On (13 Nov 96) Chris Harper wrote to Roy J. Tellason...
 CH> When I make my move and set up my solar power system, I'm
 CH> going to have 1KW worth of cells, and a 2.4KW inverter (for
 CH> future expansion), and a 1KW petrol generator for backup and
 CH> occasional high loads.
 CH> Should I go with deep cycle batteries for the system, or could
 CH> I just use car batteries? Are both lead-acid types? I know the
 CH> car batteries are. Which require the least maintenance, which
 CH> last longest?
Go with true deep cycle batteries NOT car batteries. Get the best
you can afford. Or, on second thought, get a moderately priced set
until you see how the system is going to work. I've heard people say
that it takes killing one set batteries to get used to how an RE
system works. Start with golf cart batteries, I'd suggest.
You will kill car batteries in short order. They are built for
shallow cycling.
 CH> How much total KW storage capacity would you suggest I have? I
 CH> would think I'd need a week's worth, for stormy seasons, but
 CH> the fuel generator could reduce that need. But I'd rather only
 CH> use that for emergencies, instead of reduction of storage
 CH> capacity needs.
That's a good question, and not an easy one to answer. 4-7 days of
autonomy is common. But you also need to figure in your depth of
discharge. 
                        Ian
... Flashlight: A case in which to carry dead batteries.                      
 
... Somebody engineered the idiocy out of the LP tanks and left it totally
available in the jelly jar.
--- PPoint 1.96
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