Charging Golf Carts

Re: Charging Golf Carts

Just to clear up units... 150 Watt*Hours per mile, two miles 300 Watt*Hours

Assume the panels+charge controller is 77% efficient, and the deep cycle battery is 80% efficient. The Derating factor for PV Watts program is 0.77*0.80=0.62

Assuming you are in Toronto Ontario. Array mounted flat. May thru September (use 1kW worth of panel--smallest number program will take):

[FONT=Fixedsys]Results

Month
Solar Radiation (kWh/m2/day)     
AC Energy(kWh)     
Energy Value (Can$)
=====================================
1      1.47          25     2.15 
2      2.27          37     3.19 
3      3.19          60     5.17 
4      4.36          78     6.72 
[B]5      5.60          101     8.71 [/B]
6      6.14          103     8.88 
7      6.02          102     8.79 
8      5.15          87     7.50 
[B]9      4.08          68     5.86 [/B]
10      2.55          44     3.79 
11      1.30          19     1.64 
12      1.07          17     1.47 
====================================
Year      3.61          742     63.96 
[/FONT]

For September, average 68 kWhrs per month or 2.67 kWhrs per day per 1kW of solar panel.

300 WH / 2,670 WH per day * 1kW of panel (ref)= 112 Watts of solar panel required for Toronto area.

Sounds like it will easily meet your basic requirements... Somewhat of an issue is optimal sun vs when you drive the cart... Drive during noon time and lots of trees/shade would reduce energy capture.

Only thing to verify--is the actual energy used--and that the panel will not be hit by golf balls on the course (or you have the panel mounted at the "charging station" to avoid losing your $800+ panel to damage to save a couple dollars per month in electricity).

-Bill