Lots of questions this season..... I'm winterizing a cabin for a
customer that will not be there for the next 8 months (summer use only).
Inverter and loads will be off. The rooftop array will probably be
covered with snow for extended periods of time, and he has a brand new
800 AH set of AGM batteries. I've read that AGMs can handle sitting for
longer periods of time, but my experience is that they are a bit
finicky. I'm planning on adding a small wall mounted array on a small
Morningstar PWM controller that's sole purpose is to trickle charge the
batteries and off set the self discharge in heavy snow. What is the
minimum size array needed?
I've calculated self discharge rates from 2% to 5% /month, and I'm
seeing a very small array would offset that. Even at 5% monthly losses,
and 4 hrs of sun/ day, I'm seeing a 10 watt array could meet that. My
current plan is a pair of 30 watt modules wired in series for the 24 v
battery. Is that too small? Or should I not even worry, because enough
sun will creep through the snow to the main array?
Thanks,
--
Ray Walters
Remote Solar
303 505-8760
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