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How to decide on a system voltage? | 14 comments (14 topical, editorial)
Re: How to decide on a system voltage? (3.00 / 0) (#14)
by veewee77 on Mon Aug 11th, 2008 at 09:20:12 PM MST
(User Info)

RandonJoe,
Given the data you supplies, that your HAM stack uses 50AH/day at 12V for about 600WH/Day.

The fridge uses 110 watts and I am guessing about a 50% duty-cycle (if it runs constantly, there is a problem somewhere).

So, running this through the calculator I worte using parameters supplies by several collaborative online and printed resources byt the guys who do this every day, here is what your systems would require as far as solar panels and batteries to run the things you want to run.

The output from my calculator is as follows:
__________________
Renewable Energy System Sizing Report
Produced for
Random Joe
Random Joe, the total Watt-Hours average used per day is 1920.
Based on data acquired on the preceeding pages, this system is sized for a maximum of 1 days with little or no sunsine, cloudy, or overcast.
The batteries are less efficient the colder they are so there is a battery efficiency factor of 1.11 figured into the capacity of the batteries which will change based on the temperature where the batteries will be stored in the wintertime.
The batteries chosen have an Amp-Hour rating of 360 and a Voltage rating of 6 and it takes 2 of the selected battery to add up to the DC System Voltage of 12 Volts.
Solar Panels convert sunlight to electricity and the chosen Solar Panels for this system have a Voltage Rating of 12 and Peak Optimum Amp Rating of 5.00.
It takes 1 of the selected Solar Panels to add up to the DC System Voltage of 12 Volts.
4.9 is the average Sun-Hours per day as entered on the preceeding page.
Given all these factors, the System being calculated based on this information is described as follows:
Solar Panels Required: 13
Batteries Required: 4
____________________

The panels referenced here are 12V and about 60 Watts. As you can see, running that fridge is an expensive endeavor when relying on solar power alone. You inverter would have to be sized appropriately and the losses in conversion are already included in the calculations, as are losses based on temperature, and charging losses.

If you'd like to fiddle with the calculator, it can be found at:
http://dsjscrd.gotdns.com/calc

Enjoy!



How to decide on a system voltage? | 14 comments (14 topical, 0 editorial)

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