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electrical:solar:gentle_intro

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electrical:solar:gentle_intro [2022/04/12 21:20]
frater_secessus [Why daily?]
electrical:solar:gentle_intro [2022/05/13 10:56]
frater_secessus [solar ready]
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 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". 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 ===== ===== How solar power works =====
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 ==== solar ready ==== ==== 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: It is been judged harshly by some users:
electrical/solar/gentle_intro.txt · Last modified: 2023/11/07 11:19 by frater_secessus