I'm new to off grid solar system, and I have no idea how youtube did not recommend this video, with the amount of searches I did on the topic. This video and the 'VOLTS, AMPS and WATTS explained - Simple explanation for off grid campers' have brought so much clarity. Thank you for the explanation and the spreadsheets!
I’m in the very beginning stages of looking at solar and what to invest in, etc. Your video and your spreadsheet will be of great help. I really appreciate you sharing with us all. Thank you, thank you!!
Great video Dave and nice job with the spreadsheet 👍 We've just upgraded our solar system, and also fitted a Victron battery monitor and shunt, so your spreadsheet will come in very handy when we test it all out next year. Nicely done mate, have subscribed 👍
Glad you liked it Stuart and thanks for subscribing. I've been thinking about fitting a shunt so that could well be another video in the future. Hopefully I'll be able to get out and make more CL videos next year. (P.S. Just checked your channel, some cool drone videos . . . subbed :-) )
@@DTSquared thanks for subbing Dave 👍 I fitted the Victron Bluetooth monitor and shunt, they're not cheap, but very useful for keeping a close eye on everything going in and out of the batteries! Hopefully we'll all be allowed out a bit more next year 🤞 I want to do more vids of off grid CLs and link them on CAMOGG so members can have a good look at sites before booking.
Hi Dave, we are in the early learning stages of understanding what we need to be able to go off grid, and your spreadsheet will be invaluable in our decision as to what battery, solar etc to purchase. We will have some applicances that are 240v and we will be using an Inverter for these, can these be incorporated into the spreadsheet calcs so we get a complete power needs picture? Or have I missed something in my understanding of how to calculate for 240v items? Many thanks!
Inverter power consumption is straightforward as long as you look at the watts used by the device as opposed to the amps. The current on the 12v side is approximately 20 times the current on the 240v side. There’s also an inefficiency of a few percent depending on the inverter. I would say avoid 240v if you can. If you need it then lithium batteries are going to be worth looking at for a host of reasons. At some point I’m planning on doing a video on investors but it may be a while.
@@DTSquared Great thanks! Just want to clarify, do I only need to put the known watts into column F and it will automatically adjust, or should I also update the formula in H from *12 to *240? Thanks again
@@colettedavies417 If you want it to calculate the watts then you would have to change the call but if you work out the watts yourself (or just know it) then just enter that. Remember to increase the value though to allow for the efficiency of the inverter.
great stuff. i think you've labelled both "watt-hours" and "watts" as "watts" though. Column F is the power the device uses and M is the power it used multiplied by how long it's used for. So M becomes watt-hours... enphase.com/en-uk/support/what-difference-between-watt-and-watt-hour-0
Thanks Lee, glad you liked it. Well spotted on the watt-hours captions. As I recall I did have the captions set to WattHours initially but changed it to try and simplify the terminology. I'll make a note to change it in the next version (won't change it immediately as the link will have to change and I'm sure there will be some other minor changes pointed out.) Thanks Dave
Hi Mark, yes DC only, no mention of AC in the instructions. I think it was originally designed for model aircraft so there would be no reason for it to be designed for AC. Incidentally both the packaging and the meter itself are labelled "200A" but the supplied instructions state that the maximum is 60V up to to 130A. This wasn't an issue for me but if you were planning on testing high draw devices like large invertors then you may want to check with supplier. (Side note if you watch any of Will Prowse's videos it looks like he uses the same meters.)
@@markweatherall7437 are you thinking as a permanent install? It would probably work technically but I’m not sure if I’d do it personally but I may just be being overly cautious. Bear in mind that all your 12v power would be going thru this all of the time.
