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top213
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# Posted: 24 Aug 2012 12:26
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I have two sets of panels one came with a 7 amp sunforce charger system which broke . This set has three panels because one broke, I think it was rated at 45 watts. The other has four panels and runs through a 45watt converter with a group of plug ins one being a 12 volt attachment. The DC to AC plug in converter rated at 200 watts. and is plugged into the 12volt outlet The system stores power in two 12 volt batteries one rated at 650 and the other at 550 cca. The battery system shows and holds 14.2 to 14.5 volts during the day without a load and 13.9 at night. It will run lights and a radio. How do I raise the amps to run tools?
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Dillio187
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# Posted: 24 Aug 2012 12:51
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you need more of everything. More panel wattage to charge more (larger) batteries, which will then power a larger inverter through larger cables.
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Seto
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# Posted: 24 Aug 2012 13:51
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what kind of tools? sounds like your using the same cheap battery chargers i use (3 pannel sets from harbor freight, sunforce is sold at tractor supply) i bought a sunforce 30 amp charge controler and wired 14 of the pannels together in parallel, in an hour they generate about 200 watts of electricity at 12 volt, about 15 or 16 amps.
i wired 5 marine batteries (115 amps each) parralel (all negative conections together and positive connections together, series is + to - and generates the same amps but at 24 volts) the pannels conect to the charge controler and that conects to the batteries. in a good day i generate 1.5 KWH (1500 watts). i hook a 200 watt inverter to the batterys, and have a 400 watt inverter if i need it (usually i don't use more than 200)
the more pannels you have the faster you charge the batteries, the better the amps on the batteries (my marine batteries cost $105 each but provide a total 560 amps) the more power they can hold and supply. the better the inverter the more power you can draw off the battery (200 watt can only provide 200 watts of AC power, 400 watt inverters do double, the more power they can convert the more expensive they are, 200 watt can be picked up for $20, the 400 cost me $50). you need to know what your tools use in AC (if the tool says something like 120 volt (AC figure) and 5 Amp it will use 600 watts of AC (120volt) power.
amps x volt = watts, use this equasion to figure out what you need to run your tools. i borrowed a friends circular saw and found out it required 1200 watts to run! i could not use it on my solar setup, but a cheap 2000 watt generator could do it (cant be done cost effective on solar) renting a generator might work short term. on my setup i can run low power tools like a drill or a jig saw, before i buy a tool i calculate what i need to power it.
120 volt (AC) at 5 amp is 600 watts
12 volt (DC) at 50 amp is 600 watts
might be a lot of info but i hope this can help. tried to describe what i learned from my solar experience (taught myself as i went, been living on solar exclusivly for over a year)
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Seto
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# Posted: 24 Aug 2012 13:57
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another option if you consider buying more tools is to get a complete set of cordless tools (drill, saws, sanders) with interchangable batteries, size your AC inverter to run the tools battery charger. use solar to charge a big 12 volt battery and let it charge the tool batteries over time, then run them off their cordless battery.
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TomChum
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# Posted: 24 Aug 2012 17:22
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That's what I'm doing, I use DeWalt 18v cordless tools. But also have a generator to run the tablesaw & chopsaw.
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junebaby
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# Posted: 17 Nov 2012 22:53
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hi,
have 200watt solar panels and want to add a 400watt panel can this be done through a 20amp solar controller?
Thanks,
June.
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MtnDon
Member
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# Posted: 17 Nov 2012 23:25
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The way you can tell is to look at the specs for the panels. There is a figure usually noted a Isc. If the panels are connected in parallel, then add those up. If greater than 20, then, No.
A definitive answer requires knowng all the specs on all panels plus the specs on the controller. Or the make / model of all.
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