On Sun, 12 Nov 2017 09:50:42 -0500, "Jim Wilkins"
wrote:
"Larry Jaques" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 11 Nov 2017 11:28:38 -0500, "Jim Wilkins"
wrote:
"Jim Wilkins" wrote in message
news
Here is a good analysis of PWM vs MPPT:
https://www.victronenergy.com/upload...WM-or-MPPT.pdf
On Amazon PWM controllers go for $20 or less, MPPTs for $100 and
up.
At 11AM the two 100W panels were sending 175W into the batteries
through a $20 PWM controller. I can't justify a $100 MPPT controller
to gain 25W.
Not at this level of play. When you get into kilowatts and battery
banks, they make sense.
I don't mind spending for test equipment that increases my knowledge,
like wattmeters, but there's a tight limit to my investment in solar
power that by my calculation will never break even and only reduces
the inconvenience of a long power outage.
Until it's permanent. With the new 200w, you might fare much better
during a 3 month outage if major transformers were blown by a solar
flare, EMP, or terrorists shooting them up and blowing up the mfgr
plant. We have 1000x the required number of potential tangoes in the
US right now for that, not including ANTIFA or BLM. 60 of them
working together around the country concurrently could take us down to
9th century level in hours. It's only expensive until it isn't. Then
it's a necessity.
I use solar power to keep my vehicle batteries topped up. In this case
it extends rather than reduces their lifespan for a significant
savings, at no cost for electricity. The HF 45W kit is enough,
typically the battery draws less than 1 Amp as it nears a full charge.
Good to know.
I first tried a small solar charger safely inside on the dash but the
windshield reduced its output to less than the vehicle computer's
parasitic drain.
Tinted windshield, or just the dual-pane with plastic in the middle?
--
Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds
are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her
tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the
existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of
the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear.
-- Thomas Jefferson