Can we talk about a BASIC UNIVERSAL simple PV kit for preppers.

[NorthernRaider]

Can we PDFerise the Basic PV system article and info please?

[Nemesis]

[Skean Dhude]

Don't just list some. Many of us don't know what is the right kit. Can you list the lot for completeness. That way we have a complete kit as a starting point.

[Nemesis]

Don't just list some. Many of us don't know what is the right kit. Can you list the lot for completeness. That way we have a complete kit as a starting point.

You can reference the solar panel thread I started in December. As you know I have had a problem with my online photo host and all the pics hosted with them went down, but the text is still there, just tidy it up and your make a PDF from it easy enough, combine all the threads add Skvez's input and it should cover all that is needed.


And add the correct way to wire the batts, should make for an interesting PDF.

[Skvez]

For the simple system we're talking about we don't need multiple batteries.
A 40Ah car battery would be 500Wh (at a smidge over 12V)
Since we're talking about 45Wh thats about 11 days to totally discharge it or 5 to take it no more than 50% discharged.
A single day discharge is only 10% so 'deep cycle' is unnecessary.

A 100W solar panel will give you about three time the power you need in the summer and about 1/3 of the power you need in the winter. This is unfortunate as the winter is when you most need the lighting but thats a good starting point.

At 100W a 10A solar controller is more than adequate, 6A would do in a pinch (although in theory 6A isn't enough for a 12V 100W panel you'll never get 100W from a 100W panel in the UK).

Current is such that 2.5mm^2 wiring is probably enough but use 4mm^2 if your runs from panel to battery are longer than 10m or so.

For a simple system you really don't need much more in terms of stuff.

[Skvez]

I just got confirmation from a friend and colleague who works in development of integrated renewable systems that multiple charge controllers do conflict when trying to charge the same battery bank. He experiences this problem with solar and wind but it would be worse with solar and solar where you're basically wasting the energy from one or other of your sets of solar panels.

[Lightspeed]

I just got confirmation from a friend and colleague who works in development of integrated renewable systems that multiple charge controllers do conflict when trying to charge the same battery bank. He experiences this problem with solar and wind but it would be worse with solar and solar where you're basically wasting the energy from one or other of your sets of solar panels.

Skvez,

So the solution for multiple controllers is to use them on multiple separate batteries, yes?

[Skvez]

LS
Separate battery banks
Yes.

Or combine the solar panels and feed into a single big controller if you can.