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Ok - we have two somewhat fixed variables so we can work with that.
* 4 hours of solar insolation where you are located in winter. Not sunrise-to-sunset hours, but solar insolation.
* 200 watt's worth of nominal 12v panels and controller.
The only thing you can do since you want to be portable and go inexpensive, is run the typical 55-75ah agm. Dual purpose / marine / hybrid's - that kind of thing.
Think Optima Yellow or Blue top (light-colored cases, NOT black). Perhaps an Exide Edge "DP" or marine / dual purpose. East-Penn/Deka Intimidator.
Any sort of emergency load is what I'd consider 8 hours minimum. With that, you are limited to running say your typical small 100W MSW inverter. No need for higher wattage, as you won't have any runtime anyway.
Power up things like LED lights (like a 40-60w "equivalent" GE / Sylvania / Osram bulb that in reality only pull much less - like around .7 to 1.5 watts). Charge laptops, tablets and cellphones with mobile 12v cigarette lighter to 5v usb adapters. Small stuff, all the while keeping an eye out not to exceed 50% DOD.
Those two variables of only 200w of panel, going inexpensive, and only 4 hours of winter solar insolation means that the battery size is going to dictate the "emergency" loads you can run. You can't make the battery TOO big, or it will never get a good charge from a major emergency discharge, and will just sulfate instead.
What makes this frustrating for most, is that this is the BACKWARDS way to do it - the most expensive - and the most likely to be tossed into a corner of the garage never to be seen again once the thrill of solar and a premature battery failure is over.
But it will keep one entertained while they read up on how to do it right, and possibly replacing the entire project in the near future, since your LOAD requirements dictate all the rest of the components needed.
* 4 hours of solar insolation where you are located in winter. Not sunrise-to-sunset hours, but solar insolation.
* 200 watt's worth of nominal 12v panels and controller.
The only thing you can do since you want to be portable and go inexpensive, is run the typical 55-75ah agm. Dual purpose / marine / hybrid's - that kind of thing.
Think Optima Yellow or Blue top (light-colored cases, NOT black). Perhaps an Exide Edge "DP" or marine / dual purpose. East-Penn/Deka Intimidator.
Any sort of emergency load is what I'd consider 8 hours minimum. With that, you are limited to running say your typical small 100W MSW inverter. No need for higher wattage, as you won't have any runtime anyway.
Power up things like LED lights (like a 40-60w "equivalent" GE / Sylvania / Osram bulb that in reality only pull much less - like around .7 to 1.5 watts). Charge laptops, tablets and cellphones with mobile 12v cigarette lighter to 5v usb adapters. Small stuff, all the while keeping an eye out not to exceed 50% DOD.
Those two variables of only 200w of panel, going inexpensive, and only 4 hours of winter solar insolation means that the battery size is going to dictate the "emergency" loads you can run. You can't make the battery TOO big, or it will never get a good charge from a major emergency discharge, and will just sulfate instead.
What makes this frustrating for most, is that this is the BACKWARDS way to do it - the most expensive - and the most likely to be tossed into a corner of the garage never to be seen again once the thrill of solar and a premature battery failure is over.
But it will keep one entertained while they read up on how to do it right, and possibly replacing the entire project in the near future, since your LOAD requirements dictate all the rest of the components needed.
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