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
Jim, nobody argues that living generator-free is possible, with 490W solar. With cut-back measures as you described, when weather is not cooperating. Many people out here would consider such measures an "undue hardship" :). They don't even want to hear about cutting back on anything.
I don't use 120V devices other than electronics - those draw very little, so I don't have to reduce the consumption when weather is getting worse. Another bonus is that batteries go into Float around noon, and to 100% later in the day (or I think that it's 100%).
Batteries should take care of us, not the other way around, yes, but they won't be able to if we don't take care of them first. Never getting your batts to 100% wouldn't do much good to flooded 6V, not to mention AGM that I have now. When I live there, I live there full-time and far away from anything, so I need to be able to rely on my solar components, including batteries.
Mostly, my point was that with a small solar - anything under 700W can be called "small" today - 120V kitchen gadgets are a burden, they make a dent too big in the battery SOC, not to mention high current itself. I don't want any burden.
I don't use 120V devices other than electronics - those draw very little, so I don't have to reduce the consumption when weather is getting worse. Another bonus is that batteries go into Float around noon, and to 100% later in the day (or I think that it's 100%).
Batteries should take care of us, not the other way around, yes, but they won't be able to if we don't take care of them first. Never getting your batts to 100% wouldn't do much good to flooded 6V, not to mention AGM that I have now. When I live there, I live there full-time and far away from anything, so I need to be able to rely on my solar components, including batteries.
Mostly, my point was that with a small solar - anything under 700W can be called "small" today - 120V kitchen gadgets are a burden, they make a dent too big in the battery SOC, not to mention high current itself. I don't want any burden.
