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electrical:12v:alt_and_solar [2024/03/31 17:05]
frater_secessus [how alternator charging helps] 		electrical:12v:alt_and_solar [2025/01/07 12:10] (current)
frater_secessus [how alternator charging helps]
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 Alternator charging is extremely powerful and cheap compared to typical solar installs.  It works best when solar works worst:  when the batteries are deeply discharged in the morning.  The sun is weak then but the bank needs a large supply of current (early [[electrical:12v:charging#bulk_stage|Bulk charging]]).   Alternator charging is extremely powerful and cheap compared to typical solar installs.  It works best when solar works worst:  when the batteries are deeply discharged in the morning.  The sun is weak then but the bank needs a large supply of current (early [[electrical:12v:charging#bulk_stage|Bulk charging]]).  
  
-[[electrical:solar:charge_controller#pwm|PWM]] controllers are especially hamstrung in this scenario;  since they run the panels at battery voltage (Vbatt) they produce the least power exactly when the most power is required.  By the time alternator voltage (Valt) is reached PWM controllers are able to produce meaningful power.+[[electrical:solar:charge_controller#pwm|PWM]] controllers are [[electrical:solar:pwm_tweaking#pwm_s_achilles_heel|somewhat hamstrung in this scenario]];  because they run the panels ~at battery voltage((for the purposes of this discussion)) (Vbatt) they produce the least power exactly when the most power is required.  Pushing up bank voltage with the alt helps the PWM make more power.  
  
 Alt charging shovels current into the bank until Valt is reached, at which point it begins to taper off.  Solar can take it from there.  A good metaphor might be a two-stage rocket:  the alternator does the heavy lift getting the rocket off the ground then the solar charging takes care of the high altitude, high speed duties.  Alt charging shovels current into the bank until Valt is reached, at which point it begins to taper off.  Solar can take it from there.  A good metaphor might be a two-stage rocket:  the alternator does the heavy lift getting the rocket off the ground then the solar charging takes care of the high altitude, high speed duties. 
electrical/12v/alt_and_solar.1711919102.txt.gz ยท Last modified: 2024/03/31 17:05 by frater_secessus

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