Solar panels
Submitted: Sunday, Feb 15, 2009 at 13:02
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Hairy (NT)
Gday,
Has anyone had any expierience in building your own solar panels?
Ive noticed you can buy all the parts to build your own for about half the price as a complete panel.
Can anyone recomend a type of kit and where to get one or any info good or bad about building one?
36 SOLAR CELLS - 5" X 5" -.5 VOLT, 4 AMPS , 2 WATTS
For around $250 including tape,
feedback diode and a few other bits.
Cheers
Hairy
Reply By: Hairy (NT) - Sunday, Feb 15, 2009 at 16:14
Sunday, Feb 15, 2009 at 16:14
Gday,
Heres another question or 3............
My current panel is a BP, 46 watt panel, so Id like to produce another 60 odd watts.
How do I measure watts??? My multimeter only has amps and volts on it as far as I know?
How many amps (roughly) do I need for charging a 12 volt battery running a 60lt Waeco and a light or stereo etc.
I know there are a lot of variables, Im just trying to get an idea of what size panel I need to make?
Cheers
AnswerID:
349213
Follow Up By: greybeard - Sunday, Feb 15, 2009 at 17:07
Sunday, Feb 15, 2009 at 17:07
Power ( watts ) = Volts * Amps.
FollowupID:
617444
Follow Up By: Member - 1/2A - Sunday, Feb 15, 2009 at 17:14
Sunday, Feb 15, 2009 at 17:14
To Run a fridge and charge a battery in hotter climates (40+) you need about 150 watts. I run a fridge and a freezer using 150 watts but have Bushman fridges that use a lot less power than the Waeco. The SIL has a 60lt Waeco and we often go away together so I know no know exactly the consumptions between the two as we both have Xantrrex battery monitors and the same AGM battery setup.
FollowupID:
617446
Follow Up By: Hairy (NT) - Sunday, Feb 15, 2009 at 22:41
Sunday, Feb 15, 2009 at 22:41
Greybeard,
Is that " volts x amps"?
Cheers
FollowupID:
617540
Follow Up By: greybeard - Sunday, Feb 15, 2009 at 22:50
Sunday, Feb 15, 2009 at 22:50
yes hairy, if you measure the voltage with the load connected and the current with the power connected and multiply the two figures together you get power.
ie. say 12 volts and 2 amps = 12*2 = 24watts
clear as mud :)
FollowupID:
617543
Follow Up By: Hairy (NT) - Sunday, Feb 15, 2009 at 22:56
Sunday, Feb 15, 2009 at 22:56
Yeah mate..that makes sense...Cheers
FollowupID:
617548
Follow Up By: paulnsw - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 07:41
Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 07:41
"Bushman fridges that use a lot less power than the Waeco" ROFLOL LOL LOL
same compressor as a Waeco and same thickness insulation and uses less power LOL LOL LOL LOL ROFLOL
where do you hear that rubbish from?
FollowupID:
617578
Follow Up By: Member - Mike DID - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 09:45
Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 09:45
"yes hairy, if you measure the voltage with the load connected and the current with the power connected and multiply the two figures together you get power.
ie. say 12 volts and 2 amps = 12*2 = 24watts "
That's logical, but that's NOT the way the ratings on ALL commercial solar panels are determined - surprisingly they use a method that gives a much higher number.
They indicate the maximum power you can EVER get out of a panel, but not when charging a 12 volt battery.
The current from them is fairly constant up to about 18 volts - so they calculate power by using amps x 18 volts (for a "12" volt panel).
FollowupID:
617592
Reply By: Lucko - Sunday, Feb 15, 2009 at 16:18
Sunday, Feb 15, 2009 at 16:18
Hairy,
Without wanting to rain on your parade, solar panel construction is a very specialized art. For example, the glass cover on modern panels is not only high strength but low in Iron which allows a more efficient passage of solar energy. Very important when you consider that even modern monocrystalline panels are only 14 - 17% efficient. Small issues like this have a significant impact on panel output. That glass, on good quality panels, can also withstand things like hail at incredible velocity.
I've seen these kits, but to be honest IMHO, they are meant more for the experimenter rather than campers etc. who really need something that's bullet proof.
Mark
AnswerID:
349214
Follow Up By: Hairy (NT) - Sunday, Feb 15, 2009 at 16:26
Sunday, Feb 15, 2009 at 16:26
Gday Mark,
Thats not what I wanted to hear but probably the sort of thing I need to hear...
Cheers
FollowupID:
617437