I suspect many of use use solar power. I have a few questions. 1. how many and size pannels and batteries do i need to run basically a TV. 2. include dvd player satalite tv disc. Need to run for sevral hours in evening. 3. What about running a basic computer on the same system? Thanks for your help.
- Thread starter JOCCO
- Start date
Depends on what size TV. No matter what you do, you need a battery as a buffer, to keep things going in case the sun goes behind a cloud.
The size of the solar panel depends on how long it sits in the sun - compared to how long you're going to watch TV. If that panel sits outside all day charging a battery with no draw on it until night, the battery size means more than the solar panel. A 20 watt panel would work fine in that situation since it has all day to recharge the battery.
A single cheap 12 volt marine-type combo deep cycle battery from Walmart will give you enough power to watch a 13" TV hooked to a DVD player for two movies - i.e. four hours.
We go camping with a 120 watt panel and two batteries. We've never run out of power and run a computer, TV, DVD player, and fan.
I have absolutely NO idea what MN Joe is talking about with his huge solar array.
The size of the solar panel depends on how long it sits in the sun - compared to how long you're going to watch TV. If that panel sits outside all day charging a battery with no draw on it until night, the battery size means more than the solar panel. A 20 watt panel would work fine in that situation since it has all day to recharge the battery.
A single cheap 12 volt marine-type combo deep cycle battery from Walmart will give you enough power to watch a 13" TV hooked to a DVD player for two movies - i.e. four hours.
We go camping with a 120 watt panel and two batteries. We've never run out of power and run a computer, TV, DVD player, and fan.
I have absolutely NO idea what MN Joe is talking about with his huge solar array.
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I hope you did not mean '20W panel'!
Half a kW for 'several hours' would need two and a half units every day, sunshine or not. That is why a large array might be needed. Depends on where he is, of course. Depends on the computer too - lap top or old fashioned CRT VDU.
What is needed to calculate is the Watt hours or kWh (units) electricity likely to be used and go from there. The value might be very different if he wants to run through the winter as well!
He might only need half a kWh but there are inefficiencies in inverter, batteries and the weather wherever he is. He might have 12V items, so doesn't need an inverter - he don't say. If he are near, or in, the arctic circle forget it - MnJoe's estimate might be too small for most of the year.
So, how long is this piece of string? We need much more information than has been given.
Regards, RAB
Half a kW for 'several hours' would need two and a half units every day, sunshine or not. That is why a large array might be needed. Depends on where he is, of course. Depends on the computer too - lap top or old fashioned CRT VDU.
What is needed to calculate is the Watt hours or kWh (units) electricity likely to be used and go from there. The value might be very different if he wants to run through the winter as well!
He might only need half a kWh but there are inefficiencies in inverter, batteries and the weather wherever he is. He might have 12V items, so doesn't need an inverter - he don't say. If he are near, or in, the arctic circle forget it - MnJoe's estimate might be too small for most of the year.
So, how long is this piece of string? We need much more information than has been given.
Regards, RAB
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
I use 860 KWH per month. I would keep a battery company busy making batterys for me.
buickddeere
Member
Solar panel efficiency hasn't changed in years. Just the price per square ft.
Maybe I missed something in the guys initial post? He asked about running a TV, DVD player and a computer for a few hours each not - not an entire househousehold on a full-time basis.
I do both at times - the TV and DVD player thing at my off-grid cabin, and my home is on 100% solar grid-tie.
I do both at times - the TV and DVD player thing at my off-grid cabin, and my home is on 100% solar grid-tie.
buickddeere
Member
I was thinking consumer grade equipment we can afford. Percent efficiency hasn't changed in a decade. Price per watt has dropped.
It's all about watts per dollar here on earth.In space then it's all about watts per pound and surface area.
It's all about watts per dollar here on earth.In space then it's all about watts per pound and surface area.
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