How Many Solar Panels do I need?

[switz]

iPad on an airliner over the Midwest in turbulence and auto spell check generates strange stuff....

The small access hatch in the battery compartment lid allowed topping up the brake fluid without the removal of the ProPride jacks and propane tanks. Reverted back to a full size lid when Lifelines and enclosure were removed.

Enroute from Phoenix to Newark and then across the pond to Birmingham, UK to celebrate my wife's father's 90th with the rest of her family there.

[cwf]

MORE POWER!!! If you have "portable" and are getting 'too much' power, can't you just cover some of the panel with cardboard or 'aluminum'.. (polished of course)

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by cwf

MORE POWER!!! If you have "portable" and are getting 'too much' power, can't you just cover some of the panel with cardboard or 'aluminum'.. (polished of course)

Why? The controller will only deliver what the batts need. Closed voltage won't hurt the panels.
Now, if your controller is too small, that's worthy of discussion, but most allow for higher current input than the rated amperage. They just clamp it at a ceiling. I use 260 watts with a 15 amp Morningstar and when the sun is strong it clamps off at 15 amps. However, because of inefficiency in the system, it's rare to get to 15 amps.

[cwf]

Thanks, Rich!!... It was kinda a "Red Green" thing... No worries...

[DreamStreamr]

We modified the battery box to allow taller Interstate GC2XHD 6v 230amp hour batteries, and placed two more above these. So 12v batteries with 460 amp hours are maintained by two 125watt panels wired in series (to 24vdc) through an MPPT charge controller. We see up to 18 amps charging current on sunny days when we have some catching up to do.

How much solar should you install? I suggest you should first install a Trimetric 2025 or equivalent on your 12vdc system and learn how much you use, for what, and for how long. It will tell you all this and more. Then you know how much solar and battery to install.