minimalist pv dc

idea?

More internet garbage. The diode is backwards. And just what is he running? Solar panel voltage will be ok for many switching regulators. I run a washing machine without batteries, but it needs an inverter to create AC for the motors and solenoids. I run a house with only a car battery. Most things run right off solar panel voltage. This is not stuff for the kiddie table of solar.

Sure if you only have 120V DC loads. You don't even need a diode. Clouds will be very annoying. I would add 120V battery in parallel with PV to take care of rolling clouds. You can have 4x 60 cell panels in series (360W 34Vmp 41Voc) for 136Vmp charging 10x 12V flooded lead acid batts at 13.6V each. At 164V PV open circuit voltage each battery will be 16.4V but since there will always be 1A of equalizing current the batteries will pull down Voc slightly until their electrolyte boils off. Some over voltage shunting or disconnect device will be needed. But it should be relatively safe setup without MPPT and lithium (unless you get hydrogen explosion).