Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- lifestyle:faq_solar_generator [2023/09/24 20:54]
frater_secessus [capacity]
+++ lifestyle:faq_solar_generator [2024/02/05 18:50] (current)
princess_fluffypants
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+====== Solar generators ======
 Words of wisdom:  "These aren't aimed at people that know what they are doing." -- [[https://www.reddit.com/r/vandwellers/comments/dr387z/500w_aimtom_rockpals_500_solar_generator_review/f6jc7lz/|LastTreeStar]]
-**TL;DR - These things are //EXTREMELY// expensive for the capacity, however they do offer a lot of convenience.** For those with plenty of money who value ease and speed over capacity and run-time, an argument can be made for these if your power needs are small-to-medium and you are only taking short trips in your vehicle.
+===== TL;DR =====
+**These things are //EXTREMELY// expensive for the capacity, however they do offer a lot of convenience.** For those with plenty of money who value ease and speed over capacity and run-time, an argument can be made for these if your power needs are small-to-medium and you are only taking short trips in your vehicle.
-====== Solar generators ======
 [[https://amzn.to/2MZhjzi|{{ https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51ug3IIF-zL._AC_US218_.jpg}}]]
@@ Line 15: / Line 18: @@
 These devices are packaged for convenience and are usually much more expensive than the components bought separately.  Sometimes manufacturers use non-standard panel connectors to keep customers in an expensive "walled garden", referring to normal, non-proprietary panels as [[https://inergytek.com/pages/support|"off_brand"]].((COUGH [[https://amzn.to/2SpgjbR|inergy]] COUGH))
-Less expensive "solar generators" may cut corners by using more basic batteries (AGM vs Lithium), cheaper inverters (Modified sine wave instead of pure sine wave), or less efficient solar charge controllers (PWM instead of MPPT).
+Less expensive "solar generators" may cut corners by using more basic batteries (AGM vs Lithium), cheaper inverters (Modified sine wave instead of pure sine wave), or less efficient solar charge controllers (PWM instead of MPPT).  These lower-end models tend to have very restricting charging limits not found on DIY systems.
 The overall proposition can be summed up by the title of a Bob Wells video, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFOZ6aetIPc|Should you Buy a Jackery Power Station? Super Easy but Super Expensive]].
@@ Line 101: / Line 104: @@
   * **voltage** - 22Voc is a common voltage limit, effectively limiting one to [[electrical:solar:panels#panel_voltage|12v nominal]] panels.
-  * **current** limit - 3A is a common input current limit on smaller, less-expensive units.  With PWM controllers the max power harvestable will be 3A x [internal battery voltage], which can be as low as 9v.  9v x 3A 27w.  MPPT controllers with the same limit might run the panels at 18v:  18v x 3A = 54w.((minus DC-DC conversion losses of ~5%))
+  * **current** limit - 3A is a common input current limit on smaller, less-expensive units.
+    * With PWM controllers the max power harvestable will be 3A x [internal battery voltage], which can be as low as 9v.  9v x 3A 27w.
+    * MPPT controllers with the same limit might run the panels at 18v, the Vmp:  18v x 3A = 54w((minus DC-DC conversion losses of ~5%))

RV and vandwellers wiki

User Tools

Site Tools

Differences

Page Tools