What can you do if you can’t reach a power socket? This can often be the case in the garden or around the mobile home. The perfect solution: a small solar system.
How solar technology works
Just like the large photovoltaic systems on many roofs, the small versions also convert light into electrical power. If the electricity is not used right away, it can be fed by cable to a battery feed and stored there as energy.
Between the battery and the solar cell is also a charging regulator, which, on the one hand, prevents the battery from overcharging and, on the other hand, stops the solar cell from drawing electricity during bad weather or at night.
Customised performance
The maximum power of solar cells is given in Wp (Watt peak). The following applies here: The higher the better. The value describes the power under specific test conditions.
Of course, it’s more interesting to know how much energy you can expect in certain places depending on hours of sun and its intensity. What is obvious is that: There are certainly more productive countries than Germany.
If the mobile home system is expected to provide energy, it is first necessary to determine approximate power needs. This depends on consumption and the use of existing consumers. People who want to know the exact values can get a current measuring device and use it to determine the needs of all consumers in one day.
This approach not only helps in determining the size of a new solar system, but at the same time shows who is using the most power. This method also provides valuable information on how many watts an inverter should be able to tolerate if it is needed.
Important: Efficiency
This is not done simply by adding watts. It is important to keep in mind the efficiency of the components. Consumption behaviour also plays an important role. For example, anyone who likes cooking in the evening or makes their coffee or eggs before dawn, needs to plan for more battery capacity. Those who like lie-ins can get away with less.
An additional factor is preferred destinations: If you like travelling in the Mediterranean, you do not need to worry about sunny weather. It is a bit different on the North Sea or in Scandinavia.
Battery: Size matters
The capacity of a solar battery is shown in Ah (ampere hours). Common sizes are up to 300 Ah. It is also important that the battery is cycle-resistant and maintenance-free.
Campers are better suited to many small batteries rather than a single large battery. Benefits: The smaller batteries can be better distributed, the capacity is easier to expand and, if a battery fails, the light does not go out completely.
Complete sets for the garden
If you are looking for a compact solar system for your garden or patio, look no further. In the Reichelt shop there is a large selection of ready-made sets for every need. Certain models are designed to meet the power needs of lights, pond pumps or radios. To achieve a good yield, the alignment of the modules is also crucial.
A perfect south orientation with an inclination angle of 20 to 50 degrees is ideal. If a panel is mounted flat, for example on the roof of a motor home, it loses approximately 25 percent of its potential power.
Image source: Fotolia / 1293327 / Jim Parkin
