Question on Solar Panel Rating
 

I may just be a knuckle head, but I can't for the life of me figure out what the rating on solar panels actually means.

ex - 100W solar panel means you get 100W of power per Minute/Hour/Day/Week/Month/Year ????

:eek_ma:

Re: Question on Solar Panel Rating
 

Alpine,

It means you get 100W instantanously (under full sun). Watts is the product of volts and amps. 25V * 4A = 100W.

Let the panel sit in the sun for 5 hours and you get 500Watt-Hours. Watt-hours (WHrs) is what you use to gauge how much energy you have.

500WHrs will run a 100W light bulb for 5 hours, a 1500W hairdryer for 20 minutes, and a 1W night light for 500 Hours.

A battery is rated by voltage (12V lead acid car battery) AND amp-hours (AHrs). Amp-hours is like Watt-hours, a product of current (amps) and time. 500WHr/12V = 41.67AHrs...

...so, your 100 W solar panel in full sun for 5 hours would completely recharge a 12V car battery that is rated at ~40AmpHours with a little to spare.

Yeah, so math, but it's just the concept of integrating power (watts) over time to get energy (watt-hours).


That help any?

Orion

Re: Question on Solar Panel Rating
 

Very much so.

Thank You!!!

I owe you one
:beer:

Re: Question on Solar Panel Rating
 

http://www.otherpower.com/

They have some good info regarding battery banks and such, as well as wind turbines and the like. Just thought I'd share!

Re: Question on Solar Panel Rating
 

Thanks! I just purchased a small wind turbine - 1440 watts (don't know at what speed tho). I'm thinking about supplementing with solar also.