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Topic: Plug and play low cost no brainer solar (Read 519 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: Plug and play low cost no brainer solar
Reply #25 –
"These solar showers in Organ Pipe suck!"
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The only issue I had with Organ Pipe's showers was the 'pressure wash the driveway' force of the spray; the water was hot. I was there in a warm and sunny mid-April; more panel exposure than in early March.
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Plug and play low cost no brainer solar
Reply #26 –
Quote from: Sarz272000  - 
Not sure if heat is dissipated would be a problem from bottom of panel if mounted on roof.
Check the instructions, but cooling is imperative for maximum performance. As the temperature of the panel rises, voltage drops. Considering a typical efficiency of 14%, and assuming in the summer at these latitudes max output would be expected in the range of 130 Watts, this means 800 Watts of heat energy to be dissipated from the panel to prevent output power loss. This might be hard with a thin panel mounted close to - but off - the roof with tape. Another issue with a thin panel low to the roof is submersion in 'Lake Newton' when it rains - likely to reduce performance too.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: Plug and play low cost no brainer solar
Reply #27 –
Quote from: Sawyer  - 
We usually don't stay in one spot over a week and are extremely frugal with electricity opting to pour water from a container instead of using the pump for flushing and doing dishes.

I'm breaking that rule here with this forum but it's in quest of solar ideas so I'm giving myself a pass. I feel a small 100 watt portable will keep our batteries topped off with limited electric use and will do fine between drive days.

Good luck with the 100-watt portable. Unless you have installed a battery capacity meter, you have no idea how deeply the battery is discharged, making it easy to destroy it in your quest for frugality .
It seems little extreme to manually pour water to flush the toilet, so no battery power is used running the water pump.

As to the cold showers, I wouldn't know, our LD came equipped with a nice shower and hot water.

Larry


Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
 
Re: Plug and play low cost no brainer solar
Reply #28 –
Quote from: Sawyer  - 
... opting to pour water from a container instead of using the pump for flushing ...

A 10-sec toilet flush uses 0.02 A-hr or less of battery charge. So, 100 flushes woould use 2 A-hr or less. I wouldn't use this method of conserving charge unless the battery bank is almost dead.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit