On board this and that... What about a battery charger

[Danny G]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

1-12, I would assume months.

There are cells now that are layered and each layer is 'tuned' for a different slice of the spectrum.
So you're gaining from many instead of trying to transform a broad spectrum at reduced efficiency

yes 1-12 is months for the current calendar year. The multi colored is comparing year to year output by month. I have a excel file that tracks all this and tabulates it up to a per watt savings based on the fluctuations we have in cost for over/under 800kwh and time of year. It also bounces the reading off of the power companies read and calculates the delta so I know if they owe me cash at the end of the year or not, as well as calculating my ROI/BEP etc.

The first one is my actual panel layout and power generation by each panel YTD.

Tuning each layer sounds like a step in the right direction to 40-50% efficiency near term hopefully. Getting solar panels up over 50% efficiency will go a long ways to increasing renewable energy portion of the power grid.

It will never happen because of lobbiests, but I think making solar a mandated part of every new construction could be a viable option. Make net metering mandated too, and bump the tax credit from 30 to 50%. There are places where excess electric is donated by you. For us they have to pay out in November for any excess.

Where we are at its 30% federal 25% state. If you live in certain power districts its 30% federal, 25% state, $1.60 per installed watt local. If you had a 7kWp system that say cost you $21k. After tax incentives its only $9,450 then if you live where you get the local incentive that's another $11,200 So basically you get paid $1750 to put solar on your roof in some parts of SC.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Mandated solar is already a reality for new construction in Kalifornia.

[ArdWrknTrk]

I realize this is OT, but it is your thread...

I subscribe to the Lawrence Berkeley, and Livermore YouTube channels, and get a feed from the NERL in Colorado.

https://www2.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/MSD-full-spectrum-solar-cell.html


https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/multijunction-iii-v-photovoltaics-research


https://www.wired.com/story/new-designs-could-boost-solar-cells-beyond-their-limits/

And there's this:  https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2018/11/23/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-a-90-efficient-solar-panel/
 That started at UConn, but anything in an industry publication I'd divide claims in half.
Still, 45% efficient,  at 1/5 the cost.
I'd be on board with that any day.  

[kramttocs]

May not be the best place for this but since it was mentioned earlier...

On the Cole Hersee smart battery isolator, what would the amp requirement for the Boost switch?

Is it the: Active High, 250mA value from here?
https://m.littelfuse.com/~/media/commercial-vehicle/application-guides/littelfuse-if-161-48525-smart-battery-isolator.pdf

I know it shouldn't be much but am looking at mini momentary switches and I found one with the correct dimensions with these specs:

- Rating Voltage: DC 50V
- Rating Current: 0.5A

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, I think that 250ma rating is correct.  So your switch should be perfect.

[kramttocs]

Appreciate it!