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opinion:solar:sizing [2022/05/24 09:55] frater_secessus [battery bank] |
opinion:solar:sizing [2022/05/24 15:15] frater_secessus [battery bank] |
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[[lifestyle: | [[lifestyle: | ||
- | ====== | + | ====== |
There are many [[electrical: | There are many [[electrical: | ||
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In general, bigger systems (higher wattage panels, bigger controllers, | In general, bigger systems (higher wattage panels, bigger controllers, | ||
- | Broadly speaking, lithium chemistries are most cost-effective when the camping experience is expected to last for many years and the batteries stored inside.((Note that it is false economy to pay for 10 years of battery cycling (as with lithium) if one is going to wreck it in 2 years)). | + | |
==== days of reserve ==== | ==== days of reserve ==== | ||
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Your **reserve requirements** will profoundly affect the size, complexity, and cost of the system. | Your **reserve requirements** will profoundly affect the size, complexity, and cost of the system. | ||
Sizing for an overnight camping trip is easy; sizing for a three day trip a challenge; | Sizing for an overnight camping trip is easy; sizing for a three day trip a challenge; | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== battery bank ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Once you know your daily power and reserve requirements you can spec out a battery | ||
+ | |||
+ | Broadly speaking, lithium chemistries are most cost-effective when the camping experience is expected to last for many years and the batteries stored inside.((Note that it is false economy to pay for 10 years of battery cycling (as with lithium) if one is going to wreck it in 2 years)). | ||
+ | |||
+ | Having an **undersized bank** means //running out of power// at night. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Having an **oversized lead bank** for your charging ability results in [[electrical: | ||
+ | |||
+ | IMO, with lead chemistries((flooded, | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | After figuring your rough capacity requirements, | ||
+ | |||
+ | You will **need somewhat more Ah capacity** | ||
+ | |||
+ | * if you have undersized solar | ||
+ | * you have lead-chemistry battery bank | ||
+ | |||
+ | You will need **somewhat less Ah capacity** | ||
+ | |||
+ | * if you run loads in the daytime instead of at night | ||
+ | * if you have [[electrical: | ||
+ | * you have lithium-chemistry battery bank((can be ~0.62% the size of the lead bank, due to deeper [[electrical: | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ===== solar charging ===== | ||
- | ===== solar panels | + | ==== solar panels ==== |
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- | ===== solar charge controller | + | ==== solar charge controller ==== |
- | ==== controller choice | + | |
+ | === controller choice === | ||
The [[electrical: | The [[electrical: | ||
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- | ==== controller sizing | + | === controller sizing === |
[[electrical: | [[electrical: | ||
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- | |||
- | ===== battery bank ===== | ||
- | Having an **undersized bank** means //running out of power// at night. | ||
- | |||
- | Having an **oversized lead bank** for your charging ability results in [[electrical: | ||
- | |||
- | IMO, with lead chemistries((flooded, | ||
- | |||
- | You will **need somewhat more Ah capacity** | ||
- | |||
- | * if you have undersized solar | ||
- | * you have lead-chemistry battery bank | ||
- | |||
- | You will need **somewhat less Ah capacity** | ||
- | |||
- | * if you run loads in the daytime instead of at night | ||
- | * if you have [[electrical: | ||
- | * you have lithium-chemistry battery bank((can be ~0.62% the size of the lead bank, due to deeper [[electrical: | ||
===== alternator charging ===== | ===== alternator charging ===== | ||
- | For most people living in vehicles [[electrical: | + | For many people living in vehicles [[electrical: |
You will need **some kind of alternator charging** | You will need **some kind of alternator charging** | ||
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* you have a voltage-sensitive battery like gel or lithium | * you have a voltage-sensitive battery like gel or lithium | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== generator charging ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | You may need a generator if: | ||
+ | |||
+ | * you need to run big loads like A/C | ||
+ | * you have a lithium battery bank but camp in long stretches with minimal solar. | ||
+ | * you have enough solar to [[electrical: | ||