Hi, folks! This is my first post here. I do hope I don't say anything stupid...which means I probably already have.
I have built a small solar powered battery bank for use at a desert camp one week a year. I have two 230w 24v panels connected in parallel to an MPPT controller (SainSonic Tracer 3215RN 30amp 12v/24v). The controller is attached to a bank of six 12v 100-amp hour gel batteries.
The unit is used in the desert north of Reno, which receives about 12.5 hours of sun during the week the system will be used. (Solar irradiance factor is about 6.8 at this location at this time of year.) My panels are hung at 55 degrees from vertical facing due south.
The unit was built primarily to power refrigeration, and the fridge unit I'm getting (a large converted chest freezer) pulls 2.26 kwh in a day, or 188.3 amp hrs, according to my kill-a-watt. We are hoping to be able to power some sundry elements like LED lighting, a radio, etc, as well, but refrigeration is the primary goal.
I have assembled all this with VERY little electrical knowledge, but guided by Boxwell's Solar Electricity Handbook. The system works and has been powering several smaller fridges in my garage, but not the biggie I'm about to get.
I assume that if I pull 188.3 amp hours out of my bank, that leaves me with 411.7 amp hours. I know I don't want to drop below 300 amp hours, or 50% of my capacity. So let's pretend I pull 300 amp hours out of my bank in a day. What I still can't figure out is...how long will it take me to recharge 300 amp hours back into my 12v bank with my 24v 460w array going through my MPPT controller?
Any guidance/criticism/damnation will be welcomed.
I have built a small solar powered battery bank for use at a desert camp one week a year. I have two 230w 24v panels connected in parallel to an MPPT controller (SainSonic Tracer 3215RN 30amp 12v/24v). The controller is attached to a bank of six 12v 100-amp hour gel batteries.
The unit is used in the desert north of Reno, which receives about 12.5 hours of sun during the week the system will be used. (Solar irradiance factor is about 6.8 at this location at this time of year.) My panels are hung at 55 degrees from vertical facing due south.
The unit was built primarily to power refrigeration, and the fridge unit I'm getting (a large converted chest freezer) pulls 2.26 kwh in a day, or 188.3 amp hrs, according to my kill-a-watt. We are hoping to be able to power some sundry elements like LED lighting, a radio, etc, as well, but refrigeration is the primary goal.
I have assembled all this with VERY little electrical knowledge, but guided by Boxwell's Solar Electricity Handbook. The system works and has been powering several smaller fridges in my garage, but not the biggie I'm about to get.
I assume that if I pull 188.3 amp hours out of my bank, that leaves me with 411.7 amp hours. I know I don't want to drop below 300 amp hours, or 50% of my capacity. So let's pretend I pull 300 amp hours out of my bank in a day. What I still can't figure out is...how long will it take me to recharge 300 amp hours back into my 12v bank with my 24v 460w array going through my MPPT controller?
Any guidance/criticism/damnation will be welcomed.
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