so it helps to have an idea what you major loads are drawing as these will generally determine which rate you need to use to calculate Ah needed to stay <50% DOD.
I think I'm getting the idea. The lower the amp draw, the higher the amp rating on the battery to a degree. Since loads vary over time it seems those specs are of little use unless you have a steady draw over a set period of time.
My load calculations are as follows: @24vdc
Living room tv, dvr, modem, router, 2 laptops, 2 cfl lights add up to 11.5 amps for 6 hours per day - plus 15% add for losses=80 ah/day
Side by side refrigerator/freezer and small chest freezer are 15 amps at (guessing) 12 hrs/day runtime plus 15%=207 ah/day
Well pump 230vac 8 amp comes to 46 ah for 1 hour per day runtime. I only plan on using battery power for the well in grid down situations.
So my loads not counting the well come to 287 ah/day. I figure with an 800 ah bank (400 useable) I am at 287/800=36% discharge.
Adding the well would put me at 333/800 or 42% discharge.
Without the well it would be a steady 12 amps with spikes to 27 amps if both the fridge and chest freezer ran at the same time.
Based on this, do you think I'm on track? Is the 15% I allowed for inverter and other losses seem reasonable?
I am on grid, but this would be an off grid setup. My plan as it stands now ( open to suggestion and modification) is for a 1200w solar array which on a good day I may see maybe 4kw out of it and a 10' axial turbine for icing on the cake, providing anywhere from a big fat zero to as much as 6kw per day with any excess going to heat water.
Thanks for all the input guys. It is much appreciated.
Crispy