Mini PV

randombar · 13-03-2023 10:55AM #1

Hi All,

Looking for recommendations for some direction.

1) Friend of mine is setting up "glamping" pods at the moment, rooves perfect for PV, thinking a panel with battery for DC only. What do people recommend for this?

2) Looking at getting a few hens, so there's auto door opening thing you can get for em, electrified fence for foxes and potentially a webcam to keep an eye on them. What would people recommend for this? I was thinking Panel + lead acid or something? But don't really know what the best options are currently.

Thanks.

randombar · 20-03-2023 09:52AM

Any recommendations here?

graememk · 20-03-2023 10:51AM

Not saying to get this but using this as an example.

https://solarpumpsolutions.ie/

we have one, it's a 12v panel, charge controller and 12v deep cycle lead acid.

Pump is a diaphragm pump with compression cyclinder and a pressure switch.

Pretty straight forward. Only used in spring/summer/autumn. Never have seen the battery low on it.

randombar · 20-03-2023 10:59AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120378630#Comment_120378630

that's exactly what I'm thinking. Stick to 12v so.

Panel + charge controller + 12v lead acid

unkel · 21-03-2023 01:45PM

Problem with lead acid is that it needs to be fully charged regularly. If you leave it like over winter with zero PV, the battery will be useless the next spring. But I guess if the use is very light and you can get the batteries cheap, you can just replace the batteries once a year. Guy on adverts is selling cheap AGM lead acids cheaply (ex datacentre UPS - so they will barely have been cycled)

DC999 · 21-03-2023 02:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120383200#Comment_120383200

And it's a rental glamping place, so people are gonna run the lead acid batteries down plugging in all sorts of unexpected stuff. Once people see a 3 pin plug, it's fair game!! Could be worth getting 1-2 different setups and seeing which behaves better. And then they can get more of the better setups.

unkel · 21-03-2023 03:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120383771#Comment_120383771

That's probably why do OP doesn't mention 3 pin plugs in this setup and will only allow DC 😂

But you actually have a point. A LiFePO4 battery costs less per kWh cycled than a lead acid, but needs a BMS. Double edge sword as the BMS would protect the battery from draining below where it does damage. Unlike the lead acid

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