How many solar watts should I get?
Thinking of investing in some portable solar panels but once again, I'm confused by the amount of product diversity out there. And my knowledge on the topic is minimal. :h So to understand what I'...
Forum Discussion
One thing is clear - 50W is almost nothing. There is no exact answer to "How many watts?", but I'll try.
To live generator-free, you may need anywhere from 200W to 700W, flat panel. A little less with tilted panel. A lot depends on your habits. Not "needs" but habits. You don't "need" a 120V toaster and coffee-maker, from nutritional POV. Even if coffee is an addiction issue, there is an instant coffee and gas stove. Same goes for microwave, though eliminating this requires more learning.
You asked how to "calculate" your 12V draw. This spreadsheet I find useful in sizing a solar system. Note that it has "refrigerator" in both "Fantom loads" (LP frig) and DC loads (if you have 12V COMPRESSOR frig). Fan and some other items might be repeated as well, so make sure you check only one if you have one. Put zero where you don't have the load listed.
Also note that spreadsheet includes battery bank as well, because you do need enough batteries to last through some rainy spell until sun shines again.
The spreadsheet opens on Instructions page. If you haven't used Excel before - there are tabs at the bottom that say "RV Load Calculation" or "Battery sizing" etc. Don't remember, but I think they assumed a flat panel, no tilt.
Measuring the actual draw may or may not be better than using spreadsheets like this - you need to know the pattern of use, some loads draw different depending on task, and random measurement can be incorrect.
Kits like the one from Solar Blvd, VS procuring separate parts: buy a kit if this is easier. It usually includes a panel, controller, cables and brackets. At least 1 item you won't need at all (like brackets), and few other you might want to replace (like cables). I would buy all parts separately.
As to portable systems... 2oldam said it already. When it is big enough to provide enough energy, it becomes a pain to assemble-dissemble-load-unload every time you move or leave the camp. Unless you are many hours away from other fellow humans, you don't want to leave it outside.
To live generator-free, you may need anywhere from 200W to 700W, flat panel. A little less with tilted panel. A lot depends on your habits. Not "needs" but habits. You don't "need" a 120V toaster and coffee-maker, from nutritional POV. Even if coffee is an addiction issue, there is an instant coffee and gas stove. Same goes for microwave, though eliminating this requires more learning.
You asked how to "calculate" your 12V draw. This spreadsheet I find useful in sizing a solar system. Note that it has "refrigerator" in both "Fantom loads" (LP frig) and DC loads (if you have 12V COMPRESSOR frig). Fan and some other items might be repeated as well, so make sure you check only one if you have one. Put zero where you don't have the load listed.
Also note that spreadsheet includes battery bank as well, because you do need enough batteries to last through some rainy spell until sun shines again.
The spreadsheet opens on Instructions page. If you haven't used Excel before - there are tabs at the bottom that say "RV Load Calculation" or "Battery sizing" etc. Don't remember, but I think they assumed a flat panel, no tilt.
Measuring the actual draw may or may not be better than using spreadsheets like this - you need to know the pattern of use, some loads draw different depending on task, and random measurement can be incorrect.
Kits like the one from Solar Blvd, VS procuring separate parts: buy a kit if this is easier. It usually includes a panel, controller, cables and brackets. At least 1 item you won't need at all (like brackets), and few other you might want to replace (like cables). I would buy all parts separately.
As to portable systems... 2oldam said it already. When it is big enough to provide enough energy, it becomes a pain to assemble-dissemble-load-unload every time you move or leave the camp. Unless you are many hours away from other fellow humans, you don't want to leave it outside.
