The Purpose of this Thread:
=====================
This thread is intended to be centered around understanding the management of the raw electrical power output from solar panels and tracking the electricity from the panels through the intermediate components to it's final delivery to the devices consuming the electrical power. The main goal is to create a discussion of the nuances involved so that a strong encompassing strategy for photovoltaic solar power system setup and component selection can be developed.
Okay folks, this is my first time posting to All About Circuits. My goal here is to start a thread that can bloom into a theoretical discussion of managing the power output from various arrangements of solar powered photovoltaic systems on the scale of 'man portable' to large residential or homestead size systems and everything in between such as mobile truck mounted systems, RV modifications, or camping.
In order to make this exchange and discussion possible, I think it is important for me to state my general knowledge and experience with the sciences and actual components that will likely be involved to form such systems.
I have a formal education as a civil engineer, so I am not able to do complex circuit analysis. For me this is fine, because at this point I don't intend to try to design and construct the function performing component circuits. What I am looking to be able to do (ideally, so don't let this weigh down the discussion too much) is to become familiar with the entire spectrum of current commercially available relevant technologies so that I can plan for future applications, create basic systems that are flexible and modifiable by swapping components, and buy components that are strategic or wise purchases. I don't have money to burn at all to say the least, so in all things I do, I really have to have a good long term strategy before I begin to buy any components. Many of the specific reasons for these points will likely become understandable later in this post, I hope.
Onto the actual topic.............
...............Solar Powered Photovoltaic Systems
The Generalized Introduction:
-------------------------------------
Now, I will try to give some general goals and challenges of what I hope use the solar power systems for, so that readers can get their bearings on what is being sought, and to potentially find others with similar goals so that ideas and challenges and information can be shared.
These goals are not related to electronics, they are related to our lives as humans, or at the least, my life and attempting to satisfy challenges in living circumstances. Concerning the physical needs of life, there are basic needs that need to be satisfied. Some of these physical needs are universal, such as Air, Water, Food, & Shelter (physical environment).
Other needs could be considered supplemental needs due to the nature of how many of us must cope with modern systems in order to satisfy the previously stated more fundamental physical needs. One of these modern needs that most people are now dependent on is energy in the form of electrical power. Electricity has become something that most of us could hardly survive without, especially if you must function within modern society. When I refer to dependence on electrical power, I am not necessarily implying any scale of power that is necessary, but there are certain thresholds and challenges based on the scale and level of power consumption, depending on how one manages their use of electricity and what functions they try to perform with the aid of electricity. Maybe someone only needs a flashlight, some extra rechargeable batteries, a little portable radio, a basic cellular phone, and some low power lighting to satisfy their electrical based needs (it seems that even the base point reference of what the Amish do is still dependent on this minimum amount of reliance on electricity since to an extent, many of them still at various times use such devices.) So, I will leave this general orientation into the goals and motivations for what is being sought and now move into the more specific challenges of trying to meet some of these electrical power consumption needs with photovoltaic solar panels, and the related technical challenges and questions that must be understood and met to achieve this. There are many ways of harnessing power and converting it into electrical power, but this thread is to be focused on photovoltaic power systems and the challenges specific to solar panels.
General Design Criteria & Examples of Potential Outcomes:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, I will just list some electrical power system needs that I am looking to satisfy with photovoltaics. This list is only to get a feel for what is generally trying to be accomplished and to get an idea of realistic parameters.
- powering 12V based communications, information, and entertainment electronics (radio, digital TV tuner, small low power computer or laptop, audio power amplifier(s), speakers, scanners, two-way radios or Ham radio operations, data storage, monitor or video screen(s)
- powering 12V, 24V, or 48V based food refrigeration device (ideally, a stirling cooler)
- powering a 48V based stiriling heat pump (for relatively small volume cooling climate control, air-conditioning)
- battery charging (basic lead acid batteries for large bank large capacity storage, charging AA, AAA type Ni-MH batteries for low power portable electronics like flashlights and radios, and for charging Lithium type batteries for cell phones or 18650 lithium batteries for flashlights and higher power consumption portable devices)
- charging of a small super capacitor bank (i'm sure i'll figure out uses, likely in conjunction with batteries and other systems)
- powering high power LED emitters for lighting such as Cree CXA series emitters for high efficiency (I have built some high power custom LED lights that are very efficient and better than even the lights commerical available, the power supply level I design for is usually an input of 48V but can range from about 12V to 60V, anything is possible with LED in terms of configuration)
- charging batteries for vehicles (in the future we hope right), like an electric bicycle to start with and expand from there
=====================
This thread is intended to be centered around understanding the management of the raw electrical power output from solar panels and tracking the electricity from the panels through the intermediate components to it's final delivery to the devices consuming the electrical power. The main goal is to create a discussion of the nuances involved so that a strong encompassing strategy for photovoltaic solar power system setup and component selection can be developed.
Okay folks, this is my first time posting to All About Circuits. My goal here is to start a thread that can bloom into a theoretical discussion of managing the power output from various arrangements of solar powered photovoltaic systems on the scale of 'man portable' to large residential or homestead size systems and everything in between such as mobile truck mounted systems, RV modifications, or camping.
In order to make this exchange and discussion possible, I think it is important for me to state my general knowledge and experience with the sciences and actual components that will likely be involved to form such systems.
I have a formal education as a civil engineer, so I am not able to do complex circuit analysis. For me this is fine, because at this point I don't intend to try to design and construct the function performing component circuits. What I am looking to be able to do (ideally, so don't let this weigh down the discussion too much) is to become familiar with the entire spectrum of current commercially available relevant technologies so that I can plan for future applications, create basic systems that are flexible and modifiable by swapping components, and buy components that are strategic or wise purchases. I don't have money to burn at all to say the least, so in all things I do, I really have to have a good long term strategy before I begin to buy any components. Many of the specific reasons for these points will likely become understandable later in this post, I hope.
Onto the actual topic.............
...............Solar Powered Photovoltaic Systems
The Generalized Introduction:
-------------------------------------
Now, I will try to give some general goals and challenges of what I hope use the solar power systems for, so that readers can get their bearings on what is being sought, and to potentially find others with similar goals so that ideas and challenges and information can be shared.
These goals are not related to electronics, they are related to our lives as humans, or at the least, my life and attempting to satisfy challenges in living circumstances. Concerning the physical needs of life, there are basic needs that need to be satisfied. Some of these physical needs are universal, such as Air, Water, Food, & Shelter (physical environment).
Other needs could be considered supplemental needs due to the nature of how many of us must cope with modern systems in order to satisfy the previously stated more fundamental physical needs. One of these modern needs that most people are now dependent on is energy in the form of electrical power. Electricity has become something that most of us could hardly survive without, especially if you must function within modern society. When I refer to dependence on electrical power, I am not necessarily implying any scale of power that is necessary, but there are certain thresholds and challenges based on the scale and level of power consumption, depending on how one manages their use of electricity and what functions they try to perform with the aid of electricity. Maybe someone only needs a flashlight, some extra rechargeable batteries, a little portable radio, a basic cellular phone, and some low power lighting to satisfy their electrical based needs (it seems that even the base point reference of what the Amish do is still dependent on this minimum amount of reliance on electricity since to an extent, many of them still at various times use such devices.) So, I will leave this general orientation into the goals and motivations for what is being sought and now move into the more specific challenges of trying to meet some of these electrical power consumption needs with photovoltaic solar panels, and the related technical challenges and questions that must be understood and met to achieve this. There are many ways of harnessing power and converting it into electrical power, but this thread is to be focused on photovoltaic power systems and the challenges specific to solar panels.
General Design Criteria & Examples of Potential Outcomes:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, I will just list some electrical power system needs that I am looking to satisfy with photovoltaics. This list is only to get a feel for what is generally trying to be accomplished and to get an idea of realistic parameters.
- powering 12V based communications, information, and entertainment electronics (radio, digital TV tuner, small low power computer or laptop, audio power amplifier(s), speakers, scanners, two-way radios or Ham radio operations, data storage, monitor or video screen(s)
- powering 12V, 24V, or 48V based food refrigeration device (ideally, a stirling cooler)
- powering a 48V based stiriling heat pump (for relatively small volume cooling climate control, air-conditioning)
- battery charging (basic lead acid batteries for large bank large capacity storage, charging AA, AAA type Ni-MH batteries for low power portable electronics like flashlights and radios, and for charging Lithium type batteries for cell phones or 18650 lithium batteries for flashlights and higher power consumption portable devices)
- charging of a small super capacitor bank (i'm sure i'll figure out uses, likely in conjunction with batteries and other systems)
- powering high power LED emitters for lighting such as Cree CXA series emitters for high efficiency (I have built some high power custom LED lights that are very efficient and better than even the lights commerical available, the power supply level I design for is usually an input of 48V but can range from about 12V to 60V, anything is possible with LED in terms of configuration)
- charging batteries for vehicles (in the future we hope right), like an electric bicycle to start with and expand from there