This is a real basic solar elec. question

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This is a real basic solar elec. question

Postby fireaunt » Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:33 pm

I saw this 10 w solar thing in the Harbor Freight ad
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... 377_149424

Ok, if you have this, then --
It goes directly to a deep cycle battery?

Say you have this out in the sun. So I'm thinking wires from it go to the battery. Is there a fuse between them? Then from the battery wires would go to a plug? I just want to understand the concept. I know better than to electrocute myself. But I just don't get it. You all show those diagrams and I get lost.

:cry:
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Postby madjack » Fri Mar 20, 2009 9:32 am

FA, ANY wire going to the (+) positive post of the battery should have an inline fuse as close to the battery as possible...the wires from the SC can go direct to the battery or to the 12vdc fuse block(and from there to the battery)...the charger, itself should also be fuse protected.........
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Postby fireaunt » Fri Mar 20, 2009 9:42 am

Battery Charger
l
l
l
Battery---Fuse-----SC
l
l
Fuse
l
Elec Plug


Is this the basic idea? :thinking:
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Postby madjack » Fri Mar 20, 2009 9:52 am

...are you using a "fuse block" for distribution of 12VDC power to the 12VDC plugs/appliances...you can run the battery>>>fuse>>>fuse block and hook chargers to the battery thru the fuse block positive and negative connections or if chargers go directly to the battery a fuse should be in any line connecting to the positive(+) terminal of the battery........
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Postby Miriam C. » Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:12 am

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... 377_149424

This solar charger seems to have it's own battery. Only 17 amp hours though. Is this the one you are getting?
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Postby fireaunt » Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:46 am

Before I buy anything, I want to understand what all it takes to build it.

Like I said - basic.

Plan - want to run a/c and some lights (boondocking)

Shopping list: 1)Brains 2) deep cycle battery 3) wires 4) fuse(s) 5) some sort of charger (this solar gizmo?) 6) electric outlet 7) schematic drawing 8) ???
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Postby Lynn Coleman » Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:00 am

To run ac you'll need a huge solar collecting panel and I don't think you'll get a full night's use from it. At least that's what I've seen from my research. Of course, I'm still trying to understand how many watts and amps and storage batteries, fuses, etc.

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Postby madjack » Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:49 am

FA, you can't expect to run A/C off of batteries unless you build a second tear just to haul the needed batteries and associated wiring around...most 5kbtu A/C's pull around 4-5 amps of ac power when running and need 10-11 amps of ac power on start up...in DC power, that equates to 40-50 amps and double that on start up...this means, you would need 4+ LARGE deep cell batteries to run the A/C for 1, 10hour night @ 30% usage...stick to fans and lights when boondocking and save the A/C for when shore power is available...or buy a 2000watt generator....
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p.s. the smaller PetCools will need about half of that power but still not reasonable enough for battery operation........MJ
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Postby fireaunt » Wed Mar 25, 2009 9:22 am

Lynn, misery loves company, thank you for being a novice at this. That's why I posted this on the Lady TD topic and not electric.

MJ, ok scratch air , gasp! Note: check weather before boondock.

I know there is a formula for how much power you need - you didn't magically come up with those numbers.

Note: my definition of power=electricity. AC and DC both use the same watts and amps, right? The difference in Watts and amps is something I haven't grasped. Is one a smaller part of the other?

Thanks,
Marilyn

sounds like sex education doesn't it --

:?
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Postby madjack » Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:02 am

FA, yep, the formula is P=ExI, where P=wattage, E=voltage, I=amperage... there is 10 fold difference between 120VAC and 12VDC, it follows that there is a 10 fold difference in amperage as well...for example...if a 5000btu A/C uses 600watts, it will breaks down as follows.......
600(watts)=120(VAC) times 5(amps)
600(watts)=12(VDC) times 50(amps)

...since this is an algebraic equation, all those rules apply....

120(VAC)=600(watts) divided by 5(amps)
12(VDC)=600(watts) divided by 50(amps)

...see, all that hi-school math really does come in handy ;)
...way more than you wanted to learn, first thing in the morning...HUH...but you did ask :D :lol: ;)
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Postby Lynn Coleman » Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:21 am

LOL glad someone remembers their high school algebra.

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Postby dreadcptflint » Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:55 am

Fireaunt,
I don't know where you are boondocking however you could always try a swamp cooler. They use a lot less energy than an AC unit and could keep you a little cooler.

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