Q:-What is the energy need of your solar freezer model 225dc expressed in watts? - How many solar panels & Batteries does one need to effectively power the freezer? - what is the total expected cost of the panels and DC batteries?

A:

The power requirements for a solar freezer or solar refrigerator are determined by the ambient temperature where the solar freezer or fridge is located and the number of hours of sunlight per day. A system in North America, for example, would require approximately 75-100 watts of power,  a 90amp hr 12v battery, and a solar charge controller to optimize freezer operation and battery life. A solar energy system of this design would cost around $2000. That figure could vary, however, depending on your personal needs and component selection. We would be happy to help figure out your exact requirements, and to provide support on how to set up and install the system. Please let us know if you have any additional questions.

05-16-2010 by Valentine A Category: Solar Outdoors

Q:Hello there! I'm wondering if you can help me? We've got an older model solar panel system and are looking to replace the battery and/or the charge control system. Our solar system is 3kW I believe and we currently have a lead acid battery. So, I have a few questions: 1. If we were to keep our lead acid battery, what charge controllers would you recommend to replace our old ones (something efficient)? 2. If we were to replace the battery and charge controller, what models of each would you recommend for our system?

A:

It is time to replace your batteries for your solar energy system when they can only hold 80% of the original capacity.

You should test each solar battery individually, and the batteries typically need to be replaced every 10 years. Depending on the type of batteries you have, the solar battery charge controller may not be able to optimize new AGM batteries, so you may need to replace that as well.

We have many recommendations about which solar batteries and solar battery charge controllers to use for various applications. Please contact us and we would be glad to help you determine what equipment is right for your needs.

05-07-2010 by Teresa D Category: Solar Panels

Q:can one solar panel of 240 watts power a large window air conditioning unit through the day? i want to power my major energy appliances through the day hoping to reduce cost. what do you recommend? thankyou

A:

Window air conditioning units consume a lot of energy. A 5,000BTU unit will use about 600 watts per hour. In order to meet this demand, you would need three solar modules such as the Canadian Solar 230 watt panels as well as a sine wave solar inverter with an outlet to convert from DC to AC to make the power immediately useable. How were you planning on powering the A/C at night? If you wanted to use solar power energy you would need to incorporate a battery bank into the solar energy system as well. We would be happy to help guide you through this process so please feel free to contact us.

05-02-2010 by eli g Category: Heating and Cooling

Q:Trying to circulate water through a 4' x 20' solar panel with a pump powered by the sun. Highest lift is 5' above waterlevel. The Mocal 12 volt Water Circulation Pump fits the bill (cintinuous use brushless 12 volt DC motor with up to 7 GPM) but don't know how to mate with which solar panel? Want it to operate on sun only like many solar fountains on the market. (No charger, battery, etc.) Max 2.2 amps = 26 watts max? Can you recommend a panel that won't damage the motor? Thanks!

A:

The Mocal pump that you are looking at is an AC pump, and solar modules produce DC current. In order for you to use a simple pump + panel setup you would need a DC pump. The Shurflo 3.6GPM is an excellent solar water pump that is direct current. The BP 50W solar panel would provide ample output for this solar water pump, allowing it to meet your requirements. You may also want to check out our solar water pump systems, which include both the solar water pump and solar module. If you have any additional questions, we would be happy to help you design your solar water pump system to meet your needs.

04-27-2010 by Carl Category: Solar Water Pumps

Q:I am wondering about how much solar power would actually be needed to run a 550 HP motor on a 100' boat at mid-range RPM's (This may sound like a ridiculous notion - but I don't know how to measure the amount of energy for the task - or to determine if the grade/type of Solar Panels - capable of putting out that much power - exist?)

A: 

Your question is a little bit confusing as I assume you are referring to a diesel engine, because electrical motors are rated in watts. One horsepower is equivalent to 746 watts of power per hour. Most solar panels on the market today generate on the order of 200 watts/hour. In order to power your 550hp engine at full tilt for 1 hour would require 410,300 watts or approximately  2100 conventional solar modules. However, since you are not running the engine at maximum capacity, you are not using all 550hp. Your actual energy requirement would be much lower.

While it may not be possible to replace the main engine on your vessel with solar, you may retrofit the boat's non-critical power systems to have a solar component to it. Take a look at our marine solar kits to see what some of your choices are. If you have any additional questions or are interested in how to solarize your boat, please let us know. We are happy to help.

04-20-2010 by Jason Category: RV and Marine

Q:On the Uni-Solar brand panels, what is the difference between the "top mount" and "bottom mount" panels? Besides price, of course.

A:

Uni-Solar makes thin film solar panels. As part of its thin film PV products, Uni-Solar makes "bottom mount" and "top mount" flexible and lightweight solar modules. The bottom mount panels are a smaller production run - hence a bit more expensive. Bottom mount panels are unusual but are made to address situations when the top mount connections cannot be used. In a bottom mount scenario, the MC connectors are accessed from underneath the panel instead of on top. The ideal setting for using these solar modules (bottom mount or top mount) is on metal seam roofs. As flexible "peel and stick" solar panels, these solar modules are heat tolerant and virtually unbreakable.

04-09-2010 by john Category: Solar Panels

Q:I was looking at solar panels here on this site and I noticed that the 60 watt Kaneka panels are very reasonably priced and have a voltage of 67 volts. This seems like it would be perfect for use with a Grundfos SQ Flex well pump. I ws thinking 3 of these panels for 180 watts would be cheaper than two 85 watt regular 12 volt panels. Any comments on this? Suggestions?

A: 

The Grundfos solar water pumps are 24VDC and will function above 129 watts from a solar array with a nominal voltage over 30V.  If you used the Kaneka 60 Watt solar panels you would need three panels to get above the requisite 129W. If you used 12V solar modules, you would need to use three panels as well to get the required nominal voltage. Another thing to consider is how far you need to pump at what volumes and to what head. If you have significant requirements, you may want or need to have more wattage. Perhaps the best thing for you to do would to buy two 24V nominal panels like the 200W Canadian Solar Module.  We would be glad to help you select a pump and pair solar modules to go along with it to meet your pumping requirements.

03-31-2010 by Bob A Category: Solar Water Pumps

Q:We have a pontoon with an inverter/charger on board for the microwave, tv, and refrigerator. What would I need to hook a solar panel up to that. and is it hard to do?

A:

If you already have a power inverter and a charge controller for your battery bank on board your pontoon, hooking solar modules into it would be a relatively simple process, and most likely an installation you could do yourself. Basically you would need to calculate your power consumption to size the solar modules to meet the energy load and battery bank requirements. Once that is determined you would select adequate solar modules, mounting, wiring, and a small combiner should be all that you would need.

03-31-2010 by aleta m Category: RV and Marine

Q:I keep a car in Vermont at my condo, and want to install a trickle charger for the battery because the battery keeps dying on me due to lack of use. The car is in one of those self-storage units and it doesn't have electricity and I'm thinking that I could power the trickle charge with a solar panel. Is that possible? My idea would be to put a small panel on the roof of the storage unit and run a cord from there to the car, a distance of probably 30 feet.

A:

A solar trickle charger may be a good solution for you. We sell most of these trickle chargers in connection with a boat or a recreational vehcile, but it will work for you as well. A solar trickle charger such as the Sunsei 22W charger will provide a consistent charge to your battery when you are away. The solar panel itself includes connectors and a blocking diode to prevent back drain from the battery through the panel at night.

The system you are looking at operates off of AC power and would require unnecessary equipment for your desired use. How long do you leave your car between uses? If it is less than 2 weeks and your car and the battery is dead, you may have bad battery cells and simply require a new battery. Another option is to simply disconnect the red battery lead while it is in storage. This will prevent the circuit from being closed, which is what drains the battery over long periods of no use. The clock and radio have a small draw that will eventually drain the battery but it will take 2 months. The solar trickle charger will prevent this for long periods of storage.

03-19-2010 by Brad Category: Solar Electronics

Q:i have a 30' trailer how many panels do i need to power up all .Also what kind ?

A:

Thank you for your inquiry regarding solar panels required for your 30' trailer, The number and type of solar panels for a recreational vehicle depends on your intended usage and anticipated energy consumption.  SolarTown generally recommends a pre-packaged solar RV kit. Generally to recharge the batteries from using inside lights and small appliances a 80 watt solar panel for a RV will suffice. If you take a look at the specifications for a 80 watt solar RV kit, you can click on the  RV and Boat usage calculator to help you determine your average consumption. You can use that calculator to determine what wattage you will need for your solar RV kit. We'd be happy to help you through this process.

03-18-2010 by mono m Category: RV and Marine