APPLICATIONS
The Suncase's primary function is for day-to-day use when sunlight is available. The panels and batteries are sized to collect and hold about one full day of solar input and then make that energy available during the day or into the night. These systems are not designed to power loads over long periods without solar input or to power continuous 24/7 loads unless the loads are quite small. Solar design for these types of loads requires significantly more battery storage to adequately supply power over many days without sunlight.
Sunready Power systems can be used for camping and working in remote areas.
The Suncase's primary function is for day-to-day use when sunlight is available. The panels and batteries are sized to collect and hold about one full day of solar input and then make that energy available during the day or into the night. These systems are not designed to power loads over long periods without solar input or to power continuous 24/7 loads unless the loads are quite small. Solar design for these types of loads requires significantly more battery storage to adequately supply power over many days without sunlight.
Sunready Power systems can be used for camping and working in remote areas.
Sunready Power systems can be used anywhere there is no grid power or where power has been temporarily disrupted due to natural disasters.
In these cases a small amount of electrical power can make a big difference in supplying critical needs for emergency communications, basic lighting, water pumping and purification, ventilation and refrigeration.
What are Your options?
Most people rely on batteries to provide these basic functions for a short time. However, when the need for power exceeds more than a day or two the battery supply may run out. Small fuel powered electrical generators can then be used for power but their usefulness over an extended time frame depends on having a significant supply of fuel on hand. In remote locations or disaster situations replenishing your fuel supply may be impossible.
What are Your options?
Most people rely on batteries to provide these basic functions for a short time. However, when the need for power exceeds more than a day or two the battery supply may run out. Small fuel powered electrical generators can then be used for power but their usefulness over an extended time frame depends on having a significant supply of fuel on hand. In remote locations or disaster situations replenishing your fuel supply may be impossible.
The solar option is viable in most geographical areas and most of the time. The sun does rise every day but weather conditions may limit their usefulness. In general, winter time use of solar can be less than satisfactory. Probably the best overall solution is to have a small generator and fuel supply in addition to the solar system. Now solar can supply most of the energy needed but in bad weather the generator can be used. This combination reduces the amount of fuel needed and operating wear on the generator.
Here is a list of equipment that properly sized Suncases can power.
Here is a list of equipment that properly sized Suncases can power.
|
Communications
Cell phones, smart phones, satellite phones, PDAs, Ipads, Tablets, Kindles and GPS devices really need very small amounts of power to recharge. By using the onboard storage in the Suncase, many of these devices can have their batteries recharged over night. These devices typically accept power from 5 Vdc USB outlets, 12 Vdc outlets or 120Vac plug-in chargers. The Suncases provide all three sources for charging. The Suncase's battery can be charged all day with solar and then recharge phones or other devices at night. Suncases can also charge batteries for amateur radio stations or batteries for military or industrial radios. |
|
|
Computers and Office Equipment
A desktop computer, flat screen monitor and printer can easily be powered by the appropriately sized Suncase. Auxiliary loads like copiers, modems or add on speakers can also be powered. Laptop computers can be powered while in use or have their batteries recharged when not in use. |
|
Entertainment
Radios, stereos, television, game systems, sound amplifiers and public address systems can all be powered with Suncases. |
|
|
Lighting Products
Suncases are very useful in providing indoor or nighttime lighting. The on board battery storage allows energy collected during the day to be used at night. When using solar energy to provide lighting it is important to use the most efficient lighting products available. Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) or light emitting diode (LED) lights are the most efficient and put out about 4 times the light as a standard incandescent bulb for the same amount of electrical input. Nighttime lighting can be used for working at night or for security purposes. With the appropriate battery charger, Suncases can recharge many rechargeable flashlight and lantern batteries. |
|
|
Water Supply
Providing water in a disaster situation can be a high priority. Just moving water from a natural source or a storage tank can be easily done with small pumps and hoses. Purifying water can be done with ultraviolet light systems or filters. The Suncases can be used to power water purifiers or pump water through filter systems. Small pumps can be used to supply water to a field kitchen or to sinks or showers. |
|
Food Preparation
Many kitchen appliances can be powered with Suncases. Motor driven appliances like mixers and blenders can be run for many hours. Appliances that are required to create heat consume a lot of electrical power and may have limited usefulness. Toasters, coffee makers, small fry pans and microwave ovens can only be powered for short time intervals to produce one or two meals. A major kitchen operation producing dozens of meals would probably require a fuel fired burners, fuel fired generators or multiple Suncases. |
|
|
Refrigerators
Small energy efficient refrigerators have watt ratings that range from 35 watts to 115 watts. However, most refrigerators operate with a duty cycle around 20%. In other words, the motor is only on for 20% of the time or around 12 minutes every hour. Therefore a 35 watt refrigerator consumes about 168 Watt hours per day while a 115 watt refrigerator consumes about 648 Watt hours per day. Using the Suncase SR100, a day of sunlight will be able to power the 35 watt refrigerator for about 3 days. Larger refrigerators with higher watt ratings can be run on Suncases but the solar input and battery storage may not be able to supply cooling for a full 24 hours. |
|
Microwaves
Microwave ovens will typically have a rating based on cooking power which is less than what they actually use. For example a small microwave oven that has a rating of 600 watts cooking power will actually consume about 1000 watts when set on high power. The larger Suncases can power microwaves with 600 to 900 watts cooking power. Microwaves ovens are only utilized for a matter of minutes for each heating job so many drinks or meals can be heated with the larger Suncase's on-board battery. |
|
|
Electric and Rechargeable Power Tools
For construction or clean up, power drills, power saws, jig saws, air compressors, paint sprayers, routers, grinders, weed cutters and leaf blowers can all be powered with Suncases. These tools come in many sizes and power ratings. Also, power tool motors require a very short time surge current when they are started. All inverters can provide a surge power up to twice the continuous power rating for starting these motors. All power tools have rating labels with the required amps rating. The rated amps times 120 volts will give you the watts rating for the tool. Be sure the inverter chosen can supply this wattage. The Suncase SR60 will power tools with up to a 4 amp rating and the Suncase SR100 will power tools up to 8 amps. |
Many hand held power tools today have rechargeable battery packs. These tools come with a 120 Vac charging station and extra batteries. Now the tool can be in use while additional batteries are being charged by the Suncase.
|
Small Fans
In hot climates ventilation air can provide significant relief to workers. Suncase SR100 can power fans up to ½ horsepower to ventilate large areas. Suncases can also power small air compressors for filling up car tires or air mattresses. |
|
Selecting a system
Before selecting a Suncase system, careful thought should be given to the types of equipment you will be powering and the time you will be using each. Then an estimate of the daily power needs can be determined.
Electrical Outlets
Suncases have three levels of electrical output;
USB Power Ports Provides 5 VDC up to 2 amp or 10 watts of power.
This outlet can power or recharge cell phones, smart phones,
I-Pads, Tablets and even some small laptops or printers.
12 VDC Receptacle Provides 12 VDC up to 10 amps or 120 watts of power. These are
plugs like you find in automobiles. They can power phone and laptop
computer chargers or run lights and other small appliances made for
12 VDC power.
120 VAC Plug In Provides 120 volt pure sine wave AC power up to the systems inverter rating.
Watts Amps
SR20 No AC Power
SR30 300 Watts 2.5 amps
SR40 400 Watts 3.3 amps
SR60 600 Watts 5.0 amps
SR100 1000 Watts 8.3 amps
SR30c 300 Watts 2.5 amps
SR60c 600 Watts 5.0 amps
These inverters will provide very short term Surge Power (up to 1 1/2 times the rating for 1 to 2 seconds) to allow for starting of equipment with electric motors.
Note on Inverter operation: Inverters convert 12 VDC power to 120 VAC power. They are quite efficient but when turned on and supplying a load they consume some power internally for their own operation. The following guidelines for inverters will reduce any wasted energy and increase the battery run time.
For larger loads powered by a 120 Vac inverter, the two most important factors are; the inverter wattage rating, and the battery watt hour capacity. The inverter rating of continuous load watts determines the size of the load in watts that the inverter will power. The battery watt hour capacity determines how long the battery can supply the load.
Here are two examples. The first is a small TV that uses 60 watts. The second is a 360 watt drill. You will need an inverter with a continuous watt rating greater than 60 watts for the first load, and greater than 2 times 360 watts or 720 watts for the second load. The drill motor requires a surge of 2 times it's rating to start and then it settles down to 360 watts while running.
A 300 watt inverter will run the TV
A 1000 watt inverter is needed to run the power drill.
All Suncases with AC outlets come with a "Kill-A-Watt" meter. The meter is easy to use. Just plug in any AC appliance and plug the meter into an AC source. The meter will tell you the watts that the appliance uses. In this way you can check loads to see if they will overload the Suncase inverter.
How Long Will the Battery Supply My Load
That depends on the load. Large loads will discharge the battery quickly while small loads will last much longer. Here is a table that estimates the time in hours that a fully charged battery will last with different loads.
Before selecting a Suncase system, careful thought should be given to the types of equipment you will be powering and the time you will be using each. Then an estimate of the daily power needs can be determined.
Electrical Outlets
Suncases have three levels of electrical output;
USB Power Ports Provides 5 VDC up to 2 amp or 10 watts of power.
This outlet can power or recharge cell phones, smart phones,
I-Pads, Tablets and even some small laptops or printers.
12 VDC Receptacle Provides 12 VDC up to 10 amps or 120 watts of power. These are
plugs like you find in automobiles. They can power phone and laptop
computer chargers or run lights and other small appliances made for
12 VDC power.
120 VAC Plug In Provides 120 volt pure sine wave AC power up to the systems inverter rating.
Watts Amps
SR20 No AC Power
SR30 300 Watts 2.5 amps
SR40 400 Watts 3.3 amps
SR60 600 Watts 5.0 amps
SR100 1000 Watts 8.3 amps
SR30c 300 Watts 2.5 amps
SR60c 600 Watts 5.0 amps
These inverters will provide very short term Surge Power (up to 1 1/2 times the rating for 1 to 2 seconds) to allow for starting of equipment with electric motors.
Note on Inverter operation: Inverters convert 12 VDC power to 120 VAC power. They are quite efficient but when turned on and supplying a load they consume some power internally for their own operation. The following guidelines for inverters will reduce any wasted energy and increase the battery run time.
- When not using the inverter, turn it off.
- For small loads if you can use 12 VDC or USB outlets you will save the inverter losses. For example, many lights are available that operate on 12 VDC or USB outlets. These would give much longer run times than 120 VAC lights that need the inverter to operate.
- Inverters are most efficient when operating at about 40% to 70% of their rated output. For example, if you are planning on running a 200 watt load then a 300 watt inverter would be a good choice.
For larger loads powered by a 120 Vac inverter, the two most important factors are; the inverter wattage rating, and the battery watt hour capacity. The inverter rating of continuous load watts determines the size of the load in watts that the inverter will power. The battery watt hour capacity determines how long the battery can supply the load.
Here are two examples. The first is a small TV that uses 60 watts. The second is a 360 watt drill. You will need an inverter with a continuous watt rating greater than 60 watts for the first load, and greater than 2 times 360 watts or 720 watts for the second load. The drill motor requires a surge of 2 times it's rating to start and then it settles down to 360 watts while running.
A 300 watt inverter will run the TV
A 1000 watt inverter is needed to run the power drill.
All Suncases with AC outlets come with a "Kill-A-Watt" meter. The meter is easy to use. Just plug in any AC appliance and plug the meter into an AC source. The meter will tell you the watts that the appliance uses. In this way you can check loads to see if they will overload the Suncase inverter.
How Long Will the Battery Supply My Load
That depends on the load. Large loads will discharge the battery quickly while small loads will last much longer. Here is a table that estimates the time in hours that a fully charged battery will last with different loads.
