Advice for my charging situation? Solar?
Hi folks - This is for my minivan. I have: - 24 hour usage around 1 kilowatt, on average. Half a kw on a lazy day (which usually = a cloudy or rainy day, for me). Max I have read on the kill...
Forum Discussion
Mr Tuna, I sure am grateful for all your help on this!
Yes. The biggest load I measured in 24 hours was 1kw, which was approx 500w house + 500w tools, on an average tool use day. 1.5 is my estimate for the total on a high use day (tools or heat).
Did you see my posts about roof measurements? I can fit 315w 24v or 360w 12v of solarblvd panels on the roof rack (hanging over all edges). I might be able to get 400-500w on the roof if I can find panels of the necessary dimensions. After that, I run out of square inches :).
Batteries, and van loading in general, weight is a bigger limitation than space. And money. I was right at the GVW this winter. I can take some stuff out, but some stuff I want!
What do you think of me trying out 315-360 watts, with the batteries I have, and seeing how it goes? The trick would be to find a panel shape that allows me to add another one if it turns out to be what I want.
pianotuna wrote:
Hi,
So the 1.5 kwh per day included all loads (24 volt motor use and Freezer too) and was a maximum?
Yes. The biggest load I measured in 24 hours was 1kw, which was approx 500w house + 500w tools, on an average tool use day. 1.5 is my estimate for the total on a high use day (tools or heat).
On that basis you need a battery bank that is between 6 and 9 kwh. That would be between 4 and 8 deep cycle golf cart batteries (since 24 volts are necessary). Four L-16 six volt jars would be charming.
1.5 kwh per day / 5 hour = 300 watts of solar plus 280 watts for dedicated battery charging so about 600 watts of panels.
If you have no room for additional battery capacity, you may be stuck with the noisy, smelly, and hungry for gasoline generator solution.
Did you see my posts about roof measurements? I can fit 315w 24v or 360w 12v of solarblvd panels on the roof rack (hanging over all edges). I might be able to get 400-500w on the roof if I can find panels of the necessary dimensions. After that, I run out of square inches :).
Batteries, and van loading in general, weight is a bigger limitation than space. And money. I was right at the GVW this winter. I can take some stuff out, but some stuff I want!
What do you think of me trying out 315-360 watts, with the batteries I have, and seeing how it goes? The trick would be to find a panel shape that allows me to add another one if it turns out to be what I want.
