Exceeding 30V could cause ... death?

[PattySprinter]

I have a goal zero that I just fully charged for the first time. 
I want to use it but several times on the item and in the paperwork it states "Exceeding 30V input will damage unit and could cause death".
I know that appliances that plug into (regular house) wall outlets are 120V.

So if the gz's 120 AC outlet states "1500W - 3000W Surge" - is pushing it to plug in a fan that is 120V, (60Hz) and 12.5 Amps & 1500 Watts?

How would I plug the numbers of this fan (or any item) into A=V·W?
So many notes, I just need one (real life) example to be able to figure it out on my own. THANK YOU for opinions and advice.

 

[NeedAnEscape]

That just means you can't use a solar panel or charger that outputs more than 30 volts. It doesn't apply to the built in inverter's output.

As to weather it will run your fan, try it and see. It's close to the specs, so the only way to know is to try. Inverters will shut off without damage if you overload them.

 

[PattySprinter]

That just means you can't use a solar panel or charger that outputs more than 30 volts. It doesn't apply to the built in inverter's output.

Thank you for replying - How does that apply to (for example) two 30W gz solar panels?

 

[NeedAnEscape]

Thank you for replying - How does that apply to (for example) two 30W gz solar panels?

• Solar Capacity: 30W (18-22V)

Those say they are 18-22 volts so they should work.

 

[Gideon33w]

Most 12v nominal panels are Voc 22v and Vmp 17v ... So no worries as long as they are wired in parallel.
Hope you got a good deal on the unit. Those Goal Zero setups are uber overpriced.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

 . . . So if the gz's 120 AC outlet states "1500W - 3000W Surge" - is pushing it to plug in a fan that is 120V, (60Hz) and 12.5 Amps & 1500 Watts?

How would I plug the numbers of this fan (or any item) into A=V·W?

The correct formula is: Watts = Volts X Amps.  So for your fan: 1500W = 120V X 12.5A

 -- Spiff

 

[tx2sturgis]

Not to be splitting hairs, but what kind of fan are you using that pulls 1500 watts?

Or were you just trying to see if we were paying attention?

The huge industrial ceiling fans with a 24 foot diameter barely pull 1500 watts....

But to answer the question, if the device is rated at 1500 watts and the source is rated 1500 with a 3000 watt surge, then you are right at the capacity of the source, and it might work, it might not. It might run for 10 minutes and then shut down, or it might run for hours.

So the answer is....a definite maybe.

 

[Queen]

Not to be splitting hairs, but what kind of fan are you using that pulls 1500 watts?

Or were you just trying to see if we were paying attention?

The huge industrial ceiling fans with a 24 foot diameter barely pull 1500 watts....

Can't speak to fans, but my little blow dryer is 1875 watts, pretty common.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Can't speak to fans, but my little blow dryer is 1875 watts, pretty common.

Blow dryers, space heaters, toasters, air conditioning units...sure.

But a fan? Actually its very uncommon for a fan to pull that much power.

Put another way, if the 'fan' used 1500 watts, that's a power equivalent of around 5200 BTU, so the fan would actually be creating a lot of heat!

It could be a space heater/fan, and yeah, then it would pull that much in heating mode, but much less in 'fan only' mode.

 

[PattySprinter]

Not to be splitting hairs, but what kind of fan are you using that pulls 1500 watts?

my heels are dug in and I am grudgingly giving up my creature comforts as I downsize ... I am trying to figure out if my Dyson air/heat fan is a keep or not.
same with my vitamix - keeping that for when I have shore power ... I think that some things will be easer to let go of once I am on the road ... 
thanks for paying attention 

 

[Gideon33w]

Ahhh, that makes more sense. Electric heat is a HUGE power draw. Better to use a different source of heat when dealing with solar.

 

[PattySprinter]

Most 12v nominal panels are Voc 22v and Vmp 17v ... So no worries as long as they are wired in parallel.
Hope you got a good deal on the unit. Those Goal Zero setups are uber overpriced.

Thank you for replying.
I got the goal zero 1000 for $900 ... my son tried to tell me he would have made his own system for less - but I guess I figured that I could put this (solar for dummies) system to good use  

 

[tx2sturgis]

... I am trying to figure out if my Dyson air/heat fan is a keep or not.

If you plan to ever use shore power hookups at a campground with electricity or at an RV park, or need a backup heat source, then yeah keep it if you have the room.

Since it can do double duty it gets an extra star for that.

But trying to use the heat function when powered by your batteries (thru an inverter) will have said batteries circling the drain sooner rather than later.

 

[PattySprinter]

If you plan to ever use shore power hookups at a campground with electricity or at an  RV park, or need a backup heat source, then yeah keep it if you have the room.

I am running the fan right now and it is using (1 amp and) 15W.
When I turned on the heater it surged to (160 amps and then settled at 107.5 amps) 1800W and settled at 1100W - set at 80·F.

Now also researching Mr. Buddy and a Honda 2000i for back-up/emergencies.

 

[PattySprinter]

I called GZero and they said the warning about 30V means I would need to link my solar panels in series NOT parallel - because parallel could exceed 30V.

 

[highdesertranger]

yep that's a huge draw. best to do some research. I doubt you would have the room for enough solar panels and batteries. or just run it off a generator. highdesertranger

 

[Trebor English]

I called GZero and they said the warning about 30V means I would need to link my solar panels in series NOT parallel - because parallel could exceed 30V.

Have a voltmeter, connect the panels in series but don't connect to the zero, measure the voltage instead.  When you see the voltage is 40, reconnect in parallel.  When you see that it is 20 then connect to the zero.

 

[tx2sturgis]

I called GZero and they said the warning about 30V means I would need to link my solar panels in series NOT parallel - because parallel could exceed 30V.

Either the person you spoke with is mis-informed, or possibly, you got the information reversed.

A standard, 12V panel will rarely make over about 20-22 volts (open circuit) by itself, and that will drop sharply when a load is applied.

So, two panels in series WILL exceed 30 volts, but in parallel, they will remain at around 20 volts, more or less.

With a 30v max rating, the panels MUST be wired in parallel, assuming the controller can handle the amperage, which is additive, and can be read on the panel's rating sticker, as (I-max) (Amps-max) or similar.

 

[PattySprinter]

Either the person you spoke with is mis-informed, or possibly, you got the information reversed.

The tripod arrived with missing cut outs, argh. They are sending me another.
Then the GZ rep changed up what I need to do, argh!
... after telling me I *had* to buy an Anderson plug (I did as we were talking, then had to cancel the order) - Here is a small piece of how our frustrating conversation went:

Jen:
Okay, with those panels I had forgotten you can chain them directly to each other, my apologies! For the sake of ease of explanation we'll have Panel A and panel B.
Take one of the cords and plug it into the out port of panel A.
Then take the other end of this cable and plug it into the IN port of panel b.
Take your other cord and plug it into the out port of panel b, and the other end of that cable will plug into the 8mm in port of the Yeti 1000.
Let me know if that makes sense.
Patty:
but isn't doing it that way doing it in series and not in parallel?
Jen:
Nope, with the 8mm connectors there is no way to chain them in series.
Chaining them in series is only possible with MC4 connectors, which have separate male and female connectors.
Patty:
Out of A - into B ... and out of B into extension?
Jen:
Into extension or directly into the Yeti unit, either way is fine.



They (two 30W panels) are outside right now drawing in about 35W.

 

[tx2sturgis]

wow... :huh:


Ok...the rep seems to have mis-directed you judging from your transcript.

And somewhere I got the impression you had two 100 watt panels, but now I see that you have two 30 watt panels....

If the panels were wired in series, the voltage is additive. So 20 plus 20 would be 40...and too much if the controller is rated 30v max.

If the panels are wired in parallel, then the AMPERAGE is additive, and the voltage is constant.

So 2 panels wired in parallel will yield 20 volts into the controller, (actually about 17 or so) and the amperage will be twice what one panel puts out, roughly around 2.5 amps each. So just figure about 5 amps max, is the controller rated for 10 amps or more?

Or are these panels rated at something other than the voltage I'm talking about? I'm making assumptions about them that may not be correct.

I have not seen the controller so I dont know what the max current is, or the max panel wattage it can handle.

Can you post a couple of pictures of what you have or send a link to it?