need 24 volt applinaces [RE-wrenches]

[Bob Ellison]

Mrningstar needs to make the Sure Sine in 24 volt.

Bob Ellison

On Mon, Mar 24, 2008 at 12:03 PM, John Raynes <john at raynes.com> wrote:
>
>
> Let's not forget that there is currently another reason to look at 24 volt
> battery banks for smaller systems.  It has to do with the increasing lack
> of competitively-priced 12 volt panels.  There are lots of relatively
> inexpensive PWM charge controllers that will do either 12V-12V or 24V-24V
> configurations, but it's still a big step up in price to anything that will
> do 24V-12V.  The least expensive step-down option that I know of is the
> SolarBoost 3024.  Morningstar's 15A MPPT is supposed to be out any day now,
> but it only knocks the price point down a little, and 15A at 12V doesn't
> take one very far.
>
> Even with the situation that I just described, I still agree that small 24V
> battery banks usually aren't compelling,   I looked at designing some
> recently, in order to utilize some 24V panels I had available, but got
> stopped even before looking for 24V appliances and lights.  Take a look at
> the options for small inverters - there just aren't any small (300-800W),
> value priced 24V inverters that I can find.  And with the nice small 12V
> sine-wave inverters available now, it's easy to talk a customer into some
> type of inverter, even for a small system.  So yes, I say go with 12 volts,
> use a small inverter.
>
> It doesn't appear that we're going to have any really useful small
> inexpensive step-down charge controllers for the near future, unless one of
> the manufacturers has something that they're keeping under wraps.
>
> The situation with 12 volt panels just seems to keep getting worse, and I
> don't understand as there is definitely still a need for panels in the
> 70-110 watt range.  Most of the distribs still carry something, but it
> either is way expensive and/or there's no commitment to supply anymore.  If
> I had to guess, I'd say that the distribs have chosen to abandon this
> segment of the market to the large internet retailers, who now have to buy
> 70-100W panels in quantity and stock themselves.  The rest of us are on our
> own, it seems, and we have to charge through the nose or offer no-name,
> non-UL Chinese panels if we can find them.  Any of the distrib
> representatives on the board care to comment on this situation?
>
> John Raynes
> RE Solar
> Torrey, UT
>
>
> At 04:43 PM 3/23/2008 -0700, you wrote:
>
>
> >I agree with others who have suggested avoiding a 24 V system, and I live
> >with one. I went with 24 V on RE guru Windy Dankoff's advice in the early
> >1980s. It was good advice then, before high-efficiency inverters were
> >readily available, 48 V systems were almost unheard of, and PVs were much
> >more expensive. Today's RE guru advice is usually to go with AC loads,
> >unless we're talking about a very small system, in which case 12 VDC makes
> >more sense.
> >
> >That said, it's possible to find LED and CFL lighting in 24 V, as well as
> >fridge/freezers, motors, and occasional audio stuff (especially from
> >long-haul truck suppliers). But there are many things that you won't find
> >in 24 VDC, which led us to use 12 VDC and 120 VAC as well, leading to a
> >very complicated system.
> >
> >Today I recommend to almost all people that they decide between 12 VDC and
> >120 VAC, and keep it simple.
> >
> >Ian
> >
> >
> >>>I am working a a full time art studio home, off grid.
> >>>I have selected a 24 volt system.  where is a source
> >>>of 24 volt DC appliances such as audio system, in
> >>>particular amplifier, CD player, led fixtures?  am
> >>>using Outback for AC source, on switch when not
> >>>needed.
> >
> >--
> >Ian Woofenden <ian.woofenden at homepower.com>, Senior Editor, Home Power
> >magazine
> >Subscriptions: $24.95 per year PO Box 520,Ashland, OR 97520 USA
> >800-707-6585 (US), 541-512-0220
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>
>
>
> >
> >
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