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Subject Topic: What size Solar panel Post Reply Post New Topic
Personxantia
20/10/2013 at 10:31am
 Location: Essex
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Hi all can anybody please tell me what size Solar panel i would need to run a 230 Watt appliance 24/7 via a inverter many thanks


PersonTonyC52
20/10/2013 at 10:50am
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It would be big, 230w required, with loss in conversion along the way would suggest at least 400w.

this would likely be a domestic roof mounted system and far too big for a caravan.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/solar-panels-400w

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Tony C


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PersonJTQU
20/10/2013 at 10:56am
 Location: Hampshire
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You are talking about a totally impractical requirement if it is for caravanning/motorhoming.

I think you need to look very carefully at the actual power usage profile of this 230 Watt user.


PersonFrancophile1947
20/10/2013 at 10:57am
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It would need to be huge
You are asking for a continuous 20A draw so, assuming that the panels are working at 100% (which they don't) and the inverter doesn't waste any power (which they do), you would probably need at least 1000W of panels, plus enough leisure batteries to hold sufficient power to keep it going overnight.
You'd be far better off using an EHU when camping.

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Cheers
John


Personxantia
20/10/2013 at 11:10am
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Ok guys thanks for replies its not for my caravan its for running my Marine tank it uses 230 watts for 11 hours a day when the lights are on and then drops to 50 watts for 13 hours a day so what would a 30 watt Solar panel run in terms of watt usage if that make sense sorry if questions seem a bit stupid   


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PersonJTQU
20/10/2013 at 2:48pm
 Location: Hampshire
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As a rough guide a panel yields the equivalent of a third of its rating for 8 hours in the peak of the summer, going down very much on this in winter.

So 30 watt panel yields 30/3 X 8 = 80 watts hours

Therefore on average in the summer you could expect daily to run your 230 Watt plant for just under 21 minutes, assuming you had the battery capacity to store the power.


PersonGrampian91
20/10/2013 at 3:50pm
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Even if you get 4 hours of a reasonable capacity in the winter. the panel would need to be 6x more powerful than the intended load.

230 watts x 24 hours. 5520 watts a 24hr/day.

You need to produce that in less than 4 hours. 1380watts.

If the intended load is 240 volts then you need an inverter that maybe 80% or less efficient. So it will be like using 300watts.

Your probably looking at 2000 - 4000 watts.

Your batteries need to have a storage capacity of at least 600 amps

Your 110ah leisure battery will last about 4 hours.. So you will need at least 6 of them.


PersonBill Terry
20/10/2013 at 3:56pm
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230 watt for 24hrs seems abit low for a marine tank, how big is the tank? how many tubes & are you using are you using halides, each halide is either 150w, or 250w.then heaters, pumps, night light, soon builds up.My tank cost me £50 amonth for electric alone 5 years ago.mind you it kept the house warm.

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Roughing it in style at Calloose caravan and camping holiday park nr St Ives.(seasonal pitch)
Its not a hangover, its wine flu!


nant mill.N/Wales
just dont go there.


Personxantia
20/10/2013 at 7:35pm
 Location: Essex
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Hi all thanks for all your replies so sounds a bit of a no then Bill the tank is only 3 foot i run 5 39w T5 tubes when the lights go off the power goes down to 50 watt i was just seeing if i could save some cash i think its costing me about £12 a month to run


Personbirder99
21/10/2013 at 8:04am
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change the t5 tubes to led? I know nothing about marine tanks though!

First rule of PV power use is minimise the load.

Rather than store the PV power generated you could look at grid tie and use what you can during daylight hours. The govenment will then pay you for the generation of the electricity - not that I want my electricity bill to be used to subsidise your fish tank......

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'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'


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PersonBill Terry
21/10/2013 at 6:46pm
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Quote: Originally posted by birder99 on 21/10/2013
change the t5 tubes to led? I know nothing about marine tanks though!

First rule of PV power use is minimise the load.

Rather than store the PV power generated you could look at grid tie and use what you can during daylight hours. The govenment will then pay you for the generation of the electricity - not that I want my electricity bill to be used to subsidise your fish tank......

LEDS wont have a chance in a tank.I once tried a carpark light fitting, forgot what wattage the bulb was. But it didnt light the bottom of the tank,For soft corals you need 20k halides.They do blind you to look at. I had six of them over the tank, plus six 6 foot tubes.



-------------
Roughing it in style at Calloose caravan and camping holiday park nr St Ives.(seasonal pitch)
Its not a hangover, its wine flu!


nant mill.N/Wales
just dont go there.


Personxantia
21/10/2013 at 10:17pm
 Location: Essex
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I agree Bill tried a Aquaray on a nano tank it looked crap they dont have the spread T5s have they run cool but the heat they give out on the top of the light you could of fried an egg


Personscud4984
06/1/2014 at 5:01am
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think you`ll find led`s do work well,, i have a 500 ltr marine set up and everything in my tank loves the lights
and they only use a measly 120w,,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IT2060-Programmable-LED-Aquarium-Light-Remote-Control-Coral-Reef-Marine-/281093882555



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