The photovoltaic effect was discovered in 1839 by Edmond Becquerel a French physicist who was experimenting with cells made from metal electrodes. This effect made the cell produce more electricity and later on it was discovered that it could generate it when exposed to light. Combined with the power of the sun and the ability of the photovoltaic effect, solar panels came to be in 1883. In the early stages solar panels were made of selenium and they weren't as efficient and as versatile as modern silicon panels. Today you are able to harness the power of the sun even in the most remote places without the need for a lot of brain power or sunshine. Caravan Solar Panels
Monocrystaline vs Polycrystaline Monocrystaline solar cells are basically thin wafers that were cut from pure silicon crystals. Because of this, monocrystaline solar power caravan kits tend to have a longer lifespan and operate better in low-light conditions whilst being more efficient than a polycrystaline panel of the same size. As a downside monocrystaline panels cost more and their performance can be affected even when a small portion of the panel is shaded. Polycrystaline panels are cheaper due to the simpler manufacturing process but they will occupy a bigger area than a monocrystaline panel in order to generate the same amount of power. Hence why it is best that you go with a compact monocrystaline caravan solar panel. Fixed vs Portable Fixed solar panels will be the best solution from theft and detrimental weather conditions. But fixed solar panels require a professional to install them and they are more expensive than portable panels. Although portable solar panels are cheaper, that doesn't mean they are no good, in fact when it comes versatility they are a better option. Portable panels can be re-positioned to track the sun's position and they generate more power than a fixed panel. They might not be ideal in windy conditions, but at least you won't have to move your caravan every time you are under the shade. Weather conditions A bright shinning sun isn't always your best friend as solar power caravan kits have an optimal operating temperature of about 25°C. There have been reports from fellow Aussies that a panel's efficiency in scorching hot days (40°C+) can be reduced up to 20%. It's better to keep your panel in the shade during hot days even if it uses monocrystaline cells as the harshness of the sun will do more harm than good. For portable solar panels, blocking the wind with your caravan can be effective but not if the wind is frequently changing direction. Battery Generating and using solar power is one thing but storing it is a whole different shebang. For this you need deep cycle batteries as these are capable of outputting a constant charge rather than in bursts, much like your vehicle's battery. These batteries come in 4 variations: AGM, flooded, lithium-ion and gel. The most popular option are AGM (absorbed glass matt) batteries since they can be discharged to a lower percentage until damage starts to occur and they don't require a lot of maintenance. It's best that you don't use up more than 50% of your battery's capacity as this can decrease its lifespan, this is where you need to check the power consumption of your appliances. Power Use Science revolves around numbers and to find out the ideal battery capacity you'll need to invest a little bit of time calculating power use. This is done by dividing a device's wattage (W) by 12 and then multiplying the result by the amount of time you are ought to be using it. For example if you have a 100W light bulb, divided it by 12 you get 8.3A (amps) which when used for 5 hours, it will require a total of 41.6Ah. Once you do this for every appliance in your caravan, add them up and you'll get the Ah required to power them for a certain amount of time. Ratings All this power consumption can easily use up all the juice you've accumulated during the day and whilst using appliances efficiently can help reduce that, the appliances need to bee efficient too. What I mean by this is that you need to look for appliances with the proper rating. The energy star rating is an international standard that shows how efficient a product is. Here are some minimum appliance ratings for the efficiency of white goods: • Freezer = 3.5 stars • Air Conditioning = 4.5 stars • Heating System = 4.5 starts • Dryer = 2.5 • Washing Machine = 3.5 stars • Dishwasher = 3.5 stars • Lighting = 4 stars • Refrigerator = 4 stars • How Water System = 5 stars MPPT A Maximum Power Point Tracking is a regulator that controls the voltage coming from the panels into the battery. But unlike most regulators this device also stimulates the cells in order to achieve maximum efficiency. There are some MPPT regulators which also increase charging efficiency up to 30%. They also improve low-light performance, maintain the state of the cells in a better condition when exposed to extreme heat. MPPTs prevent what is called reverse current flow or when the voltage from the batteries trickles back to the panels which can drain the power and decrease your battery's lifespan. This happens when the panels aren't generating power.
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