  latitude, season, shade, temperature, even battery voltage.  It's bit harsh but you need to hear it early on:  //you won't be getting 100w out of a 100w panel//, and //you won't be getting it for 8 hours a day//.
+A crude rule of thumb might be meaningful solar harvest is possible only when the sun is throwing well-defined shadows on the ground.
 ===== How solar power works =====
@@ Line 57: / Line 60: @@
   * **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.
-    * **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.
@@ Line 73: / Line 76: @@
 ==== Why daily? ====
-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 the solar feeds the batteries((and [[electrical:12v:loads|loads]])) only in daylight.  Then at night the system pulls power back out of the batteries. This is natural rhythm of a solar-powered system.
+A **minimal solar configuration** will
   * 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**
 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.
@@ Line 117: / Line 121: @@
 ==== solar ready ====
-RVs that are sold as "solar ready" typically have a connector and wiring from Zamp.  It is more apt to call it "Zamp solar kit ready" as normal panels cannot be attached to the Zamp port. Here is [[https://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f221/a-frame-solar-ready-71071.html#post740529|Zamp's description of Solar Ready]].
+RVs that are sold as "solar ready" typically have a connector and wiring from Zamp.  It is more apt to call it "Zamp solar kit ready" as normal panels cannot be attached to the Zamp port. Here is [[https://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f221/a-frame-solar-ready-71071.html#post740529|Zamp's description of Solar Ready]], which uses panels with built-in controllers.
 It is been judged harshly by some users:

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