I am looking at a need of roughly 30w/hour need per 24 hour period. I have spent several hours now looking for information online and have found plenty of info regarding the panels themselves, but information regarding the batteries backups have been slim. I understand that there is a 5-7 hour peak time to collect the energy. I am looking for information regarding the batteries themselves. How do the batteries work, what size batteries should I look for, and what is the life expectency for the batteries? Any website links would also be appreciated!
First, you didn't say the voltage. Second, 30 W/hour per day. Third, battery backup capacity in Ah = Ampere hour. For 2 Volt DC here's the calculations : 30 w/hour means = 0.83 or rounded Ampere hour. You know peak time 5-7 hour (let say 6 hour)charging time (collect the sun energy). Ampere hour per day (24 hour), with 20 Ah Battery backup is OK. And the Solar Panel is 3 Ampere charging capacity minimal = 3 Amp x 6 hour = 8 Amp hour.
Solar panels have their own characteristics and generate current depending on the intensity of sunlight falling on them and not on the temperature. Direction of the panel also makes lots of difference. Nowadays very thin panels are available at very high cost. The more area a panel occupies it generates more current. The current generated by a panel cannot be readily used since the current and voltage varies with the load connected to it. So normally a regulator is used to have constant voltage and constant current to come from the panel. This charges the battery. You have to calculate the total/normal current from the charger and then find the AH of the battery. When you have calculated the AH of the panel/charger then you can divide the AH of the battery by the AH of the charger/panel and find out the time taken to fully charge the battery. You also have to remember that there is a de-rating factor to be taken into consideration in the battery.
The photograph voltaic panels in straight forward terms produce any potential whilst the sunlight is shining. they can't furnish any potential at night or whilst it somewhat is cloudy or wet. The panels can in straight forward terms can charge to the batteries the surplus potential you're no longer using for the period of the easy sessions. The Battery financial business enterprise ought to be sized such that it will furnish all of the potential whilst the sunlight isn't shining. In some factors the place you have distinctive cloudy days, the battery financial business enterprise ought to be very great. The photograph voltaic panels ought to be sized such that they are going to furnish all of the potential you have chose during sunshine cases, PLUS adequate extra to can charge all of the batteries adequate which you might have potential for the period of the night and cloudy cases. My buddy in Mexico has a stand on my own gadget for his domicile because of the fact there is not any grid potential obtainable the place he lives. He has invested over $50,000 and nevertheless ought to run his back-up generator some. He lives in Sonora desolate tract the place the sunlight shines all of the time. He has sixteen photograph voltaic panels and 24 of those golf cart batteries, plus a 0KW back-up generator. He could elect to have grid potential!
