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 Subject :Solar/Battery power parameters.. 2012-03-08- 06:58:59 
W5LMM
Member
Joined: 2012-02-13- 18:18:04
Posts: 126
Location: Albuquerque, NM
 

Regarding the common WRT54G(X) platforms, does anyone know the minimum 12v solar panel size to maintain use with a 12v gel-cell?

Living in the desert southwest, we have lots of sun.

Some of these nodes could be put in great strategic locations where there is no power.


Any ideas?
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 Subject :Re:Solar/Battery power parameters.. 2012-03-08- 07:54:16 
KD5MFW
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Joined: 2010-01-18- 23:02:11
Posts: 104
Location: 
It has been shown that a 45 watt solar panal array charging a 55 amp hour 12 VDC gel cell battery will run a node based on a WRT54GL device in all seasons in central Texas. If you have a lot of sun, this should work fine for you. -Glenn KD5MFW
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 Subject :Re:Solar/Battery power parameters.. 2012-03-08- 08:19:04 
W5LMM
Member
Joined: 2012-02-13- 18:18:04
Posts: 126
Location: Albuquerque, NM
 
Wow! That's a big panel for such a small unit! :) I thought I had read somewhere that the WRT54G uses about 8w peak. I had thought maybe a 10w panel, with the battery would keep the battery charged during the day, and still run the node at night. I'm just trying to find a reasonably inexpensive way.
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 Subject :Re:Solar/Battery power parameters.. 2012-03-08- 08:28:03 
KD5MFW
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Joined: 2010-01-18- 23:02:11
Posts: 104
Location: 
That is the short quick answer, and you will not get by with much less that what was outlined, if you want to stay on 24/7 even when a few clouds come into your area. One could get into a 500 or more page book on explaining all the details of solar systems and matching a load to a solar panel / charger / battery system. The WRT54GL pulls about 3.5 watts on average. Older units pull more. A smaller solar array and battery would likely let your emergency mesh node go off the air, at times. The solar array needed for most jobs is larger than one would wish for. We tried the size unit outlined and it worked for us, but a few more cloudy days, and we might have had the system go down. Again, there is much more to setting up a successful solar array than a simple attempt to match watts or physical size of panels. -Glenn KD5MFW
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 Subject :Re:Solar/Battery power parameters.. 2012-03-09- 04:56:57 
W5LMM
Member
Joined: 2012-02-13- 18:18:04
Posts: 126
Location: Albuquerque, NM
 
Thanks! I appreciate it! I understand it's much more complicated due to environmental variables, but the answer just surprised me. :)
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