Running Upcycled Obsy with Solar?

[Chris]

Just now, fifeskies said:

 

 

Yes , its best to go big from the start.

With 2 batteries on 12 v they need parallel connection which is not ideal unless there is an A/B switch (like in some motorhomes) so adding a 2nd later is not as easy as it seems.

Big battery it is then I can put the money I have into a battery now, and buy solar/wind to help top it up down the line. 

[fifeskies]

1 minute ago, Lockie said:

I could forget the solar altogether and just get a battery I can just about carry into the house to charge every now and again.

That way you are doing your bit for renewable , and still gaining convenience.

Doesn't need to be a huge size if you take it back in after each session.

[fifeskies]

Your small original solar panel will be fine for a bit of occasional LED light in the observatory as this will be a much smaller demand.

[Chris]

1 minute ago, fifeskies said:

Your small original solar panel will be fine for a bit of occasional LED light in the observatory as this will be a much smaller demand.

Thanks, I'll do a bit of online window shopping this evening armed with some decent advice from you guys. Cheers! : )

[Chris]

Battery wise my research so far suggests to avoid most Lead Acid batteries, (although I appreciate the ones linked on this thread are deep discharge rated) and bite the bullet on a lithium iron phosphate battery. 

[fifeskies]

20 minutes ago, Lockie said:

lithium iron phosphate battery

A quality 50Ah lithium ion phosphate battery is around £240 , and that's at a SPECIAL PRICE DISCOUNT

List price of one is nearer £450

https://www.batterymasters.co.uk/lithium-phosphate-batteries/li50-12-12v-50ah-lithium-iron-phosphate-lifepo4-high-capacity-deep-cycle-battery-charger-included.html

 

a 36Ah is about £180

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultramax-LI36-12-LiFePO4-Phosphate-Performance/dp/B084BQQ8LM/ref=sr_1_47?dchild=1&keywords=lithium+ion+phosphate&qid=1605456872&quartzVehicle=88-1161&replacementKeywords=lithium+phosphate&sr=8-47

 

Also check any solar panel controller is suitable for lithium ion phosphate if you plan to charge it from a solar panel

 

 

Most people use deep discharge lead acid

 

Edited November 15, 2020 by fifeskies

[Chris]

46 minutes ago, fifeskies said:

A quality 50Ah lithium ion phosphate battery is around £240 , and that's at a SPECIAL PRICE DISCOUNT

List price of one is nearer £450

https://www.batterymasters.co.uk/lithium-phosphate-batteries/li50-12-12v-50ah-lithium-iron-phosphate-lifepo4-high-capacity-deep-cycle-battery-charger-included.html

 

a 36Ah is about £180

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultramax-LI36-12-LiFePO4-Phosphate-Performance/dp/B084BQQ8LM/ref=sr_1_47?dchild=1&keywords=lithium+ion+phosphate&qid=1605456872&quartzVehicle=88-1161&replacementKeywords=lithium+phosphate&sr=8-47

 

Also check any solar panel controller is suitable for lithium ion phosphate if you plan to charge it from a solar panel

 

 

Most people use deep discharge lead acid

 

Thanks, the Ultramax on Amazon was the one I was looking at coincidentally, they say the following for solar and I've found this solar controller: 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunix-Controller-Intelligent-Temperature-Compensation/dp/B07C4WBXVD/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=lithium+ion+phosphate+solar+controller&qid=1605459101&quartzVehicle=88-1161&replacementKeywords=lithium+phosphate+solar+controller&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFZR0UxUlMwMFBPWFQmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAzODM5NTMxVDE4VU1IMEhVWlA0JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA0MTI4NzIzQUdZSTk2OE5JUUVCJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

• Lithium-Ion batteries allow to equip solar or wind “off-grid” power stations, replacing the legacy banks of lead-acid batteries. To be even more cost-effective, LiFePO4 batteries are among the longest lived batteries ever developed. Test data in the laboratory show up to 2000 charge/discharge cycle
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Edited November 15, 2020 by Lockie