From: vaughnsimon@gmail.com   
      
   On 5/16/2015 12:21 PM, New Guy wrote:   
   >    I have a HF 45 W solar setup charging 3 35AH batteries and a 2000/4000   
   > W inverter. I was hoping to power an air compressor which is rated for 14   
   > amps. As it is now it won't. How can I beef up my setup to do so.? I am   
   > new to PV and have trouble understanding electric talk. What do I need to   
   > add ? And can someone point me to a link which might help me to understand   
   > a little about electricals associated with PV.   
   >   
   >   Newbie   
   >   
   Where do I start?   
      
   First, your 45 watt HF solar setup is likely barely good for 20 watts of   
   actual charging in full sunlight.  Assuming no load, it will barely be   
   enough to deal with the leakage current from those three batteries to   
   keep them topped off.  Also, I would not trust the charging regulator   
   that comes with that set.  If it under or overcharges your batteries, it   
   WILL ruin them over time.   
      
   Second, you are trying to run a nominal 1700-watt load from a nominal   
   2000 watt inverter.  Even if you can believe ratings, that leaves   
   virtually no cushion for the unexpected.  There are lots of reasons why   
   that might not work!  The inverter may not be heavy enough to handle the   
   motor starting load, and/or the compressor motor may not like the   
   (likely square wave) waveform from the inverter.   
      
   Are your battery cables short?  Are they heavy enough to handle the   
   starting load of that compressor, which will be at least 300 amps on the   
   DC side?   
      
   Honestly, to do what you want to do with solar power you need to start   
   all over.  You need far more and better solar panels with an appropriate   
   charge controller, you need a much better inverter, and likely you need   
   heavier batteries and cables.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)