06-24-2009, 04:45 AM
Pete:
"So, in our view, in determining the number of batteries, night time consumption probably should be considered more than powering through gray days. Our experience is that most moderate to severely gray days are either marginal or will not meet our consumption needs or maintain battery charge. Rather than having a large array of batteries to power through the gray days (and which the panels may not fully charge on many days) judicious use of the generator (commonly 1-1.5 hours in the evening, don't let the batteries stay low overnight) we feel is a better bet to maintaining charge through the severe cloudy periods. Restoring the night time consumption and gaining a very high level of charge nearly every day, for us anyway, seems to be the critical parameters in avoiding another big bill for batteries. The rest of the system should be reasonably expected to live for 15-20 years. The batteries are the real weak point and must be coddled. "
Thanks for this valubale piece of information!!!!
Chris
"So, in our view, in determining the number of batteries, night time consumption probably should be considered more than powering through gray days. Our experience is that most moderate to severely gray days are either marginal or will not meet our consumption needs or maintain battery charge. Rather than having a large array of batteries to power through the gray days (and which the panels may not fully charge on many days) judicious use of the generator (commonly 1-1.5 hours in the evening, don't let the batteries stay low overnight) we feel is a better bet to maintaining charge through the severe cloudy periods. Restoring the night time consumption and gaining a very high level of charge nearly every day, for us anyway, seems to be the critical parameters in avoiding another big bill for batteries. The rest of the system should be reasonably expected to live for 15-20 years. The batteries are the real weak point and must be coddled. "
Thanks for this valubale piece of information!!!!
Chris