Aus-Kiwi wrote:

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There could easily be relays added to above light circuit? 
Depends on what you want? If camping for a few days and driving often ?
The alternator ( or an extra alternator) can be set up to assist in charging the house batteries..

-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Friday 24th of October 2014 11:25:53 PM

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HI

Yes, there are many options

That again is why there is not one easy answer

Each situation should becarefully considered for possible future expansion. 

If you reread my earlier posts I did say there were ways around that but that would be far beyond Mr Average

Yes, there are many ways of adding other charging

That I also mentioned but that adds to the problems of SOC monitoring

 

But since the inverter does not go through it ,[as depicted]it is useless as  a SOC unless it is purely a %SOC calbrated voltmeter 

Even then it would be not very accurate & not using Amphrs in against Amphrs out  plus not using MR P's formula[more has to go in than was taken out]

 

 

PeterQ

 

 

barbandprairie wrote:

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Hi all doing a newsletter for our caravan club in North Queensland.  Would like to do a basic article for those (like me) who does not understand solar and caravans.  So your input would be greatly appreciated.

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 Barb, unfortunately it is difficult to write an article that is accurate. If you write something up from something like Blue's site that is full of holes there will be those in your club that will give you the same sort of feedback as Blue is coping. You are better off plagiarising someone elses work and publishing it, but don't forget to acknowledge the author. Authors like Collyn Rivers will allow you to use their work if you reproduce the full script including the bits at the bottom with the links to their web sites. If you take something that is reliable you will not start another lot of crap, corruption and corrections like is going on here.

Another thing about dumbing things down and removing technicalities is you loose accuracy. Try to use technicalities in a simplified way. I would also suggest that if people can not follow the technical jargon then they will not be sufficiently equipped to carry out a successful reliable installation.

Another thing. When Oldtrack, a few others and I come on with our corrections it is not to big note ourselves, it is to assist in preventing others from being led up the garden path.

edit, have a look at your private messages (PM) I have dropped some extra info there.

-- Edited by PeterD on Saturday 25th of October 2014 05:16:03 PM

I'm confused it appears everyone is debating about this verses that and so on.

I simple speak could you set up say a 1kw standalone system with a bank of batteries invertor and the whole 9 yards of 240v power, if you have sufficient surface area available to mount the panels and available space and weight for extra batteries ?

totally new to solar power consideration

Gundog wrote:

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I'm confused it appears everyone is debating about this verses that and so on.

I simple speak could you set up say a 1kw standalone system with a bank of batteries invertor and the whole 9 yards of 240v power, if you have sufficient surface area available to mount the panels and available space and weight for extra batteries ?

totally new to solar power consideration

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HI Gundog

There is no limit to what you can set up,IF you have the space  the weight allowance & the money

 A more direct answer :

You may be able to fit in 10x100W or5x200W panel on te roof depending on what obstructions are on the roof

A very rough rule is for thecombined battery Amphrs[@12V]to be equal to the combined panel Watts

For batterries  tohandle that setup I would suggest serious consideration for LiFe Po4s based on weight factor alone

[That should raise some eyebrows]

Butthis is another situation where it is best to do a list of what you would like to use,from that calculate your daily power use

Then you can work out if that is practical & achievable & for how long you wish to stay OFF other means of recharging [mains,generator, .going for long drive if it is a MH,

Ifnot then time to prune the list down a bit

nb To make upthat list you need to know the actual wattage of each item & estimate the expected hrs of daily use for each

 

 

PeterQ

 

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Sunday 26th of October 2014 03:21:38 PM

Gundog wrote:

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I'm confused it appears everyone is debating about this verses that and so on.

I simple speak could you set up say a 1kw standalone system with a bank of batteries invertor and the whole 9 yards of 240v power, if you have sufficient surface area available to mount the panels and available space and weight for extra batteries ?

totally new to solar power consideration

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 I think your Talking of a system Like this...

SnowT's Bus

the bus is still a work in progress as I'm getting to the stage of finalizing everything...  I Currently have 1200W of Solar Panels which gives me about 800w of usable Solar collection for summer in Victoria..
I'm running a Set of Lithium LiFePO4y Batteries..   300Ah @ 24v which give me a 240Ah @ 80% Depth of Discharge or 20% State of charge..
I'm running 2 @ 24v Inverters with their own Separate 240v system's..

a 350w Inverter which Powers up the basic stuff.. Domestic [ Household ] 240v Fridge.. [Samsung inverter fridge - New Technology[ 50-60w] and I also run a 12v Battery charger which Trickle a standalone 12v AGM battery for basic 12v loads.. Car stereo, 12v cig loads in the main Cab area[front of bus]..

I also run a 2400w/4800w Inverter for All the high end Loads.. Like

- 240v Hot water system.

- 240v domestic Split Aircon system[not installed yet. 

-240v cooking and Coffee and toaster and full Gaming Laptop[With all the Bell and Whistles from my American Trip]

 

so yes it is Possible..

some of the benefits of my system.. My Batteries Weigh in at Less than 80kg All up compared to 2-3 times that figure for a set of Lead acid Batteries that has the SAME USABLE AH's [Weight varies to different manufacturer's] You would need to have a 440Ah @ 24v System to Match my system...

Some people say I have a Power station in my bus.. I would have to say yes I do..

- Can the General bloke/Gal do it... Maybe.. With the right information[Watch this space] and the right Gear.. [ My system Does note use a STORE BOUGHT Battery Management System, If you Don't manage the Lithium's You can DESTROY them..] Psst it not hard to do once you have the right information..

The 240v side of the system NEEDS TO BE DONE BY A QUALIFIED " A " GRADE ELECTRICIAN.... NO IF OR BUTT'S..... You need that piece of Paper to give to the engineer to get it complied..

If you want the information on the Lithium Batteries, You can do What I did.. READ EVERYTHING you can find written by T1 TERRY.. ON every forum you can find that he has posted on.. One of those forums has been deleted..[The old CMCA Forum, I don't even think it was archived] - Meet up the the people that have the systems and then try to get an invite to the Forum's [ Not these forum's ] and No it is ONLY an INVITE ONLY FORUM..

My system is one of MANY different variates of a Lithium Build.. Not all system are standardized at this stage but we are working on making a plug and play system..

 

So Gundog I hope this answer the comment question that you have about a LARGE system.. Which I'm not the largest by far.. I think I'm towards the Lower end.. I do know of a 700Ah @ 12v system and maybe even a few bigger..

 

 

John that Solar Battery Calc spread sheet is valid for Lead Acid Batteries..  and is sill fairly good as a reference..

 

Juergen

 

Psst if you want me to post about the Lithium Batteries Verses Lead Acids that I did early on I can try to resurrect the original Table that I created.. The cost will have changed for Lead Acids.. and maybe even for the Lithium's..

-- Edited by SnowT on Tuesday 28th of October 2014 11:42:07 PM