Harvester - FAQs
What will the unit run?
How long will it run?
How long does it take to recharge the battery?
Is it safe?
Can it run any kind of equipment?
Will these units work in the dark?
Can I bring these units on the plane?
Is there any maintenance?
How do I get the most out of my unit?
Will these units work in a cloudy or colder climate?
Where can I get energy efficient appliances and DC appliances to use with the Harvester and SPC?
Can I lift it into my car?
Are the any tax benefits associated with owning these units?
Where can I find out more about Solar Energy?
What will the unit run?
The Standard HarvesterTM can power any small to medium-sized 115-VAC/60 Hz electrical appliance or tool that draws up to a continuous 750 watts (6.5 amps) and a 1500 watt (13 amp) surge. The lower the electrical draw of the appliance, the longer the HarvesterTM will power it. The HarvesterTM will also power most 12V DC (automotive and RV type) appliances.
Customized HarvesterTMs delivering "True Sine Wave" power for sensitive equipment at 110VAC/60 Hz or 220 VAC/50 Hz are also available. For more details, send your inquiry to info@solarone.net or call toll free
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How long will it run?
You can estimate yourself using the Run Time Calculators or you send us an e-mail with the information on the appliances you wish to run. Within 2 business days, we will send you a more accurate estimate of run time. Remember: The Standard HarvesterTM cannot power any AC device over 750 watts (6.5 amps) continuous, 1500 watts (13 amps) surge at 110 VAC/60 Hz. However, custom solutions are available up to about 2kw AC output.
To make your own estimate for the standard HarvesterTM using the battery capacity only (without considering additional solar input you might get during the day):
For 12 VDC loads around 4.5 amps and less
Divide 1000 watt-hours by rated wattage of the equipment to get the approximate number of hours it takes to run the battery down.
For AC loads around 0.5 amps and less at 110 VAC
Divide 900 watt-hours by the rated wattage.
For 12 VDC loads around 7-12 amps
Divide 890 watt-hours by the rated wattage
For AC loads around 1- 2 amps at 110 VAC
Divide 720 watt-hours by the rated wattage
For 12 VDC loads around 20 amps
Divide 820 watt-hours by the rated wattage
For AC loads around 2-3 amps at 110 VAC
Divide 740 watt-hours by the rated wattage
For AC loads as high as 6.5 amps at 110 VAC
Divide 600 watt-hours by the rated wattage
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How long does it take to recharge the battery?
Charging time depends on the size of the solar array, location of the array and the season. To fully charge the battery from an 80% depth-of-discharge, it takes anywhere from one and a half days (three 50 watt panels) to four days (one 50 watt panel) of sunlight (assuming 4 hours of full sun per day average). Or choose the 75 watt panels to charge the battery even faster. Time to recharge can be further reduced by getting SDI's Battery bulk charger for charging at night from the wall outlet.
You can use the maps on the Renewable Resource Data Center web site to estimate how much power you can get in your area. (http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/old_data/nsrdb/redbook/atlas/Table.html) Very simply, locate the region you live in on the map and determine how much total solar energy/area your region receives on an annual basis. Take that number and multiply by 48.4 to determine how many watt-hours per day you can receive from the HarvesterTM solar panel only. You can play around with other maps at that site to determine how much energy you might get for a given site.
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Is it safe?
The electricity coming directly from the Power Center is the same you get from your car. The electricity coming through the inverter is just like the electricity coming from household wall sockets. Use the same care and caution you would with utility power. All of the HarvesterTM electrical components are safe as long as they are treated with respect. Solar electricity is in use all over the world, every day. From an environmental standpoint, solar electricity is about the safest kind of electricity there is.
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Can it run any kind of equipment?
The HarvesterTM will not run devices over 15 amps DC and 6.5 amps (continuous) AC. This includes items with heating elements like space heaters, hair dryers and coffee pots, items with sizeable compressors like air conditioners or large refrigerators, and items with sizeable motor draw like large saws or other large tools. But please contact us with your needs, we can provide a wide range of custom solutions. If you are powering laser printers or other highly sensitive electrical equipment, you should get the True Sine Wave version.
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Will these units work in the dark?
Yes. The HarvesterTM stores electrical energy in the battery so you can use it at any time. The unit will run until the battery is depleted. You can also charge the battery from a wall outlet by using an AC bulk charger or wall charger available on our order page.
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Can I bring these units on the plane?
Certainly, the battery in the HarvesterTM is the same type as used in F16 fighter jets. It is spill-proof and FAA approved. Note: The Harvester is too big for carry-on.
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Is there any maintenance?
If you aren't charging and using your HarvesterTM on a regular basis, you should re-charge the battery every 1 months. If you are storing the battery, you should make sure it is fully charged before storing it. Your solar panel will provide a faster charge if the glass is free of dirt, dust or debris.
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How do I get the most out of my unit?
You can maximize the solar charge rate by keeping the solar panel faced towards the sun. Our patented design makes this very easy to do. Just roll the HarvesterTM to face the right direction and then tilt the panel to face the sun. You can also get more out of your units by using energy efficient appliances. For example, a compact fluorescent light bulb uses about 75% less energy than a conventional incandescent bulb. That means the HarvesterTM will light the efficient bulb up to four times longer than the conventional one!
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Will these units work in a cloudy or colder climate?
Yes, any of these units will charge in a cloudy climate, it just takes a little longer for the battery to fully charge. See Run Time Calculators to compare performance between locations.
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Where can I get energy efficient appliances and DC appliances to use with the Harvester and SPC?
You can find some energy efficient appliances such as lighting at our website. We will be adding significantly to this list and providing more detailed links for energy efficient products. Companies such as Schott-Applied Power, Real Goods, and Jade Mountain web sites offer an array of energy efficient products like refrigerators. Companies like Road Pro offer an array of 12 VDC appliances.
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Can I lift it into my car?
The HarvesterTM breaks down into three pieces - the cart, the solar module, and the power center. The largest and heaviest piece is the power center. It is about 20" long, 20" high, 10" wide and weighs about 85lbs. In a small car the power center can go in the passenger seat and then the solar panel and cart can go in the back seat or in the trunk. In full size cars, the power center will fit in the trunk.
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Are the any tax benefits associated with owning these units?
Depending on your tax status (business or resident), how you are using your SoLedTM Lighting or HarvesterTM, and the state that you live in, you have a range of tax incentives at your disposal. By taking advantage of these opportunities, you can cut the cost of these units by 15% or more. We are linked to two web sites which together can give you a complete picture of your options.
State Incentives and Tax breaks: http://www.dsireusa.org/
Federal Tax Opportunities for Solar Investment (30% tax credit for residences and business as well as accelerated depreciation options do apply to SoLed) http://http://www.seia.org/getpdf.php?iid=21
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Where can I find out more about Solar Energy?
Please visit our website on a regular basis. We will be constantly enhancing the general information base on solar energy.
In the meantime, you may want to visit the Florida Solar Energy Center web site at: http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/pvt/pvbasics or http://www.howstuffworks.com/solar-cell.htm for some nice "primers" on Solar Energy.