using Excess Power produced.

[Coachgeo]

venturing further from this thread http://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/171324-Battery-cooling-from-excess-solar-power where OP was not real intrested in adding more gadgets.....

so if one was able at times to produce excess solar or wind power....... what "usefull" ideas can you come up with for using and/or some form of storing it.. adding gadgets acceptable

some ideas so far are.....
. Cooling battery banks- already in discussion see http://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/171324-Battery-cooling-from-excess-solar-power )
. freeze some gel packs, use later to increase effencincy of fridge.
. create hot water. Great in winter for radiant heat and or pre-start engine heatinb...... but summer?? Pre-start engine heating is a benefit but minimal at best in summer. Maybe use hot water to cool? http://www.chemicalprocessing.com/articles/2016/energy-saver-create-cold-from-heat/
. Waste burning...... incinerate solid waste? Maybe liquid waste? Boil it off?

 

[dwh]

I thought a lot about that some years ago.

First, the Midnite Classic charge controller is designed to do either solar or wind, so it has a relay to activate a dump load, which is of course unused for solar. So say use that relay to turn on aux stuff once the batteries reach full charge.

Heating elements for hot water, etc.

Ultraviolet lights in fresh water tanks.

Cold plate tech for fridge/freezer.

Atmospheric water generator.

Blissmobile style greywater filtering/recycling to fresh.

 

[Coachgeo]

I thought a lot about that some years ago.

First, the Midnite Classic charge controller is designed to do either solar or wind, so it has a relay to activate a dump load, which is of course unused for solar. So say use that relay to turn on aux stuff once the batteries reach full charge.

....

All of it GREAT input. Look forward to more brain storming

 

[IdaSHO]

We just make sure ALL the "devices" and portable battery backups are plugged in for charging during high sun hours.

Laptops, cell phones, camera battery charger, and portable USB charging bricks.

Typically Ill energize the relay that connects the house bank to the truck batteries.
This has proven to really help the truck batteries from a maintenance and lifespan point of view.

We also only use the 12vDC "dust buster" and other potentially high draw items during the day.



At the end of the day (no pun intended ) going so overkill with your solar is a bit of a waste.
Ideally you should have enough solar to replenish your daily usage, in the worst case scenario solar day of you proposed travel.

We travel throughout the year, regardless of temps or weather, our worst case is complete cloud cover during the winter, with potentially 2-3 days of little or no sun.
That means that we have a decent house bank, and are extremely frugal with power, and we do have a pretty generous amount of excess power during long, high sun summer days.
Batteries are often 90%+ charged by noon. As apposed to needing every little bit of available daytime light during the winter in hopes of recouping 90%+

If you are more of a seasonal, fare weather traveler, then Id argue that you shouldnt plan on such excess, as it does you no good.

 

[Coachgeo]

...At the end of the day (no pun intended ) going so overkill with your solar is a bit of a waste.....

Devils advocate to this point. Air conditioning system powered 24v or 12v for the CAB. Reduces fuel use compared to installing lager engine powered compressor. Can potentially use Capacitors instead of battery bank for this use. Overall power hunger for AC use would be big requiring max space loaded with panels...... panels that would be overkill when parked..... unless one found novel use for them..... hence..... this thread

 

[Coachgeo]

Assuming solar, excess power is only "free" if its consumed right off the array. Cycling it thru batteries consumes the battery.
Windpower or other mechanical capture is never free.

Correct.... Nothing is free and have not assumed that to be in this thread at all, but didn't state so either.... Others may have though so for both reasons, thanks for mentioning it.

 

[Bbasso]

Once my SCC hits float charge usually well before solar noon I'll hit the button on the 7622 to give the starter batteries a boost.
And again, after I see float I'll turn on the swamp cooler if I'm chillin out of the sun.

 

[patoz]

If you live in Florida like I do, you won't have to figure out what to do with excess power...it's called Air Conditioning!

 

[Step-Hen]

so if one was able at times to produce excess solar or wind power....... what "usefull" ideas can you come up with for using and/or some form of storing it.. adding gadgets acceptable

I have a misting fan that sits on top of a bucket of water and is very effective at cooling on hot, dry days. It normally runs on an 18V Ryobi tool battery, so I use the output directly from a solar panel to power it. If I just leave it running, it automatically shuts off when the voltage drops, which is fine because it's usually the time when the air temperature starts dropping, as well.

 

[DLTooley]

Timing use of solar to operate a compressor fridge to very cold temps should last for the day and remove the need for any battery use - the temp is cold enough to keep things frozen off power. I am looking at how to integrate a new portable lithium into my existing lead acid system and doing something similar seems like the way to go.

 

[Dan Grec]

Devils advocate to this point. Air conditioning system powered 24v or 12v for the CAB. Reduces fuel use compared to installing lager engine powered compressor. Can potentially use Capacitors instead of battery bank for this use. Overall power hunger for AC use would be big requiring max space loaded with panels...... panels that would be overkill when parked..... unless one found novel use for them..... hence..... this thread

Have you ever actually seen a 12 or 24v air conditioning setup?

How many watts does it draw?

I have bumped into a few people driving around West Africa with virtually unlimited money poured into their vehicles, and none were able to find a way to have enough batteries to run any kind of AC overnight. The power consumption is enormous.

-Dan

 

[Coachgeo]

.....I have bumped into a few people driving around West Africa with virtually unlimited money poured into their vehicles, and none were able to find a way to have enough batteries to run any kind of AC overnight. The power consumption is enormous.

Not an Apples to Apples comparision considering West Africa "Average" temperature is 93F and North America's "Average" is 71F.

 

[Dan Grec]

Not an Apples to Apples comparision considering West Africa "Average" temperature is 93F and North America's "Average" is 71F.

Do you know of a 12v/24v air conditioner that will work suitably overnight in those temps you mention?

AFAIK, the power draw is still virtually impossible to manage off batteries.

-Dan

 

[haven]

The A/C setups for campers and truck sleeper cabs I've seen all depended on power from a generator when the vehicle's engine was not running.

 

[Coachgeo]

The A/C setups for campers and truck sleeper cabs I've seen all depended on power from a generator when the vehicle's engine was not running.

Search "DC" cab airconditioner. These have DC 12 or 24v motors. This has really only been on the market few years now. Look close at the output though. Some of the ones for trucks are intended to KEEP the truck cool after the engines AC cooled it off..... thus they do not have that high of a BTU rating..... and is why they are cheaper.

That being said. Am not assuming I won't have to use Genny to run AC at times.