our solar set-up
isn’t spending extra on
batteries. It made sense on the time, as a result of we have been seeking to stretch our restricted
price range so far as we may. Nevertheless, our battery financial institution is not massive sufficient to
energy the freezer and fridge for greater than a day and a half with out solar.
Happily, we normally have the grid to plug again into, however the main
cause for this small system is to protect meals in our scorching local weather if
the ability is out for an prolonged time period.
remaining two photo voltaic panels, we may use the unique battery financial institution for these
and spend money on a bigger one for the fridge/freezer set-up. Now that
we finally have those panels up,
that is what we determined to do.
again to the identical of us who offered us
our first set of batteries. Initially, we bought 6-volt golf cart batteries. With the assistance of the gross sales
man, we have been in a position get industrial 6-volt ground scrubber/sweeper batteries.
Our six golf cart batteries are 235 amp hours every, with a complete of
705 amp hours for the battery financial institution. These ground scrubber batteries are 330
amp hours every, so we will enhance our electrical energy storage fairly a bit. Of
course, extra amp hours meant they’re dearer, and it took some
dialogue to determine on what number of. Pairs are required for photo voltaic wiring, and
six would give us roughly 990 amp hours. However eight would give us 1320
amp hours!
For technophiles, here is how that works:
Wiring parts in collection will increase voltage.
Wiring parts in parallel will increase amperage.
Our system is small, so 12 volts is ideal. To create a 12-volt system from 6-volt batteries,
we join pairs of batteries in collection (connecting damaging terminals to
constructive). That will increase voltage.
6 volts + 6 volts = 12 volts
To extend amperage, we join the pairs in parallel (connecting all
the damaging terminals collectively, and all of the constructive terminals
collectively). That will increase amperage.
330 amp hours x 4 pairs = 1320 amp hours
The result’s a 12-volt, 1320 AH battery financial institution.
For a visible instance of how the wiring is completed, right here is our unique battery financial institution. The blue is collection wiring (neg to pos). The inexperienced is parallel wiring (neg to neg and pos to pos).
Anyway, regardless that the cash had been earmarked for this function, it is
nonetheless tough to make costly purchases as a result of we do it so not often.
Lastly, Dan requested what would give me probably the most peace of thoughts, so we bought
eight!
Batteries do have a lifespan, which was one thing to contemplate when making this
swap. We have taken excellent care of our first battery financial institution by frequently checking
the particular gravity and water degree of every cell, plus not discharging too
deeply. So we must always nonetheless get fairly a couple of years out of the outdated financial institution.
Now that we now have the batteries, the subsequent step is to construct a field to deal with them. Dan’s engaged on that.
