New project setup

[albertoker]

so i need a set up that can power 3 cfls and maybe a mini fan all day and night.. i kno im going to need the solar panel and batteries to store the power for when the sun is down but everything else i need help with. how many batteries? what wattage panel? so on.. if any of you can help i will appriciate it... and also.. does the wattage of the panel really matter if its gonna store it.. cant it just run it off the battery?

[Mike90250]

does the wattage of the panel really matter if its gonna store it.. cant it just run it off the battery?

Sure, but what amount of power is going to be needed to recharge the battery in 4 or 5 hours of well aimed sunlight?

Gather the wattage of the lamps, and fan, and determine how many hours each will be on, then we can figure the size of the battery, and then solve for the panel size.

[albertoker]

okay this is the easiest way i know how to explain what im looking for.
this solar panel- 45 watts

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200350715541&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_RSCC_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT&refitem=200356759041&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&usedrule1=StoreCatToStoreCat&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget&_trksid=p284.m183&_trkparms=algo%3DDR%26its%3DS%252BI%252BSS%26itu%3DISS%252BUCI%252BSI%26otn%3D4

so what i need to know is how many batteries will i need and what other parts will i need to power 4 of these cfl at the same time around the clock everyday

http://cgi.ebay.com/8-pck-CFL-Light-Bulbs-13-Watt-60-Watt-Name-brand-GE_W0QQitemZ150353284022QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2301c10bb6&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A15%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

i want them powered by the panel during the day and have the backed up power in the batteries for the night time

[Aussie Bob]

A good quality 130ah deep cycle battery should do the trick there. If you need more capacity, you can always add another battery. Make sure your panels are in a good position for maximum sun too.

But 45 watts of PV will take a few days to fully charge a 130ah battery, so depending on your draw, you might have issues with not enough charging power. You can start with the 45w panel system, and then if you need more battery charging power, you can always add more panels to the system. Just make sure your regulator has some room for expansion.

[Mike90250]

okay this is the easiest way i know how to explain what im looking for.
this solar panel- 45 watts

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200350715541&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_RSCC_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT&refitem=200356759041&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&usedrule1=StoreCatToStoreCat&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget&_trksid=p284.m183&_trkparms=algo%3DDR%26its%3DS%252BI%252BSS%26itu%3DISS%252BUCI%252BSI%26otn%3D4

so what i need to know is how many batteries will i need and what other parts will i need to power 4 of these cfl at the same time around the clock everyday

http://cgi.ebay.com/8-pck-CFL-Light-Bulbs-13-Watt-60-Watt-Name-brand-GE_W0QQitemZ150353284022QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2301c10bb6&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A15%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

i want them powered by the panel during the day and have the backed up power in the batteries for the night time

13W bulb, x 4each x 24hours

Well, at first glance, 4x13 = 52 watts consumed by 4 lights. A 45W panel will not do much for you.

To carry on anyway.
52W x 24 hrs = 1,248 watt hours consumed per day.

You need a solar panel that can replace that power in 5 hours of sunlight, and account for system losses. The easy way to account for system losses for battery based systems
is 50%. 1248 x 2 = 2496 (call it 2,500) divide by 5 hours = 500W of panels needed
Wow ! for just 4 lights, running 24/7


Battery system losses:
20% PV panel aiming loss
20% flooded lead acid recharge loss
10% inverter loss
2% Charge controller losses

[albertoker]

Wow is right.. well what do you guys suggest, I actually really need a set up that can in the long run save me money.. what kind of set up would you have if you needed 4 CFLs 20 to 24 hours a day? Any sggestions would be much help. So what size panels?, how many batteries? And so on.. how would you set this up

[Mike90250]

Wow is right.. well what do you guys suggest, I actually really need a set up that can in the long run save me money.. what kind of set up would you have if you needed 4 CFLs 20 to 24 hours a day? Any sggestions would be much help. So what size panels?, how many batteries? And so on.. how would you set this up

As I said in my earlier post:

13W bulb, x 4each x 24hours

Well, at first glance, 4x13 = 52 watts consumed by 4 lights. A 45W panel will not do much for you.

To carry on anyway.
52W x 24 hrs = 1,248 watt hours consumed per day.

You need a solar panel that can replace that power in 5 hours of sunlight, and account for system losses. The easy way to account for system losses for battery based systems
is 50%. 1248 x 2 = 2496 (call it 2,500) divide by 5 hours = 500W of panels needed
Wow ! for just 4 lights, running 24/7

To size the battery:52w x 19hr = 988 (call it 1000)
1,000Wh / 12v = 84ah is what is consumed. To only discharge your battery to 50%,
you need a battery bank of about 160AH.

[sameerb1]

so if i am talking about running 2 fluracent light tubes and a fan, what size of battery do i need for a 30 watt panel?

and will it work?

[Mike90250]

so if i am talking about running 2 fluracent light tubes and a fan, what size of battery do i need for a 30 watt panel?

and will it work?

See this reply http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showpo...24&postcount=5


Insert your numbers instead of the ones I used, and you will see that 30W is nowhere near enough PV

[sunnybp]

Thanks for Mike's very clear explanation. By the way, the gross weight of the system as
1)Solar PV panel 500watt:60kg
2)lead-acid rechargeable battery 12v/160 Ah:60kg
3)Controller and accessory:20kg