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I have yet to hook up a 100w solar panel I got for cheap online. I'm waiting to save up for a battery. Until then, can I just leave the panel out of its box again the wall in one of our rooms or should the cells be shielded from any light when not in use?
Also, there seems to be some discrepancy online over how many batteries you should use with a 100w panel. Do I need two 12 volt batteries or can I get away with using one?
DON'T short the terminals ,they don't even do that in shipping.
Just thurn the face to the wall and insulate the terminals if any thing .
Shorting would cause it to work more than leaving it alone.
That constitutes a load.
Secondly ,Batteries are contravercial,
however car bateries are not advisable, because they do not do well being fully discharged repeatidly .
Marine deep cycle 12 volt bateries are a good choice , that's what I started with ,but then I worked at a marina and got the cast off for nothing.
I now use 6 volt deep cycle golf cart batteries, they work best for me.
2-6 volt batteries in series =12 volts . or you can continue to series them for 18 and 24 and so on.
you need to select charge controler .
Get one that matches the panels your are using .
I go bigger because I am always adding to my system.
I have a rule that works .
"If you only bring a cup to the stream that's all you get."
What you live on is the batery bank, not the panels.
The panel is A source not the only source.
I have wind mill and an engine/alternator for emergency use when there is not enough sun or wind to accomplish a charge.
Because I currently live near town and am on the grid any way I use a small battery charger to supliment the shortages in alternatitve energy..
I have 3 different systems going at once, in different areas of the place here.
Point is I have more battery than I actuallly need, in the event my alternative resources are producing to their maximum.
When the grid goes down I hardly notice it.
DON'T short the terminals ,they don't even do that in shipping.
Just thurn the face to the wall and insulate the terminals if any thing .
Shorting would cause it to work more than leaving it alone.
That constitutes a load.
Secondly ,Batteries are contravercial,
however car bateries are not advisable, because they do not do well being fully discharged repeatidly .
Marine deep cycle 12 volt bateries are a good choice , that's what I started with ,but then I worked at a marina and got the cast off for nothing.
I now use 6 volt deep cycle golf cart batteries, they work best for me.
2-6 volt batteries in series =12 volts . or you can continue to series them for 18 and 24 and so on.
you need to select charge controler .
Get one that matches the panels your are using .
I go bigger because I am always adding to my system.
I have a rule that works .
"If you only bring a cup to the stream that's all you get."
What you live on is the batery bank, not the panels.
The panel is A source not the only source.
I have wind mill and an engine/alternator for emergency use when there is not enough sun or wind to accomplish a charge.
Because I currently live near town and am on the grid any way I use a small battery charger to supliment the shortages in alternatitve energy..
I have 3 different systems going at once, in different areas of the place here.
Point is I have more battery than I actuallly need, in the event my alternative resources are producing to their maximum.
When the grid goes down I hardly notice it.
I vaguely sensed shorting the wires was a bad idea. That's why I didn't respond to the first poster. I didn't know how to tactfully tell them I disagreed with that advice, though I wasn't sure why. (no offense).
What you wrote about batteries, especially the quote, really cleared that up for me and helped me form a conceptual picture. Thanks.
So I can have one 12volt deep cycle marine battery with a 100w panel, it just won't store as much energy as two will and so I won't be able access as much energy at one time. So it's not like too small a battery will be damaged by the panel as long as I have a charge controller, right?
The panel I bought came with a charge controller, btw. It's a PWM. I read up and know the MTTP is better but I will have to save up for the MTTP later. I still have to get the inverter and battery.
For twenty years I have been throwing them back in the box. Period.
Only concern is that they do not flex. So store them on the side. Particularly the non-glass panels. I did ruin one panel aluminum backed panel due to flexure. The panel I use on my solar boat, got the finish rubbed from bouncing around on the truck in the box. It doesn't appear to have affected the output!!
I vaguely sensed shorting the wires was a bad idea. That's why I didn't respond to the first poster. I didn't know how to tactfully tell them I disagreed with that advice, though I wasn't sure why. (no offense).
I'm an electrical engineer. Shorting the terminals will do no harm. Leaving them open could cause degradation of panels left in the sun and open circuited.
I'm an electrical engineer. Shorting the terminals will do no harm. Leaving them open could cause degradation of panels left in the sun and open circuited.
Ok, thanks. The wires came with connectors on the ends. I'll have to figure out how to short them properly.
"but then I worked at a marina and got the cast off for nothing."
Did you mean to make the pun?
--
IF you mind me asking what is your goal with a 100W panel?
I have no reason to doubt either person here about storage, so my only advice would be to ask the panel manufacturer or place you got it at. How they stored the panel in the box can't be that bad. Think about it, it isn't like within 2 weeks all of the panels will be sold and installed. Sometimes they sit around for a long, long time before they are sold and installed. I am sure that DC will come back and say they purposely don't store them correctly - And DC may be correct. I don't have the EE background in PV....
Ok, thanks. The wires came with connectors on the ends. I'll have to figure out how to short them properly.
Solar cells are current sources, not voltage sources, like a battery. When illuminated they produce a charge, which if not carried off through a circuit will eventually damage the semiconductor itself. Covering them and shorting them is suspenders and belts. If covered properly, they shouldn't produce a charge, but shorting them allows for a mistake.
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