Number of Batteries Needed for a 200 Watt Solar Panel

Solar Panels and Batteries    

When it comes to the solar system, the first thing that may come to your mind is sizing solar batteries. Determining how many batteries per solar panel is needed can be complicated.

To get electric supply at homes, small offices, or for cars, most people prefer using 200-watt solar panels. But, the problem is most of them don’t know the exact battery sizing. When using a solar panel with 200-watt 12 volts, you can use a 12-volt 40Ah 500-watt hours battery. It may take a little more volts, depending on your power consumption. However, in this context, below we’ll talk about how many batteries you need for 200-watt solar panels, what electric devices you can run with them, what things you should consider, and many more. So, stay with us.

Why Do Solar Panels Need Batteries?

To have an uninterrupted power supply, even on rainy days or cloudy weather, batteries are needed for solar panels as they work as mediators to ensure a persistent supply of energy.

In short, without standard and powerful solar batteries, you won’t get emergency power backup. Apart from that, solar batteries are used for storing the oversupply of power produced by the panels.

Lithium batteries are recommended by most solar manufacturers as they have an extended lifespan, incredible power output, and reliable performance compared to other battery types.  

How Much Power Does a 200W Solar Panel Produce?

You should perceive how much power a 200 Watt Solar Panel produces before installing one, shouldn’t you? Okay, you’ll usually have 20-watts of power from a 200-watt solar panel. But, keep in mind that, the wattage of power also relies on a couple of factors such as geographical location, shading, the season, the angle of the panel, the type of solar panel, cleanness of the solar panel, and so on. If you install a solar panel where the sunlight hits directly, then the panel can produce up to 840 watts of power. To get more power, multiple 200-watt solar panels can be placed together in a row.

A battery or a battery bank can be charged with a 200-watt solar panel that can be used to supply energy to several appliances like laptops, coffee makers, microwave ovens, and light bulbs for a certain period.

Note: If you are supposed to use a battery bank to run several types of appliances, you need to have a power inverter that can convert from 12-volt DC power to AC. Never run appliances directly off the solar panels as overcharge can cause damage.

How Many Batteries Do I Need for a 200-Watt Solar Panel?

In the previous section, we have mentioned why you need batteries for solar panels. Solar batteries are essential for panels to get their entire potential and power backup to use in bad weather.

A solar battery holds two major functions. The first one is, “It Keeps The Oversupply Energy Generated By Solar Panels”,  and the second function is, “It Works As A Mediator For Constant Power Supply In Case Of Bad Weather Like Cloudy Or Rainy Days.”

Whatever, let’s come to the point. How many batteries do you need for a 200-Watt Solar Panel? Actually, “a 500Wh [12 Volts, 40Ah] is considered the best match for a 200W solar panel.”

It is highly recommended to use lithium batteries for solar panels because of their extended life span, excellent power output, robustness, and reliable performance.

How to Determine the Right Solar Battery Bank Size for Your Needs

It is a bit difficult to determine the right solar battery bank size depending on your requirements. To figure out the perfect one, you have to contemplate a number of things that we have mentioned below. Let’s check them out.

1. Analyze Your Regular Power Consumption

First, you have to find out your monthly kWh output by conveying your electric bill. After that, to get your regular kWh, divide the output by 30; and then square it by 1000. By accomplishing this, you can easily convert the kWh figure into watt-hours.

2. Consider The Number Of Days Your Solar System Will Be Without Sun Exposure

To have some information regarding this, you can Google the annual average cloudy weather period in your area. The less sun you’ll get, the bigger the battery should be. We recommend having a larger size one that is a wise decision when it comes to solar battery bank sizing.

3. Evaluate The Lowest Possible Temperature Your Battery Bank Will Encounter

In that case, you have to research carefully first the average low temperature in the region where you live. Following this way, you can predict whether your battery bank has the adequate capacity or not. You should keep in mind that the batteries’ capacity goes down 10% for every 15 to 20 degrees under 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Does the Type of Battery You Use Affect the Number of Solar Panels You’ll Require for Your System?

Before providing the answer, let’s compare a 200W solar panel and a 100W solar panel. Generally, a 100W solar panel produces about 5 to 6 amps per hour whereas a 200W solar panel generates approximately 10 to 12 amps per hour.

There would be approximately 5-6 hours of average sunlight to produce your solar panel in a day. It follows that a 200W solar panel may produce about 60 to 72 amp-hours a day.

Suppose, you use a 12-volt battery, an individual 200W solar panel is not enough to completely charge this battery in a day, especially when you go for two batteries. So, you will need a minimum of three 200W solar systems when charging one battery.

What Electronic Devices Can You Run With a 200-watt Solar Panel?

Now, let’s see what devices you can run with a 200-watt solar panel. Some of the electric appliances and devices you can operate with it after average sun exposure. These are

• A 40 Watt Electric Fan [2 Hours a Day]
• A 100 Watt Laptop [2 Hours a Day]
• A 1000 Watt Coffee Maker [1 Hour a Day]
• Two 10 Watt LED Lights [5 Hours a Day]
• A 100 Watt TV [2 Hours a Day]
• A 625 Watt Microwave [90 Minutes a Day]
• A 20 Watt Drone/Tables/Phone [3 Hours a Day]

To run the electric devices, you’ll need to have a power inverter that can convert DC current to AC.

Are 200-watt Solar Panels Suitable for You?

Whether a 200W solar panel is suitable for you or not relies on the type of solar project that you have in mind.

In general, for small-scale applications, a 200W solar system is the right choice but, if you would like to install solar panels in big businesses or households, it is better to choose between 250 to 365W per hour.

However, depending on the electronic devices and appliances, you can determine if a 200W solar panel will be a perfect selection for you. In that case, you can look at the above discussion on what electronic devices can you run with a 200-watt solar panel

Is a 200-Watt Solar Panel Sufficient For RV

It is true that 200W solar panels come with perfect size, weight, and power. But, when it is about RV, a question may come to your mind: are they powerful enough for RV?

As we mentioned earlier, solar panel production depends on several things, and location is considered one of the most important things. For instance, solar panels in California can generate two times more than in London.

Suppose, an RV is equipped with a 200w solar panel in California. As stated by Global Solar Atlas, the solar production potential is 1kwh per day on average.

Final Thought

So, it was all about how many batteries do you need for a 200W solar panel. The battery is required on a solar panel to have power backup in bad weather as they work as mediators for constant energy supply without any interruption. However, The best battery for a 200W solar panel is a 12v, 40Ah battery. And while choosing the battery for the solar panel, make sure that it is lithium that has a longer life span, excellent power output, and provides reliable performance.

Afghanistan utility company cuts it's consumers power

 DABS the Afghanistan breshna sherkat the national utility company has recently announced due to debt on its consumers and the company its self has 3+ months from neighboring countries and IPPs, so in order to increase revenue and run the company it needs to collect the fee's of electricity which is used by people.

So, DABS has taken a decision to cut the power of those consumers who have not paid their electricity bills. 

After the fall of previous government alongside other departments and ministries the power utility company and MEW are facing problems.

How can I connect a generator with an automatic transfer switch to a house with 2 electric meters?

How can I connect a generator with an automatic transfer switch to a house with 2 electric meters?

A lot depends on the topology you already have. Why are there two meters? Are they on the same phase? or (oddly) two? Presumably there are two distribution boards? do you actually need generator power on both of them?

Let us assume single phase, 240V. You want someting like this:

The changeover contactor will be 8-pole, 4NO, 4NC

What is the role of Damper Winding?

What is the role of Damper Winding?

 “DAMPER WINDING IN SYNCHRONOUS MACHINE Damper windings helps the synchronous motor to start on its own (self starting machine) by providing starting torque.”

“damper winding because of its additional property of damping out any oscillation that might be caused by sudden changes in the load on the rotor when in synchronism. Adjustment to load changes involves changes in the angle by which the rotor field lags the stator…”

Electrical Distribution Board installation

A electrical distribution board (or panel board) is a component of an electricity supply system which divides an electrical power feed into subsidiary circuits, while providing a protective fuse or circuit breaker for each circuit, in a common enclosure.Normally, a main switch, and in recent boards, one or more Residual-current devices or Residual Current Breakers with Over current protection will also be incorporated.

electrical distribution board are sometimes known as: breaker panels fuse box, fuse board, circuit breaker panel, consumer unit, or CU, panel board The branch distribution boards are used for further distribution of supply to various sub circuits. These are also provided with fuses at the commencement of sub circuit.

The Electrical Distribution In Distribution Board

The neutral is also further distributed to various sides from the neutral link. One or two spare sub circuits of the same capacity should be provided on each distribution board and branch distribution board for future requirement.

The current rating of circuit, size of fuse element and detail of circuits controlled by each distribution board should also be marked.

Strip the wire only enough to make the connection to the main breaker terminal lugs. The black and red wires are the feeder wires in this photo with the black wires being one of the hot feeds and the red wires being the other.

Steps to Install electrical distribution board

•    You must have to install the feeder pipe at first.

•    Install the connector into the panel

•    If you’re using metal pipe, place a plastic bushing over the connector threads.

•    Level the panel and insert screws through the holes provided in the back of the panel

•    Using a tape, pull the electrical feeder wires through the feeder pipe.

•    Leave enough wire to get to the opposite side of the panel.

•    Bend the two black wires to shape them for easy installation to the main breaker.

•    Excess bare wire leaves a safety hazard where the wires can come in contact with other wires and cause a short circuit.

•    Connect the neutral wire to the neutral buss. The neutral buss is located on either side of the breakers. It is a silver-colored bar with many smaller screws and connection points

•    Connect all of the green and bare copper wires to the ground buss bar.

•    If you bend the wires ahead of time, you’ll have a nice, neat wire installation that looks uniform.

•    Next, install the circuit feeds to the branch circuit breakers.

•    Connect the appropriate sized wire to the correctly rated. breaker. Bend the wires so that they keep a neat appearance when the installation is complete.

Some Special Things to Consider on Installing Distribution Broad

5 An iron clad enclosed pattern main switch is installed on the main board. The main board should be installed as near to the service board as possible and also near to the commencement of supply.

The height of the main switchboard should be so as to facilitate in its operation for isolating the supply to the building by the consumer.

The normal height of from ground level should be 1.5 meter. Seasoned teak wood or other durable wood with solid back impregnated with varnish of approved quality is used.

All joints of board should be dovetailed. The main switch board which contain relevant circuit breakers should be concealed in the wall thickness in flush with the surface of the wall.

The service board or energy meter board and main board close to each other and the box where the two boards are installed should be provided with shutter having glass window for meter reading and general inspection.

A electrical distribution board (or panel board) is a component of an electricity supply system which divides an electrical power feed into subsidiary circuits, while providing a protective fuse or circuit breaker for each circuit, in a common enclosure.Normally, a main switch, and in recent boards, one or more Residual-current devices or Residual Current Breakers with Over current protection will also be incorporated.

electrical distribution board are sometimes known as: breaker panels fuse box, fuse board, circuit breaker panel, consumer unit, or CU, panel board The branch distribution boards are used for further distribution of supply to various sub circuits. These are also provided with fuses at the commencement of sub circuit.

The Electrical Distribution In Distribution Board

The neutral is also further distributed to various sides from the neutral link. One or two spare sub circuits of the same capacity should be provided on each distribution board and branch distribution board for future requirement.

The current rating of circuit, size of fuse element and detail of circuits controlled by each distribution board should also be marked.

Strip the wire only enough to make the connection to the main breaker terminal lugs. The black and red wires are the feeder wires in this photo with the black wires being one of the hot feeds and the red wires being the other.

Steps to Install electrical distribution board

•    You must have to install the feeder pipe at first.

•    Install the connector into the panel

•    If you’re using metal pipe, place a plastic bushing over the connector threads.

•    Level the panel and insert screws through the holes provided in the back of the panel

•    Using a tape, pull the electrical feeder wires through the feeder pipe.

•    Leave enough wire to get to the opposite side of the panel.

•    Bend the two black wires to shape them for easy installation to the main breaker.

•    Excess bare wire leaves a safety hazard where the wires can come in contact with other wires and cause a short circuit.

•    Connect the neutral wire to the neutral buss. The neutral buss is located on either side of the breakers. It is a silver-colored bar with many smaller screws and connection points

•    Connect all of the green and bare copper wires to the ground buss bar.

•    If you bend the wires ahead of time, you’ll have a nice, neat wire installation that looks uniform.

•    Next, install the circuit feeds to the branch circuit breakers.

•    Connect the appropriate sized wire to the correctly rated. breaker. Bend the wires so that they keep a neat appearance when the installation is complete.

Some Special Things to Consider on Installing Distribution Broad

5 An iron clad enclosed pattern main switch is installed on the main board. The main board should be installed as near to the service board as possible and also near to the commencement of supply.

The height of the main switchboard should be so as to facilitate in its operation for isolating the supply to the building by the consumer.

The normal height of from ground level should be 1.5 meter. Seasoned teak wood or other durable wood with solid back impregnated with varnish of approved quality is used.

All joints of board should be dovetailed. The main switch board which contain relevant circuit breakers should be concealed in the wall thickness in flush with the surface of the wall.

The service board or energy meter board and main board close to each other and the box where the two boards are installed should be provided with shutter having glass window for meter reading and general inspection.

What is protective relay?

 

Protective Relay

A protective relay is a device which initiates the circuit breaker to cut or off the faulty circuit from the healthy system. It acts just like a ‘ silence guard’, when any fault occurred in a system, the relay operates to close the trip circuit of the breaker and the breaker disconnects the faulty circuit.

Relay is the sensing unit of the electrical power system just like the brain of a human being which senses cold and hot things by touching it similarly, relay sense the abnormality in the system and gives trip command to the circuit breaker in order to disconnect the faulty section from healthy section.

A typical relay circuit is shown in fig. There are three parts in the relay circuit :-

1. First part is, the primary winding of a current transformer (C.T ) which is connected in series the line.
2. Second part , secondary winding of C.T is connected in series with relay operating coil.
3. Third part is the tripping circuit which may be either AC and DC source of supply, trip coil of the circuit breaker and relay stationary contacts are connected in series connection.

Now describe, how the relay disconnects the faulty circuit . 

Suppose when a short circuit occurs at a point F, on the line, the huge current  flows in the line. Hence, a heavy current  flow through the relay coil, causing the relay to operate by closing its contacts. Result complete the tripping circuit of the breaker and making the circuit breaker open.

Relays are very important for protection of the electrical system and any damage occurring to the costly equipment's of a substation of any industry. 

-eeeaf team

How do power companies generate electricity?

 In a variety of ways, usually, depending on the region. The vast majority of it is generated by magnetic induction, but some is generated by the photoelectric effect. I'll try to be comprehensive in this answer.

First, generation of electricity by magnetic induction:

The concept is relatively simple, and in practice it's surprisingly simple, too. While the generator depicted above is a pretty poor generator, it demonstrates the concept okay. The math behind magnetic induction is, in differential form (easier from an electromagnetics standpoint),

or in integral form (easier from a systems analysis standpoint)

Where B is magnetic flux density, phi is total magnetic flux through the coils, the big E is electric field and the curly E is voltage.

Here's how they do it in practice.
By far the cheapest per kilowatt-hour is hydro-electric power.

Quite simply, it uses gravity to naturally let water fall, and the moving water turns a turbine to generate electricity by magnetic induction. It's cheap per kilowatt-hour because there's no throttle time issues and no fuel. It can provide both baseline (low-power usage) and peaking (high power usage) generation. As long as it rains enough in the region, the reservoir will fill up without any human energy input.

A lot of our electricity is generated in coal power plants.

This power plant takes coal and burns it, using the heat to boil water and create high-pressure steam, which high pressure steam gets forced through a turbine, which generates electricity by magnetic induction.

Coal is pretty disgusting, by the way, but it's cheap unless you charge for the pollution. Coal power plants usually provide baseline power, since it requires incrementally more coal per extra bit of power. Coal for peaking is more expensive.

There are other systems in a coal power plant to make the process more efficient and have cleaner output, but those are a discussion for another question.

For peaking power, we often use natural gas generators.

It's similar to how the coal power plant works, except that it gets to double-dip on power generation -- first, the combustion reaction turns a turbine, and second, the hot exhaust boils water to turn a steam turbine.

Gas is expensive compared to coal, but the first turbine throttles up really quickly and the second within a few minutes, and it can be throttled up and down very easily compared to coal. As such, it makes for a great peaking generator.

In some areas, baseline power is provided by nuclear power plants.
Nuclear power is remarkably similar to the others, as it's a thermal power generator.

The major conceptual difference is that the heat comes from Radioactive decay. Nuclear makes an excellent, clean baseline power source, and the major issues are failsafe systems (prevent meltdowns) and where to store the spent (still radioactive, but not enough to work in this configuration) fuel rods. However, it isn't very good at throttling up and down, so it sticks to baseline power generation for the most part.

I believe the biggest obstacle to deployment of more nuclear power is NIMBYism -- "Not In My Back Yard" opposition.

Next up, we have wind power.

In principle, it's even simpler than a hydroelectric plant. For newer systems, it's pretty cheap. The wind turns some great big blades, which turn a generator. The most expensive part of wind power is probably the land area that it has to take up per unit of power. Another issue with wind is that in most places it can be pretty variable, meaning you can't at-will throttle it up and down, and it may not be producing power all the time. If you have a very diverse set of locations for wind generators connected to a grid, it can work well, but if you rely on a single location the generation is a little intermittent.

If you want to know a lot more about wind power, ask Michael Barnard.

Keeping with magnetic induction, some companies have been using concentrated solar-thermal power. The concept is, again, a thermal power system, but instead of burning fuel it concentrates sunlight on to a target to heat it up. Think of the way you used to burn ants with a magnifying glass, only switch the magnifying glass for a parabolic mirror, and make it a lot bigger, and that's how solar-thermal works. It comes in different forms, but the concept is the same in all cases.

Modern systems have a salt target that melts and stores the heat, allowing the power generation process to continue for several hours after the sun goes down.

Last, I'll talk briefly about photovoltaic power, which uses the photoelectric effect instead of magnetic induction.

The basic concept is that light can knock charge carriers out of a bound state in a material, if individual photons comprising that light have enough energy to do so. In a photovoltaic panel, we use a semiconductor p–n junction and make the light get absorbed in the depletion region of that junction where there are no native free charge carriers. The light "generates" charge carriers (knocks them off of the atoms holding them) and they diffuse to the electrodes. It generates DC power.

I personally have a lot of interest in photovoltaics. (See: Jacob VanWagoner's post in X-Ray Visions for an interesting lecture on conversion efficiency, Jacob VanWagoner's answer to Is solar power becoming more efficient? and many other things I've answered related to solar panels.) While they suffer the same limitation of not having 100% uptime as wind power, the two major advantages I see are distributed power generation that takes up no real usable space, and that the panels tend to generate the most at the time of highest demand -- the afternoon, when everybody is running air conditioning.

Which ones are used most? Depends on where you live.

Colorado's Electricity Portfolio