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Topic: Thoughts on solar expectations... (Read 234 times) previous topic - next topic
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Thoughts on solar expectations...

It is common for folks to consider the production of their solar panel array will be the sum of the published powers, but most also take that with a grain of salt, knowing they are unlikely to find conditions as ideal as specified. I have been using rooftop solar for over 30 years on our LD's, but recently installed solar on our home, and the accompanying software shows the reality in pretty useful form. By the spec, our solar array has 7.15kW of installed panels facing south, inclined 20 degrees above horizontal and microinverters capable of 7.04kW peak. The graph of KWh produced per each 15 min segment is roughly a bell curve, and the unobstructed peak power with clean panels and sun overhead is 6.3kW, at the beginning of June. In other words, about 88% of the max rated output. On this clear day, total power produced was 47.7kWh.

Interpolating to a '500W' RV layout, which is about 7% of the power, you would expect about 440W peak and 3.3kWh per day. This would correspond to about 236 A-hr available for charging and consumption at 14V, with peak rate at about 31.4A, with lithium batteries. This is in June under ideal conditions with no shading, and for horizontal panels, derate by perhaps 30%.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: Thoughts on solar expectations...
Reply #1 –
Good information--thanks, Steve.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"