Solar Panel Size To Battery Bank Size
When you pro's talk, having solar panels sized to battery amp size, are you referring to total battery capacity or the 50% useable battery capacity? I am working on my Solar system, I have a total hou...
Forum Discussion
It is far too easy to have too little solar.
Too many Newb's do calculations as if a 100 watt panel makes 100 watts sunup to sundown, where instead a flat mounted panel might reach 90 watts for 3.5 hours around high noon near the summer solstice.
I've taken a different track with regard to my capacity/solar ratio's. There is a lot of 'capacity is king' mindset on this forum, and I am not one of them.
My rooftop is maxed out solar wise, So I lowered my battery capacity so that the solar could at least approach the battery manufacturer 'recommended' initial charge rate of 10%, or 10 amps per 100AH capacity, at high noon..
Even though this single 31 battery was cycled deeper than 2 27's, I got a better cycle per dollar ratio from it, and I never needed the extra 100Ah of capacity as a bad weather buffer.
Of course being able to go home and plug in and stop cycling the batteries requires a different amount of solar than a full timer too.
I don't think it is just a matter of replacing the AH used +~10% more, but having a higher wattage to capacity ratio. The happy battery is the one whose properly programmed solar controller decided to float it at 11AM on that gloriously sunny day. Not so gloriously sunny, hopefully float by 3. Cloudy, at least it will negate some daily usage.
Any solar is better than no solar, but a proper amount of solar for ones battery capacity ultimately makes for a happier battery. In my opinion, and experience, full timing.
Too many Newb's do calculations as if a 100 watt panel makes 100 watts sunup to sundown, where instead a flat mounted panel might reach 90 watts for 3.5 hours around high noon near the summer solstice.
I've taken a different track with regard to my capacity/solar ratio's. There is a lot of 'capacity is king' mindset on this forum, and I am not one of them.
My rooftop is maxed out solar wise, So I lowered my battery capacity so that the solar could at least approach the battery manufacturer 'recommended' initial charge rate of 10%, or 10 amps per 100AH capacity, at high noon..
Even though this single 31 battery was cycled deeper than 2 27's, I got a better cycle per dollar ratio from it, and I never needed the extra 100Ah of capacity as a bad weather buffer.
Of course being able to go home and plug in and stop cycling the batteries requires a different amount of solar than a full timer too.
I don't think it is just a matter of replacing the AH used +~10% more, but having a higher wattage to capacity ratio. The happy battery is the one whose properly programmed solar controller decided to float it at 11AM on that gloriously sunny day. Not so gloriously sunny, hopefully float by 3. Cloudy, at least it will negate some daily usage.
Any solar is better than no solar, but a proper amount of solar for ones battery capacity ultimately makes for a happier battery. In my opinion, and experience, full timing.
