Hello everyone!
Excited to get back into solar and looking forward to learning from this site! I'm new to the form and don't have much experience with solar. I built a small 12v solar setup about 4 years ago. It consisted of two 100ah lead batteries, a 100-watt foldable solar panel from Renogy (with a 30a Adventurer Charge Controller), fuse box, kill switch, and 750-watt inverter. I had the system operational for about 8 months but unfortunately, the batteries got messed up are no longer useable.
Over the next couple weeks, I'd like to build a new system but upgrade to lithium this time around. I'm hoping to reuse the wires (have some 2-ga, 10-awg and 14-awg), fuse box and kill switch I have from my first build. I'd also like to add a Dc-to-Dc charger and whatever else may be necessary. The inverter I currently have is modified sine wave so it may be a good idea to upgrade since I am going to be powering laptops, phones etc.
I plan on using this new system for 2-6 months. Then, after that initial 2-6 month period, I should have more space for solar panels and batteries. At that point, I'd like to expand on the system or create a second one. However, I'm not sure which is the best approach to take, expand or multiple systems?
Another concern for me, for the first 2-6 months I'm planning on having just the one, 100-watt foldable 12v panel for solar. However, after the first 2-6 month period, I'd like to add more solar panels and batteries and make the whole thing a 24v system.
Because of all that, I'm not sure if I should build a 12v system now and add a second 24v system later. Or build a 12v system now and add a second 12v system later (or add onto the existing 12v system). Or If I should build a 24v system now and add a second 24v system later (or add onto the existing 24v system).
If, for my current build I go 24v and buy a 24v battery, a 24v Dc-to-Dc and a 24v inverter, then that'd make my 12v foldable solar panel obsolete. I don't think I have the ability to use two solar panels currently (there's a slight chance I can get two panels currently but it'll not ideal). Is there any way I can get a 12v solar panel to charge a 24v battery? Do you think I could rely solely on a 24v Dc-to-Dc charger to charge the system?
I like the idea of having multiple systems in case something breaks down, you could swap out components from one system to another. However, if I buy components for a 12v system now, then add a second system at 24v in 6 months, I don't think I'll be able to swap those components around anyways, so that'll defeat the purpose of having multiple systems. Would it be beneficial for any other reason to have two systems of different voltages, one 12v and another 24v?
For the initial 2-6 month period, my energy needs are as follows (I may be doing the calculation wrong):
Working on my computer for up to 10 hours a day (an 85watt laptop, I believe) - 850 watts
A small Dometic 12v fridge (CoolFreeze cf-25, 35 watts) - 840 watts
A 120v slow cooker for 7 hours every two or three days (says 250 watts on plug, it's a 6-quart Hamilton Beach) - 1750 watts
Enough lights for about 75 square feet, powering smaller portable batteries/phone, other misc. - 1,000 watts (a guess)
If possible, it'd be awesome to run a 120v electric water distiller for 6 hours a day (says 530 watts on plug) - 3,180 watts
For a total of 2860 watts without the slow cooker or distiller, 4610 watts without the water distiller and 7,790 watts with both. Does that sound about right? I was thinking 12v, 400ah (or 24V, 200ah) would be suitable if I don't plan on using a water distiller and 12v, 800ah (or 24v, 400ah) if I do use the water distiller?
To charge the battery, if I go 12v, I'd like to use the 100-watt foldable solar panel that I have. Unfortunately, it's not permanently attached to the roof or battery, so it won't get sun all day long. I plan on having the solar panel connected for about 6-8 hours a day. I'd also like to charge the battery using a DC-to-DC charger
that way I can charge the battery while driving. I'll likely be driving for 5-6 hours a day. That way, if I get 8 hours of full sun (66.67 ah) and 5 hours charging from a 60a Dc-Dc charger (300ah) I would get a total of about 366ah of charging a day? Does that sound about right or is my math wrong? Or, if I go 24v, I saw the Buck-Boost DC-DC Converter 25a / 50a / 100a... if I got the 100a version, and drove for 6 hours that would be 600ah of charging a day? Seems like either option would give me enough power, however I'm not sure I'm determining the charging ability correctly so I may be way off.
I understand that the slow cooker and water distiller may be a lot for this solar system to handle. I'd like to do both with fire or propane, however that may not be practical for the first 2-6 months. So, I'm hoping it will work with electricity.
Is what I'm hoping to achieve possible or am I way off here? Any help planning my system is appreciated. Thanks!
Excited to get back into solar and looking forward to learning from this site! I'm new to the form and don't have much experience with solar. I built a small 12v solar setup about 4 years ago. It consisted of two 100ah lead batteries, a 100-watt foldable solar panel from Renogy (with a 30a Adventurer Charge Controller), fuse box, kill switch, and 750-watt inverter. I had the system operational for about 8 months but unfortunately, the batteries got messed up are no longer useable.
Over the next couple weeks, I'd like to build a new system but upgrade to lithium this time around. I'm hoping to reuse the wires (have some 2-ga, 10-awg and 14-awg), fuse box and kill switch I have from my first build. I'd also like to add a Dc-to-Dc charger and whatever else may be necessary. The inverter I currently have is modified sine wave so it may be a good idea to upgrade since I am going to be powering laptops, phones etc.
I plan on using this new system for 2-6 months. Then, after that initial 2-6 month period, I should have more space for solar panels and batteries. At that point, I'd like to expand on the system or create a second one. However, I'm not sure which is the best approach to take, expand or multiple systems?
Another concern for me, for the first 2-6 months I'm planning on having just the one, 100-watt foldable 12v panel for solar. However, after the first 2-6 month period, I'd like to add more solar panels and batteries and make the whole thing a 24v system.
Because of all that, I'm not sure if I should build a 12v system now and add a second 24v system later. Or build a 12v system now and add a second 12v system later (or add onto the existing 12v system). Or If I should build a 24v system now and add a second 24v system later (or add onto the existing 24v system).
If, for my current build I go 24v and buy a 24v battery, a 24v Dc-to-Dc and a 24v inverter, then that'd make my 12v foldable solar panel obsolete. I don't think I have the ability to use two solar panels currently (there's a slight chance I can get two panels currently but it'll not ideal). Is there any way I can get a 12v solar panel to charge a 24v battery? Do you think I could rely solely on a 24v Dc-to-Dc charger to charge the system?
I like the idea of having multiple systems in case something breaks down, you could swap out components from one system to another. However, if I buy components for a 12v system now, then add a second system at 24v in 6 months, I don't think I'll be able to swap those components around anyways, so that'll defeat the purpose of having multiple systems. Would it be beneficial for any other reason to have two systems of different voltages, one 12v and another 24v?
For the initial 2-6 month period, my energy needs are as follows (I may be doing the calculation wrong):
Working on my computer for up to 10 hours a day (an 85watt laptop, I believe) - 850 watts
A small Dometic 12v fridge (CoolFreeze cf-25, 35 watts) - 840 watts
A 120v slow cooker for 7 hours every two or three days (says 250 watts on plug, it's a 6-quart Hamilton Beach) - 1750 watts
Enough lights for about 75 square feet, powering smaller portable batteries/phone, other misc. - 1,000 watts (a guess)
If possible, it'd be awesome to run a 120v electric water distiller for 6 hours a day (says 530 watts on plug) - 3,180 watts
For a total of 2860 watts without the slow cooker or distiller, 4610 watts without the water distiller and 7,790 watts with both. Does that sound about right? I was thinking 12v, 400ah (or 24V, 200ah) would be suitable if I don't plan on using a water distiller and 12v, 800ah (or 24v, 400ah) if I do use the water distiller?
To charge the battery, if I go 12v, I'd like to use the 100-watt foldable solar panel that I have. Unfortunately, it's not permanently attached to the roof or battery, so it won't get sun all day long. I plan on having the solar panel connected for about 6-8 hours a day. I'd also like to charge the battery using a DC-to-DC charger
that way I can charge the battery while driving. I'll likely be driving for 5-6 hours a day. That way, if I get 8 hours of full sun (66.67 ah) and 5 hours charging from a 60a Dc-Dc charger (300ah) I would get a total of about 366ah of charging a day? Does that sound about right or is my math wrong? Or, if I go 24v, I saw the Buck-Boost DC-DC Converter 25a / 50a / 100a... if I got the 100a version, and drove for 6 hours that would be 600ah of charging a day? Seems like either option would give me enough power, however I'm not sure I'm determining the charging ability correctly so I may be way off.
I understand that the slow cooker and water distiller may be a lot for this solar system to handle. I'd like to do both with fire or propane, however that may not be practical for the first 2-6 months. So, I'm hoping it will work with electricity.
Is what I'm hoping to achieve possible or am I way off here? Any help planning my system is appreciated. Thanks!