Newbie solar questions
Let me start out by asking the experts here if the system I'm planning will work. I'm not very good with electronics. Let me also state that I don't have a lot of funds so I am trying to do this on th...
Forum Discussion
Hi,
250 watts is a great starter system. You can always go a little larger if needed. My RV uses about 35 amp hours daily to run the CO and propane detectors, along with the refrigerator. That is about what one of my 120 watt solar systems will make in 1 day.
2 Batteries will store enough power for your needs. It is about 220 amp hours. The 107 minutes reserve is typical of a 75 amp golf cart battery rating. That works out to about 220 amp hours at 12 volts. I have the same system - 2 batteries now. I used to have 4 batteries, but did not replace one pair when all 4 went bad a couple of years ago.
I don't do any dry camping now. But when I do, I will probably go back to 4 batteries.
Because of the solar system, you can get away with only 2 batteries, because you are making 50 - 60 amp hours daily, and only consuming 35 AH daily. So the 220 Ah will last more than 4 nights with only about 40 amp hours taken from it and not returned daily.
The other 40 - 60 amp hours are being used to run lights, furnace, water pump, ect. CPAP or something like that, then figure that 500 watts is barely enough, and you probably will need to to run the generator once in a while . If you have a CPAP, then 4 batteries is the minimum too.
Fred.
250 watts is a great starter system. You can always go a little larger if needed. My RV uses about 35 amp hours daily to run the CO and propane detectors, along with the refrigerator. That is about what one of my 120 watt solar systems will make in 1 day.
2 Batteries will store enough power for your needs. It is about 220 amp hours. The 107 minutes reserve is typical of a 75 amp golf cart battery rating. That works out to about 220 amp hours at 12 volts. I have the same system - 2 batteries now. I used to have 4 batteries, but did not replace one pair when all 4 went bad a couple of years ago.
I don't do any dry camping now. But when I do, I will probably go back to 4 batteries.
Because of the solar system, you can get away with only 2 batteries, because you are making 50 - 60 amp hours daily, and only consuming 35 AH daily. So the 220 Ah will last more than 4 nights with only about 40 amp hours taken from it and not returned daily.
The other 40 - 60 amp hours are being used to run lights, furnace, water pump, ect. CPAP or something like that, then figure that 500 watts is barely enough, and you probably will need to to run the generator once in a while . If you have a CPAP, then 4 batteries is the minimum too.
Fred.
