Solar Requirements - Confirmation
I'm taking a 3 month mountain biking trip through British Columbia this summer. Most of the time will be spent camping at National/Provincial parks without access to electric. When I really break it d...
Forum Discussion
CptSydor wrote:
From what I've figured out, I should be designing my battery system to be in the 150-200 amp hr rage with panels in 150-200w.
Does that seem reasonable for what I've described?
Sort of, reasonable, yes. I would say - around 225-250 AH and 250-300W.
Things to consider:
1) More solar is better than less solar. If space allows, go for 250-300W rather 150W.
2) Flooded battery bank will be limited by what you can carry on the tongue - likely 225 AH.
3) Coastal BC weather is unpredictable.
What kind of statistics you are expecting to hear, I wonder. There are people who need 200 AH a day, you are saying you are not one of them, fine. At the very minimum, with your stated loads and lifestyle you will consume 15-20 AH a day.
250W flat panel will harvest a lot more than 20 AH on a sunny day in coastal BC, so it seems to be alright... IF YOU GET LUCKY TO HAVE THAT SUNNY DAY. There may not be a single day of 100% clear sky in a few weeks. Plus, shade from trees at times. Under cloudy skies your output will drop 30-50-70%, depends on how cloudy. That's why getting more solar will help.
Rain is the worst, the output of 250W array will drop below the resolution level of your display then. If it were AZ or NM, 250AH bank in survival mode @20 AH a day would carry you through the dark spell - not so much in coastal BC, because it could be dark and rainy for a week. Or there can be no rain for 30-40 days. Unpredictable.
