I am looking at purchasing some solar panels to run some power for a shed we are currently living in, we intend to run a number - as many as we can - 12v appliances. The cheapest panels have a 24v output so I imagine a 24v battery bank will be best but I am looking for advice on the best way to go. Should we spend the extra and get 12v panels or is there an efficient method of converting 24v to 12v and if so what is it?
converting 24v to 12v
(2 posts) (2 voices)-
If you haven't already purchased the 12V items see if 24V versions of the same product are available, many are. ie fridges, lights, fans etc.
24/12V converters are available but the cheaper units are very lossy, read waste power, while the better more efficient units waste less but cost a lot more. Hence if you can run the device direct from the battery you will keep losses very low.
I run many low power 240V devices, including this Apple Macmini computer, via a small 24V 250W sinewave inverter and monitor the DC current being drawn via the inverter. Standby use is about 800mA or 20Watts for the cordless phone, ADSL modem and separate VOIP adaptor which are all run from AC plugpacks. Which means that during a power outage my communications systems are all up and running.
Being a small inverter it has no standby mode and has run 24/7 for the last 5 years. I charge it with a small 24V solar array and top it up from the mains with a battery charger if required.
Posted Monday 23 Mar 2009 @ 6:12:04 am from IP #
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