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opinion:solar:sizing [2022/05/24 15:11] frater_secessus [solar sizing - the Big Picture] |
opinion:solar:sizing [2022/05/24 15:16] frater_secessus [solar panels] |
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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: | ||
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- | The bare-bones | + | The absolute |
Most people will do best with much more panel-to-battery depending on battery chemistry, [[opinion: | Most people will do best with much more panel-to-battery depending on battery chemistry, [[opinion: | ||
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- | |||
You will **need somewhat more solar** | You will **need somewhat more solar** | ||
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* you have a lithium battery bank but camp in long stretches with minimal solar. | * you have a lithium battery bank but camp in long stretches with minimal solar. | ||
* you have enough solar to [[electrical: | * you have enough solar to [[electrical: | ||
- | |||
- | ===== 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: | ||