From: ham789@netzero.net   
      
   On 5/16/2015 9:21 AM, 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   
   >   
   I missed the part where you disclosed where you live and how long   
   per day you need to run the air compressor.   
      
   Go here:   
   file:///D:/netcd/netdvd64/current/hobby/solar/PVWATTS%20v.%201.htm   
   and put in your location.   
      
   This program is obsolete and you can't change anything.  Just click thru   
   to the results and scale the numbers by 45/4000 to get numbers for your   
   45W panel at your location.   
      
   Yes, there's an upgraded site, but you'd have to figger out how to work   
   it and gain nothing.   
      
   Notice the pitiful amount of energy you'll get, especially in winter.   
   Your batteries have to supply enough energy per day to run your   
   air compressor.  And you can't run 'em flat, so double it.   
      
   Your panels have to produce enough energy to recharge the batteries   
   every day in winter months.  That gives you zero allowance for   
   cloudy days, so multiply the number by whatever makes you comfortable.   
      
   Get the resultant numbers.   
   When you recover from the shock of the magnitude of the problem   
   in size and $$$,   
   Go buy a gas generator.  Or a long extension cord.   
      
   The same calculations work for lighting.  If you really don't need the   
   air compressor much, you may be able to do a small amount of lighting   
   with your current setup.  Run the generator only for the compressor.   
   Or put a gas engine on the compressor.   
      
   Solar makes a lot of sense when you have low requirements and absolutely   
   no way to get power any other way.   
      
   Stated another way, solar is rarely cost effective.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)