Solar wasted watts/volts

[starcraft69]

I am curious what happens to the watts /volts when your system is fully charged and you have no demand? Were does the extra power go?

[MrWizard]

jolooote wrote:
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

what a FALLACY

the engine running moving mechanical parts and producing heat uses the gas
but it is at idle, no external load

as far as the power company..NO it not always full load
that is summer time when everybody wants A/C

when full power demand is not there, they can reduce ouputt by off-ling some of the turbines being used to produce the power
hydro driven, steam driven, wind driven, coal fired, gas fired
they just shut down some of them and do maintenance, put them back on line shut and down others

[pianotuna]

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.

[time2roll]

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.

[jolooote]

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

[time2roll]

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.

[red31]

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.

[MrWizard]

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

[starcraft69]

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

[BFL13]

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? 🙂

[2oldman]

I believe mike-s has the correct answer.

[starcraft69]

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

[mike-s]

starcraft69 wrote:
I am curious what happens to the watts /volts when your system is fully charged and you have no demand? Were does the extra power go?

It goes the same place the as the power in a disconnected battery.

[Itinerant1]

Depends on the size of system or your excess potential power generated. Is it enough for your hot water or fridge or just a tv/ radio?

[BFL13]

starcraft69 wrote:
I am curious what happens to the watts /volts when your system is fully charged and you have no demand? Were does the extra power go? Is there a way to use it for Hot water, Ect.?

Yes, but then you end up with a bunch of hot water just before dark, and the water gets cold overnight, so it is no good for your morning shave, etc.

They do have a special element thing that you can use with your hot water tank for that.

[2oldman]

starcraft69 wrote:
Were (sic) does the extra power go? Is there a way to use it for Hot water, Ect.? (sic)

Hot water? That takes a lot of power, way more than any solar excess. As for where it goes, I have no idea.