experimental set up ?

[[email protected]]

how many panels would i need to run my tv 85.watts dvd,12
watts ,vcr 12 watts, webtv,12 watts 1 hrs, or 2 hrs. a day
lets say 5 days a week sometimes 7 i am from alabama
so we get a lot of sun and also how much would it cost

 

[George Ghio]

how many panels would i need to run my tv 85.watts dvd,12
watts ,vcr 12 watts, webtv,12 watts 1 hrs, or 2 hrs. a day
lets say 5 days a week sometimes 7 i am from alabama
so we get a lot of sun and also how much would it cost

You will need to be a bit mor specifec. Each item for how long / day

George

 

[[email protected]]

What part of Alabama? I am in Mobile.
I have a solar setup and might be able tohelp if you are close.
YOu have to be more specific in your operating times for someone to give
you a acurate estimate. How long will each item be on for how many days.
Also how many days do you want to be able to operate if it is cloudy for
a couple of days?
Offgridman

 

[Anthony Matonak]

how many panels would i need to run my tv 85.watts dvd,12
watts ,vcr 12 watts, webtv,12 watts 1 hrs, or 2 hrs. a day
lets say 5 days a week sometimes 7 i am from alabama
so we get a lot of sun and also how much would it cost

Well, as others have said, you might need to get a bit more
specific to get accurate estimates. That said, I think there
is enough to give you an idea.

First you need to know how much electricity you need.
Add up the wattage's and multiply by the hours you want
to use them to get watt-hours (or kwh). Yours add up
to 85+12+12+12= 121 watts x 2 hours = 242 watt-hours.

Now, you'll need more than this amount of electricity
a day because you lose some at all stages. Batteries
only put out, say, 80% of the energy you put into them,
inverters only 80% to 90%. In your case you can figure
242wh/.80/.80 = 378 watt-hours.

Then you need to know how much sunlight you get there.
NREL can help a little there.
http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/old_data/nsrdb/redbook/atlas/
http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/calculators/PVWATTS/

Most places in the United States get at least 3 to 4
kwh/m^2/day (just think of it as 'sun hours'). If you
want to know many much PV panel to buy then divide
the total watt-hours required by the 'sun hours'.
This would be, say, 378/3 = 126 watts.

Panels come in all different sizes and they are sold
by their STC rated wattages. You should only figure
on 80% of this in the real world. That is, a 100W
panel only should be expected to produce 80W. It may
produce more for a decade or two but they do degrade.
You can figure anywhere from $3.50 to $5.00 an STC
watt when buying the panels themselves and then
perhaps another dollar or two for batteries and
everything else.

This means you'll need (126W/.80) 158 watts of PV
costing some (158w x $7) $1106.

Now, you could probably reduce that somewhat in any
number of ways but this gives you an idea of the
kind of ballpark you'll be playing in.

Anthony

 

[[email protected]]

thanks anthony u help me out. u gave me a good idea on cost.and panels i
need take care

 

[[email protected]]

Well, as others have said, you might need to get a bit more
specific to get accurate estimates. That said, I think there
is enough to give you an idea.

First you need to know how much electricity you need.
Add up the wattage's and multiply by the hours you want
to use them to get watt-hours (or kwh). Yours add up
to 85+12+12+12= 121 watts x 2 hours = 242 watt-hours.

Now, you'll need more than this amount of electricity
a day because you lose some at all stages. Batteries
only put out, say, 80% of the energy you put into them,
inverters only 80% to 90%. In your case you can figure
242wh/.80/.80 = 378 watt-hours.

Then you need to know how much sunlight you get there.
NREL can help a little there.
http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/old_data/nsrdb/redbook/atlas/
http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/calculators/PVWATTS/

Most places in the United States get at least 3 to 4
kwh/m^2/day (just think of it as 'sun hours'). If you
want to know many much PV panel to buy then divide
the total watt-hours required by the 'sun hours'.
This would be, say, 378/3 = 126 watts.

Panels come in all different sizes and they are sold
by their STC rated wattages. You should only figure
on 80% of this in the real world. That is, a 100W
panel only should be expected to produce 80W. It may
produce more for a decade or two but they do degrade.
You can figure anywhere from $3.50 to $5.00 an STC
watt when buying the panels themselves and then
perhaps another dollar or two for batteries and
everything else.

you say another dollar or two . what is the cheapest he could get a
battery and inverter and control unit for ?

 

[Anthony Matonak]

you say another dollar or two . what is the cheapest he could get a
battery and inverter and control unit for ?

Unlike panels, there are a very wide range of options for the
batteries, inverter and charge controllers.

The cheapest way possible is to scavenge parts, batteries
and so forth from junk yards, trash and recyclers and
then build your own circuits, mounts and trackers.

In this case, he needs some 242 wh/day. If he limits himself
to DC then his only losses are in the battery so he'll need
some (242/.80) 302 wh/day from the panels. With a tracker
he might get some 4 sun-hours a day so he'll need about
76 watts of PV. With mirrors he could double the output of
those panels without risking too much damage and cut that
down to 38 watts. He could perhaps purchase dead yard lights
for something like $.50 to $1 and most run about half a watt.
The whole thing might be put together for $100 and a lot of
hunting for parts. Maybe less if he fixes a few of the yard
lights (usually just need a new battery) and sells them or
put the cells themselves up for sale for $10/watt.

Anthony

 

[[email protected]]

Unlike panels, there are a very wide range of options for the
batteries, inverter and charge controllers.

The cheapest way possible is to scavenge parts, batteries
and so forth from junk yards, trash and recyclers and
then build your own circuits, mounts and trackers.

In this case, he needs some 242 wh/day. If he limits himself
to DC then his only losses are in the battery so he'll need
some (242/.80) 302 wh/day from the panels. With a tracker
he might get some 4 sun-hours a day so he'll need about
76 watts of PV. With mirrors he could double the output of
those panels without risking too much damage and cut that
down to 38 watts. He could perhaps purchase dead yard lights
for something like $.50 to $1 and most run about half a watt.
The whole thing might be put together for $100 and a lot of
hunting for parts. Maybe less if he fixes a few of the yard
lights (usually just need a new battery) and sells them or
put the cells themselves up for sale for $10/watt.

you can get a 38 watts panel for $100 ?

 

[Anthony Matonak]

you can get a 38 watts panel for $100 ?

Those solar powered yard lights typically have lifespans of
only a few years. The parts that fail are usually not the PV
cells (which are in the half watt range). PV cells can last
many decades while batteries (especially outside in the sun)
usually won't. Many people simply throw these things away
when they stop working. If you advertise that you are willing
to purchase non-working solar powered equipment then perhaps
you could pick them up for nearly nothing. You would still
need to remove the PV cells and wire them into an array
yourself.

Anthony