solar panel choice
hello world, Noob here. Looking at 2 systems about 400 each. Ningbo NEW 150w MONO panel charge controller 20ft UV burial cable mounting brackets http://www3.telus.net/public/tps.x/pdf/150W...
Forum Discussion
SunElec.com can beat those prices by a longshot.
I made my own brackets with 6" long 2" angle aluminum from Home Depot. Drill 3 holes 3/16" in the side that will go on the roof, and a 5/16" hole into the side that will go into the solar panel mounting frame for a 1/4-20 bolt. Mount it to the roof with lots of rubber roof sealant, and 3- #10 wood screws.
UV direct burial wire is also at Home Depot, get #10 wire. I think they might sell a 25' roll, you only require it outside, from the panel to the controller. From there, any type of #8 wire would work better, and not being exposed to the sun can be regular building wire.
If you buy a 12 volt nominal panel, you can use a lower cost PWM controller, and save a lot on the overall cost of the project. Might as well start with a 200 - 350 watt system, then no need to expand it later.
My E-meter says that the CO meter and propane detector and refrigerator use about 1.2 amps per hour X 24 hours a day, so about 35 AH daily, or about what 1 of my 120 watt panels can produce in a day. The lights and other things add to this load, so it would take about 200 watts and not running many lights to meet the daily needs. Hoever if you are only camping 3 nights, you should be able to camp fine with the energy in the battery at the start of the weekend + the new solar power to have battery that still functions at the end of day 3 without needing to run a generator. Yet the battery will be nearly dead at the beginning of day 3 if you needed the furnace much.
300 watts will make sure it is full by the end of each day, and offer 10 days in fairly sunny, but sometimes shaded conditions to keep the battery nearly full each day. Overcast days might still be a small problem though.
I have a 415 rated watt system. It will never make the rated watts, even with the MPPT controller that I have. You get more amperage by being at a higher elevation (closer to the sun and it is brighter) and when it is cooler outside.
I don't have to worry so much about parking in the sun, the solar system shades about 30% of my roof surface.
Fred.
I made my own brackets with 6" long 2" angle aluminum from Home Depot. Drill 3 holes 3/16" in the side that will go on the roof, and a 5/16" hole into the side that will go into the solar panel mounting frame for a 1/4-20 bolt. Mount it to the roof with lots of rubber roof sealant, and 3- #10 wood screws.
UV direct burial wire is also at Home Depot, get #10 wire. I think they might sell a 25' roll, you only require it outside, from the panel to the controller. From there, any type of #8 wire would work better, and not being exposed to the sun can be regular building wire.
If you buy a 12 volt nominal panel, you can use a lower cost PWM controller, and save a lot on the overall cost of the project. Might as well start with a 200 - 350 watt system, then no need to expand it later.
My E-meter says that the CO meter and propane detector and refrigerator use about 1.2 amps per hour X 24 hours a day, so about 35 AH daily, or about what 1 of my 120 watt panels can produce in a day. The lights and other things add to this load, so it would take about 200 watts and not running many lights to meet the daily needs. Hoever if you are only camping 3 nights, you should be able to camp fine with the energy in the battery at the start of the weekend + the new solar power to have battery that still functions at the end of day 3 without needing to run a generator. Yet the battery will be nearly dead at the beginning of day 3 if you needed the furnace much.
300 watts will make sure it is full by the end of each day, and offer 10 days in fairly sunny, but sometimes shaded conditions to keep the battery nearly full each day. Overcast days might still be a small problem though.
I have a 415 rated watt system. It will never make the rated watts, even with the MPPT controller that I have. You get more amperage by being at a higher elevation (closer to the sun and it is brighter) and when it is cooler outside.
I don't have to worry so much about parking in the sun, the solar system shades about 30% of my roof surface.
Fred.
