Solar panel kits are a great way to generate plenty of clean, quiet energy, using solar energy from the sun to run TVs, lights, computers, even recharge 12 volt DC batteries. Setting up Chicago Electric solar panel kits is easy. The solar panel kit comes with three 15 watt solar panels - simply connect the solar panels to your own 12 volt DC storage battery, and then use at least a 300 watt power inverter (sold separately) to power your 120 volt AC appliances anywhere.
Three 15 watt solar panels produce clean, quiet energy Lightweight, weatherproof construction Amorphous silicon solar cells for maximum output in both bright and cloudy conditions Voltage regulator has easy-to-read LED display, 12V cigarette lighter socket, 5V USB, 3-6-9V DC outlets and two 12V sockets for the included Light Kit Includes mounting hardware, 12V Light Kit, battery terminal clamps and universal DC power adapter

Exam ple of Load Calculations
Suppose you were to run a microwave oven for 10 minutes a day, which draw about 1000 Watts, despite their size. To keep it simple, think of the inverter as electrically transparent. In other words, the 1000 Watts required to run the oven come directly from the batteries as if it were a 12 VDC microwave. Taking 1000 Watts from a 12-Volt battery requires the battery to deliver approximately 84 Amps.
(1000 Watts ÷ 12 Volts = 84 Amps) A full-sized refrigerator draws about 2 Amps at 120 Volts AC. By multiplying 2 Amps x 120 Volts, you find out the refrigerator uses 240 Watts. The batteries will need to deliver 20 Amps to run the refrigerator (240 Watts/12 Volts = 20 Amps).
Typically, refrigerators operate about 1/3 of the time (1/3 "duty cycle"), or 8 hours a day. Therefore, the A.H. drain will be 160 A.H.
(8 hours x 20 Amps = 160 A.H.). After the load and running time is established, the battery bank size can be calculated. The first calculation is to divide the load (in Watts) by 10 for a 12-Volt system or by 20 for a 24-Volt system resulting in the number of Amps required from the battery bank.

Originally posted by randomtangentsrme

Originally posted by kdog1982
My total cost would be......

45 watt solar panel....................................$140
2000 watt power inverter..........................$160
12v 90 aph battery......................................$80
Total initial cost..........................................$380

Now just add in extra batteries and possibly extra solar chargers.

Now,I already have a 350 watt inverter,and 3 car batteries,I'm just upgrading with a solar power charger.

edit on 11-11-2012 by kdog1982 because: (no reason given)

The formula I learned when starting out as an electrician is Amps x Volts =watts.
I think, but am not entirely sure, a watt is 1 second power usage.

With this added information, do you see this still as a good investment?

How Do I Know I Have Enough Power To Use My 12v Power Inverter? Your 12v power inverter should come with an alarm that will let you know when the battery is getting low. That way, you can be certain you do not drain your battery completely. Nonetheless, it is helpful to have a general idea of how much power you can get from your inverter and how long it will last. All car batteries have what is referred to as a reserve capacity, which is how long the battery can last without the vehicle being turned on. Typically, this reserve capacity last for about 80 minutes. This means it is capable of supplying 25 amps of power at 12 volts for about one and a half hours. Therefore, if you are continuously draining 120 watts with your 12 volt inverter, you are actually using about 10 amps and your car battery will be able to run for about three hours. If you get a deep cycle battery, on the other hand, it can run the same equipment for about six or eight hours before the battery will need to be recharged. Of course, if the vehicle is running a the time, you don't have to worry about the battery going low because it will be continually charging as the power is being used.