To use this spreadsheet enter your data in the shaded cells. All calculations are done automatically.

This Excel workbook was developed by Gale Scholten (N8GS) using data collected for many differe
sources. I've tried to cover a lot of ground with this project but as with all such projects it is possible
an error may have crept into the data. Please confirm the results obtained before spending your hard
earned money.
Much of the example data included in this spreadsheet was obtained by testing the various items on m
ft. 5th wheel. I hope this will provide you with a solid starting point as you calculate your power nee
Note that electrical name plates list the MAX power used NOT the average power.

A wire sizing section is included to make it easier to pick the proper size wire to use. Pay close atten
to the Wasted Watts and voltage drop columns. Wasted watts is power that the solar panel is gene
but never gets to the batteries because it is wasted in heating the wires. Bigger wire = less resistance
less heat = less wasted power.

Panels wired in series provide higher working voltage (like batteries in series) which will allow the u
smaller wire BUT it will require the use of a MPPT style charge controller. You will need to decide f
yourself which way best meets your present and future system requirements. If 3 - 12 volt panels wit
Max power point voltage of 17 volts are to be installed in series then the input voltage to the charge
controller will be 51 volts. Also check to insure that the open circuit voltage of the panels will not ex
the charge controllers maximum input voltage.
Be sure to measure the space you have available for your PV panels. Will they fit and will there be a
problem with nearby items casting shadows onto the panels? Could the TV antenna or A/C unit be a
problem?

Load Calculation Worksheet

Step 1 Calculate your AC loads. If there are no AC loads, skip to Step 2.
Description of AC Loads Run by an inverter

Watts

Microwave
TV and antenna amplifier
Satellite receiver
Computer
Blow Dryer
Electric Skillet
Toaster
Fan

1950
32
15
35
900
1200
950
25

X
X
X
X
X

Hrs/Day

0.1
2
2
1

X
X
X
X

=
=
=
=
=
=
=

0.1

=
=

X
X

=
=

X
X

=
=

AC Ah/Day including inverter losses

85%
12.6 V

Inverter efficency ---->>

Inverter DC input voltage; This is the DC system voltage.--->

Ah/Day

15.5
5.1
2.4
2.8
0.0
0.0
7.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
39.1 Ah

Step 2 Calculate your DC loads.

List all DC loads in the spaces below.

Watts

Furnace
Water pump
Lights w/ 921 bulb (18w/bulb) (dining table)
Bath area Lights all LED
3 LED Light fixtures
2 LED reading lights
Inverter idle current
Bath Vent fan
AM/FM radio
Refrigerator (what is your duty cycle?)
Water Heater
Fan
HP photo printer
HF radio

114
60
36
16
24
16
11
12
6
7
7
8
30
75.6

Hrs/Day

Ah/Day

7 X
Total amp hours per day used by DC loads.

24 =
DC Ah/Day

Total amp hours per day used by all loads.

Total Ah/Day

80.1 Ah

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Phantom loads (control circuits, LP detector , refrig)

1
0.1

9.0
0.5
0.0
0.6
1.9
2.5
5.2
0.3
0.0
6.7
0.3
0.0
0.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
13.3
40.9 Ah

X
X
X
X
X

0.5
1
2
6
0.3
12
0.6
0.2

=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=

Battery Bank Sizing

80.1

1. Total amp hours per day needed to recharge the battery bank. (See solar array sizing page)

2. Maximum number of days with no recharge.

160

3. This is the Ah used + the extra amps needed to compensate for conversion losses.
5. If you are using a lead-acid battery, select the multiplier below which corresponds to the battery's average ambient
temperature:

If you do not intend to discharge below 50% this is your minimum battery size =====>
This is your suggested battery size in amp-hours if using 80% of the capacity ==>

320

Ah @ 50% DOD

200

Ah @ 80% DOD

Battery
Capacity
Multiplier
Table
80F/26.7C

70F/21.2C

1.04

60F/15.6C

1.11

50F/10.0C
40F/4.4C
30F/-1.1C
20F/-6.7C

1.19
1.3
1.4
1.59

Temperature
adjusted charging
voltage
14.60
14.77
14.93
15.10
15.26
15.43
15.60

Solar Panel Array Sizing

1. Total amp hours per day from the Load Calc Worksheet

80.1

Ah

2. Multiply line 1 by 1.25 to compensate for loss from battery charge/discharge.

100.1

Ah

3. Average sun hours per day in your area of interest.

4. This is the average Ah rate required for daily recharge.

16.68

5. Watt hours needed to recharge the battery bank.

1261

Wh

Watts/hr. needed to replace 1 days useage assuming 85% efficency

240

Watts of tilted panels

For recovery from a cloudy period double the panel wattage.

Double the panel size if used flat in the winter

Size the wire between the solar panels and the charge controller to provide a voltage drop of less than 2%.
Use the copper wire table to help with this calculation and don't forget that the wire needed is twice the
distance from the solar panels to the charge controller.

hr/day

Wire Sizing chart

Ohm/1000'

Wire Dia.
(inches)

41.020

0.0159

25.670

0.0201

16.200

0.0253

10.128

0.0320

6.386

0.0403

4.018

0.0508

2.524

0.0641

1.589

0.0808

0.999

0.1019

0.628

0.1285

0.395

0.1620

0.248

0.2043

0.197

0.2294

0.156

0.2576

0.124

0.2893

0.098

0.3249

0.078

0.3648

0.062

0.4096

0.049

0.4600

Wire Size
AWG
26
24
22
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
3
2
1
0
00
000
0000

Wire Resistance Voltage drop

2.05100
1.28350
0.81000
0.50640
0.31930
0.20090
0.12620
0.07945
0.04995
0.03140
0.01975
0.01240
0.00985
0.00780
0.00620
0.00490
0.00390
0.00309
0.00245

16.408
10.268
6.480
4.051
2.554
1.607
1.010
0.636
0.400
0.251
0.158
0.099
0.079
0.062
0.050
0.039
0.031
0.025
0.020

Percent
Voltage Drop
38.5%
21.1%
12.3%
7.4%
4.5%
2.8%
1.7%
1.1%
0.7%
0.4%
0.3%
0.2%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.0%
0.0%

59
8
50
Wasted
Watts
131.3
82.1
51.8
32.4
20.4
12.9
8.1
5.1
3.2
2.0
1.3
0.8
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2

Output
Voltage
42.59
48.73
52.52
54.95
56.45
57.39
57.99
58.36
58.60
58.75
58.84
58.90
58.92
58.94
58.95
58.96
58.97
58.98
58.98

Input Voltage
Amps
Length of wire in feet (both + and - conductors)

472 watts

Peukert Formula - Battery Run Time to Depletion

Peukert's Exponent
Batt Bank Capacity Ah
Amp Hour Time Rating

1.192
600
20

Discharge Rate in Amps

24.0
36.0
48.0
60.0
120.0
180.0
240.0
300.0
360.0
420.0
480.0
540.0
600.0

80F/26.7C
70F/21.2C
60F/15.6C
50F/10.0C
40F/4.4C
30F/-1.1C
20F/-6.7C

Note: charging voltages above

15 volts may damage some
electronic equipment.

Time in hours
26.09
16.09
11.42
8.75
3.83
2.36
1.68
1.29
1.03
0.86
0.73
0.64
0.56

Battery
Capacity
Multiplier
Table
1
1.04
1.11
1.19
1.3
1.4
1.59

Adjusted charging
voltage
14.80
14.97
15.14
15.30
15.47
15.64
15.81

Total Amp
Hours
Available
626.3
579.4
548.2
525.2
459.8
425.3
402.5
385.6
372.3
361.5
352.3
344.5
337.6

Depth of Discharge
15%
20%
50%
80%

Ah used
90 Ah
120 Ah
300 Ah
480 Ah

Battery Life
Enter a specific
discharge rate
30

4.0 hr
10.0 hr
16.0 hr
20.0 hr

20%
50%
80%
100%

DOD
DOD
DOD
DOD

Notes
Trojan specs their battery recharge efficency at 89%.

System upgrade cost estimator (2011 prices)

Qty

Item
Kyocera KD135GX
2 Kyocera KD235
50 #12 2 conductor cord
15 #10 wire
#8 wire
45 #6 wire
#4 wire
4 #2 wire
#1 wire
1/0 welding cable
10 2/0 welding cable
Junction box on roof
1 Outback FM60 charge controller
1 RTS Remote temp sensor
FM60 remote display
sets of mounting hardware
15 amp 125 volt Fuse block @ PV panels
15 amp fuse
1 300 amp Battery fuse block /w fuse
1 Xantrex Linklite battery monitor w/ shunt
6 #6 x 5/16 copper lugs
4 2/0 x 3/8" copper lugs
10 2/0 x 5/6" copper lugs
2/0 split bolts
1 IOTA 90amp w/IQ4
22 LED panels to replace 921 bulbs
4 Trojan T1275 batteries 12V (150Ah each)
2 MC4 extension cable - 6 feet
3 50 amp Buss CB
1 32 gal Blue Boy
1 Macerator pump

Estimated Unit
price

Extended cost

$390.00

$0.00

$455.00

$910.00

$1.20

$60.00

$0.80

$12.00

$1.00

$0.00

$1.25

$56.25

$1.90

$0.00

$2.25

$9.00
$0.00
$0.00

$4.00

$40.00

$15.00

$0.00

$529.00

$529.00

$29.00

$29.00

$257.00

$0.00

$42.00

$0.00

$15.00

$0.00

$3.00

$0.00

$90.00

$90.00

$248.00

$248.00

0.85

$5.10

$1.25

$5.00

$1.25

$12.50

$6.00

$0.00

$345.00

$345.00

$18.00

$396.00

$199.94

$799.76

$20.00

$40.00

$29.00

$87.00

$279.00

$279.00

$259.00

$259.00
$0.00

Total

$4,211.61

Parallel resistor Calc.

R1
R2

350
10000

R1
R2
R3

500
1000
10000

R1
R2
R3
R4

Result =

338.1643

R result = 322.5806

600
1000
2700
10000

R result = 318.7721

Wheatstone Bridge
Supply Voltage
R1
R2
R3
Rx
Voltage inbalance=

12.6
10000
10000
10000
10010
0.0031

Temperature compensation chart by Mark Siminoff - siminoff@gmail.c

What is the float voltage setting ?

What is absorption voltage setting #?

What's the temp' compensation coefficient?
C
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35

F
32
34
36
37
39
41
43
45
46
48
50
52
54
55
57
59
61
63
64
66
68
70
72
73
75
77
79
81
82
84
86
88
90
91
93
95

13.40
14.10
14.07
14.04
14.02
13.99
13.96
13.93
13.90
13.88
13.85
13.82
13.79
13.76
13.74
13.71
13.68
13.65
13.62
13.60
13.57
13.54
13.51
13.48
13.46
13.43
13.40
13.37
13.34
13.32
13.29
13.26
13.23
13.20
13.18
13.15
13.12

13.40 V
14.80 V
0.028 V/C
14.80
15.50
15.47
15.44
15.42
15.39
15.36
15.33
15.30
15.28
15.25
15.22
15.19
15.16
15.14
15.11
15.08
15.05
15.02
15.00
14.97
14.94
14.91
14.88
14.86
14.83
14.80
14.77
14.74
14.72
14.69
14.66
14.63
14.60
14.58
14.55
14.52

36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45

97
99
100
102
104
106
108
109
111
113

13.09
13.06
13.04
13.01
12.98
12.95
12.92
12.90
12.87
12.84

14.49
14.46
14.44
14.41
14.38
14.35
14.32
14.30
14.27
14.24

siminoff@gmail.com