Solar Pi

[Fenlig]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for reading I'm kinda new to the whole electrical stuff and solar power, so please be gentle.

I've setup a 12v 80w solar panel in a temporary spot in-front of a large window in my apartment, I've connected it to a solar charge controller and 2x 12v 12Ah lead acid battery in parallel. I have also connected a small USB car cigarette adapter to the load and use that to power my raspberry pi(mini computer) 24/7.

I wanted to expand the capibilities of the system to have an AC application to run some low power equipment like a wifi repeater so I bought a 300w AC transformer, just connecting it to the setup completely drains the system in a few hours.

Can anyone see where I am going wrong and possibly offer a solution?

Pictures: http://imgur.com/a/587c5

Big thanks,
Fenlig

[Naptown]

You don't have nearly the battery capacity or panel wattage to run that for more than a short while.
See the off grid stickie in my sig line

[Sunking]

You are 400 watts short on panels and 300 pounds short on battery.

[inetdog]

You are 400 watts short on panels and 300 pounds short on battery.

Plus the window is probably costing close to 50% in panel power....

[SunEagle]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for reading I'm kinda new to the whole electrical stuff and solar power, so please be gentle.

I've setup a 12v 80w solar panel in a temporary spot in-front of a large window in my apartment, I've connected it to a solar charge controller and 2x 12v 12Ah lead acid battery in parallel. I have also connected a small USB car cigarette adapter to the load and use that to power my raspberry pi(mini computer) 24/7.

I wanted to expand the capibilities of the system to have an AC application to run some low power equipment like a wifi repeater so I bought a 300w AC transformer, just connecting it to the setup completely drains the system in a few hours.

Can anyone see where I am going wrong and possibly offer a solution?

Pictures: http://imgur.com/a/587c5

Big thanks,
Fenlig

You have run into the simple example of trying to run too big a load with a very small solar/battery system.

As long as your "load" was only the USB car charger for your raspberry you were probably ok.

But with that 80 watt panel behind the window and a 12volt 24Ah battery system you can only safely get about 60 watt hours out of it a day and will probably take 2 - 3 days to put it back.