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 Topic: Solar Panel - 2 options, but which one?
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09/5/2014 at 9:58am
Location: Hampshire
Outfit: Hymer Nova S
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Our solar panel is a free standing 85 Watt Kyrocea unit, charging the van's 90Ah battery and a 60Ah, portable battery for the TV, via a Morningstar "Duo" controller.
The Morningstar controller has the optional meter so I am able to see the Ah yielded by the panel each day, I zero it on going to bed.
The daily yield is typically 13 to 15 Ah, somewhat less than the OPs usage estimate.
Of course the solar panel can only put in AHs where the batteries have "room" before being fully charged, the meter allows me to see when they are full and the controller has switched off the panel.
In summer the 85 Watt panel is a gross over-kill and both batteries are fully charged a few hours into the morning, leaving all the midday afternoon and evening sun untapped.
It is a very different situation in the winter and typically the panel does not cope. The winter yield can be exceptionally high as it is cold and the sub zero temperature leads to crystal clear skies, but that is not typical. More typical is a string of overcast or even wet days when the cell can't replace the usage and the batteries begin to be depleted to too low a value. We can do a week-end but not have unlimited time autonamy.
And even to get the best yield in winter means the panel needs constant "tracking", and tree shadows become more of a nuisance. So winters days have to be invested in panel tracking, not holidaying. In summer I can simply place the panel at 15 to horizontal on a south azimuth bearing and go out enjoying the day, the loss of efficiency being of no relevance in that the 85 Watt panel is way oversize for the room in the batteries.
Post last edited on 09/05/2014 10:04:02
Post last edited on 09/05/2014 10:05:37
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