This program is distributed as Shareware it is not Free
Software. It is not public domain. It is copyrighted.
You are granted permission to use Solar Size for a trial
period of 30 days. After that time you must register to
continue use. Registration is a mere $20.00 so please
do so. A form is provided at the end of this document.
I would also appreciate any comments you might have or
if you find any bugs. If used, you will get a free
upgrade.
You are given permission and encouraged to copy and
distribute the unregistered version of this software if:
1) All files are included in the distribution,
2) No modification of any kind is made to any of the files,
and 3) No fee is charged for the software.
Keith Wamsley hereby disclaims all warranties relating to
this software, whether expressed or implied, including
without limitation any implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
Keith Wamsley will not be liable for any special, incidental,
consequential, indirect or similar damages from the use of
this program. The person using the software bears all risk
as to the quality and performance of the software.
Table Of Contents
TOPIC PAGE
INTRODUCTION 2
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 2
INSTALLATION 2
BASIC FORM INPUTS 2
BASIC FORM OUTPUTS 4
DESIGN OPTIONS 5
FILE MENU 5
OPTIONS - GENERAL 6
HELP MENU 6
CALCULATION BASIS 7
ADVERTISEMENT 8
REGISTRATION 9
Page 1
INTRODUCTION:
This program will calculate the required battery size, solar array
size, and array angle for installations requiring a solar power
solution. It has the power and flexibility to adapt to your
particular design needs.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
This program will run on any system that is running Microsoft Windows
Version 3.0 or later.
INSTALLATION
There are six files you must have to run the program:
SOLAR.EXE The main program
SOLAR.INI Holds your configuration options
MAJORUS.CDF Data file of major US cities
SOLAR.LDF Winter peak sun hours data file
USERDOC.TXT This file, User Documentation
VBRUN100.DLL DLL file for Visual Basic
Copy VBRUN100.DLL to your \Windows\System directory. If you already
have this file you do not need to copy it again. The remaining
files should be copied to the directory of your choice. They
must all be in the same directory.
To install in a Program Manager group: Select the group where
you want the program to reside. Select "File" from the Program
Manager menu bar then select "New". Select "Program Item". Select
"OK". The Program Item Properties box will now open. On the
Description text box, type "Solar Size". On the Command Line text
box, type in the path you copied the files to and add Solar.Exe
BASIC FORM INPUTS
When you first start the program you will see the data entry and
calculation output form. This is the main form that you will
use to interface with all the programs features. The Basic form
input is information you provide. They are located on the top
left portion of the form.
Page 2
LOAD IN AMPS:
Enter the total load amps that the system will provide to all
loads at nominal system voltage. Use an average value for all
periodic loads. Example:
A load is composed of two components: a 0.25 amp continous load
and a 2.1 amp radio that is on 2 minutes every 30 minutes. The
Load Amps value to use is:
0.25 + 2.1 * 2 / 30 = 0.39 Amps
HOURS / DAY LOAD IS SUPPLIED
Enter the hours per day that the load above is powered by the system.
Usually this is 24 hours except for lighing or navigational aids
type of loads. This value times the Load in Amps must equal the
total system amp-hour load in a 24 hour period.
MIN OPERATING TEMP DEG F
Enter the lowest winter design temperature that the battery will
be exposed to. Battery capacity deminishes with temperature.
This value is used to calculate the battery capacity required at
the worst conditions. Use good judgement; use of a 100 year spot
low is unrealistic and will result in a high battery cost. The
City Data File option can supply this value for you. See the
Options section for more information.
DAYS OF BACKUP REQUIRED
How many days of battery backup do you require? This assumes
that the battery is providing all electrical energy to the load.
A minimum of five days is reccommended.
You should consider weather, critical nature of the load, proximity
of maintenace personnel, etc., in determining this value.
WINTER PEAK SUN HOURS
The average number of hours in the winter that the solar panel is
providing it's full output. Be sure not to use annual average
sun hours. The program can determine this value for you if you
know the site latitude and longitude. See the Options section
for more information.
BATTERY TYPE
Batteries vary in recharge efficiencies and low temperature capacity
changes. Hence the program must know the type of battery you are
using. Usually a Lead Calcium battery is used in the Lead Acid family.
Page 3
CALCULATE
This tells the program to calculate the results based on your
input values. If the latitude or longitude was changed then
Sun Hours is also calculated.
BASIC FORM OUTPUTS
These are the values that the program calculates for you based on
your inputs. Use these values to chose your perfered vendors
equipment. The outputs are located on the lower part of the main
form.
BATTERY TEMPERATURE CAPACITY
This is the resulting battery capacity at the design winter temperature conditions at the site. It is expressed as a percentage of the batteries 77 degreee F capacity. This value is used in the
calculation for the required battery size to ensure the specified
backup time in the winter. It is displayed as information to
show the temperature effect on the battery.
REQUIRED BATTERY SIZE
This is the battery's required Amp - Hour rating at 77 Deg F you
will need. Chose a battery or multiple batteries to obtain this
capacity. Solar applications are characterised by a slow drain,
therefore use the battery manufactures'long term (usually 24 hour)
capacity rating.
Chose a battery designed for Solar applications. This application
is not typical of engine starting or float charged stationary
battery systems. The solar battery is guaranteed to discharge
every 24 hours. Proper battery type selection will ensure longer
life and better performance.
ARRAY PEAK CHARGING CURRENT
Chose an array or multiple arrays that deliver the required
amperage at normal sun intenstity. Be sure the system matches
your required system voltage.
PANEL ANGLE TO HORIZONTAL
This is the angle the array should be mounted. This will
permit optimal sun collection in the winter when the sun is
lowest in the sky. The more north you are the higher the
required angle.
Page 4
DESIGN OPTIONS
There are two main options available over and above the basic
form entry methods. These methods assist the user in obtaining
the winter peak sun hours and the minimum temperature for the site.
CALCULATE SUN HOURS
You may chose to let the program calculate the peak sun hours
based on the site's longitude and latitude. This option is
activated by clicking on the "calculate" option button in the
Select Sun Hour Entry Method box or clicking on the Calculate
Sun Hours line under the Options menu bar.
Once chosen, enter the sites longitude and latitude, then press
the "Calc Sun Hours" button. The sun hours will be placed in
the Winter Peak Sun Hours text box. You may switch back to a
manual entry at any time by clicking the "User Input" option
button or the Calculate Sun Hours line under Options.
Most all good road maps have the Longitude and Latitude printed
on them. Look hard at the map edges, as it is usually in small
print. The Rand McNally Road Atlas shows this data.
CITY SELECTION
The city selection box allows you to pick from a list of cities
and the program will determine the minimum temperature, latitude,
and longitude values to use. You may chose to allow this feature
to only determine the temperature. This is done with the
"Temp Only" option button or the "City Selection, Temperature Only"
line in the Options Menu.
The City Selection option also supports multiple lists. You may
develope regional or special purpose lists. A list is loaded
by selecting "City Selection, File Select" under the Options menu.
The city data files are ordinary text files with a .CDF extension.
You may use any text editor to create or modify the lists.
FILE MENU
The file menu allows you to save and recall all the data on a
specific site. The default extension is .SDF for site data file.
NEW
Clears all text boxes in the form.
OPEN
Recalls a file from disk and places the data on the form.
Any existing data on the form is overwritten.
Page 5
SAVE
Saves all form data in the current file. The current file is
shown on the end of the title block. If there is no current file
then the program defaults to the Save As function.
SAVE AS
Allows you to save all form data under any file name in any directory.
This file name becomes the current file.
PRINT
The print option will give you a print out of all site data inputs
and calculated outputs. Execution of this option calls another
form that allows the input of company name, site location, project
name, and project number. The print out will automatically print the
current date.
If you used the city selection option, the chosen city will show in
the site location text box. You may change the entry to anything
you wish without effected the calculation.
OPTIONS - GENERAL
BATTERY END OF LIFE FACTOR
Batteries gradually lose capacity through out their life. Usually
a batteries usefull life is over when its' capacity falls below 80%.
The program has a default value of 1.1 to compensate for this effect.
This factor is multiplied by this factor to determine battery amp-hour
capacity. You may change it to any value between 1.0 and 2.0.
SAVE CONFIGURATION
This features saves your current options so they are automatically
used the next time the program is started.
The options saved are:
1. Sun Hour Entry Method
2. City Selection type preference
3. City Selection City file
4. Battery end of life factor
Selections active at the time of execution of this option are saved.
HELP MENU
The help menu item provides you with an online help. Click on any
item you wish more information on.
Page 6
CALCULATION BASIS
There are three calculation performed once all the data is entered
and calculate is pressed.
Solar Array Size
The array is sized so that during the winter peak sun hours all
the energy taken from the battery during "dark" hours is replaced
plus fully powering the load. Batteries have a recharge efficiency;
that is only a portion of the energy delivered to a battery is
stored. This factor is taken into account.
Naturally there are very few average winter days. Hence on some
days the battery will not be fully recharged. There should be
enough above average days to recover from the very cloudy ones.
The number of battery backup days is the safety against long periods
of cloudy days. That is why 5 is the recommended minimum.
Battery Size
The battery size is calculated by multipling five factors: Load
current, Hours/Day load is drawn, days of backup desired,
temperature derate, and end of life factor.
Array Angle
An easy one. This is latitude plus 15 degrees.
Minimum Temperature
In additions to the calculations you may be interested in where
the minimum temperatures in the city data file comes from. The
source is the ASHRAE 1985 Fundamentals Handbook. The numbers
used are the 99% values. Simply stated: during the months of
December, January, and February the listed temperature should be
equaled or exceeded 99% of the time based on historical records.
Page 7
ADVERTISEMENT
Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You
get to tryout the software before you pay for it. Load it up
and run it like crazy for 30 days. If you don't like it, delete
it from your machine. If you do like it, register it. Pass it
on to anyone who might have an interest in it. Please distribute
all files in the distribution set.
Registration encourages further developement and makes me a
couple of bucks.
Registration for you eliminates the registration message, and
allows us to notify you of any upgrades. It should also give
you a warm glowing feeling of using legitimate software.
Do you have special requirements or customization needs? Let
me know, we can probably work something out.
Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
