Greetings and Sunny Southern Salutations,
This is my first post after a multi-year ban, plus a self imposed exile until some moderator changes occurred. I promise to play nice with everyone, and I'll try to be even tempered with the playground bullies this time..
![Wink ;)](https://www.fieldlines.com/Smileys/default/wink.gif)
With the price per watt of solar finally getting into the affordable range (for me anyway) and the fact that Home Depot actually has a pretty decent selection of Grape Solar mono & poly panels that are delivered free with no minimum order, I decided to go for it. I've been collecting parts and pieces for a while now, with the intention of fabricating a Traxle style tracking mount. I've acquired a small 24V 54rpm gearmotor off of ebay ($13) and have ordered a 24V LED tracking module from Duane at Redrock ($39). I have two of the 235W poly panels shown below that I wish to charge a small 24V NiCd bank (20 85Ah 1.2V cells) with. The only use of this bank will be to power a 12V 17A(max) pump roughly 15 minutes an hour for a small off grid aquaponics system. I had planned on tapping the bank for 12V at different locations every few days to keep the cells from too much uneven discharge, or else use a
Pyle PSWNV480 24V DC to 12V DC Power Step Down 480 Watt Converter which is economical enough from a dollar standpoint, but apparently has a fairly high current draw when not in use, and I'm not sure if it would handle repeated start-up current surges from the pump motor. I've cut n' pasted the panel's particulars below for reference, if anyone see's any sizing issues (or other potential problems) with this setup, I would be grateful if you pointed them out. Thanks, Gus
Cell Size (6.14†x 6.14â€)
Module Dimension (LxWxT) (65.0†x 38.9†x 1.6â€)
No. of Cells 6 x 10 = 60
Weight (44.1 lbs)
Type of Connector MC-IV
urgesJunction Box IP65
Details
Max System Voltage 1000V / 600V
Max Peak Power Pmax 235 W (0% / +3%)
CEC PTC Listed Power 210.4 W
Maximum Power Point Voltage Vmpp 30.1 V
Maximum Power Point Current Impp 7.81 A
Open Circuit Voltage Voc 37.2 V
Short Circuit Current Isc 8.35 A