














                                 SOLAR  SIZE




                        A Solar Photovoltaic Design Aid



                                  for Windows





                                      by
						



                                 Keith Wamsley












			Copyright 1992 by Keith Wamsley
                             All Rights Reserved

























                            Software Agreement


        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.







































                                  Page 8

       REGISTRATION:

        To register send your $20 to:

                Keith Wamsley
                3403 Ft. Richmond Dr.
                Richmond, Tx. 77469

        Please provide your:

                Name:        ________________________________________________
                
		Company:     ________________________________________________
                
		Street:      ________________________________________________
                
		City:        ___________________________________
                
		State:       ______________________
                
		Zip:         ______________________

                Serial Number:  ___________________
                (from About Menu)


        Comments:















        Thanks for your support!!













