Solar Stuff...

[Grant H.]

Well, I just built a chicken coop that has a South-ish facing roof slope that is 6'x10'. I'd like to load it with as many panels as possible. I could probably get away with like a 30w panel for all my chicken coop needs (auto opening doors and some winter LED lighting, maybe some cameras). I figure that if done well, I can have it double as a solar generator that I can plug my fridges or stuff into if I ever needed. I like the idea because it allows me to have something that is dual purpose and doesn't poke holes in my roof.

EDIT: I assume that it could get pretty complicated as far as running super caps and batteries since you'd still need a solar controller for the batteries, but maybe then you're reducing efficiency with the super caps. In my minds eye, I'd end up with a 500-600 watt solar generator that runs my coop all the time, but then I can run some speakers, charge tools, an electric scooter, or if the super caps work out, maybe even a saw or something when I'm building something outside. I just don't know how feasible it all is. I'm sure it can be done, but would it be worth it if it costs me $5,000? Maybe not. As with most of my projects, it seems like something I'd like to experiment with just to do so. Plus I'll have plenty of capacity if I wanted to add on with yard lights, or a pond/fountain with the pump and heater run off of solar or whatever stuff I imagine up in the future.

Your idea seems perfectly reasonable, but you are right, that it does add complexity since the batteries require a controller, and the super caps don't.

http://www.ecodirect.com/Canadian-So...k-300ms-t4.htm

Gets you 900W on your roof space.

I'll try and draw some stuff up tonight as a starting point for you.

[Irving]

Thanks for the link, I was hoping you'd have insight into stuff that is better than I've been finding on Amazon. Seems like I might be able to build a pretty decent generator with 900 watts.

[Grant H.]

Thanks for the link, I was hoping you'd have insight into stuff that is better than I've been finding on Amazon. Seems like I might be able to build a pretty decent generator with 900 watts.

Sorry, got tied up welding last night.

Ecodirect isn't the best pricing that can be had, but they are usually a pretty easy place to look and see what's available.

These guys website blows, but they have good pricing. Call them to find out what they have and what the pricing is. They have a warehouse in Denver as well.
http://sunelec.com/home/

[Irving]

Thanks for posting that website again. I was trying to click on that link in the earlier part of the thread and it would never come up.

[JackRyan]

Any one know what size solar panel I would need to charge a single battery for my pop up camper?

[Grant H.]

Any one know what size solar panel I would need to charge a single battery for my pop up camper?

What size battery? Voltage and Amp Hours?

As gnihcraes asked, how fast do you want it to charge? FYI, a panel laid flat on the roof of a camper will not provide it's full rated output, so charging will take longer than expected based on panel rating.

[JackRyan]

I'll have to look. Might go with a golf cart style battery. Im not sure what came with the camper. I know the light are powered by it, but not funtional. So might as well up grade.
Are you saying you will get better power from a panel if its on a stand as to being flat?

[JackRyan]

Sealed AGM Gel Golf Cart Battery 12 Volt 35 Amp Hour

[JackRyan]

What size battery? Voltage and Amp Hours?

As gnihcraes asked, how fast do you want it to charge? FYI, a panel laid flat on the roof of a camper will not provide it's full rated output, so charging will take longer than expected based on panel rating.

Sealed AGM Gel Golf Cart Battery 12 Volt 35 Amp Hour

[gnihcraes]

How quick do you want to charge it?

I use a 100 watt panel on mine. Full 8 hours to recharge on a sunny day and little battery use during that time. Battery isnt fully drained either before charging up. Sometime I'll add more panels for a quicker charge.

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