Solar wasted watts/volts

There are 12 volt heating "rods" for use in a water heater, or if you have excess power, simply turn on the 1400 watt 120 water heater for a time. Then the panels will replace the energy used.

If my batteries are at float then I'll sometimes do the above.

That is the beauty of solar. The sun idles along for free and all you need to do is capture the energy. Works at home too... not just on the RV.

SOooo...if I run my generator but use no electric...than according to you...the generator uses no GAS??? lol. Have you ever wondered why, as our electric usage in our homes and businesses gets more efficient using less Watts, our electric bill gets more expensive? The power generator( Power Company) must generate the POWER regardless of whether or not its used. As for u'r local Power Co. they have the same cost of production but less income as less power being not used is also Not paid for. As for we campers, we are the producers and always must pay for it. lol

starcraft69 wrote:
Ok forget the hot water part If i put a over size system in how does the system dissipate the extra power being generated?

Same as when you are plugged in. Where do all those amps from the converter go? The power stays at the source and is not converted to usable power. As less power is demanded the voltage at the panel will approach Voc and remain there just like an unused home outlet.

Anyway it is nothing to be concerned about.

there are controllers with a diversionary load feature (water heater etc), wind needs them cuz the power is produced, solar doesn't need this since the power is not generated.

there is no excess power generated
if you have 1000w of panels, that can generate 800w of output(you will almost never get 1000w of output)
and the battery bank and appliances can only use 500w
then 500w is what is generated

the batteries represent a resistance ( like a full fuel tank )
there 'potential' for X-watts from your system
put it cannot generate more than what the batteries/system can use
because the controller limits the voltage, and batteries/circuit resistance limits what that voltage can do
kinda like engine power versus weight of vehicle versus throttle position which controls that power capacity

BFL13 wrote:

starcraft69 wrote:
Ok forget the hot water part If i put a over size system in how does the system dissipate the extra power being generated?

It is not being generated. Like you only get water if you turn on the tap.

Aside, there is a discussion of "over-panelling" for your controller's rating (with MPPT only--don't do it with PWM) on ISTR Morningstar's website. In the shoulder hours you get more amps with the extra panelling and those amps are still less than controller rating. Your controller cuts off the amps at its limit so you lose some mid-day AH, but you gain over the whole day averaged out for your AH haul.

So some over-panelling with MPPT is good, but within reason of course.

Next you will ask what happens with the extra amps the controller cuts off at its limit and can't use? :)

Thank you for the strait forward answer? Yes i do plan on a MPPT controller and was looking at a bit oversize in panels.

Using Go power calculator we use about 126.7 Amphrs a day in winter running furnace. summer much less. I currently have 2 6v GC batteries = 220 Amphrs. I plan on putting 300-400 watts 24v+ panels of solar and add 2 mor 6v batts

starcraft69 wrote:
Ok forget the hot water part If i put a over size system in how does the system dissipate the extra power being generated?

It is not being generated. Like you only get water if you turn on the tap.

Aside, there is a discussion of "over-panelling" for your controller's rating (with MPPT only--don't do it with PWM) on ISTR Morningstar's website. In the shoulder hours you get more amps with the extra panelling and those amps are still less than controller rating. Your controller cuts off the amps at its limit so you lose some mid-day AH, but you gain over the whole day averaged out for your AH haul.

So some over-panelling with MPPT is good, but within reason of course.

Next you will ask what happens with the extra amps the controller cuts off at its limit and can't use? :)

I believe mike-s has the correct answer.

Ok forget the hot water part If i put a over size system in how does the system dissipate the extra power being generated?