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electrical:solar:gentle_intro [2023/08/23 21:22] frater_secessus [Kits] |
electrical:solar:gentle_intro [2023/11/07 11:18] frater_secessus |
> "...trying to take the comfort level you had in a house into your mobile life [is] tough to do for a boondocker." -- akrvbob((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Too-much-or-too-little-Solar?pid=116253#pid116253)) (Bob from Cheap RV Living) | > "...trying to take the comfort level you had in a house into your mobile life [is] tough to do for a boondocker." -- akrvbob((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Too-much-or-too-little-Solar?pid=116253#pid116253)) (Bob from Cheap RV Living) |
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> The fastest way to bring beginner expectations of solar in line with reality is to **assume you will run //nothing// off an inverter**. -- secessus | |
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> Setting up solar that //works// is easy. Setting up solar that //works well// and //under challenging conditions// is much tougher. -- secessus | > Setting up solar that //works// is easy. Setting up solar that //works well// and //under challenging conditions// is much tougher. -- secessus |
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//. | 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. | A crude rule of thumb might be meaningful solar harvest is possible only when the sun is throwing well-defined shadows on the ground. |
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| Solar must not be shaded; not by weeds on the the ground or by other objects on the roof. The panel needs to be the tallest object in the general area. |
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[[electrical:12v:alternator|Alternator charging]] helps address these shortcomings of solar charging (and //vice versa//) so it is [[electrical:12v:alt_and_solar|a common combination]]. | [[electrical:12v:alternator|Alternator charging]] helps address these shortcomings of solar charging (and //vice versa//) so it is [[electrical:12v:alt_and_solar|a common combination]]. |
**Pro:** some of the product selection is outsourced for you | **Pro:** some of the product selection is outsourced for you |
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**Con:** likely could get better quality and better-matched components for less money with DIY. Packages are often put together by marketing teams instead of engineering or support teams and sometimes [[the combinations don't work as well as they could]][[https://mouse.mousetrap.net/blog/2019/11/13/pwm-loves-poly/|http://example.com|External Link]] for the same or less money. | **Con:** likely could get better quality and better-matched components for less money with DIY. Packages are often put together by marketing teams instead of engineering or support teams and sometimes [[https://mouse.mousetrap.net/blog/2019/11/13/pwm-loves-poly/|the combinations don't work as well as they could]]. |
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* where they won't fall over, walk off, or be urinated on by loose dogs | * where they won't fall over, walk off, or be urinated on by loose dogs |
* allows underside cooling to minimize [[electrical:solar:output#panel_temperature|heat-related losses]] and re-radiation from superheated panels into the van interior | * allows underside cooling to minimize [[electrical:solar:output#panel_temperature|heat-related losses]] and re-radiation from superheated panels into the van interior |
| * to keep from drilling extra holes in the roof |
| * allow changes later; drill new holes in the rack |
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Note: avoid racks with "ladder retainers" or other vertical elements. [[electrical:solar:output#shade|Partial shading]] is brutal on solar harvest, and //carrying around your own shade// is an "unforced error". If you have inherited a rack with uprights consider cutting them off. | Note: avoid racks with "ladder retainers" or other vertical elements. [[electrical:solar:output#shade|Partial shading]] is brutal on solar harvest, and //carrying around your own shade// is an "unforced error". If you have inherited a rack with uprights consider cutting them off. |