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--- opinion:more_power [2025/05/19 13:19]
frater_secessus [demand problems]
+++ opinion:more_power [2025/05/19 13:50] (current)
frater_secessus [supply problems]
@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 === charging bottlenecks ===
+Charging bottlenecks occur when the battery bank could happily [[opinion:frater_secessus:charging_faster|charge faster]] and more often but we aren't doing so.
+A major cause of underperformance is **reliance on a single form of charging**.   The sun is not always out (solar), you are not always driving (charging from alternator), and access to the power grid is not always available (shore power).
+  * solar
+    * maybe we have no solar at all
+    * maybe we have unused roofspace to devote to more panel
+    * maybe the panel we have is [[opinion:frater_secessus:beginner_mistakes#mounting_or_deploying_panels_where_they_will_be_shaded|shaded by other things on the roof]]
+    * maybe we went with portable panels but [[https://rvwiki.mousetrap.net/doku.php?id=opinion:frater_secessus:beginner_mistakes#believing_they_will_set_out_portable_panels|don't deploy them consistently]] for whatever reason.  Some mounted panel could make a big difference.
+    * maybe we went with mounted panels but park the rig in the shade.  Portables on extensions set out in the sun could make a big difference.
+  * alternator
+    * maybe we are not charging from the alternator at all
+    * maybe we are forgetting to enable charging from the alt after [[electrical:12v:alternator#disabling_alternator_charging|disabling]] it
+    * maybe the alternator has [[electrical:12v:alternator_details#current|excess capacity]] to devote to house bank charging
+  * shore power
+    * maybe we are not [[electrical:converter|charging from shore power]] at all when we have access to it
 === bank capacity bottlenecks ===
+If you can charge the bank consistently but run out of power overnight or in periods of decreased harvest you may just need more bank capacity.  Also see [[electrical:autonomy|Days of Autonomy]].
 === throughput bottlenecks ===
+These are related to the systems above, but are less obvious.
+  * panels and PWM solar charge controllers poorly matched, resulting in [[electrical:solar:pwm_tweaking#pwm_s_achilles_heel|underperformance]]
+  * insufficient panel wattage
+  * panel wattage grossly oversized for the MPPT controller (>30% [[electrical:solar:overpaneling#vs_charge_controller|overpaneled]];  this is relatively rare)
+  * DC-DC [[electrical:12v:b2b#sizing|undersized]] relative to the alternator and bank
+  * wiring undersized for alternator charging with a combiner (relay/solenoid/"isolator", etc.  Since they don't alter voltage this kind of setup is sensitive to resistance between the chassis electrical and battery bank.

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